L. B. Cole
Encyclopedia
Leonard Brandt Cole was a comic book artist
, editor, and publisher who worked during the Golden Age of Comic Books
, producing work in various genres. Cole was particularly known for his bold covers, featuring what he referred to as "poster colors"—the use of primary colors often over black backgrounds. In addition to his covers, Cole did interior art for comics published by Holyoke Publications, Gilberton
, and Ajax/Farrell. He also worked as an editor for Holyoke in the 1940s.
industry, Cole worked as art director in the lithography
industry.
Cole's comic book career started in the early 1940s, mainly as a cover artist for titles such as Suspense Comics (Et-Es-Go Magazines) and Contact Comics
(Aviation Press). He soon became known for his distinctive covers: examples include the covers to Mask Comics #1, Mask Comics #2 (Rural Home), Contact Comics #12, and Captain Flight Comics
#11 (Four Star Publications). An avid science fiction
fan, Cole was known for slipping in sci-fi elements even when they weren't appropriate, such as rocket ships and ray guns appearing on the covers of Captain Flight Comics and Contact Comics. (Both titles were supposed to be devoted to contemporary aviation
.)
From 1942–1948, Cole ran his own comics studio, often packaging work for a variety of publishers.
In 1949, publisher Novelty Press
sold its characters and artwork to Cole, who was the cover artist for Novelty's Blue Bolt Comics. Using his new assets, Cole began Star Publications
, which operated from 1949 to 1955.
After the closure of Star, Cole continued doing cover illustrations, many for Classics Illustrated Junior
. In the early 1960s, Cole was art director and editor at Dell Comics
. From the mid-1960s through the 1970s, Cole created instructional materials and audio-visuals for University Films.
He gained further recognition when comic fandom grew in the late 1960s and through the 1970s. In 1981, he created a new painting that was featured on the cover of the 11th edition of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
. During this same time, he began selling re-creations of his classic covers. In the early 1990s, Ernie Gerber published his two-volume Photo Journal Guide To Comic Books which featured on its covers a number of Cole's covers. As a result, the demand for Cole's work increased dramatically.
Cole was married to a woman named Helen, who lettered
for comic books in the 1940s.
recipient in 1981, Cole was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1999.
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...
, editor, and publisher who worked during the Golden Age of Comic Books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
, producing work in various genres. Cole was particularly known for his bold covers, featuring what he referred to as "poster colors"—the use of primary colors often over black backgrounds. In addition to his covers, Cole did interior art for comics published by Holyoke Publications, Gilberton
Gilberton (publisher)
The Gilberton Company, Inc. was an American publisher best known for the comic book series Classics Illustrated. Beginning life as an imprint of the Elliot Publishing Company, the company became independent in 1942, before being sold to the Frawley Corporation in 1967...
, and Ajax/Farrell. He also worked as an editor for Holyoke in the 1940s.
Biography
Cole was awarded a doctorate of Anatomy & Physiology at the University of Berlin. Before entering the comic bookComic 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, Cole worked as art director in the lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
industry.
Cole's comic book career started in the early 1940s, mainly as a cover artist for titles such as Suspense Comics (Et-Es-Go Magazines) and Contact Comics
Contact Comics
Contact Comics is an American comic book series published during what is known as the Golden Age of Comic Books by Aviation Press. All of the stories printed in Contact Comics dealt with modern aviation....
(Aviation Press). He soon became known for his distinctive covers: examples include the covers to Mask Comics #1, Mask Comics #2 (Rural Home), Contact Comics #12, and Captain Flight Comics
Captain Flight Comics
Captain Flight Comics is an American comic book series published by Four Star Publications during the period that is known by fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. A total of eleven issues were printed from 1944 to 1947. Noted artist L.B...
#11 (Four Star Publications). An avid science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fan, Cole was known for slipping in sci-fi elements even when they weren't appropriate, such as rocket ships and ray guns appearing on the covers of Captain Flight Comics and Contact Comics. (Both titles were supposed to be devoted to contemporary aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
.)
From 1942–1948, Cole ran his own comics studio, often packaging work for a variety of publishers.
In 1949, publisher Novelty Press
Novelty Press
Novelty Press was an American Golden Age comic-book publisher that operated from 1940–1949. It was the comic book imprint of Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post...
sold its characters and artwork to Cole, who was the cover artist for Novelty's Blue Bolt Comics. Using his new assets, Cole began Star Publications
Star Publications
Star Publications, Inc. was a Golden Age American comic book publisher, operating during the years 1949–1954. Founded by artist/editor L.B. Cole and lawyer Gerhard Kramer, Star specialized in horror comics, crime, and romance comics — but also published funny animal stories...
, which operated from 1949 to 1955.
After the closure of Star, Cole continued doing cover illustrations, many for Classics Illustrated Junior
Classics Illustrated Junior
Classics Illustrated Junior is a comic book series of seventy-seven fairy and folk tale, myth and legend comic book adaptations created by Albert Lewis Kanter as a spin-off of his flagship comic book line Classics Illustrated.-Publication history:...
. In the early 1960s, Cole was art director and editor at Dell Comics
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
. From the mid-1960s through the 1970s, Cole created instructional materials and audio-visuals for University Films.
He gained further recognition when comic fandom grew in the late 1960s and through the 1970s. In 1981, he created a new painting that was featured on the cover of the 11th edition of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is an annually published comic book price guide widely considered the primary authority on the subject of American comic book grading and pricing in the hobby/industry....
. During this same time, he began selling re-creations of his classic covers. In the early 1990s, Ernie Gerber published his two-volume Photo Journal Guide To Comic Books which featured on its covers a number of Cole's covers. As a result, the demand for Cole's work increased dramatically.
Cole was married to a woman named Helen, who lettered
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...
for comic books in the 1940s.
Awards
An Inkpot AwardInkpot Award
The Inkpot Award, bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International, is given to some of the professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields, who are guests of that organization's yearly multigenre fan convention, commonly known as...
recipient in 1981, Cole was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1999.