Gaspar Saladino
Encyclopedia
Gaspar Saladino is an award-winning letterer
and logo
designer
who worked for over 50 years in the comic book
industry, mostly for DC Comics
. He has over 3,000 credits on the Grand Comics Database. Eventually Saladino went by one name, "Gaspar," which he wrote in his trademark calligraphy. Veteran award-winning comic book letterers Todd Klein
, Tom Orzechowski
, and Clem Robins all claim Saladino was the best letterer they ever saw.
From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, Saladino did the titles, lettering, and sound effects for all DC Comics
covers. For a period in the 1970s, he was also "page-one letterer" for many Marvel Comics
books. Saladino is widely celebrated for the distinctive lettering work he did for DC's Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
(written by Grant Morrison
and drawn by Dave McKean
), giving characters their own fonts, and lending the Joker
's dialogue a wild, ink-spattered manic intensity.
, Gil Kane
, Joe Orlando
, Jack Adler
, and Alex Toth
. While still in school, Saladino did some professional inking
— mostly one-pagers — for Lloyd Jacquet
's "Funnies, Inc."
After graduating from high school, Saladino was drafted into the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed in Tokyo and worked with the Air Force's Airways and Air Communication Service.
in Action Comics
. In the late 1950s and 1960s, Saladino was a mainstay on DC editor Julius Schwartz
's books, like Strange Adventures
, Mystery in Space
, Justice League of America, The Flash, Showcase
, and many more.
In 1966, Saladino lettered the first few issues of Warren Publishing
's horror title Eerie
.
When Carmine Infantino
came on as DC's editorial director in 1966/1967, Saladino was taken off interior lettering, and assigned the task of lettering virtually every cover DC published. This changed the whole line's look, from long-time cover letterer Ira Schnapp
's sedate style to Saladino's more dynamic, organic look. All the same, during this period, Saladino lettered the interiors for the new title Swamp Thing
. It was in the pages of Swamp Thing that Gaspar created the conceit of defining a character-designed lettering style, with Swamp Thing's distinctive outlined, "drippy" look.
Even though Saladino was in effect DC's house letterer, he was never on staff, and maintained his freelance career. In the 1970s, while still working for DC, Saladino began freelancing for Marvel, using the pseudonym "L.P. Gregory" (possibly to avoid getting in trouble for working for both Marvel and DC simultaneously), lettering titles like The Avengers
and Tales to Astonish
.
In the mid-to-late 1970s Saladino became the uncredited "page-one letterer" for many Marvel Comics
titles. For some reason during this time there was a shortage of qualified comic book letterers. Marvel was forced to hire some letterers who they felt were acceptable for lettering the captions and dialogue balloons of a normal interior page, but unable to do good "display lettering": the story title lettering and other special captions and credits that usually went on a story's first page. So the company began the practice of having Saladino letter opening pages whenever possible. The rest of the book was completed by one of the less-qualified letterers.
In 1976, perhaps reflecting his experience with both companies, Saladino was assigned the job of lettering the historic DC-Marvel crossover book Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man
. He also lettered the oversize special issue Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
. By 1977, Saladino was lettering most of DC's war comics, in addition to plenty of superhero and mystery stories.
In 1989, Saladino did his groundbreaking work on DC's Arkham Asylum
. In the 1990s and into the early 2000s, Saladino worked mostly for DC and its Vertigo imprint, spending nine years as the regular letterer of The Flash, five years on L.E.G.I.O.N.
and four on Hellblazer
.
Saladino's output since 2002 has been minimal.
Whereas previous DC designer Ira Schnapp's house advertisements were known for their large blocks of stately text, Saladino's house ads employed the principle of "five words or less," with the words heavily stylized and frequent use of the exclamation point.
Gaspar used a sandblock to grind down and sharpen his pen nibs
. The "Gaspar Stone," as it was known around comics circles, was an inch wide by three inches long, and consisted of several layers of sand-strip. "After the top piece wore out, you’d just peel it off and use the piece underneath."
, Phantom Stranger
, Metal Men
, Adam Strange
, House of Mystery
, House of Secrets, Unknown Soldier, and Vigilante
, among others. He also re-designed established character logos to make them more contemporary and stylish, such as with Green Lantern.
For Marvel, Saladino's well-known logos (which he either created or updated) include The Avengers
, Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
, Captain America and the Falcon
, and Marvel Triple Action.
In 1974, with the launch of the short-lived publisher Atlas Comics, Saladino was hired to design logos for all the company's titles. He did the same thing in the 1980s for Neal Adams
' Continuity Comics
. During the 1980s, Saladinos also designed the logos of some titles published by Eclipse Comics
.
Letterer
A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and...
and logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
who worked for over 50 years in the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
industry, mostly for DC Comics
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...
. He has over 3,000 credits on the Grand Comics Database. Eventually Saladino went by one name, "Gaspar," which he wrote in his trademark calligraphy. Veteran award-winning comic book letterers Todd Klein
Todd Klein
Todd Klein is an American comic book letterer, logo designer, and occasional writer, primarily for DC Comics.- Early career:Todd Klein broke into comics in the summer of 1977, hired by DC Comics as a staff production worker...
