Sanho Kim
Encyclopedia
Sanho Kim is a Korean comic book
artist
, considered the first artist working in a manhwa
style to be published regularly in the United States
. The bulk of Kim's American work was for Charlton Comics
' horror comics, as well as the Kung fu title House of Yang.
In Korea, Kim is known for the bestselling title Lifi, as well as his more recent History of Great Korean Empire. Lifi encouraged the Korean people to rise from the destruction of the Korean War
, and is still imprinted in the minds of many people as Korea's first science fiction
comic. Though Kim has worked in many styles and genres, the common theme that runs through his work is the pride and spirit of the Korean people.
, Kim lived in a refugee camp
, where he read the comic strip
"Mr. Manhong," featured in a Busan
newspaper. Inspired to become a cartoonist himself, Kim studied fine arts (including Western painting) at Seorabeol Art College in Seoul
.
While still at university, Kim made his professional debut in Manhwa Segye Magazine with "A Shining Star at Dawn," a well-received story about freedom fighters who resisted the long Japanese occupation of Korea. Kim released his first full-length book, The Brilliant Twilight Star, in 1958.
bestseller
Lifi the Fighter of Justice, set in the 22nd century. Published during a post-war period of great economic distress, Kim used his hero to express the spirit of the Korean people and to urge his readers to overcome their hardships. With a “ㄹ”-shaped badge on the chest (based on the Taebaek Mountains
), and armed with futuristic weapons, Lifi fought against crowds of devils. Despite comics being dismissed as a lowly genre, Lifi was a huge success and his image was ubiquitous throughout the country.
From 1961–1967, Kim published the long-running series Rhye Pye (a.k.a. Frieple). He drew comics in several genres, including adventure, police, and war stories.
By 1969, Kim had connected with the American comic book industry, eventually garnering over 300 credits during the period 1969–1976. The bulk of Kim's output during this time was for Charlton Comics
, but he also worked for Warren Publishing
, Skywald Publications
, and Marvel Comics
. With his Korean-informed style, Kim became the first manhwa
/manga
artist working to be published regularly in the United States
.
and suspense titles, particularly The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
, Ghost Manor
, Ghostly Haunts
, Ghostly Tales
, and Haunted
. (In addition to providing artwork for many interior stories, Kim painted all the covers for Ghost Manor vol. 1.) He also illustrated stories for the Charlton Western comics
Billy the Kid
and Cheyenne Kid, and the war comic
War.
Kim's most important and artistically successful effort was for House of Yang (1975–1976), a spinoff of the Charlton title Yang, which ran from 1973–1976. The titles were intended to capitalize on the mid-1970s Kung Fu craze in general and the television show Kung Fu
in particular. (Kim had been slated to design and illustrate the original series, which he had titled Wrong Country, but the artwork was misplaced and Charlton regulars Joe Gill
and Warren Sattler
filled in for the duration of Yangs run.) House of Yang was set in Asia, which perfectly suited Kim's background and style. (The lost artwork for Wrong Country later turned up and was printed the CPL Gang
fanzine
Charlton Bullseye
.)
Other Charlton titles Kim contributed to, though in a more sporadic fashion, included Beyond the Grave, Bounty Hunter, Fightin' Army
, Fightin' Marines
, Haunted Love
, Scary Tales
, Space Adventures
, and Sword & Sorcery. During the period 1969–1976, Kim did countless covers for Charlton titles as well as interior lettering.
, crafting a backup feature in Vampirella
and contributing to Eerie in 1971–1972. For Skywald Publications
from 1974–1976, Kim did the art for The Fiend of Changsha and Horror. Benefiting from the notoriety of his Asian-themed work for Charlton, Kim moved to Marvel Comics
in 1975, contributing stories to the black-and-white comics magazines Deadly Hands of Kung Fu
, Monsters Unleashed
, and Swordquest.
Kim illustrated The Sword and the Maiden (vol. 1 of Sword's Edge), which was written by Michael Juliar and published by Iron Horse Publishing in 1973.
. Following his visit to China, Kim changed the focus of his comics to historical topics, including Daejusinjeguksa (History of Great Korean Empire). In this project, as well as The Duman River and The Story of Buddha, Kim has combined Western painting with comics art, in his words inventing a new form of "picture scenario" to tell his stories.
Kim returned to South Korea in 1996. In October 2008, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit
by the South Korean government.
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
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, considered the first artist working in a manhwa
Manhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
style to be published regularly in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The bulk of Kim's American work was for Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
' horror comics, as well as the Kung fu title House of Yang.
