Steve Lightle
Steve Lightle (November 19, 1959 – January 8, 2021)[1][2][3] was an American comics artist who worked primarily as a penciller. He was best known as the artist of DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes and Doom Patrol titles.
Steve Lightle | |
---|---|
Born | Kansas, U.S. | November 19, 1959
Died | January 8, 2021 61) | (aged
Area(s) | Penciller |
Notable works | Doom Patrol Legion of Super-Heroes |
Biography
Steve Lightle attended the Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City metropolitan area.[4] His first professional comic book work was a five–page story in Black Diamond #4 (Feb. 1984) published by AC Comics. He followed this with his debut at DC Comics, drawing a 10–page story in New Talent Showcase #4 (April 1984),[5] a series intended to provide work for up-and-coming artists who did not have a regular assignment.[6]
In 1984, Lightle followed Keith Giffen as the penciller of Legion of Super-Heroes.[7] Lightle described it as being a "dream assignment" to work on the title.[8] One of Lightle's issues featured the death of the longtime Legion member the Karate Kid.[9] Although Lightle's tenure as interior artist was brief, he continued as the cover artist until 1988.[5] Lightle co-created two Legionnaires, Tellus and Quislet,[10] whose unusual appearances contrasted with the humanoid appearances of the other Legionnaires.
In 1986, Lightle was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series[11] and drew part of Batman #400 (Oct. 1986).[12] The following year, he was the original penciller of the revival of Doom Patrol,[13] but he left after the first five-issue story arc due to creative differences.[14] Much of Lightle's work after that was as cover artist, typically inking his own penciled artwork. In 1989 and 1990, Lightle was the regular cover artist for Classic X-Men[5] (later retitled X-Men Classic). He produced new covers and frontispieces to accompany the reprinted stories.
On January 8, 2021, his son Matthew and wife Marianne announced that he had died from a cardiac arrest brought on by COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas.[15][16][17]
Bibliography
AC Comics
- Black Diamond #4 (1984)
DC Comics
- Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1 (Superboy) (1998)
- Batman #400 (1986)
- Batman and the Outsiders #10 (1984)
- Booster Gold: Futures End #1 (2014)
- DC Challenge #12 (1986)
- Doom Patrol vol. 2 #1–5 (1987–1988)
- The Flash vol. 2 #226 (2005)
- The Flash 80-Page Giant #2 (1999)
- The Flash Annual #10 (1997)
- History of the DC Universe hardcover (three pages) (1988)
- JLA-Z #1 (one page) (2003)
- The Legion #24, 34 (2003–2004)
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #3–5, 7–10, 12–14, 16, 23 (1984–1986)
- New Talent Showcase #4–6 (1984)
- The Outsiders #2–3 (backup stories) (1985–1986)
- Who's Who in the DC Universe #2–3, 6–7, 13–14 (1990–1991)
- Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1–2 (1988)
- Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3, 5, 8, 12–13, 16, 18, 20, 23 (1985–1987)
- Who's Who: Update '87 #3–4 (1987)
- Wonder Woman Gallery #1 (1996)
- Wonder Woman Secret Files and Origins #1 (1998)
- World's Finest Comics #304, 306 (1984)
Marvel Comics
- The Amazing Spider-Man '96 #1 (1996)
- Excalibur: XX Crossing (1992)
- Generation X '95 #1 (1995)
- Marvel Comics Presents #109–116 (Wolverine and Typhoid Mary); #123–130 (Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary); #132–136 (Wolverine); #150 (Vengeance, Wolverine, Daredevil, Typhoid Mary); #175 (Steel Raven, New Genix) (1992–1995)
- Marvel Holiday Special (Spider-Man) (1992)
- Quasar #39–40 (1992)
- Web of Spider-Man Super Special #1 (1995)
- X-Factor #32 (1988)
References
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/comic-book-artist-s-sudden-death-shock-we-had-no-n1254399
- https://comicbook.com/dc/news/steve-lightle-dc-comics-legion-of-super-heroes-artist-dies/
- Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- Bails, Jerry (n.d.). "Lightle, Steve". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2007.
- Steve Lightle at the Grand Comics Database
- Greenberger, Robert (April 2014). "New Talent and Bonus Babies". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (71): 67.
- Schweier, Philip (October 2013). "Back to the Future: The Legion in the 1980s". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (68): 57–61.
- Vollmar, Rob (June 14, 2007). "Conversation With A Craftsman: Steve Lightle Talks With Rob Vollmar". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on June 14, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
I was made to feel very welcome on Legion, and since the characters had been favorites of mine consistently since childhood, it was a dream assignment. I can't say enough good about Paul Levitz, who encouraged me to be involved in every aspect of the book and its characters.
- Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
In a story written by Paul Levitz, with art by Keith Giffen and Steve Lightle...the Karate Kid gave his life heroically while battling Nemesis Kid.
CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) - Signh, Arune (October 30, 2002). "Because You Demanded It, A Legionnaire Returns: Steve Lightle Talks Legion". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
I hold the distinction of having suggested the first non-humanoid Legionnaires in the long history of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Tellus and Quislet were the first nonhuman members of the Legion, and I'm very happy that Paul Levitz and I broke that barrier by creating them.
- Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (98): 43.
- Trumbull, John (December 2013). "A New Beginning...And a Probable End Batman #300 and #400". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (69): 51.
- Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 229: "October [1987] saw a new Doom Patrol series, by writer Paul Kupperberg and artist Steve Lightle."
- Browning, Michael (July 2013). "The Doom Patrol Interviews: Steve Lightle". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (65): 51.
I'd decided that it wasn't going in the direction I wanted and the promises I had been made hadn't even been anywhere near fulfilled.
- Arrant, Chris (January 8, 2021). "Iconic Legion of Super-Heroes artist Steve Lightle dies at age 61". GamesRadar+. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- DCPlanet
External links
- Steve Lightle at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Steve Lightle at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
- Steve Lightle at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
Preceded by Keith Giffen |
Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 artist 1984–1985 |
Succeeded by Greg LaRocque |
Preceded by n/a |
Doom Patrol vol. 2 artist 1987–1988 |
Succeeded by Erik Larsen |