John Verpoorten
Encyclopedia
John Verpoorten was a comic book
artist and editorial worker best known as Marvel Comics
' production manager during the latter part of the Silver Age of Comic Books
and afterward, during a seminal period of Marvel's expansion from a small publishing concern to a multinational popular culture
corporation.
, New York
's School of Visual Arts
, Verpoorten began his career at the Tom Gill Studio
for four years.
In 1967, Verpoorten started working for Marvel Comics
as an inker
. He worked on books including Fantastic Four
, The Inhumans, and Captain America
before becoming Marvel's production manager, coordinating the work of writers, artists, letterers and printers. He held this position for seven years, until his death in 1977.
In 1975, Verpoorten also helped produce Big Apple Comix
, an independent comic book published by former Marvel staffer Flo Steinberg
.
At the time Verpoorten joined Marvel Comics, he had a height of 6' 6", and "tips the scales at a mere 290 pounds," according to one edition of Marvel's "Bullpen Bulletins
".
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...
artist and editorial worker best known as 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...
' production manager during the latter part of the Silver Age of Comic Books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
and afterward, during a seminal period of Marvel's expansion from a small publishing concern to a multinational popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
corporation.
Biography
After attending New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
, Verpoorten began his career at the Tom Gill Studio
Tom Gill (comics)
Thomas P. Gill is an American comic book artist best known for his nearly 11-year run drawing The Lone Ranger.-Early life and career:...
for four years.
In 1967, Verpoorten started working for 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...
as an 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...
. He worked on books including 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...
, The Inhumans, and Captain America
Captain America
Captain 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...
before becoming Marvel's production manager, coordinating the work of writers, artists, letterers and printers. He held this position for seven years, until his death in 1977.
In 1975, Verpoorten also helped produce Big Apple Comix
Big Apple Comix
Big Apple Comix is an early independent comic book published by Flo Steinberg in 1975. An historically important link between underground comix and what would later be called alternative comics, this 36-page, 6 3/4" x 9 3/4" hybrid with glossy color covers and black-and-white interiors contains 11...
, an independent comic book published by former Marvel staffer Flo Steinberg
Flo Steinberg
Florence "Flo" Steinberg is an American publisher of one of the first independent comic books, the underground/alternative comics hybrid Big Apple Comix, in 1975...
.
At the time Verpoorten joined Marvel Comics, he had a height of 6' 6", and "tips the scales at a mere 290 pounds," according to one edition of Marvel's "Bullpen Bulletins
Bullpen Bulletins
"Bullpen Bulletins" was the news and information page that appeared in most regular monthly comic books from Marvel Comics...
".