Top Tens: Jim Aparo

From the first time I saw Jim Aparo’s art in the pages of DCs “The Brave and the Bold” #100 he has remained one of my favourite comic book artists of all time. His style was both realistic and yet at the same time cartoony which only added to the appeal of his storytelling. For many comic book fans Aparo’s Batman is the definitive version of the character, although that accolade for myself rests with the equally legendary Neal Adams, Jim Aparo will always be the artist that defined both Aquaman and the Spectre for me. Below are a few of my favourite covers by the great man:

Jim Aparo began his artistic career working in advertising at a Connecticut ad agency, but his true passion as a lifelong comic book fan was to become a comic book artist. In his pursuit of that goal he gained his first professional work with Charlton comics where he worked with the companies then editor Dick Giordano, providing art on (among other strips) “Nightshade” a female super-hero back-up feature that appeared in Captain Atom, and most notably on Charlton comics version of Lee Falk’s “The Phantom”.

When Dick Giordano moved to DC Comics, he took Jim Aparo with him where he worked on Aquaman and the Phantom Stranger. After seeing his excellent art on the Phantom Stranger, editor Murray Boltinoff asked Aparo to work on a Batman/Phantom Stranger team-up for “The Brave and the Bold” #98 - The rest is the stuff off comic book legend and Jim Aparo stayed on this title for almost every issue until the final 200th issue.

The mystery skier in the above cover was "Two Face"

I have shown Jim Aparo's covers for his excellent run on the Spectre when it appeared in "Adventure comics" . I couldn't leave out showing an Aparo Spectre cover and recenlty came across this issue of "Ghosts" #97 which features a great Aparo Spectre cover (sadly he didn't draw the actual strip).

Jim Aparo passed away in 2005 at the age of 72. His final work for DC during his life, was the cover of the trade edition of “Batman in the Eighties” published in 2004. To this day everytime I see one of his great covers, it always makes me smile.

Great comic book runs: The Spectre (Adventure comics) Aparo & Fleisher

One of my all-time favourite comic book series of the 1970’s was the Michael Fleisher and Jim Aparo revival of the Spectre character that appeared in Adventure Comics issue 431 – 440 (1974/5). This 10 issue series took its lead from the original golden age version of the character (created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Bailley in “More Fun Comics” issue 52 in 1940) who wasn’t averse to dispensing justice through acts of violence. However, the Fleisher/Aparo Spectre took his version of justice one step further through some excessive acts of brutality including turning a villain into glass before shattering him, turning another to wax and then melting him and in one particularly gruesome episode turning a bad guy into wood before feeding him through a band saw. In these circumstances it was perhaps understandable why this Spectre series was cut short as it was violent for a 1970's comic, but then again that was part of it's appeal at the time. Of course Jim Aparo’s excellent moody art and stunning covers didn’t hurt the comics lasting popularity.

Adventure Comics ~#431 – This issue also featured the classic back-up tale “Is a Snearl human?” by Sheldon Mayer and Alex Toth.

Adventure Comics ~#432 – This issue also featured a Captain Fear tale by Alex Nino and Steve Skates.

Adventure Comics ~#433 – This issue featured another Captain Fear tale by Alex Nino and Steve Skates.

Adventure Comics ~#434 – Not all issues were fully illustrated by Jim Aparo, this issue was pencilled by Frank Thorne with Aparo inking. This issue was the first in the series to feature a full length Spectre tale.

Adventure Comics ~#435 – This issue featured an Aquaman back-up tale by Steve Skates and Mike Grell. Additionally this was the notorious issue where the villain was turned to wood and then cut up in a saw. Brutal for an all colour comic at the time (perhaps even by today’s standards).

Adventure Comics ~#436 – This issue continues the Aquaman back-up tales by Steve Skates and Mike Grell

Adventure Comics ~#437 – This issue features Ernie Chan (Chua) on pencils with Jim Aparo inking. This issue also continues the Aquaman back-up tales by Steve Skates and Mike Grell

Adventure Comics ~#438 – This issue features Ernie Chua (officially using his real name) on pencils with Jim Aparo inking. This issue features part one of a pretty strange Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Dick Dillin and Howard Chaykin.

Adventure Comics ~#439 – This issue features part two of the Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Lee Elias.

Adventure Comics ~#440 – The final issue of Adventure Comics featuring the Spectre. This issue features part two of the Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Mike Grell.

The Michael Fleisher and Jim Aparo Spectre series has been reprinted several times over the years including a 4 issues series in 1988 (cover to issue 3 above) and the “Wrath of the Spectre” collection (cover at header) which are both worth seeking out. This series may not have any deep meaning as it was largely based on the premise of a criminal doing something evil and the Spectre showing up and killing him. But it was a well written and illustrated book that was a cross between the best of 1970’s superheroes and the EC horror comics of the 1950’s, what’s not to like?