TheDC Universefans know and love exists because of the amazing contributions of some truly visionary artists. The publishing giant simply wouldn’t be where it is today without the work of the thousands of talented creators illustrating the never-ending adventures of theDC Universe’s heroesand villains.
Out of the numerous artists who have workedon DC Comics storiesover the years, it’s hard to pick out just a handful to highlight when there are so many deserving creators. But the following list takes a look at ten outstanding comic book illustrators and examines why every fan should know who they are.
10Dan Mora is Shaping the DC Universe
Known For:Batman/Superman: World’s Finest,Absolute Power
Dan Mora is a greener name than most others on this list, but he’s become a fan-favorite among many for his versatile art, engaging battle sequences, and the humanity he brings to the characters he draws. Mora contributed several variant covers to books likeTeen TitansandBatgirlbefore later working on ongoings likeDetective Comics. But Mora really started gaining attention when he teamed up with Mark Waid forBatman/Superman: World’s Finest, a book thatallowed Mora to flex his skills and draw a wider range of DC characters.
Mora has been shouldering more books in recent years and just illustratedDC’s summer eventAbsolute Power. Now he’s pulling double duty working with Waid onJustice League UnlimitedandSupermanwith Joshua Williamson. When it comes to modern DC artists,everyone should keep their eyes on Dan Mora.
9Neal Adams Changed the Game for Superhero Storytelling
Known For:Green Lantern,Deadman
When it comes to DC legends, Neal Adams is regarded as one of the greats by both fans and comic professionals alike. After working for other publishers, Adams went to DC Comics in the late 60s where he illustrated Batman and, after impressing DC editor Julius Schwartz, Adams was paired with Dennis O’Neil, a partnership that produced some truly beloved stories. Adams’ co-created aGreen Lanternrun with O’Neil that not only reinvented the book to be timely and deal with pressing social issues,but introduced John Stewart, the first Black Green Lantern.
Adams’ contributions didn’t just end there. He was responsible for co-creating iconic Batman villains Man-Bat and Ra’s al Ghul.He also illustrated the infamousSuperman vs. Muhammad Alistory, another feather in the cap of this incredibly innovative and talented DC artist.
8Denys Cowan Ushered in a New Era for DC
Known For:The Question,Hardware
One can’t discuss important DC artists without discussing the ones that helped found the publisher’s first imprint that emphasized Black creators and characters. Denys Cowan was a DC artist who got his start in Weird War Tales before later working with Dennis O’Neil onThe Question. Cowan, along with Dwayne McDuffie, Michael Davis, and Derek Dingle,founded Milestone Media in the early ‘90s, an imprint intended to better serve minority comic book readers.
Cowan had a hand in several of the titles produced under the Milestone banner, such asHardware,Blood Syndicate, andXombi. Cowan’s dynamic art helped these Milestone books gain prominence and diversified DC Comics’ line up at a time when it was most needed. While Cowan wasn’t the only one responsible for Milestone, his contributions helpedpave the way for a new generation of Black DC Comics fans and comic creators.
7Dan Jurgens Illustrated Superman’s Most Harrowing Moment
Known For:Superman,Booster Gold
Writer and artist Dan Jurgens was a voice during the ‘80s and ‘90s of DC Comics, and he started out strong creating Booster Gold, a character that remains a fan-favorite to this day. But Jurgens’ most influential work started when he began working full-time on the Man of Steel inAdventures of Superman. Jurgens’ work stood out during the beloved ‘Triangle era’ of Superman, butno art of his is remembered more than the work he did during “The Death of Superman”.
Jurgens was one of the minds behind Doomsday’s creations and his art really brought the brute to life, especially in the infamousSuperman #75.It was Jurgens who illustrated Superman’s last stand against Doomsdayand who expertly captured the heartbreaking moment that stunned the world when the Man of Steel succumbed to his injuries.
6Alex Ross' Talent Has to Be Seen to Be Believed
Known For:Kingdom Come,Justice
The name Alex Ross is one linked with quality and art that exists in a league of its own. Ross is famous for his rich, painted artwork that gives his illustrations a detailed, almost cinematic feel. Ross has provided covers for iconic comics such as Batman, Action Comics, and Superman. But it’s his interior work that really shows off what he is capable of, andnothing demonstrates that better than his iconic work,Kingdom Come.