, Tom Orzechowski
Tom Orzechowski
Tom Orzechowski is an award-winning comic book letterer, primarily known for his work on Uncanny X-Men. Over the course of Orzechowski's career, he has lettered something on the order of 6,000 pages of Chris Claremont's scripts.-Early career:In 1968, when Orzechowski was 15, he met a group of...
, and Clem Robins all claim Saladino was the best letterer they ever saw.
From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, Saladino did the titles, lettering, and sound effects for all DC Comics
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...
covers. For a period in the 1970s, he was also "page-one letterer" for many Marvel Comics
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...
books. Saladino is widely celebrated for the distinctive lettering work he did for DC's Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is a Batman graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean. It was originally published in the United States in both hardcover and softcover editions by DC Comics in 1989...
(written by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and drawn by Dave McKean
Dave McKean
David McKean is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician....
), giving characters their own fonts, and lending the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
's dialogue a wild, ink-spattered manic intensity.
Early life and education
Saladino was born in Brooklyn and went to Manhattan's High School of Industrial Arts, where he majored in cartooning. A number of Saladino's high school contemporaries also later went on to distinguished careers in the comics field, among them Carmine InfantinoCarmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books...
, Gil Kane
Gil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
, Joe Orlando
Joe Orlando
Joseph Orlando was a prolific illustrator, writer, editor and cartoonist during a lengthy career spanning six decades...
, Jack Adler
Jack Adler
Jack Adler was an artist who worked as a cover artist and colorist for DC Comics. He was a staff member of DC's production department from 1946–1981, rising steadily up the ranks to production manager and vice president of production.Adler's first comics job was for Funny Folks #2...
, and Alex Toth
Alex Toth
Alexander Toth was an American professional cartoonist active from the 1940s through the 1980s. Toth's work began in the American comic book industry, but is known for his animation designs for Hanna-Barbera throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His work included Super Friends, Space Ghost, The...
. While still in school, Saladino did some professional inking
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
— mostly one-pagers — for Lloyd Jacquet
Lloyd Jacquet
Lloyd Victor Jacquet was the founder of Funnies, Inc., one of the first and most prominent of a handful of comic book "packagers" established in the late 1930s that created comics on demand for publishers testing the waters of the emerging medium. Among its other achievements, Funnies, Inc...
's "Funnies, Inc."
After graduating from high school, Saladino was drafted into the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed in Tokyo and worked with the Air Force's Airways and Air Communication Service.
Career
Saladino's lettering career began in 1951 when he left the fashion industry, where he had worked as an illustrator. His first job was on Jimmy Wakely #9, a "cowboy romance" comic published by DC. He did much of the lettering for the humor strips of Henry BoltinoffHenry Boltinoff
Henry Boltinoff was an American cartoonist who worked for both comic strips and comic books. He drew many of the humor and filler strips that appeared in DC Comics from the 1940s through the 1960s....
in Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
. In the late 1950s and 1960s, Saladino was a mainstay on DC editor Julius Schwartz
Julius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
's books, like Strange Adventures
Strange Adventures
Strange Adventures was the title of several American comic books published by DC Comics, most notably a long-running science fiction anthology that began in 1950.-Original series:...
, Mystery in Space
Mystery in Space
Mystery in Space is the name of two science fiction comic book series published in the United States by DC Comics, then known as National Comics. The first series ran for 110 issues from 1951 - 1966, with a further 7 issues continuing the numbering during a 1980s revival of the title...
, Justice League of America, The Flash, Showcase
Showcase (comics)
Showcase has been the title of several comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of these series has been to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring "untested" characters in their own ongoing...
, and many more.
In 1966, Saladino lettered the first few issues of Warren Publishing
Warren Publishing
Warren Publishing was an American magazine company founded by James Warren, who published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for decades...
's horror title Eerie
Eerie
Eerie was an American magazine of horror comics introduced in 1966 by Warren Publishing. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. Each issue's stories were introduced by the host...
.
When Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books...
came on as DC's editorial director in 1966/1967, Saladino was taken off interior lettering, and assigned the task of lettering virtually every cover DC published. This changed the whole line's look, from long-time cover letterer Ira Schnapp
Ira Schnapp
Ira R. Schnapp was a logo designer and letterer who defined the DC Comics house style for thirty years. He designed the world-famous Action Comics logo, as well as scores of others for the company.- Early life and immigration :...
's sedate style to Saladino's more dynamic, organic look. All the same, during this period, Saladino lettered the interiors for the new title Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
. It was in the pages of Swamp Thing that Gaspar created the conceit of defining a character-designed lettering style, with Swamp Thing's distinctive outlined, "drippy" look.
Even though Saladino was in effect DC's house letterer, he was never on staff, and maintained his freelance career. In the 1970s, while still working for DC, Saladino began freelancing for Marvel, using the pseudonym "L.P. Gregory" (possibly to avoid getting in trouble for working for both Marvel and DC simultaneously), lettering titles like The Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
and Tales to Astonish
Tales to Astonish
Tales to Astonish is the name of two American comic book series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics.The primary title bearing that name was published from 1959-1968...
