Frank Frazetta, Illustrator, Dies at 82; Helped Define Comic Book Heroes

The cause was complications from a stroke, said Rob Pistella and Stephen Ferzoco, Mr. Frazetta’s business managers.

Mr. Frazetta was a versatile and prolific comic book artist who, in the 1940s and ’50s, drew for comic strips like Al Capp’s “Lil’ Abner” and comic books like “Famous Funnies,” for which he contributed a series of covers depicting the futuristic adventurer Buck Rogers.

A satirical advertisement Mr. Frazetta drew for Mad earned him his first Hollywood job, the movie poster for “What’s New Pussycat?” (1965), a sex farce written by Woody Allen that starred Peter Sellers. In 1983 he collaborated with the director Ralph Bakshi to produce the animated film “Fire and Ice.”

His most prominent work, however, was on the cover of book jackets, where his signature images were of strikingly fierce, hard-bodied heroes and bosomy, callipygian damsels in distress. In 1966, his cover of “Conan the Adventurer,” a collection of four fantasy short stories written by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp, depicted a brawny long-haired warrior standing in repose on top of a pile of skeletons and other detritus, his sword thrust downward into the mound, an apparently naked young woman lying at his feet, hugging his ankle.

The cover created a new look for fantasy adventure novels and established Mr. Frazetta as an artist who could sell books. He illustrated many more Conan books (including “Conan the Conqueror,” “Conan the Usurper” and “Conan the Avenger”) and works by Edgar Rice Burroughs (including “John Carter and the Savage Apes of Mars” and “Tarzan and the Antmen”).

“Paperback publishers have been known to buy one of his paintings for use as a cover, then commission a writer to turn out a novel to go with it,” The New York Times reported in 1977, the same year that a collection of his drawings, “The Fantastic Art of Frank Frazetta,” sold more than 300,000 copies.

Frank Frazzetta was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 9, 1928, and as a boy studied painting at a local art school. (Early in his career, he excised one z from his last name because “with one z it just looked better,” Mr. Pistella said. “He said the two z’s and two t’s was too clumsy.”)

Mr. Frazetta began drawing for comic books of all stripes — westerns, mysteries, fantasies — when he was still a teenager. He was also a good enough baseball player to try out for the New York Giants.

The popularity of Mr. Frazetta’s work coincided with the rise of heavy metal in the early 1970s, and his otherworldly imagery showed up on a number of album covers, including Molly Hatchet’s “Flirtin’ With Disaster” and Nazareth’s “Expect No Mercy.” Last year, Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist for Metallica, bought Mr. Frazetta’s cover artwork for the paperback reissue of Robert E. Howard’s “Conan the Conqueror” for $1 million.

Mr. Frazetta married Eleanor Kelly, known as Ellie, in 1956. She served as his occasional model and as his business partner; in 2000 she started a small museum of her husband’s work on their property in East Stroudsburg, Pa. She died last year.

Mr. Frazetta is survived by three sisters, Carol, Adel and Jeanie; two sons, Alfonso Frank Frazetta, known as Frank Jr., and William Frazetta, both of East Stroudsburg; two daughters, Heidi Grabin, of Englewood, Fla., and Holly Frazetta, of Boca Grande, Fla.; and 11 grandchildren.

After Ellie Frazetta’s death, her children became embroiled in a custodial dispute over their father’s work, and in December, Frank Jr. was arrested on charges of breaking into the family museum and attempting to remove 90 paintings that had been insured for $20 million. In April, the family said the dispute over the paintings had been resolved, and the Monroe County, Pa., district attorney said he would drop the charges.

The story follows a few classic Iron Man stories, such as Armor Wars I & II, the Justin Hammer subplot (from early Bronze Age Iron Man comics), and the sub plot revolving around his old silver centurian armor which made him sick the more he used parts of it; thus continuing to damage his health.

Robert Downey Jr. is once again excellent as Tony Stark/ Iron Man! Don Cheadle is not bad as James Rhodes nor is Mickey Rourke as Whiplash/ Crimson Dynamo! But Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer steals the show! A much better villain than Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Stane from Iron Man I. Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow was not a big or prominent as everyone was led to believe in the begining hype of the film.

Along with Black Widow, Happy Hogan (played by Jon favreau also Iron Man’s dirrector for both films) is able to show case his boxing talent from the comics and fights along side Black Widow!

The subplot with War Machine was fun! The first encounter is a fight between an as yet unfinished War Machine armor and a drunk Iron Man. The two don’t stay enemies for long and even team up in the end.

There is a fun Captain America reference! As Tony works in his lab, Agent Colson (remember him from the first movie?) walks in and asks, “Do you know what this is?” and he picks up Captain America’s shield. Tony exclaims he’s been looking for that. He takes the shield and then wedges it down to prop up two metal cylinders with it!

Also… Agent Colson has been reassigned to New Mexico. Where it is rumored a good part of Captain America takes place; along with recognizing the shield leaves some to believe that this is yet another set up for the Captain America movie!

The film ends with Iron Man and War Machine fighing a small army of Crimson Dynamo or Titanium Man (Take your pick! Howver Crimson Dynamo was included in the Iron Man 2 toyline!) dronesback to back!

