Jim Novak
{{Infobox comics creator
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1955|9|14}}
| birth_place =Chicago
| death_date ={{death date and age|2018|4||1955|9|14}}
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| area = Letterer
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James R. Novak (September 14, 1955 - April 2018){{Cite web|title=Jim Novak 1955‑2018 {{!}} Eliot R. Brown.com|url=https://www.eliotrbrown.com/wp/jim-novak-1955-2018/|access-date=2021-02-05|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://previewsworld.com/Article/219439-Marvel-Letterer-And-Star-Wars-Logo-Designer-Jim-Novak-Passes-Away|title=Marvel Letterer And Star Wars Logo Designer Jim Novak Passes Away|access-date=2018-10-05}} was a comic book creator, primarily working as a letterer for Marvel Comics, where he worked on almost every one of their ongoing series,{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} and contributed to the development of the iconic Star Wars logo. He did occasional work as a writer, penciler, and colorist, and also worked at publishers including Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Image, Dynamite, and IDW.{{Cite news|url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/jim-novak-rip/|title=Jim Novak, Marvel Staff Letterer and Logo Designer, Has Died|date=2018-10-05|work=Multiversity Comics|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US}}
Biography
Jim Novak was born in Chicago, on September 14, 1955.{{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson |url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |title=Comics Industry Birthdays |work=Comics Buyer's Guide |date=June 10, 2005 |accessdate=December 12, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archivedate=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
He broke into the comics industry in 1975 with Marvel Spotlight #25, as a member of the "third wave" of creators at the company,{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} which included artists John Byrne and Frank Miller, and writers Roger Stern, Jo Duffy, Mark Gruenwald, and Ralph Macchio. He became a staff letterer (and occasional logo designer)[http://kleinletters.com/Blog/?p=1295 "Logo Study: IRON MAN Part 2," Todd Klein's blog (June 18, 2000).] Retrieved August 26, 2008. at Marvel, ascending to production manager in the mid-1980s.Ken Lopez on Todd Klein's blog: [http://kleinletters.com/Blog/?p=450 "Logo Study: X-Men Update," (Oct. 19, 2007).] Retrieved August 26, 2008. During this time, in advance of the film's release, he redesigned the logo for the company's Star Wars comic, making changes that were incorporated into the version used in the film's marketing.{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/anatomy-of-a-logo-star-wars-510998430|title=Anatomy of a Logo: Star Wars|last=Alphabet|first=Alex Jay - Tenth Letter of the|work=Gizmodo|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US}}
In the 1980s Novak was the regular letterer for such titles as Avengers (1981–1987) Doctor Strange (1980–1984), Fantastic Four (1980–1984), The Incredible Hulk (1981–1984), and Marvel Fanfare (1982–1991), when he lettered as many as five or six books per month. Fellow letterer Bill Oakley opined that Novak created the best shapes for speech balloons of any letterer he knew.{{cite news | first = Dwight Jon | last = Zimmerman | date = January 1988 | title = Bill Oakley | work = Comics Interview | issue = 54 | page = 31 | publisher = Fictioneer Books}} In the 1980s and early 1990s (and even in 2000–2001), Novak was often paired with writer/artist Byrne, on such titles as The Avengers, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Sensational She-Hulk, and Marvel: The Lost Generation. Over the years, Novak also lettered a number of titles written by Stern, including Captain America, The Avengers, Doctor Strange, Marvel Universe, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Marvel: The Lost Generation.
In the 1990s, Novak worked on many limited series and one-shots, as well as full-time lettering on Darkhawk, Green Goblin, Fantastic Four again, and Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy.
Bibliography
- Captain America (1979–1982)
- Master of Kung-Fu (1980–1982)
- Doctor Strange (1980–1984)
- Fantastic Four (1980–1984, 1995–1996)
- The Avengers (1981–1987)
- Incredible Hulk (1981–1984)
- Marvel Fanfare (1982–1991)
- Sensational She-Hulk (1989–1992)
- Darkhawk (1994–1995)
- Green Goblin (1995–1996)
- Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy (1996–1998)
Notes
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References
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- {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=153|title=Jim Novak}}
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