Ed Benes
Encyclopedia
José Edilbenes Bezerra is a Brazilian comic book artist, better known by his pen name of Ed Benes. He was highly regarded since his work at DC Comics
on such titles as Birds of Prey, Supergirl
, Superman
, and Justice League of America
where he was the artist named to take over the series relaunch.
in 1993. That opportunity happened when Benes was sending test drawings for a portfolio and was discovered by Neal Adams
. In the 1990s Benes began to work for Marvel
where he did art for multiple comic book titles, including a Captain Marvel
6-part miniseries.
He became familiarized by his drawings of superhero
pin-up girl
s, but matured significantly as an artist, as he moved to DC
where continued penciling more work for titles such as Gen¹³
, Birds of Prey, Supergirl (vol. 3), and Superman
(vol. 2). In 2006 Benes (along with the writer Brad Meltzer
) was assigned to provide art to a new Justice League of America
series, which he drew until 2009. After some sporadic contributions in Batman
and Birds of Prey (vol. 2) titles, Benes is currently working on Steel
new on-going series.
Because his primary language is Portuguese
, Benes works almost exclusively through translators in order for him to effectively communicate with his American co-workers. Brad Meltzer
made special note of this in the first hardcover collection of Justice League of America, fearing that a key scene wouldn't be illustrated correctly because of Meltzer's specific details. Fortunately, DC's translator Joe Prado translated every word of Meltzer's instructions, and Meltzer praised both men by saying "every detail is in there..."
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
on such titles as Birds of Prey, Supergirl
Supergirl
Supergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, and Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
where he was the artist named to take over the series relaunch.
Biography
Ed Benes began drawing on his own in 1989, referencing the artwork from his brother's comic books. His debut into comic books was Samuree, for Continuity ComicsContinuity Comics
Continuity Publishing, also known as Continuity Comics, was an American independent comic book company formed by Neal Adams in 1984, publishing comics until 1994....
in 1993. That opportunity happened when Benes was sending test drawings for a portfolio and was discovered by Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
. In the 1990s Benes began to work for Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
where he did art for multiple comic book titles, including a Captain Marvel
Genis-Vell
Genis-Vell, also known as Legacy, Captain Marvel, and Photon, is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He is depicted as the son of Mar-Vell of the extraterrestrial Kree Empire, who was the first character to be known as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Universe...
6-part miniseries.
He became familiarized by his drawings of superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
pin-up girl
Pin-up girl
A pin-up girl, also known as a pin-up model, is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as popular culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display, e.g. meant to be "pinned-up" on a wall...
s, but matured significantly as an artist, as he moved to DC
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
where continued penciling more work for titles such as Gen¹³
Gen¹³
Gen¹³ is a fictional superhero team and comic book series originally written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi and illustrated by J. Scott Campbell. It was originally published by Image Comics under the banner Wildstorm, which went on to become an imprint for DC Comics, who continued publishing the Gen¹³...
, Birds of Prey, Supergirl (vol. 3), and Superman
Superman (vol. 2)
Superman was an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The second volume of the previous ongoing Superman title, the series was published from cover dates January 1987 to April 2006, and ran for 228 issues...
(vol. 2). In 2006 Benes (along with the writer Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer is a bestselling American political thriller novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator and award-winning comic book author.-Early life:...
) was assigned to provide art to a new Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
series, which he drew until 2009. After some sporadic contributions in Batman
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
and Birds of Prey (vol. 2) titles, Benes is currently working on Steel
Steel (John Henry Irons)
Steel , also known as the Man of Steel, is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. First appearing in The Adventures of Superman #500 , he is the third character known as Steel and was created by Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove...
new on-going series.
Because his primary language is Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, Benes works almost exclusively through translators in order for him to effectively communicate with his American co-workers. Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer is a bestselling American political thriller novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator and award-winning comic book author.-Early life:...
made special note of this in the first hardcover collection of Justice League of America, fearing that a key scene wouldn't be illustrated correctly because of Meltzer's specific details. Fortunately, DC's translator Joe Prado translated every word of Meltzer's instructions, and Meltzer praised both men by saying "every detail is in there..."
Studio and teaching
Ed Benes has also begun a studio for aspiring comic book artists who want to learn from a professional on how to find work in the comic industry. The Ed Benes Studio currently offers several courses on illustration and the art and technique of sequential storytelling. In addition, the Studio also hosts a wide range of lectures and workshops specifically designed to help improve an artist’s core skill sets that are essential for an artist to be able to succeed and adapt in today’s ever-expanding comics art and illustration market.DC
- Action ComicsAction ComicsAction Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
#836 (among other artists), Annual #13 (2006-10) - Artemis: Requiem, miniseries, #1-6 (1996)
- BatmanBatman (comic book)Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
#687 (2009) - Birds of Prey #56-65, 67, 70, 72, 75, 79-80 (2003–05)
- Birds of Prey, vol. 2, #1-4 (2010)
- Blackest Night: Titans, miniseries, #1-3 (2009)
- Codename: KnockoutCodename: KnockoutCodename: Knockout is the title of a comic book series published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics for 24 issues between June 2001 and June 2003...