One can tell that Ross puts his heart and soul into his artwork. From the meticulous details to the vibrant colors he uses, there’s so much to love about the things he produces.Any DC Comics fan that hasn’t had the pleasure of checking out Alex Ross’ art should immediately correct thatand see the impressive details of his work for themselves.
5Ramona Fradon Was a Trailblazing Artist
Known For:Metamorpho,Aquaman
There was a time when women comic creators were an extreme rarity among major comic book publishers, but it’s because of artists like Ramona Fradon that things started to turn around for the better. Fradon got her start at DC Comics working on a Shining Knight feature inAdventure Comics.But it wasn’t long before she took over art duties onAquamanand stayed their for the next ten years.
Fradon didn’t just work on established heroes, she created several herself. Not only did she introduce Aquaman characters like Aqualad and Atlanna, she and writer Bob Haney created Metamorpho for The Brave and the Bold. Fradon also provided art for the Super Friends comic book, based on the beloved cartoon. Fradon’s career was a game-changer andopened the door for other talented female artists at DC Comics.
4Darwyn Cooke’s Style Was an Inspiration to All
Known For:DC: The New Frontier,Before Watchmen: Minutemen
Few artists are as widely praised by fans and professionals alike as Darwyn Cooke. With a background in cartooning, Cooke began working at DC Comics in the mid ‘80s, but left shortly afterward due to financial reasons. However, he returned to the publisher in the late ‘90s with Batman: Ego before later working with Ed Brubaker on a relaunchedCatwomantitle.But Cooke’s masterpiece wasDC: The New Frontier, a story about the transition from the Golden to the Silver Age of Comic Books.
Cooke’s art had a delightful charm to it, managing to have a retro, yet timeless appeal. Cooke was a critically lauded artist, winning thirteen Eisner awards, eight Harvey awards, and five Joe Shuster awards. After Cooke’s passing,DC Comics put out an official statement that acknowledged his amazing influence, likening him to venerated creators Alex Toth and Jack Kirby.
3Jim Lee is DC Comics' Greatest Success Story
Known For:Batman,Justice League
One of the hardest working creators in DC history, Jim Lee stands out as a modern legend. Jim Lee came to DC Comics after selling his creator-owned production studio, Wildstorm Productions to the publisher. It was then thatLee began making waves on big titles such asSupermanandBatman(the latter of which is famous for the epic “Hush” storyline). Lee’s star continued to rise as he was appointed one of DC Comics’ co-publishers alongside Dan Didio, right before helping usher in the ambitious publishing initiative, the New 52.
There’s no denying Lee is a talented and incredibly driven artist. But Lee’s been able to carve out a place in comic book history thanks to his keen business sense. Years after being promoted to co-publisher (and later the sole publisher),Lee was made President of DC Comics, making him an unparalleled success in the company’s history.
2George Pérez Defined DC Comics for a Generation
Known For:Wonder Woman,Crisis on Infinite Earths
Some artists have the good fortune of being around for a crucial moment in comic history, and icons like George Pérez make the most of the moment. Pérez came to DC Comics in the early ‘80s and became lauded for his work onThe New Teen Titansand just a few years later,he and Marv Wolfman would tackle an even more ambitious project, DC Comics' epicCrisis on Infinite Earths. From the event’s jaw-dropping fight scenes to the beautiful splash pages, Pérez helped make the event one worth remembering.
But Pérez’s work didn’t end there. Pérez was crucial to relaunching Wonder Woman in the Post-Crisis DC Universe, simplifying her history and streamlining her connection with the Greek pantheon, creating a foundation that later Wonder Woman writers would build on for years. To this day,writers and artists still look back on the work that George Pérez and strive to match his quality.
1Jack Kirby Was, and Will Forever Be, the King
Known For: The Fourth World Saga,Demon
What else can be said about Jack ‘King’ Kirby other than he is possibly the most influential comic creator? Not just for DC Comics, but for the comic book medium as a whole. The prolific creator had freelanced for DC (then National Comics), but came to the publisher as an exclusive creator after a fallout with Marvel. At DC Comics, Kirby worked on several titles likeMister MiracleandNew Godsas part of the Fourth World Saga, an epic that reshaped DC’s cosmology.
Aside from introducing long-lasting and beloved characters like Orion and Darkseid, Kirby was known for his bold colors, complex, alien designs and his intense effects (namely the infamous ‘Kirby Krackle’). It cannot be stressed enough that much of what fans know and love aboutthe DC Universe today is largely rooted in the amazing work that Jack Kirby did in the ‘70s.