.
In the mid-to-late 1970s Saladino became the uncredited "page-one letterer" for many Marvel Comics
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...
titles. For some reason during this time there was a shortage of qualified comic book letterers. Marvel was forced to hire some letterers who they felt were acceptable for lettering the captions and dialogue balloons of a normal interior page, but unable to do good "display lettering": the story title lettering and other special captions and credits that usually went on a story's first page. So the company began the practice of having Saladino letter opening pages whenever possible. The rest of the book was completed by one of the less-qualified letterers.
In 1976, perhaps reflecting his experience with both companies, Saladino was assigned the job of lettering the historic DC-Marvel crossover book Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man
Superman vs The Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century is a comic book jointly published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics in 1976. It was the first cross-over between characters of both companies.-Publication history:...
. He also lettered the oversize special issue Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali is an oversize comic book published by DC Comics in 1978. The 72-page book features Superman teaming up with the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali to defeat an alien invasion of Earth...
. By 1977, Saladino was lettering most of DC's war comics, in addition to plenty of superhero and mystery stories.
In 1989, Saladino did his groundbreaking work on DC's Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is a Batman graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean. It was originally published in the United States in both hardcover and softcover editions by DC Comics in 1989...
. In the 1990s and into the early 2000s, Saladino worked mostly for DC and its Vertigo imprint, spending nine years as the regular letterer of The Flash, five years on L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N., is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes, a science fiction comic book published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Invasion! #1, and were created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane...
and four on Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
.
Saladino's output since 2002 has been minimal.
Lettering style
Saladino's default dialoguing style is curvy and naturally enmeshed with the artwork. His trademark is his big, bold exclamation marks, which he adopts for "effect. . . . They got attention and sales at the newsstand." Saladino always letters by hand, even in the era of computers, which he never uses. Likewise, his word balloons are done freehand, never with a template.Whereas previous DC designer Ira Schnapp's house advertisements were known for their large blocks of stately text, Saladino's house ads employed the principle of "five words or less," with the words heavily stylized and frequent use of the exclamation point.
Gaspar used a sandblock to grind down and sharpen his pen nibs
Nib (pen)
A nib is the part of a quill, dip pen or fountain pen which comes into contact with the writing surface in order to deposit ink. Different types of nibs vary in their purpose, shape and size, as well as the material they are made from.-Quill:...
. The "Gaspar Stone," as it was known around comics circles, was an inch wide by three inches long, and consisted of several layers of sand-strip. "After the top piece wore out, you’d just peel it off and use the piece underneath."
Logos
Saladino designed the logos for DC's Swamp ThingSwamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
, Phantom Stranger
Phantom Stranger
The Phantom Stranger is a fictional character of unspecified paranormal origins who battles mysterious and occult forces in various titles published by DC Comics, sometimes under their Vertigo imprint.-Publication history:...
, Metal Men
Metal Men
The Metal Men are fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in Showcase #37 and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciller Ross Andru...
, Adam Strange
Adam Strange
Adam Strange is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, he first appeared in Showcase #17 .In May 2011, Adam Strange placed 97th on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time....
, House of Mystery
House of Mystery
The House of Mystery is the name of several horror-mystery-suspense anthology comic book series. It had a companion series, House of Secrets.-Genesis:...
, House of Secrets, Unknown Soldier, and Vigilante
Vigilante (comics)
Vigilante is the name used by several fictional characters appearing in DC Comics. The original character was one of the first DC Comics characters adapted for live-action film, beating Superman by one year.-Greg Saunders:...
, among others. He also re-designed established character logos to make them more contemporary and stylish, such as with Green Lantern.
For Marvel, Saladino's well-known logos (which he either created or updated) include The Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
, Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos are a fictional World War II unit in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, they first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 . The main character, Sgt...
, Captain America and the Falcon
Captain America and the Falcon
Captain America and the Falcon was a comic book series published for fifteen issues in 2004 and 2005 by Marvel Comics. The series' title is a reuse of the cover title of Captain America's solo series during a period in which the Falcon was given second billing on the front cover...
, and Marvel Triple Action.
In 1974, with the launch of the short-lived publisher Atlas Comics, Saladino was hired to design logos for all the company's titles. He did the same thing in the 1980s for 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...
' Continuity Comics
Continuity 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....
. During the 1980s, Saladinos also designed the logos of some titles published by Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
.
Personal life
Gaspar is married to a woman named Celeste. Together, they raised three children: Lisa, Peter, and Greg.Selected bibliography
- Justice League of America (DC, 1962–1967)
- G.I. Combat (DC, 1979–1981)
- L.E.G.I.O.N. (DC, 1989–1994)
- Hellblazer (DC/Vertigo, 1990–1994)
- The Flash, vol. 2 (DC, 1993–2002)
- R.E.B.E.L.S. (DC, 1994–1996)
- Seekers Into the Mystery (DC/Vertigo, 1996–1997)