Rich Buckler(February 6, 1949 – May 19, 2017)[1][2]was anAmericancomics artistandpenciller,best known for his work onMarvel Comics'Fantastic Fourin the mid-1970s and for creating the characterDeathlokinAstonishing Tales#25. Buckler drew virtually every major character at Marvel andDC,often as a cover artist.

Rich Buckler
Born(1949-02-06)February 6, 1949
Detroit,Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 2017(2017-05-19)(aged 68)
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer,Penciller
Pseudonym(s)Ron Validar
Notable works
All-Star Squadron
Astonishing Tales(Deathlok)
Fantastic Four
Supermanvs.Shazam!
World's Finest Comics
richbuckler

Career

edit

As a teenager in Detroit, Buckler was involved in comicsfandom.[3]He attended the initial iterations of theDetroit Triple Fan Fair,eventually running the convention along with originator Robert Brosch in 1969–1970.[4][5]

Buckler's first comics work was as a teenager with the four-page historical story "Freedom Fighters: Washington Attacks Trenton" in theKing Featurescomic bookFlash Gordon#10 (cover-datedNov. 1967). In 1971, he did some work forSkywald Publicationsbut made a "wrong move" by attempting to date the daughter of Skywald's co-owner Israel Waldman.[6]At DC Comics, he drew the "Rose and the Thorn"backup stories inSuperman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane#117–121 (Dec. 1971–April 1972).[7]

Buckler drew the first three issues of writerDon McGregor'sBlack Pantherseries inJungle Actionvol. 2, #6–8 (Sept. 1973–Jan. 1974), a run thatComics Bulletinin 2010 ranked third on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".[8]He fulfilled a decade-long dream in 1974 when assigned to draw Marvel's flagship series,Fantastic Four,on which he stayed for two years.[9]During this period, Buckler created the cyborg antiheroDeathlok,who starred in an ongoing feature debuting inAstonishing Tales#25 (Aug. 1974).[10]Also during this period, Buckler hired the youngGeorge Pérezas his studio assistant.[11]

Buckler collaborated with writerGerry Conwayon a "Supermanvs.Shazam!"story published inAll-New Collectors' Edition#C-58 (April 1978).[12][13]He drew the newspapercomic stripThe Incredible Hulkfor approximately six months in 1979.[14]Buckler was one of several artists to draw the comics adaptation ofXanaduinMarvel Super Special#17 (Summer 1980).[15]AJustice Leaguestory by Conway and Buckler originally intended forAll-New Collectors' Editionsaw print inJustice League of America#210–212 (Jan.–March 1983).[16][17][18]Buckler andRoy Thomasthen created the World War II superhero team theAll-Star Squadronin aspecial insertinJustice League of America#193 (Aug. 1981)[19]which led to the team's own title the following month.[20]

In 1983,The Comics Journalaccused Buckler of plagiarism, saying that he had a reputation as a "swipe"artist who copied poses and layouts from previous artists' work.[21][22]Buckler sued the magazine for libel,[23]but later dropped the suit.[24]

Buckler worked forArchie Comicsin 1983 and 1984, when that publisher briefly revived itsRed Circle Comicssuperhero line, and he recruitedCary Burkettto write theMighty Crusaderstitle.[25]In 1985, Buckler returned to Marvel and briefly drewThe Spectacular Spider-Manwith writerPeter David,where they produced the storyline "The Death of Jean DeWolff".[26]He also served as editor for a short-lived line of comics bySolson Publications,where in 1987 he createdReagan's Raiders.[27]

In 2011, Buckler drew aDjustineshort story written by Enrico Teodorani for the Italian market.[28]

He was the author of three books on comic book artistry:How to Become a Comic Book Artist[29]andHow to Draw Superheroes[30](Solson Publications) in 1986, andHow to Draw Dynamic Comic Books(Vanguard Publications) in 2007.[31]