In Korea, Kim is known for the bestselling title Lifi, as well as his more recent History of Great Korean Empire. Lifi encouraged the Korean people to rise from the destruction of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and is still imprinted in the minds of many people as Korea's first 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...
comic. Though Kim has worked in many styles and genres, the common theme that runs through his work is the pride and spirit of the Korean people.
Early life and education
While a child during the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Kim lived in a refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
, where he read the comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
"Mr. Manhong," featured in a Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
newspaper. Inspired to become a cartoonist himself, Kim studied fine arts (including Western painting) at Seorabeol Art College in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
While still at university, Kim made his professional debut in Manhwa Segye Magazine with "A Shining Star at Dawn," a well-received story about freedom fighters who resisted the long Japanese occupation of Korea. Kim released his first full-length book, The Brilliant Twilight Star, in 1958.
Lifi and other Korean comics
In 1959, Kim published the science fictionScience 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...
bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
Lifi the Fighter of Justice, set in the 22nd century. Published during a post-war period of great economic distress, Kim used his hero to express the spirit of the Korean people and to urge his readers to overcome their hardships. With a “ㄹ”-shaped badge on the chest (based on the Taebaek Mountains
Taebaek Mountains
The Taebaek Mountains are a mountain range in both North Korea and South Korea. They form the main ridge of the Korean peninsula.-Geography:...
), and armed with futuristic weapons, Lifi fought against crowds of devils. Despite comics being dismissed as a lowly genre, Lifi was a huge success and his image was ubiquitous throughout the country.
From 1961–1967, Kim published the long-running series Rhye Pye (a.k.a. Frieple). He drew comics in several genres, including adventure, police, and war stories.
United States
In 1966, Kim moved to the United States, setting up a publishing house and working as an art director at the magazines Off Broadway and Village Times.By 1969, Kim had connected with the American comic book industry, eventually garnering over 300 credits during the period 1969–1976. The bulk of Kim's output during this time was for Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
, but he also worked for 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...
, Skywald Publications
Skywald Publications
Skywald Publications is a 1970s publisher of black-and-white comics magazines, primarily the horror anthologies Nightmare, Psycho, and Scream. It also published a small line of comic books and other magazines....
, and 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...
. With his Korean-informed style, Kim became the first manhwa
Manhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
/manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
artist working to be published regularly in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Charlton
For Charlton, Kim worked on a number of the company's horrorHorror comics
Horror comics are comic books, graphic novels, black-and-white comics magazines, and manga focusing on horror fiction. Horror comic books reached a peak in the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, when concern over content and the imposition of the self-censorship Comics Code Authority contributed to...
and suspense titles, particularly The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves was an American supernatural-anthology comic book published by Charlton Comics and best known as a showcase for the popular writer-artist Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man. The eponymous Dr. M. T...
, Ghost Manor
Ghost Manor (comics)
Ghost Manor was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1968 to 1984 . Volume one was "hosted" by the Old Witch , while volume two was hosted by Mr...
, Ghostly Haunts
Ghostly Haunts
Ghostly Haunts was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1971 to 1978. The book was "hosted" by Winnie the Witch, a "moddish" blue-skinned witch....
, Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1966 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Mr. L. Dedd , a middle-aged gentleman with purplish skin and horns who dressed like a vampire. Mr...
, and Haunted
Haunted (comics)
Haunted was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1971 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Impy, a pint-sized ghost dressed in an all-white superhero costume...
. (In addition to providing artwork for many interior stories, Kim painted all the covers for Ghost Manor vol. 1.) He also illustrated stories for the Charlton Western comics
Western comics
Western comics is a comics genre usually depicting the American Old West frontier and typically set during the late nineteenth century...
Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid (Charlton Comics)
Billy the Kid is a Western comic book series published by Charlton Comics, with stories of a fictional character based on the historical Billy the Kid. Taking over the numbering of a previous Western comic, Masked Raider, Billy the Kid was published from issues #9-153...
and Cheyenne Kid, and the war comic
War comics
War comics is a genre of comic books that gained popularity in English-speaking countries following World War II.-American war comics:Shortly after the birth of the modern comic book in the mid- to late 1930s, comics publishers began including stories of wartime adventures in the multi-genre...
War.
