Klaus Janson | |
---|---|
![]() Janson at the New York Comic Con | |
Born | Coburg, West Germany | January 23, 1952
Nationality | Naturalized American |
Area(s) | Penciller, Inker, Colourist |
Notable works | The Dark Knight Returns Daredevil |
Awards | Kirby Award (x2) Eisner Award, 2004 Harvey Award (x3) Inkwell Award The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award (2010) Inkwell Award for Favorite Inker (2013) |
Klaus Janson (born January 23, 1952)[1][2] is a German-born American comics artist, working regularly for Marvel Comics and DC Comics and sporadically for independent companies. While he is best known as an inker, Janson has frequently worked as a penciller and colorist.
Early life
Klaus Janson was born in Coburg, West Germany.[3] He emigrated to the United States in 1957, settling with his family in Connecticut,[3] where he lived in Bridgeport from 1957 to 1972.[4] When he was young, his Spider-Man collection was thrown away by his mother. Janson then became interested in the premiering character Daredevil, who wasn't popular among Janson's friends.[5]
Career
After a short stint as assistant to Dick Giordano in the early 1970s,[6] Janson's first credited comics artwork was published by Marvel Comics in Jungle Action #6 (Sept. 1973).[7] Janson came to prominence as the inker over Sal Buscema's pencils on The Defenders. Since then he has freelanced on most of the major titles at Marvel and DC. In 1975 he began a long run as inker on Daredevil, running from #124 (Aug. 1975) to #196 (July 1983). With #171 the series went from bi-monthly to monthly; unable to handle the increased workload, then-writer/penciler Frank Miller began increasingly relying on Janson for the artwork, sending him looser and looser pencils beginning with #173.[8] By issue #185, Miller had virtually relinquished his role as Daredevil's artist, and was providing only rough layouts for Janson to pencil, ink, and color.[8] After Miller's departure, Janson drew the series by himself for four issues.
Janson began working for DC Comics in the early 1980s and inked Gene Colan's pencils on Detective Comics and Jemm, Son of Saturn.[7] Janson was one of the artists on Superman #400 (Oct. 1984)[9] and was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series.[10] His collaboration with Miller on Daredevil would soon be eclipsed by a second collaboration between them, on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in 1986.[11] Janson has frequently pencilled and inked for various Batman titles, including the first Detective Comics Annual with writer Dennis O'Neil,[12] "Gothic" with Grant Morrison,[13] and "Knightfall" with Doug Moench.[14] In 1994, Janson drew the Batman-Spawn: War Devil intercompany crossover which was written by Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant.[15] Janson wrote a short story in the anthology miniseries Batman: Black and White #3 (August 1996).[7] Janson drew part of the "Cataclysm" crossover as well.[16]
Janson and writer Mike Baron introduced the character Microchip as an ally of the Punisher in The Punisher #4 (November 1987).[17] In 1993, Janson drew a three-part story featuring Electro for Spider-Man #38–40.[18] Janson inked the early issues of The Sensational Spider-Man which had been written and penciled by Dan Jurgens.[19] Janson's work as an inker and occasional penciler at Marvel Comics includes collaborations with John Romita Jr. on Wolverine, The Amazing Spider-Man and Black Panther. His other work includes Batman: Death and the Maidens,[20] World War Hulk, Battlestar Galactica, Logan's Run, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In 2010, he inked Romita Jr.'s pencils on The Avengers.[7] and in 2014 the two artists collaborated on Superman.[21] Janson was one of the artists on The Dark Knight III: The Master Race which was co-written by Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello.[22]