In 2015, he became anInkwell AwardsAmbassador.[32][33]It was not uncommon for him to use the alias Ron Validar or simply Validar for his Marvel comics work when he was on exclusive contract with rival DC.[34]In this way he was able to skirt the spirit of the law if not the letter. His most prominent covers using this nom de plume were often inked byErnie Chan.[citation needed]

Death

edit

Buckler died May 19, 2017, after a long battle with cancer.[2]

Bibliography

edit

Arcana Studio

edit
  • Shadowflame#3 (inker) (2007)

Archie Comics

edit

Astral Comics

edit
  • Astral Comics#1 (1977)
  • Galaxia Magazine#1 (1981)

Atlas/Seaboard Comics

edit

CFD Productions

edit
  • Forever Warriors #1(artist with Jim Webb, cover art withGeorge Pérez,writer withRoy Thomasand Matt Morello) (1997)

Continuity Comics

edit
  • Hybrids: The Origin#3–4 (1993)

DC Comics

edit

Deluxe Comics

edit

Dynamite Entertainment

edit

Gold Key

edit

Image Comics

edit

King Comics

edit

Lodestone Publishing

edit
  • Codename: Danger#1 (1985)

Malibu Comics

edit
  • Genesis#0 (1993)

Marvel Comics

edit

Now Comics

edit

Silverline Comics

edit
  • Assassins Inc.#2 (inker) (1987)

Skywald Publications

edit

Solson Publications

edit
  • Amazing Wahzoo#1 (1986)
  • The Bushido Blade of Zatoichi Walrus#2 (1987)
  • How to Become a Comic Book Artist(1986)
  • How To DrawTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#1 (1986)
  • Reagan's Raiders#1–3 (1986–87)
  • Rich Buckler's Secrets of Drawing Comics#1–4 (1986)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Authorized Martial Arts Training Manual#1 (writer & inker) (1986)

S.Q.P. Inc.

edit
  • Phase#1 (1971)
  • Hot Stuf'#1 (1974)

Tekno Comix (Big Entertainment)

edit

Tiger Comics

edit
  • Phantasy Against Hunger#1 (inker, among others) (1987)

Topps Comics

edit

Warrant Publishing

edit
  • The Creeps#1–3 (also writer in #2) (2014–2015)