Kim's most important and artistically successful effort was for House of Yang (1975–1976), a spinoff of the Charlton title Yang, which ran from 1973–1976. The titles were intended to capitalize on the mid-1970s Kung Fu craze in general and the television show Kung Fu
Kung Fu (TV series)
Kung Fu is an American television series that starred David Carradine. It was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series...
in particular. (Kim had been slated to design and illustrate the original series, which he had titled Wrong Country, but the artwork was misplaced and Charlton regulars Joe Gill
Joe Gill
Joseph Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most...
and Warren Sattler
Warren Sattler
Warren Sattler is an American artist and cartoonist, who contributed work to many popular publications from the early 1960s through the 1990s....
filled in for the duration of Yangs run.) House of Yang was set in Asia, which perfectly suited Kim's background and style. (The lost artwork for Wrong Country later turned up and was printed the CPL Gang
CPL Gang
The CPL Gang was a group of comic book enthusiasts who published a number of fanzines in the mid-1970s, including Contemporary Pictorial Literature and Charlton Bullseye...
fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
Charlton Bullseye
Charlton Bullseye (fanzine)
Charton Bullseye was a fanzine published from 1975-76 by the CPL Gang highlighting Charlton Comics. It was a large format publication, with color covers on card stock and black & white interiors...
.)
Other Charlton titles Kim contributed to, though in a more sporadic fashion, included Beyond the Grave, Bounty Hunter, Fightin' Army
Fightin' Army
Fightin' Army was a bimonthly war comic published by Charlton Comics from 1956–1984...
, Fightin' Marines
Fightin' Marines
Fightin' Marines was a bimonthly war comic published by St. John Publications from 1951–1953, and Charlton Comics from 1955–1984, although it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 to the end of its run...
, Haunted Love
Haunted Love
Haunted Love was a horror-romance anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1973 - 1975. It was part of the Gothic Romance comic book mini-trend of the era, which included the short-lived DC Comics series The Dark Mansion Of Forbidden Love and The Sinister House of Secret Love,...
, Scary Tales
Scary Tales (comics)
Scary Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1975 to 1984. The book was "hosted" by Countess R.H. Von Bludd, an alluring female vampire in a tight-fitting dress...
, Space Adventures
Space Adventures (comics)
Space Adventures was an American science-fiction anthology comic book series published sporadically by Charlton Comics from 1952 to 1979...
, and Sword & Sorcery. During the period 1969–1976, Kim did countless covers for Charlton titles as well as interior lettering.
Other U.S. publishers
While working for Charlton, Kim freelanced for Warren PublishingWarren 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...
, crafting a backup feature in Vampirella
Vampirella
Vampirella is a fictional character, a comic book vampire heroine created by Forrest J Ackerman and costume designer Trina Robbins in Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampirella #1 . Writer-editor Archie Goodwin later developed the character from horror-story hostess, in...
and contributing to Eerie in 1971–1972. For Skywald Publications
Skywald Publications
Skywald Publications is a 1970s publisher of black-and-white comics magazines, primarily the horror anthologies Nightmare, Psycho, and Scream. It also published a small line of comic books and other magazines....
from 1974–1976, Kim did the art for The Fiend of Changsha and Horror. Benefiting from the notoriety of his Asian-themed work for Charlton, Kim moved to 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...
in 1975, contributing stories to the black-and-white comics magazines Deadly Hands of Kung Fu
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu is a martial arts comic book magazine published by Curtis Magazines, a short-lived imprint of Marvel Comics. There were a total of 33 issues published, plus one "Special Album Edition," before the series was cancelled.-Overview:...
, Monsters Unleashed
Monsters Unleashed
Monsters Unleashed was a black-and-white magazine published by Curtis Magazines from 1973-1975. The focus of Monsters Unleashed was on Marvel's own monsters: Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, and Frankenstein's monster...
, and Swordquest.
Kim illustrated The Sword and the Maiden (vol. 1 of Sword's Edge), which was written by Michael Juliar and published by Iron Horse Publishing in 1973.
Return to Korea
In the early 1990s Kim traveled to China, where he came to believe that six thousand years earlier, ancient Koreans had governed broad areas of that country, including the Shandong Peninsula and ManchuriaManchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. Following his visit to China, Kim changed the focus of his comics to historical topics, including Daejusinjeguksa (History of Great Korean Empire). In this project, as well as The Duman River and The Story of Buddha, Kim has combined Western painting with comics art, in his words inventing a new form of "picture scenario" to tell his stories.
Kim returned to South Korea in 1996. In October 2008, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit
Order of Cultural Merit (Korea)
The Order of Cultural Merit is one of the Republic of Korea's Orders of Merit. It is awarded to those who have rendered outstanding meritorious services in the interest of improving the national welfare.-Classes of Cultural Merit:...
by the South Korean government.
Sources consulted
- Kim entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Accessed June 9, 2011.