[ Posted by normdwyer on Apr 9th, 2007 9:36 PM ]...

One of the immortals has fallen. At least, one of my personal immortals. I grew up in the '60s and '70s and grew into an uber-comic book geek. But I discovered comic books right after the run of Jack Kirby at Marvel, Neal Adams on Batman and Bernie Wrightson on SwampThing. But I did catch Michael Kaluta on The Shadow and Marshall Rogers on his landmark Batman run.

While I didn't catch Neal Adams run on Batman, I was well aware of his reputation of having 're-invented' the Batman character along with Dennis O'Neil. But, I did get to witness Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers 're-invent' Batman. And what an exciting time that was to be a comic book fan. Everything Marshall touched at that time had a glow for me. He made the whole Man-Bat concept cool during his short run with that character in a series of back-up stories to Batman Family. His two issue piece in Marvel's Kung Fu magazine featuring Misty Night and Colleen Wing as Night Wing Investigations was just so damn cool!

Dr. Strange. Cool. Coyote. Cool. Cap'n Quick and the Foozle. Cool.

Somehow, Marshall had a way of making comics fun and cool again. Especially fun.

Marshall Rogers utlimately inspired me to become a comic book artist. I never reached the heights he did. But he never ceased to be an inspiration.

I had the privilige of meeting Marshall Rogers in Denver in 1985(?). We actually hit it off and – he liked my work. I was dumbfounded. A published pro liked my work. He was packaging a book at that time for Eclipse, I don't recall if it was 'Coyote' or 'Cap'n Quick and a Foozle,' but he asked if I would be interested in developing a back up series to the book featuring my character Libby Ellis. Ultimately, nothing came of this opportunity. I believe the format of the book changed and it didn't require a back up series, but that validation by an idol inspired me to keep trying at a point where I might have otherwise given up.

I will always thank him for that. But more importantly I thank him for every comic page he ever drew. His work still brings me great joy.

[ Posted by KurtMitchell on Feb 2nd, 2007 12:08 AM ]...

Your posted sketchbook is awesome. I want to see more.
I am intrigued by your signature(?) at the edge... what does it mean?

1 Reply [ Latest posted on February 7th, 2007 6:25 PM ]

[ Posted by normdwyer on Feb 7th, 2007 6:25 PM ]... Dang. I'm still tryin got figure out the new features of ComicSpace as they come on line. that signature has a long and storied history. ;-) When i was about 12, my mother told me all great artists had recognizable signatures on there works. So i started exploring. Then i saw Walt Simonson's dinosaur signature on Manhunter and decided I wanted something like that. So for about 10 years i had an "NDwyer" signature with a long tail. Over time the ND decayed into a pentagram shape, a 'star.' Then in the 80s i became enamored of Bill Sienkiewicz's (see http://www.answers.com/topic/tux-men2-jp g) work and adopted a signature based on a chinese style 'chop' that i'd seen in his signature at the time. At the top is the date of the drawing. Below that the ND 'star.' Below that the year, arranged around a cruciform, i always loved the big Lenten candle when i was an altar boy, and they had the motif for the year on that candle. and finally, below the year was the month 01 |–––| |nd | |2|0| |–––| |0|7| |–––| 02

[ Posted by normdwyer on Feb 2nd, 2007 1:31 AM ]...

that signature has a long and storied history. ;-)
When i was about 12, my mother told me all great artists had recognizable signatures on there works. So i started exploring. Then i saw Walt Simonson's dinosaur signature on Manhunter and decided I wanted something like that. So for about 10 years i had an "NDwyer" signature with a long tail. Over time the ND decayed into a pentagram shape, a 'star.' Then in the 80s i became enamored of Bill Sienkiewicz's (see http://www.answers.com/topic/tux-men2-jpg) work and adopted a signature based on a chinese style 'chop' that i'd seen in his signature at the time.
At the top is the date of the drawing. Below that the ND 'star.' Below that the year, arranged around a cruciform, i always loved the big Lenten candle when i was an altar boy, and they had the motif for the year on that candle. and finally, below the year was the month

01
|–––|
|nd |
|2|0|
|–––|
|0|7|
|–––|
02

[ Posted by normdwyer on Jan 23rd, 2007 9:56 AM ]...

Kurt
thanks for the kind words. I feel like i'm not even treading water with my sketching though. I continue to lose my technical edge and creativity. I need a serious challenge of some sort and the time to apply myself to it, or else i'll be left drawing daisys ad rainbows.

[ Posted by KurtMitchell on Jan 22nd, 2007 7:45 PM ]...

Norm, I envy your drive to draw...you inspire me to draw more!
Thanks for the Add..

[ Posted by Shojinstudios on Dec 12th, 2006 4:26 PM ]...

Norm!!! This is great yet another way to keep in touch!

[ Posted by THEDOC on Dec 11th, 2006 6:29 PM ]...

Thanks for the add Norm, if you in the area hopefully you can come to the Jam.

[ Posted by SquidWorks on Dec 11th, 2006 3:47 PM ]...

Norm, great to see some old ACME folks on the boards!

Stan Yan

[ Posted by tmalo70 on Dec 11th, 2006 3:41 PM ]...

No Probs Norm... Havin' You on here will help keep it fun... Later, Tony