Warren Publishing

edit

References

edit
  1. ^Miller, John Jackson(June 10, 2005)."Comics Industry Birthdays".Comics Buyer's Guide.Iola, Wisconsin. Archived fromthe originalon February 18, 2011.RetrievedDecember 12,2010.
  2. ^ab"Rich Buckler, Prolific Marvel and DC Comics Artist, Dies at 68".The Hollywood Reporter.May 20, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on May 21, 2017.
  3. ^Siegel, Howard P. "Made in America,"BEM#16 (December 1977).
  4. ^Cooke, Jon B., ed. (2005). "Rich Buckler Breaks Out! The Artist on Deathlok, T'Challa, and Other Marvel Tales".Comic Book ArtistCollection Volume 3.TwoMorrows Publishing.
  5. ^Bails, Jerry;Ware, Hames (n.d.)."Buckler, Rich F."Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2016.
  6. ^Buckler in Cooke,p. 72: "I was told that I'm not Jewish enough - understandable since I'm not Jewish (I'm a mixture of German, Irish, and French - but I look mostly German). Anyway, I'm married to a Jewish girl now."
  7. ^Cassell, Dewey (May 2013). "A Rose By Any Other Name...Would Be Thorn".Back Issue!(64). Raleigh, North Carolina:TwoMorrows Publishing:28–32.
  8. ^Sacks, Jason (September 6, 2010)."Top 10 1970s Marvels".Comics Bulletin.Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2013.RetrievedAugust 3,2013.
  9. ^Thomas, Roy. "Bullpen Bulletins,"Marvel comics cover-dated January 1974.
  10. ^Sanderson, Peter;Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s".Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 166.ISBN978-0756641238.Created by artist Rich Buckler and writer Doug Moench, the original Deathlok was Colonel Luther Manning, a soldier in an alternate, post-apocalyptic future.{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^O'Neill, Daniel Patrick (July 1994)."Career Moves".Wizard(35). Archived fromthe originalon September 7, 2009.
  12. ^Hamerlinck, P.C. (December 2012). "When Worlds Collide The Colossal-Sized Confrontation Between Superman and Captain Marvel".Back Issue!(61). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 65–68.
  13. ^All-New Collectors' Edition#C-58at the Grand Comics Database
  14. ^Cassell, Dewey (February 2014). "Smashing into Syndication: The Incredible Hulk Newspaper Strip".Back Issue!(70). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 37–40.
  15. ^Friedt, Stephan (July 2016). "Marvel at the Movies - The House of Ideas' Hollywood Adaptations of the 1970s and 1980s".Back Issue!(89). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 64.The interior [art] was a group effort with over a dozen people credited with different aspects of the artwork (including layouts by Rich Buckler andJimmy Janes,and finished pencils byMichael Nasser [Netzer],Brent Anderson,Joe Brozowski,Al Milgrom,andBill Sienkiewicz).
  16. ^Justice League of America#210at the Grand Comics Database
  17. ^Wells, John (October 24, 1997), "'Lost' DC: The DC Implosion ",Comics Buyer's Guide,no. 1249, p. 132
  18. ^Wells, John (December 2012). "The Perils of the DC/Marvel Tabloid Era".Back Issue!(61). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 6.
  19. ^Catron, Michael(June 1981). "Thomas Revives WWII Superheroes".Amazing Heroes(1). Stamford, Connecticut:Fantagraphics Books:28–30.All-Star Squadron,DC's new World War II-era superhero series debuts in May in a 16-page preview insert inJustice League of America#193.
  20. ^Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s".DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 195.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.The creative team of writer Roy Thomas and artist Rich Buckler onAll-Star Squadronoffered readers a nostalgic glimpse back in time, albeit through the slightly distorted lens of Earth-2's history.{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^"Plagiarism: Rich Buckler Signs his Name to Jack Kirby's Work".The Comics Journal.No. 83. August 1983. pp. 33–35.
  22. ^"Rich Buckler Answers His Critics".The Comics Journal.No. 86. November 1983. pp. 28–31.
  23. ^"Rich Buckler SuesComics Journaland two of its Writers for Libel ".The Comics Journal.No. 88. January 1984. p. 13.
  24. ^"Buckler DropsComics JournalLibel Suit ".The Comics Journal.No. 93. September 1984. pp. 11–12.
  25. ^Cobb, Bradley S. (2001)."Cary Burkett Interview".The Mighty Crusaders Network. Archived fromthe originalon December 15, 2013.RetrievedJune 23,2012.
  26. ^Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1980s".Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 150.ISBN978-0756692360.Revered as one of the finest Spider-Man stories ever told, this four-part saga, written by Peter David and penciled by Rich Buckler, was a decidedly dark tale for the usually lighthearted web-slinger.{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^Reagan's RaidersatDon Markstein's Toonopedia.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2016.
  28. ^"Djustine".EF edizioni(in Italian).Retrieved2019-06-21.
  29. ^Buckler, Rich (1986).How to Become a Comic Book Artist.Solson.ISBN0-9615671-1-2.
  30. ^Buckler, Rich (1987).How to Draw Super-Heroes.Solson.ISBN0-9615671-5-5.
  31. ^Buckler, Rich (2007).How to Draw Dynamic Comic Books.Vanguard.ISBN978-1-887591-95-9.
  32. ^"Ambassadors".Inkwell Awards.Archivedfrom the original on January 28, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 27,2017.
  33. ^Almond, Bob (January 11, 2016)."Rich Buckler Made Inkwell Awards Ambassador, Plus Roster Changes"(Press release).First Comics.Archived fromthe originalon March 19, 2016.
  34. ^Rich Buckler as Validarat theGrand Comics Database
edit
Preceded by The Avengersartist
1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Buscema
Fantastic Fourartist
1974–1976
Succeeded by
Preceded by World's Finest Comicsartist
1979–1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by Fantastic Fourartist
1989
Succeeded by