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Klaus Janson

{{Short description|American comics artist}}

{{Infobox comics creator

| image =10.12.13KlausJansonByLuigiNovi1.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Janson at the New York Comic Con 2013

| birth_name =

| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1952|1|23}}

| birth_place = Coburg, West Germany

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = American

| area =

| pencil = y

| ink = y

| color = y

| alias =

| notable works = The Dark Knight Returns
Daredevil

| awards = Kirby Award (x2)
Eisner Award, 2004
Harvey Award (x3)
Inkwell Award The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award (2010)
Inkwell Award for Favorite Inker (2013)

}}

Klaus Janson (born January 23, 1952){{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson |author-link=John Jackson Miller |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 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book|last= Schmidt|first= Andy |title= The Insider's Guide To Creating Comics And Graphic Novels|publisher= Impact Books|date= February 13, 2009|url = https://archive.org/details/insidersguidetoc00schm|url-access= registration|page= [https://archive.org/details/insidersguidetoc00schm/page/139 139]|quote= The Insider's Guide To Creating Comics Klaus Janson.|isbn= 978-1600610226}} is an American comics artist, working regularly for Marvel Comics and DC Comics and sporadically for independent companies. While he is best known as an inker, Janson has frequently worked as a penciller and colorist.

Early life

Klaus Janson was born in Coburg, West Germany.{{cite web |url= http://www.lambiek.net/artists/j/janson_klaus.htm|title= Klaus Janson|date= February 18, 2011|publisher= Lambiek Comiclopedia|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120923032126/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/j/janson_klaus.htm|archive-date= September 23, 2012|url-status= live|access-date= August 14, 2009}} He emigrated to the United States in 1957, settling with his family in Connecticut, where he lived in Bridgeport from 1957 to 1972.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212433/http://www.chs.org/comics/creators.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |title=Connecticut Talent |publisher=Connecticut Historical Society |location=Hartford, Connecticut |url=http://www.chs.org/comics/creators.htm |url-status=dead }} When he was young, his Spider-Man collection was thrown away by his mother. Janson then became interested in the premiering character Daredevil, who wasn't popular among Janson's friends.introduction to "Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus"

Career

After a short stint as assistant to Dick Giordano in the early 1970s,{{cite web |url= http://www.moccany.org/content/education|title= Storytelling for Comics Artists|year= 2010|publisher= Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100325021835/http://moccany.org/content/education|archive-date= March 25, 2010|url-status= dead|quote= After a short stint as assistant to Dick Giordano in the early 1970s, Klaus Janson went freelance, working for several comics publishers as writer, penciler, inker and colorist.}} Janson's first credited comics artwork was published by Marvel Comics in Jungle Action #6 (Sept. 1973).{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Klaus+Janson|title=Klaus Janson}} Janson came to prominence as the inker over Sal Buscema's pencils on The Defenders. Since then he has freelanced on most of the major titles at Marvel and DC. In 1975 he began a long run as inker on Daredevil, running from #124 (Aug. 1975) to #196 (July 1983). With #171 the series went from bi-monthly to monthly; unable to handle the increased workload, then-writer/penciler Frank Miller began increasingly relying on Janson for the artwork, sending him looser and looser pencils beginning with #173.{{cite journal|last= Cordier|first= Philippe|date= April 2007| title= Seeing Red: Dissecting Daredevil's Defining Years|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 21|pages= 33–60|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} By issue #185, Miller had virtually relinquished his role as Daredevil's artist, and was providing only rough layouts for Janson to pencil, ink, and color. After Miller's departure, Janson drew the series by himself for four issues.