There is a quick Avengers reference as Stark finds a file labled ‘Avengers Initiative’…

The film is fun, entertaining and full of action packed fights that every Iron Man and comic enthusiast would love! It’s no Dark Knight but it comes damn close, better than some of the sequels Marvel has churned out over the years since X-Men 2!

Championship Comics will do its best to be there!

Atomicon is one of South Jersey’s longest running comic conventions! As always, Championship Comics will be there with our incredible price point inventory!

Espn is running a vote for the best all around Superhero and Supervillains. It is not based on powers or anything this is strictly popularity!

This is not based on powers or tactics, just solely on popularity itself! So run and vote! Championship Comics is pulling for Wonder Woman!

After nearly two years of speculation, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news on Monday that Chris Evans will be playing Marvel Comics’ iconic hero Captain America in the big-screen adaptation.

The movie, titled “The First Avenger: Captain America,” was announced in 2008 after Marvel Studio’s first production, “Iron Man,” became a box-office hit. The names of many actors — from established stars to mostly unknowns — have been rumored to be up for the role for months. Action movie veterans Channing Tatum (“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”) and Garrett Hedlund (the upcoming “Tron Legacy”) were reportedly considered, as were TV regulars Chace Crawford (“Gossip Girl”) and Scott Porter (“Friday Night Lights”). Even wild-cards like “The Office” funnyman John Krasinski tested for the part.

Chris Evans was a late addition to the roster of potential leads, but he had already established himself as a comic-book hero by playing the Human Torch in the two “Fantastic Four” movies. This goes against director Joe Johnston’s stated intention to use an unknown actor for the role. But Evans is an American, which was Johnston’s other requirement (and left out foreigners like Australian “Avatar” star Sam Worthington).

Finding the right actor to play Captain America has been pivotal for Marvel Studios because they have grander plans for the character beyond the one film. According to Johnston, “The First Avenger” is an origin story set predominantly during the 1940s, when the red-white-and-blue suited hero first appeared in comics. But the movie will also set up “The Avengers” — based on Marvel’s long-running team series — where Captain America will lead a group of superheroes that will include Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man.

While fans of the comics have expressed their doubts at some of the candidates for the role, response to Evans has been uniformly positive. His performance as Johnny Storm in “Fantastic Four” and “Rise of the Silver Surfer” were widely considered to be the best parts of those movies. It’s been said that Evans will sign a nine-picture contract that could see him appear as Captain America in multiple films, both on his own and with the Avengers.

Production on “The First Avenger” will begin in the U.K. in June. Hugo Weaving (“The Matrix”) is in talks to play Captain America’s nemesis, the Red Skull. It is the third movie in Marvel Studio’s pipeline, following “Iron Man 2,” which is coming to theaters on May 7th of this year, and “Thor,” currently filming for a May 2011 release. “Captain America” is scheduled to open on July 22, 2011.

In the meantime, Chris Evans has two films set to open this year, both of which also happen to be based on comic books. Next month, he’ll play a Special Forces operative in the adaptation of Vertigo Comics’ “The Losers.” Then in August he will appear in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” based on the graphic novel series.

We’ll be bringing the best in dollar comics! Avengers, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, Batman, Superman and so much more! That’s just the tip of the Ice Berg! Not to mention CHUD Grab Bags! That’s right, 20 comics in a bad, two Bronze age Marvel or DC books plus 18 random comics from across all ages! All for $1.00!

Information provided below:

Dear Comics Fans: Atomicon XIX Comics Expo will be held Sunday, April 18, 2010, at the Comfort Inn in Huntingdon, PA. (junction of US Rt. 22 and Fourth St.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DOOR PRIZES: Bat-Bux $howca$h Drawing, Free Movie Tickets Drawing (save ‘em for Iron Man 2!), Mystery Box ‘O’ Stuff (over $100 value), Classic 60s Monster Magazine Drawing are ALL for PAYING Attendees.

GUEST ARTISTS will be in attendance, to be confirmed in the week preceding the show.

ADMISSION is STILL only $2 for Adults and Teens; Fans 12-and-Under are admitted FREE. There’s always FREE Parking available at the con hotel (or visit us via Amtrak; station only 3 blocks from con hotel). There’ll be FREE COMICS for the first 100 people through the door!

THOUSANDS of COMICS (Golden Age, Silver Age, Current Age), DVDs, Action Figures, Toys, and other Comic Collectibles available!

For Dealer Table Info, send us an e-mail reply for details.

This Spring Show’s theme: A Salute to STEVE DITKO (originally from Johnstown, PA.; famous artist/creator of Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Capt. Atom, and many other famous comic characters).

In the immortal words of Marvel/DC inker Jack Abel: “Be there…or Be SQUARE!”

Saturday, April 3^rd

10 am – 3 pm 

For info contact us at
(302) 983-2636 or a2zshows1@yahoo.com

**NEW WEBSITE www.a2zshows1com

Ballroom at the Phoenix

(moved from the Quality Hotel – Philadelphia Airport)

1661 Mill Road

Upper Chichester, PA 19061