JOHN SEVERIN: A Birthday Celebration
Heavy Metal recognizes the birthday of artist John P. Severin today!
John Powers Severin was born December 26, 1921 in Jersey City, New Jersey, in the United States of America.
His first published work, according to Lambiek Comiclopedia, were gag cartoons for the newspaper “The Hobo News”. However, Severin would not start doing comic book art until around 1947, when he would begin at Crestwood Studio; Eventually Severin would end up at EC Comics doing work for both the war comics as well as the company’s MAD comic series.
Over a span of 45+ years , Severin would work on comics for nearly all the big comic publishers; These ranged from CRACKED, DC Comics, EC Comics, MAD, Marvel Comics, Warren Publishing and so on… Quite frankly, Severin’s work output is too numerous to be able list all of his comic contributions here… But keep reading, as we will focus on some highlights of Severin’s career…
EC Comics work: MAD, Two-Fisted Tales
(Copyright of E.C. Publications)
At EC Comics, John Severin was an early contributor to MAD; He submitted the story "VARMINT!" in the very first issue, and continued thru issue #10. It would have been a full streak if Severin had not missed doing a piece for MAD issue #8.
As the Korean war ended, EC's war genre comics began to sell less and less. This led to EC cancelling the Frontline Combat (FC) series. However, EC’s other war title, Two-Fisted Tales(TFT), straggled on a bit longer after FC. Harvey Kurtzman turned over the reins of TFT to Severin, and Severin was assigned the task of editor near the tail-end of EC Comics’ Two-Fisted Tales comic. This dramatic editorial change from Kurtzman (who wanted to focus on MAD) to Severin would only last from issues #36-#39, but Severin would contribute nearly all of the short run's stories (a whopping fourteen stories out of sixteen total comic stories!) - and all four of the front covers!
(Copyright of William M. Gaines Agent Inc.)
After EC : Atlas Comics
Once EC Comics folded up their comic book publishing line, Severin would produce work for the company Atlas Comics (later to be renamed Marvel Comics!)
(Copyright Marvel Comics)
(Copyright Marvel Comics)
(Copyright: Marvel Comics)
Severin at CRACKED magazine
For many, many years, John Severin contributed material to the now-defunct American humor-comic periodical CRACKED. This of course, means that he belonged to a small group of creators that have contributed to both of the main humor comic/magazines of the 20th century (both MAD and CRACKED magazine) at different times - such as Will Elder, Al Jaffee, Don Martin, and Lou Silverstone!
At one point John Severin even illustrated an entire issue of CRACKED magazine! Issue #26 was all-Severin except for a subscription advertisement, and a reprinted Will Elder page.)
During the last few publishing years of the print magazine CRACKED, Severin decided to cease contributing new work for the publication..
with a not-so-subtle "disclaimer" gag.
And then some:
John contributed to the Special 20th anniversary edition of Heavy Metal magazine - the artwork is pictured below:
Reflections On Severin:
Roger Brown, a CRACKED contributor, wrote: “I had the pleasure of working with John on a number of gags. Take [a] look at this piece he did for CRACKED and the amount of detail he put into it...."
"...He could have made my gag just as funny and cut back on the detail, but that was not John's style. He made everything he did his best effort.” Roger Brown added: “... Severin was always doing research on whatever he drew to make sure it was accurate for the period. He studied uniforms, their insignia, badges, to make sure they were authentic."
Cartoonist and comics historian Craig Yoe tells us: "It is little known, but the King of Comics (Steve Ditko, of course), was a big Sev. fan and was studiously influenced by the pen and ink master!”
Rick Parker (Marvel Comics, Papercutz) says : “I only met him once … and he was very nice. I always loved his artwork. I worked with Marie Severin at Marvel."
Drew Friedman wrote the following on his blog: “...But I WAS a fan of John Severin's artwork, so I would pick up an occasional issue of CRACKED over the years.”
In Greg Biga and Jon B. Cooke’s book “John Severin: Two-Fisted Comic Book Artist” artist Richard Corben is quoted as follows : “Although many diverse styles were showcased in those [EC Comics] famous books, I considered Severin to be the most mature and realistic of all of them..”
Thus concludes our birthday celebration of John Severin! Viva Severin!
Recommended Reading:
-John Severin: Two-Fisted Comic Book Artist; by Greg Biga and Jon B. Cooke; TwoMorrows Publishing; 2021
-Squa Tront magazine #11; Various contributors; Fantagraphics Books; 2005
-The Comedy Of John Severin Volume 1; John Severin; COMICFIX & FUN IDEAS PRODUCTIONS; 2019
- Code Of Honor And Other Stories; John Severin; Fantagraphics Books; 2022
- Lambiek Comiclopedia Bio on John Severin; - Online as of December 24, 2024.
