Howard Porter
Encyclopedia
Howard Porter is an American
comic book artist
from southern Connecticut
.
in Connecticut where he majored in illustration
. One of his teachers there was Frank McLaughlin. McLaughlin also worked as a comic book inker
and he began to give Porter work assisting him in his inking jobs which led Porter to assist other inkers and eventually find work for himself in the industry.
Porter eventually became a penciller
, and his first major run on a title came with DC Comics
' The Ray
(vol. 2) (1994–1995), where he worked with writer Christopher Priest. Shortly afterward, Porter worked on DC's summer 1995 crossover
event Underworld Unleashed
, with writer Mark Waid
, followed by the Justice League of America relaunch, JLA
(1997–2000), with writer Grant Morrison
and inker John Dell.
Porter temporarily left comics to work in banking, doing graphic design
work for Credit Suisse First Boston
. He left that job in 2003 to open an artists' studio
with comics artist Ron Garney
. Porter returned to comics that year with a six-issue run of Marvel Comics
' Fantastic Four
, reuniting with writer Waid.
In July 2004, Porter signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC, and began as regular penciller of The Flash
, with writer Geoff Johns
and inker John Livesay.
In 2006, DC announced Porter would pencil the limited series
The Trials of Shazam
!, collaborating with writer Judd Winick
. Unfortunately he was unable to finish the series because he severely injured his hand (severed a nerve and almost the entire tendon in his thumb) and had to take time out from comics for recovery. Unable to draw, he worked as a school bus driver until his return in late 2008, when he drew DC Universe: Decisions #2. He became the regular penciller on Titans and then was the first artist for the Doc Savage series. He also drew an issue of The Brave and the Bold
featuring a team-up between Static
and Black Lightning
. He then became the regular penciler on DC Comics' Magog
for the series' first ten issues, before being replaced by Scott Kolins
.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
from southern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Biography
Porter graduated from Paier College of ArtPaier College of Art
The Paier College of Art is a private 4-year art school in Hamden, Connecticut, on the outskirts of the greater New Haven area. Formerly the Paier School of Art, the institution's current name and form date from 1982 when it received a charter and accreditation for offering a 4-year Bachelor of...
in Connecticut where he majored in illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
. One of his teachers there was Frank McLaughlin. McLaughlin also worked as a comic book inker
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...
and he began to give Porter work assisting him in his inking jobs which led Porter to assist other inkers and eventually find work for himself in the industry.
Porter eventually became a penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
, and his first major run on a title came with 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...
' The Ray
Ray (Ray Terrill)
The Ray is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is the second character to use the codename The Ray. Ray Terrill first appeared in The Ray #1 , and was created by Jack C...
(vol. 2) (1994–1995), where he worked with writer Christopher Priest. Shortly afterward, Porter worked on DC's summer 1995 crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
event Underworld Unleashed
Underworld Unleashed
Underworld Unleashed was a multi-title comic book cross-over event released by DC Comics in 1995. As well as the core story-line of the three-issue Underworld Unleashed mini-series, most of the DC titles published in November and December 1995 and a number of one-off titles were part of the...
, with writer Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
, followed by the Justice League of America relaunch, JLA
JLA (comic book)
JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League.-Publication history:The low sales of the various Justice League spinoff books by the mid-1990s prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team on a single title...
(1997–2000), with writer 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 inker John Dell.
Porter temporarily left comics to work in banking, doing graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
work for Credit Suisse First Boston
Credit Suisse First Boston
Credit Suisse First Boston was the former name of the banking firm Credit Suisse.-History:In 1978, Credit Suisse and First Boston Corporation formed a London-based 50-50 investment banking joint venture called the Financière Crédit Suisse-First Boston...
. He left that job in 2003 to open an artists' studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
with comics artist Ron Garney
Ron Garney
Ron Garney is a comic book writer/artist, known for his work on books such as JLA,The Amazing Spider-Man, Silver Surfer, Hulk, Daredevil and Captain America.-Career:...
. Porter returned to comics that year with a six-issue run of 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...
' Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, reuniting with writer Waid.
In July 2004, Porter signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC, and began as regular penciller of The Flash
The 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...
, with writer Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
and inker John Livesay.
In 2006, DC announced Porter would pencil the limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
The Trials of Shazam
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
!, collaborating with writer Judd Winick
Judd Winick
Judd Winick is an American comic book, comic strip and television writer/artist and former reality television personality...
. Unfortunately he was unable to finish the series because he severely injured his hand (severed a nerve and almost the entire tendon in his thumb) and had to take time out from comics for recovery. Unable to draw, he worked as a school bus driver until his return in late 2008, when he drew DC Universe: Decisions #2. He became the regular penciller on Titans and then was the first artist for the Doc Savage series. He also drew an issue of The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
featuring a team-up between Static
Static (comics)
Static is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics and a member of the Teen Titans. An original character from DC's Milestone Comics imprint, Static first appears in Static #1 and was created by Dwayne McDuffie and John Paul Leon.-Publication history:McDuffie has stated...
and Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
. He then became the regular penciler on DC Comics' Magog
Magog (comics)
Magog is a fictional character in the comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Kingdom Come #1 , and was created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. In 2009, Magog was ranked as IGN's 75th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time....
for the series' first ten issues, before being replaced by Scott Kolins
Scott Kolins
Scott Kolins is an American illustrator, writer and creator for multiple different superhero and science fiction comic books. His main credits are as a penciler but he is an established inker as well as colorist and has some credits as a writer.-Biography:...
.