Saturday, March 31, 2007

Marshall Rogers



I just found out a few days ago that comic book illustrator/artist Marshall Rogers died last week at the age of 57. This one kind of took me by surprise on how it saddened me to hear the news as he was one of the artists that I admired growing up in the seventies.

I remember being about 11 or 12 years old when I got a copy of Detective Comics and was blown away by the art work. It was Roger's and Neil Adams that changed everything for me as far as comics were concerned; they brought a sense of realism that wasn't being seen at the time. Marshall had this great way of portraying the city and it was as much of a character as Batman and the Joker were. These stories had Batman as a more cerebral type than the dark, gothic tough guy that Frank Miller made popular and I'd have to guess that even Frank had to be somewhat inspired by Marshall Rogers. Or, at least I hope so.

Here's a quick sketch to one of the guys that took me to a new level of inspiration.

4 comments:

singinghawk said...

Very good sketch, Bruce. I like that Batman seems very mysterious --his pose -- with his back to the viewer. Maybe an introspective Batman? I like the linework and the color choice. Again, almost calligraphic line quality...very nice. Good composition and I like the contrast between light and dark. I do wonder, though, what is beneath him. Without knowing much about Batman, it looks like some sort of animal? Forgive my ignorance in this...I was reading fairy tales when I was 11 and 12! :o)

57 seems so young...that's too bad, Bruce. Though I don't know much about comic book artists, nor do I know of Marshall Rogers, I do know how it feels to be inspired by those who pave the way in the arts and become almost monumental in our own lives.

I think a more cerebral Batman much more interesting, by the way, than the tough guy image.

Bruce said...

Hey Ana,

Y'now, right after I posted this sketch and looked at it, I thought that doesn't really look like what I intended. I meant for him to be standing on a building precipice of some kind and that animal thingie is supposed to be a gargoyle. Ah, well.

So, go get some batman comics...!

Milenko said...

Well, it does look like he's standing on a gargoyle, if that's any consolation :)
Sad thing about Marshal too.
Like your sculptures and the Isac, the stovehat inventor is funny :)

Cheers to you,

Milenko

Ah yes, and your niece will get far in the art world.

Bruce said...

Ha, ha, well that's a relief about the gargoyle! As for the rest of it? Chalk it up to experience, I guess.

Thanks Milenko.