JOHN SEVERIN: A Birthday Celebration
Heavy Metal recognizes the birthday of artist John P. Severin today!
John Powers Severin was born December 26, 1921 in Jersey City, New Jersey, in the United States of America.
His first published work, according to Lambiek Comiclopedia, were gag cartoons for the newspaper “The Hobo News”. However, Severin would not start doing comic book art until around 1947, when he would begin at Crestwood Studio; Eventually Severin would end up at EC Comics doing work for both the war comics as well as the company’s MAD comic series.
Over a span of 45+ years , Severin would work on comics for nearly all the big comic publishers; These ranged from CRACKED, DC Comics, EC Comics, MAD, Marvel Comics, Warren Publishing and so on… Quite frankly, Severin’s work output is too numerous to be able list all of his comic contributions here… But keep reading, as we will focus on some highlights of Severin’s career…
EC Comics work: MAD, Two-Fisted Tales
(Copyright of E.C. Publications)
At EC Comics, John Severin was an early contributor to MAD; He submitted the story "VARMINT!" in the very first issue, and continued thru issue #10. It would have been a full streak if Severin had not missed doing a piece for MAD issue #8.
As the Korean war ended, EC's war genre comics began to sell less and less. This led to EC cancelling the Frontline Combat (FC) series. However, EC’s other war title, Two-Fisted Tales(TFT), straggled on a bit longer after FC. Harvey Kurtzman turned over the reins of TFT to Severin, and Severin was assigned the task of editor near the tail-end of EC Comics’ Two-Fisted Tales comic. This dramatic editorial change from Kurtzman (who wanted to focus on MAD) to Severin would only last from issues #36-#39, but Severin would contribute nearly all of the short run's stories (a whopping fourteen stories out of sixteen total comic stories!) - and all four of the front covers!
(Copyright of William M. Gaines Agent Inc.)
After EC : Atlas Comics
Once EC Comics folded up their comic book publishing line, Severin would produce work for the company Atlas Comics (later to be renamed Marvel Comics!)
(Copyright Marvel Comics)
(Copyright Marvel Comics)
(Copyright: Marvel Comics)
Severin at CRACKED magazine
For many, many years, John Severin contributed material to the now-defunct American humor-comic periodical CRACKED. This of course, means that he belonged to a small group of creators that have contributed to both of the main humor comic/magazines of the 20th century (both MAD and CRACKED magazine) at different times - such as Will Elder, Al Jaffee, Don Martin, and Lou Silverstone!
At one point John Severin even illustrated an entire issue of CRACKED magazine! Issue #26 was all-Severin except for a subscription advertisement, and a reprinted Will Elder page.)
During the last few publishing years of the print magazine CRACKED, Severin decided to cease contributing new work for the publication..
with a not-so-subtle "disclaimer" gag.
And then some:
John contributed to the Special 20th anniversary edition of Heavy Metal magazine - the artwork is pictured below:
Reflections On Severin:
Roger Brown, a CRACKED contributor, wrote: “I had the pleasure of working with John on a number of gags. Take [a] look at this piece he did for CRACKED and the amount of detail he put into it...."
"...He could have made my gag just as funny and cut back on the detail, but that was not John's style. He made everything he did his best effort.” Roger Brown added: “... Severin was always doing research on whatever he drew to make sure it was accurate for the period. He studied uniforms, their insignia, badges, to make sure they were authentic."
Cartoonist and comics historian Craig Yoe tells us: "It is little known, but the King of Comics (Steve Ditko, of course), was a big Sev. fan and was studiously influenced by the pen and ink master!”
Rick Parker (Marvel Comics, Papercutz) says : “I only met him once … and he was very nice. I always loved his artwork. I worked with Marie Severin at Marvel."
Drew Friedman wrote the following on his blog: “...But I WAS a fan of John Severin's artwork, so I would pick up an occasional issue of CRACKED over the years.”
In Greg Biga and Jon B. Cooke’s book “John Severin: Two-Fisted Comic Book Artist” artist Richard Corben is quoted as follows : “Although many diverse styles were showcased in those [EC Comics] famous books, I considered Severin to be the most mature and realistic of all of them..”
Thus concludes our birthday celebration of John Severin! Viva Severin!
Recommended Reading:
-John Severin: Two-Fisted Comic Book Artist; by Greg Biga and Jon B. Cooke; TwoMorrows Publishing; 2021
-Squa Tront magazine #11; Various contributors; Fantagraphics Books; 2005
-The Comedy Of John Severin Volume 1; John Severin; COMICFIX & FUN IDEAS PRODUCTIONS; 2019
- Code Of Honor And Other Stories; John Severin; Fantagraphics Books; 2022
- Lambiek Comiclopedia Bio on John Severin; - Online as of December 24, 2024.