Janson began working for DC Comics in the early 1980s and inked Gene Colan's pencils on Detective Comics and Jemm, Son of Saturn. Janson was one of the artists on Superman #400 (Oct. 1984){{cite journal|last = Addiego|first = Frankie|title = Superman #400|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 69|pages = 68–70|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = December 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} and was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series.{{cite journal|last= Greenberger|first= Robert|author-link= Robert Greenberger|title= It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 98|pages= 37–38|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= August 2017|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} His collaboration with Miller on Daredevil would soon be eclipsed by a second collaboration between them, on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in 1986.{{cite book|editor-last=Manning|editor-first= Matthew K.|editor-last2=Dolan|editor-first2=Hannah|chapter= 1980s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9|page= 219|quote = It is arguably the best Batman story of all time. Written and drawn by Frank Miller (with inspired inking by Klaus Janson and beautiful watercolors by Lynn Varley), Batman: The Dark Knight revolutionized the entire genre of the super hero.}} Janson has frequently pencilled and inked for various Batman titles, including the first Detective Comics Annual with writer Dennis O'Neil,{{cite book|editor-last= Manning|editor-first= Matthew K.|editor-last2=Dougall|editor-first2=Alastair|chapter= 1980s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 174|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Dennis O'Neil stepped out of his editorial role once again to chronicle a Batman adventure for Detective Comics first annual. Illustrated by Klaus Janson, Batman and Talia al Ghul hunted for the Penguin.}} "Gothic" with Grant Morrison,Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 186: "Grant Morrison stepped up to the plate to pen [Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight's] next five-issue storyline, illustrated by Klaus Janson." and "Knightfall" with Doug Moench.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: "'Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover event that passed through the pages of...the Showcase '93 Two-Face feature scripted by Doug Moench and drawn by Klaus Janson." In 1994, Janson drew the Batman-Spawn: War Devil intercompany crossover which was written by Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "Fans were also treated to a companion special entitled Batman-Spawn...by writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant, and artist Klaus Janson." Janson wrote a short story in the anthology miniseries Batman: Black and White #3 (August 1996). Janson drew part of the "Cataclysm" crossover as well.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 283: "The seventeen-part 'Cataclysm' storyline showed a Gotham City devastated by an earthquake."

Janson and writer Mike Baron introduced the character Microchip as an ally of the Punisher in The Punisher #4 (November 1987).{{cite book|editor-last = DeFalco|editor-first = Tom|author-link = Tom DeFalco|editor-last2= Gilbert|editor-first2= Laura|chapter= 1980s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 232|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= Linus 'Microchip' Lieberman first appeared in this issue by writer Mike Baron and artist Klaus Janson.}} In 1993, Janson drew a three-part story featuring Electro for Spider-Man #38–40.{{cite book|editor-last = Cowsill|editor-first = Alan|editor-last2= Gilbert|editor-first2= Laura|chapter= 1990s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|year = 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 205|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= Long-time Spidey villain Electro was the focus of a three-part tale written by J. M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Klaus Janson.}} Janson inked the early issues of The Sensational Spider-Man which had been written and penciled by Dan Jurgens.Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 224: "The new Spidey title felt fresh and exciting...Issue #0, written and penciled by Dan Jurgens, with Klaus Janson inking, provided a quick recap for latecomers." Janson's work as an inker and occasional penciler at Marvel Comics includes collaborations with John Romita Jr. on Wolverine, The Amazing Spider-Man and Black Panther. His other work includes Batman: Death and the Maidens,Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 269: "Writer Greg Rucka and artist Klaus Janson created this series that delved into the family tree of [Ra's al Ghul]." World War Hulk, Battlestar Galactica, Logan's Run, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In 2010, he inked Romita Jr.'s pencils on The Avengers. and in 2014 the two artists collaborated on Superman.{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/superman-geoff-johns-john-romita-jr-dc-comics/ |title=Geoff Johns Returns To Superman In Collaboration With John Romita Jr. |first=Andy |last=Khouri |date=February 4, 2014 |publisher=ComicsAlliance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206030224/http://comicsalliance.com/superman-geoff-johns-john-romita-jr-dc-comics/ |archive-date=February 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Janson was one of the artists on The Dark Knight III: The Master Race which was co-written by Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello.{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/andy-kubert-klaus-janson-dark-knight-master-race/ |title=Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson Join The Master Race (The Comic) |first=Andrew |last=Wheeler |date=July 9, 2015 |publisher=ComicsAlliance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814061150/http://comicsalliance.com/andy-kubert-klaus-janson-dark-knight-master-race/ |archive-date=August 14, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Janson has taught sequential storytelling at the School of Visual Arts in New York City since the 1990s{{cite web|url=http://www.sva.edu/faculty/klaus-janson |title=Our Faculty: Klaus Janson |date=n.d. |publisher=School of Visual Arts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106041447/http://www.sva.edu/faculty/klaus-janson |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2012 }} and has written both The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics and The DC Comics Guide to Inking Comics. Janson also holds annual seminars at Marvel for the editorial staff and their up-and-coming artists, and taught short courses on comics storytelling for the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.

