Carmine Infantino, Creator Of Batgirl, Dies At 87

 

 

 

 

Carmine Infantino was one of the great old school comic artists. Like his contemporaries, Jack Kirby and Joe Kubert, his work was so iconic that you could immediately recognize one of his covers on the comic stand. When I started reading comics in the 70s, much of his best Silver Age stuff from the 1960s was reprinted in the large 100 page treasuries and that was where I really got to know him. I have been a fan of his work ever since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When DC wanted to reboot it's line-up of characters, Infantino was called in to work on the Flash. His issue of Showcase #4 is widely regarded as the beginning of the Silver Age of Comics - an event that brought comic book superheroes back to popularity. For that reason his immense contribution to popular culture can never be measured.

In his prolific career he created many character that still are used to this day. These include several Flash characters including Wally West, Iris West, Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, and Gorilla Grodd, as well as the Elongated Man and Batgirl.

"There are few people in this world that have had as much of an impact on the industry as Carmine. He bridged both the Golden and Silver Ages of comics, shepherding in some of the most successful periods in our history and setting the course of our characters that is still seen today. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will remain forever." - Dan DiDio