Janson has taught sequential storytelling at the School of Visual Arts in New York City since the 1990s[23] and has written both The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics and The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics. Janson also holds annual seminars at Marvel for the editorial staff and their up-and-coming artists, and taught short courses on comics storytelling for the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.[6]
In 2015, Janson was the Guest of Honor at the 2015 Inkwell Awards Awards Ceremony at HeroesCon.[24]
Awards
- 1987 Kirby Award:
- Best Art Team (with Frank Miller) for Daredevil
- Best Single Issue for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1
- 1989 Golden Apple Award for Best Artist[23] (Anglo-Saxon Comics Festival)[25]
- 2000 Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for Favorite Reprint Graphic Album for Manhunter: The Special Edition
- 2004 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album — Reprint for The Batman Adventures: Dangerous Dames & Demons
- 2010 Harvey Award for Best Inker for The Amazing Spider-Man[26]
- 2010 Inkwell Award The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award[27]
- 2011 Shel Dorf Awards for Inker of the Year
- 2012 Inkpot Award[28]
- 2013 Harvey Award for Best Inker for Captain America[29]
- 2013 Inkwell Award for Favorite Inker[30]
- 2015 Inkwell Awards Guest of Honor[24]
- 2016 Harvey Award for Best Inker for The Dark Knight III: The Master Race[31]
Bibliography
Image
- Sacred Creatures #1–8 (2018)
Atlas/Seaboard Comics
- Wulf the Barbarian #1–2 (1975)
DC Comics
- 9-11 – The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember Volume 2 (2002)
- Action Comics #447, 800 (1975, 2003)
- The Adventures of Superman #458, 526, 539 (1989–1996)
- Atari Force #14 (1985)
- Batgirl #30 (2002)
- Batman #343–345, 348, 553–554, 80-Page Giant #1 (1982–1998)
- The Batman Adventures Annual #1 (1994)
- Batman Black and White #3 (1996)
- The Batman Chronicles #12 (1998)
- Batman: Death and the Maidens #1–9 (2003–2004)
- Batman: Gordon of Gotham #1–4 (1998)
- Batman: Gordon's Law #1–4 (1996)
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #6–10 (1990)
- Batman: Shadow of the Bat #55 (1996)
- Batman-Spawn: War Devil #1 (1994)
- Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1 (2002)
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1–4 (1986)
- Batman 3-D Graphic Novel #1 (1990, one page)
- Batman: Toyman #1 (1998)
- Big Book of Little Criminals (1996, one page)
- Convergence Batman and Robin #1–2 (2015)
- Dark Days: The Casting #1 (2017)
- Dark Days: The Forge #1 (2017)
- The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1–9 (2016–2017)
- DC Challenge #4 (1986)
- DC Comics Presents #82 (Superman and Adam Strange) (1985)
- DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel #3 (1985) (adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "Frost and Fire")
- DCU Holiday Bash III (1999)
- Detective Comics (Batman) #510, 512, 528, 547, 553–554, 568, 681, 685–686, 720–721, 783, Annual #1, 10; (Hawkman) #446; (Green Arrow) #549–550 (1975–2003)
- Firestorm #1 (1978)
- Green Arrow #123, 137 (1997–1998)
- Heroes Against Hunger #1 (1986, two pages)
- Jemm, Son of Saturn #1–5, 7 (1984–1985)
- JLA: Classified #16–18 (2006)
- Justice League Dark Annual #2 (2014)
- Just Imagine Stan Lee With Scott McDaniel Creating Aquaman (2002)
- The Kamandi Challenge #7 (2017)
- Legends of the DC Universe #20–21, 28–29, 37–38, 80-Page Giant #2 (1999–2001)
- Legion Worlds #5 (2001)
- Lobo: A Contract On Gawd #1 (1994)
- New Challengers #1–3 (2018)
- Orion #18 (2001)
- Secret Origins vol. 2 #33 (1988)
- Showcase '93 #7–8 (1993)
- Silverblade #1 (1987)
- Spectre vol. 3 #53 (1997)
- Strange Adventures vol. 2 #2 (1999)
- Superman #400 (1984)
- Superman vol. 3 #32–38, 40–41, 44 (2014–2015)
- Superman Forever #1 (1998)
- Superman Lex 2000 #1 (2001)
- Superman: The Man of Steel #41 (1995)