In 2015, Janson was the Guest of Honor at the 2015 Inkwell Awards Awards Ceremony at HeroesCon.{{cite web|url= http://www.inkwellawards.com/?p=4428|title= Guest of Honor Klaus Janson to speak at the 2015 Inkwell Awards Ceremony during Heroes Con|first= Bob|last= Almond |author-link= Bob Almond|date= June 10, 2015|publisher= Inkwell Awards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160308183448/http://www.inkwellawards.com/?p=4428|archive-date= March 8, 2016|url-status= live}}

Awards

  • 1987 Kirby Award:
  • Best Art Team (with Frank Miller) for Daredevil
  • Best Single Issue for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1
  • 1989 Golden Apple Award for Best Artist (Anglo-Saxon Comics Festival){{cite web|first=Jean-Paul|last=Jenneguin (manga critic)|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/features/toriyama-exhibition-essays/|title=Toriyama Exhibition Essays: AKIRA TORIYAMA AND FRANCE|publisher=Kanzenshuu: The Perfect Dragon Ball Collection|access-date=February 6, 2023|quote=In November 1989, I was a guest lecturer at the First Anglo-Saxon Comics Festival in Villeneuve-d'Ascq,... a suburb of Lille, a city in the north of France. Two fans of American comics had thought the town would be the ideal location for a comics festival focusing on American and British comics, as Villeneuve is very close to Britain.}}
  • 2000 Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for Favorite Reprint Graphic Album for Manhunter: The Special Edition
  • 2004 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album — Reprint for The Batman Adventures: Dangerous Dames & Demons
  • 2010 Harvey Award for Best Inker for The Amazing Spider-Man{{cite web|url= http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010-harvey-award-winners/|title= 2010 Harvey Award winners|first= Heidi|last= MacDonald|date= August 30, 2010|publisher= Comics Beat|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151001191949/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010-harvey-award-winners/|archive-date= October 1, 2015|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}
  • 2010 Inkwell Award The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award{{cite web|url= http://www.inkwellawards.com/?page_id=34|title= 2010 Winners|first= Bob|last= Almond|date= January 23, 2011|publisher= Inkwell Awards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160319063226/http://www.inkwellawards.com/?page_id=34|archive-date= March 19, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}
  • 2011 Shel Dorf Awards for Inker of the Year
  • 2012 Inkpot Award{{cite web |url=http://www.comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-internationals-newest-inkpot-award-winners |title=Comic-Con International's Newest Inkpot Award Winners! |year=2013 |publisher=San Diego Comic-Con International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508040502/http://comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-internationals-newest-inkpot-award-winners |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
  • 2013 Harvey Award for Best Inker for Captain America{{cite web|url= https://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/09/07/saga-wins-big-at-2013-harvey-awards-plus-complete-list-of-winners/|title= Saga Wins Big At 2013 Harvey Awards, Plus Complete List Of Winners|first= Mark|last= Seifert|date= September 7, 2013|publisher= Bleeding Cool|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130909074248/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/09/07/saga-wins-big-at-2013-harvey-awards-plus-complete-list-of-winners/|archive-date= September 9, 2013|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}} Archive requires scrolldown
  • 2013 Inkwell Award for Favorite Inker{{cite web|url= http://www.inkwellawards.com/?page_id=3365|title= 2013 Winners|first= Bob|last= Almond|date= June 12, 2013|publisher= Inkwell Awards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160318155154/http://www.inkwellawards.com/?page_id=3365|archive-date= March 18, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}
  • 2015 Inkwell Awards Guest of Honor
  • 2016 Harvey Award for Best Inker for The Dark Knight III: The Master Race{{cite web|url= https://www.newsarama.com/30898-2016-harvey-awards-winners.html|title= Saga & Peanuts Top 2016 Harvey Awards Winners, One Publisher Major Shut Out|date= September 6, 2016|publisher= Newsarama|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160907142616/http://www.newsarama.com/30898-2016-harvey-awards-winners.html|archive-date= September 7, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}

Bibliography

=Image=

  • Sacred Creatures #1–8 (2018)

=Atlas/Seaboard Comics=

  • Wulf the Barbarian #1–2 (1975)

=DC Comics=

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=Marvel Comics=

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References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=142|title=Klaus Janson}}
  • [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=579 Klaus Janson] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
  • [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namj2.htm#N134 Klaus Janson] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

{{Inkpot Award 2010s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Janson, Klaus}}

Category:1952 births

Category:American comics artists

Category:American art educators

Category:Artists from Bridgeport, Connecticut

Category:Comics inkers

Category:Emigrants from West Germany to the United States

Category:Inkpot Award winners

Category:Living people

Category:Marvel Comics people

Category:People from Coburg

Category:School of Visual Arts faculty

Category:DC Comics people