#15-18 (2002) - Countdown to Infinite CrisisCountdown to Infinite CrisisDC Countdown, commonly referred to as Countdown to Infinite Crisis, is a one-shot publication and the official start of the Infinite Crisis storyline. It was released 30 March 2005, sold out, and quickly went to a second printing. When this comic was first published, the cover showed Batman holding...
#1 (among other artists) (2005) - DC UniverseDC UniverseThe DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
#0 (among other artists) (2008) - Deathstroke, the TerminatorDeathstrokeDeathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
Annual #3 (1994) - FlashThe Flash (comic book)The Flash is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1...
, vol. 2, Annual #7 (1994) - Gen 13 #45-49, 52, 55-57, 59, 61-65 (2000)
- Green LanternGreen Lantern (comic book)Green Lantern is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics heroes of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Alan Scott, appeared in All-American Comics #16, and was later spun off into the first volume of Green Lantern in 1941. That series was canceled in 1949 after 39 issues...
, vol. 4, #49 (2010) - GunfireGunfireGunfire can refer to:* Gunshot, the discharge of a firearm* Gunfire , a DC comic book superhero* Gunfire , a 1934 Western starring Rex Bell* Gunfire , a 1950 Western starring Don "Red" Barry...
#0, 6-7, 10-13 (1994–95) - Justice League of America, vol. 2, #0-7, 9-10, 12, 14-15, 17-19, 22-23, 25-27 (2006–09)
- Justice League Task ForceJustice League Task ForceJustice League Task Force refers to superheroes owned and published by DC Comics.It is also the name of a publication and a video game:*Justice League Task Force - the name of a former DC Comics publication, as well as a superhero team....
#24 (1995) - Red Lanterns #1- (2011)
- SteelSteel (John Henry Irons)Steel , also known as the Man of Steel, is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe. First appearing in The Adventures of Superman #500 , he is the third character known as Steel and was created by Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove...
#1 (one-shot) (2011) - Supergirl, vol. 3, #75-80 (2002–03)
- SupergirlSupergirl (Kara Zor-El)Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
, vol. 4, #6 (2006) - SupermanSuperman (comic book)Superman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938...
#649 (among other artists) (2006) - SupermanSuperman (vol. 2)Superman was an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The second volume of the previous ongoing Superman title, the series was published from cover dates January 1987 to April 2006, and ran for 228 issues...
, vol. 2, #217-219, 221-223, 225-226 (2005–06) - Superman/BatmanSuperman/BatmanSuperman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
#50, 78 (2008-10) - Teen Titans, vol. 3, Annual #1 (among other artists) (2006), #68 (2009)
- ThundercatsThunderCatsThunderCats is an American animated television series that was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions debuting in 1984, based on the characters created by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. The series follows the adventures of a group of cat-like humanoid aliens...
: The Return, miniseries, #1-5 (2003) - Untold Tales of Blackest Night #1 (among other artists) (2010)
- Wonder WomanWonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, vol. 2, (Artemis) Annual #6 (1997)
Marvel
- Captain AmericaCaptain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, vol. 2, #12 (along with Joe BennettJoe BennettJoe Bennett may refer to:* Joe Bennett , British musician* Joe Bennett , Brazilian comic book penciller* Joe Bennett , New Zealand writer* Joe Bennett , American Major League player...
) (1997) - Captain MarvelGenis-VellGenis-Vell, also known as Legacy, Captain Marvel, and Photon, is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He is depicted as the son of Mar-Vell of the extraterrestrial Kree Empire, who was the first character to be known as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Universe...
, miniseries, #1-4, 6 (1995–96) - GladiatorGladiatorA gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
/Supreme (along with Carlos Mota) (1997) - Iron ManIron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, vol. 2, #12 (among other artists) (1997) - Silver SurferSilver SurferThe Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
, vol. 2, #124 (1997) - Uncanny X-MenUncanny X-MenUncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#351 (1998) - What If?What If (comics)What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
, vol. 2, (HulkHulk (comics)The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
) #80 (along with Kerry GammillKerry GammillKerry Gammill is an American artist who has worked in the fields of comic books, special effects, storyboards, and character designs.-Early life:...
) (1995)
Other Publishers
- WildC.A.T.S. #44-50 (1998) (Image)
- Samuree, vol. 2, #4 (Continuity)
External links
- Ed Benes on deviantARTDeviantArtdeviantART is an online community showcasing various forms of user-made artwork. It was first launched on August 7, 2000 by Scott Jarkoff, Matthew Stephens, Angelo Sotira and others. deviantArt, Inc...