- Tangent Comics/The Batman #1 (1998)
- Who's Who in Star Trek #2 (1987)
- Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993 #1 (1992)
- Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #2, 5, 7 (1985)
- World's Finest Comics #300 (1984)
Marvel Comics
- Amazing Adventures #25 (1974)
- The Amazing Spider-Man #209, 244, 250–251, 546, 568–573, 600, 663–664, 674–675, 680–681, 688–691, Annual #15, Annual 2000 (1980–2012)
- Astonishing Tales #31, 33–35 (1974–1976)
- The Avengers #172–173, 182–184, 382, Annual #15 (1978–1995)
- The Avengers vol. 4 #1–12, 14, 16–17 (2010–2011)
- Avengers: The Ultron Imperative #1 (2001)
- Battlestar Galactica #4–9, 11–15, 17–23 (1979–1981)
- Bizarre Adventures #27 (1981)
- Black Panther vol. 2 #36 (2001)
- Black Panther vol. 3 #1–6, 10–18 (2005–2006)
- Blood and Glory: Punisher/Captain America #1–3 (1992)
- Captain Marvel #33, 37–39 (1974–1975)
- Creatures on the Loose #33 (1975)
- Daredevil #124–132, 140, 147–152, 156–161, 163–197, 234, 500, Annual #5 (1975–1986, 2009)
- Daredevil vol. 2 #50 (2003)
- Daredevil: End of Days #1–7 (2012–2013)
- Defenders #13, 15, 19, 35–47, 51, 55–56, 58, Giant-Size #2, Annual #1 (1974–1978)
- Defenders vol. 2 #1–3 (2001)
- Doctor Strange vol. 2 #6 (1975)
- Elektra Saga #1–4 (1984)
- Fall of the Hulks: Gamma #1 (2010)
- Fantastic Four #296 (1986)
- Fantastic Four Roast #1 (1982)
- Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1–2 (1996)
- Gambit #1–4 (1993–1994)
- Gambit vol. 2 #1–4 (1997)
- Ghost Rider, Wolverine, Punisher: Hearts of Darkness #1 (1991)
- Heroes for Hope #1 (1985, two pages)
- Howard the Duck #14–21, 25–27 (1977–1978)
- Howard the Duck (black and white magazine) #1–2, 4 (1979–1980)
- The Hulk #17–18 (Moon Knight backup stories) (1979)
- Hulk Smash #1–2 (2001)
- The Incredible Hulk #227 (1978)
- Jungle Action #6–12 (1973–1974)
- Kingpin #1–7 (2003–2004)
- Kull the Conqueror #3, 5–6 (1983–1984)
- Logan's Run #1–5, 7 (1977)
- Man-Thing #12 (1974)
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #42 (1992)
- Marvel Age Annual #4 (1988)
- Marvel Comics Presents #1–10, 165 (1988–1994)
- Marvel Double-Shot #4 (2003)
- Marvel Holiday Special #1 (1992)
- Marvel Knights #1–6 (2000)
- Marvel Premiere #31 (1976)
- Marvel Preview #13 (1978)
- Marvel Spotlight #33 (1977)
- Marvel Super Special #3–4, 15, 18 (1978–1981)
- Marvel Treasury Edition #12 (1977)
- Marvel Two-in-One #10 (1975)
- Master of Kung Fu #23 (1974)
- Midnight Sons Unlimited #1 (1993)
- The Mighty Avengers #15 (2008)
- Monsters Unleashed #3 (1973)
- Moon Knight #4–7 (1981)
- Nova #25 (1979)
- Power Man #39 (1977)
- The Punisher vol. 2 #1–5 (1987–1988)
- The Punisher War Journal #11 (1989)
- The Punisher War Zone #1–7 (1992)
- Savage Sword of Conan #48 (1980)
- The Sensational Spider-Man #0, 1–6 (1996)
- Silver Surfer Annual '97 #1 (1997)
- Spider-Man #26, 38–40, 49 (1992–1994)
- Spider-Man Unlimited vol. 2 #15 (2006)
- Spider-Man: The Lost Years #1–3 (1995)
- St. George #1–6 (1988–1989)
- Star Trek #4–7, 10 (1980–1981)
- Star Wars Annual #3 (1983)
- Supernatural Thrillers #12 (1975)
- Supreme Power: Hyperion #1–5 (2005–2006)
- Tales of the Marvel Universe #1 (1997)
- Tarzan #14–19 (1978)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day #1 (1991)
- Thor #240, Annual #6 (1975–1977)
- Thor vol. 2 #1–8, 10–13, 15–17, 19–22, 26–27, Annual 1999 (1998–2000)
- The Tomb of Dracula vol. 2 #4 (1980)
- Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #3 (1975)
- Vampire Tales #2–3 (1973–1974)
- What If...? #3, 28 (1977–1981)
- What If...? vol. 2 #100 (1997)
- Wolverine vol. 2 #2, 17–22 (1988–1990)
- Wolverine vol. 3 #20–31 (2004–2005)
- World War Hulk #1–5 (2007–2008)
- X-Men Chronicles #1 (1995)
- X-Men: Legacy #208 (2008)
References
- ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
- ^ Schmidt, Andy (February 13, 2009). The Insider's Guide To Creating Comics And Graphic Novels. Impact Books. p. 139. ISBN 978-1600610226.