Heavy Metal recognizes the birthday of artist John P. Severin today!
John Powers Severin was born December 26, 1921 in Jersey City, New Jersey, in the United States of America.
His first published work, according to Lambiek Comiclopedia, were gag cartoons for the newspaper “The Hobo News”. However, Severin would not start doing comic book art until around 1947, when he would begin at Crestwood Studio; Eventually Severin would end up at EC Comics doing work for both the war comics as well as the company’s MAD comic series.
Over a span of 45+ years , Severin would work on comics for nearly all the big comic publishers; These ranged from CRACKED, DC Comics, EC Comics, MAD, Marvel Comics, Warren Publishing and so on… Quite frankly, Severin’s work output is too numerous to be able list all of his comic contributions here… But keep reading, as we will focus on some highlights of Severin’s career…
EC Comics work: MAD, Two-Fisted Tales
(Copyright of E.C. Publications)
At EC Comics, John Severin was an early contributor to MAD; He submitted the story "VARMINT!" in the very first issue, and continued thru issue #10. It would have been a full streak if Severin had not missed doing a piece for MAD issue #8.
As the Korean war ended, EC's war genre comics began to sell less and less. This led to EC cancelling the Frontline Combat (FC) series. However, EC’s other war title, Two-Fisted Tales(TFT), straggled on a bit longer after FC. Harvey Kurtzman turned over the reins of TFT to Severin, and Severin was assigned the task of editor near the tail-end of EC Comics’ Two-Fisted Tales comic. This dramatic editorial change from Kurtzman (who wanted to focus on MAD) to Severin would only last from issues #36-#39, but Severin would contribute nearly all of the short run's stories (a whopping fourteen stories out of sixteen total comic stories!) - and all four of the front covers!
(Copyright of William M. Gaines Agent Inc.)
After EC : Atlas Comics
Once EC Comics folded up their comic book publishing line, Severin would produce work for the company Atlas Comics (later to be renamed Marvel Comics!)
(Copyright Marvel Comics)
(Copyright Marvel Comics)
(Copyright: Marvel Comics)
Severin at CRACKED magazine
For many, many years, John Severin contributed material to the now-defunct American humor-comic periodical CRACKED. This of course, means that he belonged to a small group of creators that have contributed to both of the main humor comic/magazines of the 20th century (both MAD and CRACKED magazine) at different times - such as Will Elder, Al Jaffee, Don Martin, and Lou Silverstone!
At one point John Severin even illustrated an entire issue of CRACKED magazine! Issue #26 was all-Severin except for a subscription advertisement, and a reprinted Will Elder page.)
During the last few publishing years of the print magazine CRACKED, Severin decided to cease contributing new work for the publication..
with a not-so-subtle "disclaimer" gag.
And then some:
John contributed to the Special 20th anniversary edition of Heavy Metal magazine - the artwork is pictured below:
Reflections On Severin:
Roger Brown, a CRACKED contributor, wrote: “I had the pleasure of working with John on a number of gags. Take [a] look at this piece he did for CRACKED and the amount of detail he put into it...."
"...He could have made my gag just as funny and cut back on the detail, but that was not John's style. He made everything he did his best effort.” Roger Brown added: “... Severin was always doing research on whatever he drew to make sure it was accurate for the period. He studied uniforms, their insignia, badges, to make sure they were authentic."
Cartoonist and comics historian Craig Yoe tells us: "It is little known, but the King of Comics (Steve Ditko, of course), was a big Sev. fan and was studiously influenced by the pen and ink master!”
Rick Parker (Marvel Comics, Papercutz) says : “I only met him once … and he was very nice. I always loved his artwork. I worked with Marie Severin at Marvel."
Drew Friedman wrote the following on his blog: “...But I WAS a fan of John Severin's artwork, so I would pick up an occasional issue of CRACKED over the years.”
In Greg Biga and Jon B. Cooke’s book “John Severin: Two-Fisted Comic Book Artist” artist Richard Corben is quoted as follows : “Although many diverse styles were showcased in those [EC Comics] famous books, I considered Severin to be the most mature and realistic of all of them..”
Thus concludes our birthday celebration of John Severin! Viva Severin!
Recommended Reading:
-John Severin: Two-Fisted Comic Book Artist; by Greg Biga and Jon B. Cooke; TwoMorrows Publishing; 2021
-Squa Tront magazine #11; Various contributors; Fantagraphics Books; 2005
-The Comedy Of John Severin Volume 1; John Severin; COMICFIX & FUN IDEAS PRODUCTIONS; 2019
- Code Of Honor And Other Stories; John Severin; Fantagraphics Books; 2022
- Lambiek Comiclopedia Bio on John Severin; - Online as of December 24, 2024.
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