At the age of 97, trailblazing comic artist Ramona Fradon handed away solely a month after saying her retirement. The prolific pioneer for girls within the male-dominated comics is maybe finest recognized for herdefining runs on Aquaman and extra at DC Comics, and a 15-year run on the syndicated comic strip Brenda Starr, Reporter. Although semi-retired from the grind of standard comics since 1995, Fradon had thus far been engaged on commissioned illustration work.
Fradon, born October 2, 1926, grew to become knowledgeable comic artist and illustrator after graduating from New York’s Parsons School of Design in 1950, changing into one of many solely girls working within the post-war comics business at a time the place most had been locked out as male artists returned from army service.
She discovered a snug dwelling at DC Comics engaged on the likes of Aquaman, Superman, Batman, Plastic Man, and extra. From 1951 her profession at DC started in earnest primarily engaged on Aquaman tales within the pages of Adventure Comics. Her in depth decade-long Aquaman run would see the (*97*) Age reinvention of the character, introduce the hero’s up to date backstory and secret identification (Arthur Curry, son of a lighthouse keeper and inheritor to the dominion of Atlantis) and outline the looks of the blond aquatic bombshell for a complete technology. Fradon would additionally co-create new characters together with Aquaman’s teen sidekick Aqualad (with author Robert Bernstein, 1960), and superhero Metamorpho (with author Bob Haney, 1965).
In 1980, Ramona Fradon took over because the artist on the Chicago Tribune syndicated comic strip Brenda Starr, Reporter when its creator Dale Messick stepped away from the drafting board. Fradon would stay on the strip till 1995, initially working from scripts offered by Messick, adopted by Linda Sutter and Mary Schmich.
As beforehand talked about since 1995 Fradon had been engaged on commissioned illustration work offered by way of Catskill Comics most notably variant covers for DC Comics. Over the weekend, colorist Trish Mulvihill shared on social media DC variant covers for Women’s History Month drawn by Fradon with inks by Sandra Hope and colours by Mulvihill.
Two weeks in the past, we completed these Ramona Fradon covers for Women’s History Month. DC Comics Eddy Choi despatched these final evening to share. Inks by Sandra Hope, coloration by yours really. RIP Ramona, it was an honor. pic.twitter.com/hzNIjbOt3o
— Trish Mulvihill (@trishm) February 26, 2024
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