Howard Bender

Howard Bender was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh.{{cite web|url=http://13thdimension.com/east-coast-comicon-spotlight-howard-bender-and-the-batmobile/ |title=East Coast Comicon Spotlight: Howard Bender and the Batmobile |first=Dan |last=Greenfield |date=April 4, 2015 |publisher=13thdimension.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035113/http://13thdimension.com/east-coast-comicon-spotlight-howard-bender-and-the-batmobile/ |archivedate=March 8, 2016 |url-status=live|quote=As an infant from Cleveland, l was told I was placed in a rocket and launched out into outer space to land not far over the Pennsylvania boarder {{sic}} in Highland Park, Pittsburgh, PA. |df=mdy-all }} He attended the Art Students League and was a co-founder of the Pittsburgh Comics Club in 1972.{{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/bender_howard.htm |title=Howard Bender |date=December 19, 2006 |publisher=Lambiek Comiclopedia |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505131637/http://lambiek.net/artists/b/bender_howard.htm |archivedate=May 5, 2012 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all }} After working in the production department at Marvel Comics as a letterer and artist (1974–1980), he held a similar role at DC Comics (1981–1985).{{cite web|url=http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=BENDER%2C+HOWARD |title=Bender, Howard |first=Jerry |last=Bails |authorlink=Jerry Bails |date=n.d. |work=Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205052949/http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=BENDER%2C+HOWARD |archivedate=February 5, 2016 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://kleinletters.com/Blog/the-dc-comics-offices-1982-1991-part-3/ |title=The DC Comics Offices 1982–1991 Part 3 |first=Todd |last=Klein |authorlink=Todd Klein |date=August 3, 2016 |publisher=Kleinletters.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809134048/http://kleinletters.com/Blog/the-dc-comics-offices-1982-1991-part-3/ |archivedate=August 9, 2016 |url-status=live|quote=Howard Bender, who came from the Marvel Comics production department, and who did comics art for DC in his spare time. Howard mainly worked on covers. |df=mdy-all }} His Marvel work included adding tones to the black-and-white artwork in Marvel UK's Star Wars Weekly series.{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-in-the-uk-blonde-han-solo-kenny-baker-speaks-and-more-in-star-wars-weekly-8 |title=Star Wars in the UK : Blonde Han Solo, Kenny Baker Speaks, and More in Star Wars Weekly #8! |first=Mark |last=Newbold |date=May 13, 2016 |publisher=Starwars.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724065811/http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-in-the-uk-blonde-han-solo-kenny-baker-speaks-and-more-in-star-wars-weekly-8 |archivedate=July 24, 2016 |url-status=live|quote=Interesting to note that back in '78 when most UK comics were printed in black and white, there was no need for a colorist, but a toner, in this case Howard Bender who added the light and shade to the artwork of Howard Chaykin and Steve Leialoha.|df=mdy-all }} At DC Comics, Bender drew one-page introduction features in various mystery titles such as Ghosts, Secrets of Haunted House, The Unexpected, and Weird War Tales.{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Howard+Bender|title= Howard Bender}} He was the artist on the "Dial H for Hero" backup stories published in The New Adventures of Superboy and drew several Superman stories in Action Comics. His work on a Wildfire story in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #283 (Jan. 1982) was praised by fellow artist Keith Giffen.{{cite book|last= Cadigan|first= Glen|chapter= Legion Lowdown: Keith Giffen|title= The Best of the Legion Outpost|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= 2004|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|page= 131|isbn= 978-1893905368|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5iFklF_oCMgC&q=Howard+Bender+Legion+of+Super-Heroes&pg=PA131}} Bender drew Ghostbusters for First Comics and has worked on various series for Archie Comics. He and writer Craig Boldman created Mr. Fixitt in 1989.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148125032/|last= Voger|first= Mark|title= Comics shopping with Howard Bender|newspaper= Asbury Park Press|via= Newspapers.com|location= Neptune City, New Jersey|page= 149|date= June 25, 1989|quote= Howard Bender...is a freelance illustrator whose latest project, Mr. Fixitt, is a funny, futuristic sci-fi sendup published by Apple Comics...Mr. Fixitt is scripted by Craig Boldman, a crony of Bender's from his DC days in the mid–'80s.}} Bender collaborated with Jack C. Harris on a Sherlock Holmes comic strip in the 1990s.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/144354267/|last= Alexander|first= Antoinette|title= Cartoonist draws his own reality: Toms River artist creates superheroes|newspaper= Asbury Park Press|via= Newspapers.com|location= Neptune City, New Jersey|page= 97|date= December 10, 1997|quote= Jack C. Harris, a Toms River freelance writer and owner of Harriscript proprietorship who is collaborating with Bender on a coloring book and a syndicated Sherlock Holmes comic strip that runs overseas.}} In addition to comic books, Bender also works as a caricature artist.{{cite web|url=http://www.howardbenderart.com/ |title=Hello, I'm an artist! |first=Howard |last=Bender |date=n.d. |publisher=Howardbenderart.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411153905/http://www.howardbenderart.com/ |archivedate=April 11, 2016 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

