The Enigma of the East

Last post, there was a comment from ToB that reminded me of one of my favorite character renderings by Nick Cardy, back at the tail end of the Silver Age of Comics. Lilith, an empathic clairvoyant who joined up with the original Teen Titans was drawn and written as a mysterious and caring teen wonder, and I, well, I sorta had a mid-teen crush on this paper doll, thanks to Cardy's drawing style.

Kid Robson wrote a post of this schoolboy phenomenon, here. 

I wonder, did girls have crushes for Superboy, or Brainiac 5, or Robin the Teen Wonder? Wally West? Hawk and Dove? AquaLad?

 Above and below, Nick Cardy — Lilith — The Teen Titans

The Daring & The Different

I have a genuine fondness for the DC comics of the 1967-74 years, a transition period of sorts between the Silver and Bronze Ages. The art and the stories were actually better in many ways than the Golden and Silver Ages, as the comics industry was starting into its 3rd generation of talent. Don't get me wrong though, the Golden and Silver years were raw, bold, colorful, and wonderful — with a huge nostalgic factor. 

Below is a tribute by Nick Cardy, one of the 2nd generation artists that was at the top of his game during this period. I have bittersweet memories of this time, as it bookended my high school years into my army years, when I was still collecting as I could, attending early comicons and such, and seeking out my favorite creators to shake their hands.

Nick Cardy — Comic Book Artist — 1999

World's Finest

I haven't purchased or read new comics for the last several years. I'm sure there's some good stuff out there somewhere, but it's too cumbersome to look for it. I mourn the passing of the days when comics were just a good ol' goof ball of a time, with art that was solid and stories that were, well, goof ball, but fun. The golden and silver ages were cool, but some of the best art and stories were from the DC Bronze Age world—artists like Gil Kane (at his finest), Neal Adams (at his finest), Joe Kubert (at his finest), Curt Swan (at his—okay, you get the point of being at their finest), and oh some many others, including Nick Cardy (sigh, yes, at his finest).

My personal method of bracketing the Bronze Age is from the time of the go-go checks on DC comic covers, in the mid 60s, to Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, in the mid 80s. I grew up in the silver age, but my fondest memories of the comic book experience are from that Age of Bronze. After The Dark Knight, there was some good stuff, but primarily dark and gritty, with bewildering continuities. And now DC is going to reboot continuities once again, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to be getting any of my money.

Wonder Woman has been drawn by a millyum artists, with a millyum different takes on her personality and costume. But my all-time favorite WW 'look' is from the Bronze Age, by Nick Cardy. Simple, clean, stylish. If only the new reboot had this look and feel on all their books, I'd be spending a LOT of money on comics, and I think some of you would as well.

Nick Cardy — Wonder Woman — 1973

My Favorite Nick Cardy Cover

It's amazing how comic book covers have memories embedded within them. That is to say, seeing a certain comic cover will trigger a specific memory, usually of the first time I saw it. 

When I see this cover, I remember 40 years ago, trudging through a numbing blizzard, at night, to a drug store (on Colfax Avenue), to buy some medicine for my mom who was ill in bed. Passing the comic spinner, I remember doing a classic double take when this comic caught my eye. I bought it and a few other DCs (that I don't remember at all) and made my way back home, chilled to the bone. After attending to my mom's needs, I settled down to the comics, saving this one for the last. Now cozy and comfortable, this cover and its situation seemed all the more chilling, having just come in from the cold, thankful I didn't have to hide from passing warriors. 

It's actually a warm memory.

Nick Cardy—Bat Lash #2-January 1969