The Insider's Guide To Creating Comics Klaus Janson.
- ^ a b "Klaus Janson". Lambiek Comiclopedia. February 18, 2011. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
- ^ "Connecticut Talent". Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- ^ introduction to "Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus"
- ^ a b "Storytelling for Comics Artists". Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art. 2010. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010.
After a short stint as assistant to Dick Giordano in the early 1970s, Klaus Janson went freelance, working for several comics publishers as writer, penciler, inker and colorist.
- ^ a b c d Klaus Janson at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ a b Cordier, Philippe (April 2007). "Seeing Red: Dissecting Daredevil's Defining Years". Back Issue! (21). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 33–60.
- ^ Addiego, Frankie (December 2013). "Superman #400". Back Issue! (69). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 68–70.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!". Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 37–38.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, eds. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
It is arguably the best Batman story of all time. Written and drawn by Frank Miller (with inspired inking by Klaus Janson and beautiful watercolors by Lynn Varley), Batman: The Dark Knight revolutionized the entire genre of the super hero.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, eds. (2014). "1980s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 174. ISBN 978-1465424563.
Dennis O'Neil stepped out of his editorial role once again to chronicle a Batman adventure for Detective Comics first annual. Illustrated by Klaus Janson, Batman and Talia al Ghul hunted for the Penguin.
- ^ Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 186: "Grant Morrison stepped up to the plate to pen [Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight's] next five-issue storyline, illustrated by Klaus Janson."
- ^ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: "'Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover event that passed through the pages of...the Showcase '93 Two-Face feature scripted by Doug Moench and drawn by Klaus Janson."
- ^ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "Fans were also treated to a companion special entitled Batman-Spawn...by writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant, and artist Klaus Janson."
- ^ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 283: "The seventeen-part 'Cataclysm' storyline showed a Gotham City devastated by an earthquake."
- ^ DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, eds. (2008). "1980s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 232. ISBN 978-0756641238.
Linus 'Microchip' Lieberman first appeared in this issue by writer Mike Baron and artist Klaus Janson.
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Gilbert, Laura, eds. (2012). "1990s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 205. ISBN 978-0756692360.
Long-time Spidey villain Electro was the focus of a three-part tale written by J. M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Klaus Janson.
- ^ Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 224: "The new Spidey title felt fresh and exciting...Issue #0, written and penciled by Dan Jurgens, with Klaus Janson inking, provided a quick recap for latecomers."
- ^ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 269: "Writer Greg Rucka and artist Klaus Janson created this series that delved into the family tree of [Ra's al Ghul]."
- ^ Khouri, Andy (February 4, 2014). "Geoff Johns Returns To Superman In Collaboration With John Romita Jr". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on February 6, 2014.
- ^ Wheeler, Andrew (July 9, 2015). "Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson Join The Master Race (The Comic)". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015.
- ^ a b "Our Faculty: Klaus Janson". School of Visual Arts. n.d. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ a b Almond, Bob (June 10, 2015). "Guest of Honor Klaus Janson to speak at the 2015 Inkwell Awards Ceremony during Heroes Con". Inkwell Awards. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016.
- ^ Jenneguin (manga critic), Jean-Paul. "Toriyama Exhibition Essays: AKIRA TORIYAMA AND FRANCE". Kanzenshuu: The Perfect Dragon Ball Collection. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
In November 1989, I was a guest lecturer at the First Anglo-Saxon Comics Festival in Villeneuve-d'Ascq,... a suburb of Lille, a city in the north of France. Two fans of American comics had thought the town would be the ideal location for a comics festival focusing on American and British comics, as Villeneuve is very close to Britain.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (August 30, 2010). "2010 Harvey Award winners". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015.
- ^ Almond, Bob (January 23, 2011). "2010 Winners". Inkwell Awards. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016.
- ^ "Comic-Con International's Newest Inkpot Award Winners!". San Diego Comic-Con International. 2013. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015.
- ^ Seifert, Mark (September 7, 2013). "Saga Wins Big At 2013 Harvey Awards, Plus Complete List Of Winners". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Archive requires scrolldown
- ^ Almond, Bob (June 12, 2013). "2013 Winners". Inkwell Awards. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016.
- ^ "Saga & Peanuts Top 2016 Harvey Awards Winners, One Publisher Major Shut Out". Newsarama. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on September 7, 2016.
External links
- Klaus Janson at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Klaus Janson at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
- Klaus Janson at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators