Ken Landgraf
{{Short description|American comic book creator}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox comics creator
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| birth_name = Kenneth Landgraf
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1950}}
| birth_place = Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S.
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Ken Landgraf (born 1950) is an American comic book artist and commercial illustrator.
Early life and education
Kenneth Landgraf was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} He admired the work of comic book artists like Reed Crandall, Russ Heath, Sam Glanzman, Jim Steranko, and Wally Wood, among others. Landgraf described his early interest in comics:
{{cquote|"When I was a kid, I purchased a ditto machine, a Spirit Duplicator, and started printing my own comics like Crimestopper Monthly and Vampire Kiss— sold them through Rocket's Blast, a fanzine. Steve Ditko, the Spider-Man artist, even drew a cover for me. I had two fan letters published in Spider-Man #11 and Adventure Comics. I'd write letters to artists. Ditko and [Joe] Kubert wrote back to encourage me."{{cite web|last=Schmidt|first=Joseph|title=I Want My Comic Books Back!|url=http://joeschmidtwrites.blogspot.com/2012/12/i-want-my-comic-books-back.html}}}}
Landgraf attended Holy Name Catholic School and later graduated from North Sheboygan High School.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} As a young man he served in the Navy in Vietnam,{{cite web |title=Comic creator: Ken Landgraf |url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/landgraf_ken.htm |website=Lambiek Comiclopedia |date=June 7, 2016}} and upon returning from the war, joined the Navy Reserve.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} Landgraf settled in New York as a student attending the School of Visual Arts on the G.I. Bill.{{cite web| title=Treasurycomics.com Interview with Ken Landgraf|url= http://www.treasurycomics.com/gallery/popups/interviews.htm#landgraf}} At this time he produced his first commercial artwork for various pulp magazines. {{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} Determined to become a professional comic book artist, he studied with Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} Landgraf worked as an assistant to comic book artists Howard Nostrand, Gil Kane, and Rich Buckler.
Landgraf took his early samples to DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Landgraf said:
{{cquote|"I went up to Marvel around lunchtime and spotted Stan Lee coming out of Marvel’s building. I introduced myself and told him I just got out of the service and asked if I could show him my portfolio. He said he was going to lunch but that I could go up to Marvel and say that Stan said I could show my work to John Romita, the art director. I was able to go in right away to see him."}}
Comics
Landgraf's artwork appeared in DC Comics publications from 1977 to 1981: The Witching Hour #85; Ghosts #68, #71 – 76, #82, #91, and #101; Weird War Tales #89, and The Unexpected #202 and #216. He penciled "Adventures of Nightwing and Flamebird" stories{{cite book|title=Superman: Adventures of Flamebird & Nightwing: Paul Kupperberg, Ken Landgraf: 9781401225254: Amazon.com: Books|isbn= 978-1401225254|last1= Siegel|first1= Jerry |author1-link=Jerry Siegel|last2= Shuster|first2= Joe |author2-link=Joe Shuster|year= 2009}} in The Superman Family from issues #184 -193, as well as Hawkman stories in World's Finest Comics #262, #264 – #266.{{cite web |title=Romitaman: World's Finest |url=http://www.romitaman.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=11247&ArtistId=1315&Details=0&From=Room |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411180034/http://www.romitaman.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=11247&ArtistId=1315&Details=0&From=Room |archive-date=2013-04-11}}
In addition, Landgraf worked with Tony DeZuniga's Action Art Studios as a member of "The Tribe," inking various Marvel Comics projects in the years 1977–1979.[http://bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=TRIBE%2C+THE The Tribe], Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Retrieved June 16, 2021. He drew new material for Marvel Treasury Edition #26 (1980) for Marvel, which was reprinted in The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 in 1986.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}}
Landgraf self-published Rock Comics #1 (1979) through his company Landgraphics Publications, in an 11" by 15" format. It featured art by Neal Adams, Armando Gil, Dave Simons, and Landgraf. It lasted one issue. He also created Starfighters, which lasted 5 issues.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}}
He illustrated comics for heavy metal bands Vikon and Thor Rock Warrior, as well as for Revolutionary Comics on a Pink Floyd comic book series.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} He inked John Jacobs on Dr. Peculiar comics.
{{cite web| website=BettyPaginated |title=Review: Doctor Peculiar # |url= http://bettypaginated.blogspot.com/2010/04/review-doctor-peculiar-1.html] |date=April 7, 2010}} He also produced fetish comics using the pseudonym "Dancer" under the direction of Eric Stanton.{{cite web |title=The Best of Dancer trade edition |url=http://www.blurb.com/b/2668511-the-best-of-dancer-trade-edition |website=Blurb |date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2021}}
Other work
Landgraf created storyboard and onscreen art for television shows such as Law & Order, MTV, The Cosby Mysteries, HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime Network, as well as The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers and Avenue Amy animated TV shows. {{Citation needed | date = February 2016}} Landgraf painted a large mural at the New York Film Academy. {{Citation needed | date = February 2016}}
He produced color illustrations for the Harris Publications magazines Tactical Knives, Combat Handguns, and White Tail Deer Hunter. {{Citation needed | date = February 2016}}
In the 1980s, Landgraf taught comic book drawing and anatomy at Parsons School of Design.{{cite web |title=Isabel Kreitz |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kreitz_isabel.htm |website=Lambiek Comiclopedia |access-date=June 16, 2021 |date=July 3, 2009}}
Landgraf was referenced in Can Rock & Roll Save the World?: An Illustrated History of Music and Comics by Ian Shirley; The Weird World of Eerie Publications by Mike Howlett; and Bad Mags by Tom Brinkmann.{{Citation needed | date = February 2016}}