;AC Comics

• Femforce #7 (1987)

;Apple Press

• Blood of Dracula #9 (1989)
• Mr. Fixitt #1–2 (1989–1990)

;Archie Comics

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• Archie & Friends Double Digest Magazine #12, 30, 33 (2012–2014)
• Archie 1000 Page Comics Jamboree #1 (2013)
• Archie Comics Digest #109, 232, 248, 263 (1991–2015)
• Archie's Funhouse Double Digest #15, 21 (2015–2016)
• Archie's Pals 'n' Gals #212 (1990)
• Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest Magazine #113, 130 (2007–2009)
• Archie's R/C Racers #2, 4–5 (1989–1990)
• Betty and Veronica Comics Digest Magazine #72 (1995)
• Betty and Veronica Double Digest Magazine #227 (2014)
• Everything's Archie #152 (1990)
• Jughead and Archie Double Digest #6, 12, 15 (2014–2015)
• Jughead with Archie Digest #111 (1992)
• Jughead's Double Digest #54 (1998)
• Life with Archie #284 (1991)
• Mighty Mutanimals #9 (1993)
• World of Archie Double Digest #15, 20, 40–41, 56 (2012–2016)

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;Comicfix

• The Charlton Arrow #2 (2014)

;DC Comics

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• Action Comics #557–558, 563–564, 566, 568–570, 572–575 (1984–1986)
• Adventure Comics #490 ("Dial H for Hero"); #497–499, 501–503 (one page each) (1982–1983)
• All-Star Squadron #43 (one page) (1985)
• America vs. the Justice Society #3–4 (1985)
• Ghosts #100–110, 112 (1981–1982)
• House of Mystery #289 (one page) (1981)
• Justice League of America #218 (cover) (1983)
• Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #283, 291, 295, 300 (1982–1983)
• The New Adventures of Superboy #29–49 ("Dial H for Hero" backup stories) (1982–1984)
• The Saga of the Swamp Thing #5 (Phantom Stranger backup story) (1982)
• Secrets of Haunted House #35–36, 39–46 (1981–1982)
• The Unexpected #210–218 (1981–1982)
• Weird War Tales #99, 101 (1981)
• Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #5–6 (1988)
• Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #2, 5–7, 11–13, 17, 19–20 (1985–1986)
• Young All-Stars #7 (1987)

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;First Comics

• Ghostbusters #1–3 (1987)
• Grimjack #25 (1986)

;Hamilton Comics

• Dread of Night #1 (1991)
• Maggots #2 (1992)

;Heroic Publishing

• Mr. Fixitt vol. 2 #1 (1993)

;Marvel Comics

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• Crazy Magazine #69 (1980)
• Kid Colt, Outlaw #219 (one page) (1977)
• Micronauts: The New Voyages #17, 19 (1986)
• Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #10 (1986)
• Kickers, Inc. #4 (1987)
• Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #7 (1986)
• Savage Sword of Conan #101 (one page) (1984)
• SilverHawks #6 (1988)
• What The--?! #23 (1992)

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;Now Comics

• Slimer #8 (1989)

;Triad Publications

• The Honeymooners #12 (1989)

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id= 2269|title= Howard Bender}}
• [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=607 Howard Bender] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
• [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namb14.htm#N2132 Howard Bender] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

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{{Succession box|title=Action Comics artist|before=Curt Swan|after=Kurt Schaffenberger|years=1984–1986}}

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Category:1951 births

Category:20th-century American artists

Category:21st-century American artists

Category:American caricaturists

Category:American comics artists

Category:American comic strip cartoonists

Category:Artists from Cleveland

Category:Artists from Pittsburgh

Category:Art Students League of New York alumni

Category:Comic book letterers

Category:Comics inkers

Category:DC Comics people

Category:Living people

Category:Marvel Comics people