Sid Greene
Encyclopedia
Sidney "Sid" Greene was an American
comic book artist
known for his work for a host of publishers from the 1940s to 1970s, most prominently DC Comics
, where as an inker
on series including Batman
, Green Lantern
, Justice League of America and The Atom
he helped to define the company's house style for its 1960s Silver Age
superheroes.
. Initially, he freelanced at Funnies, Inc., one of the early "packages" that supplied comic books on demand for publishers testing the new medium
. His first confirmed work, during a time when published credits were not routinely given in comics, is as penciler and inker
of a nine-page "Spark Stevens" story in Fox Comics' The Green Mask #5 (June 1941), although Greene has been tentatively identified on stories in issues of Fiction House
's Planet Comics
and Fight Comics cover-dated as early as April 1940. His first signed work is as penciler-inker of a 10-page story starring the superhero
the Patriot
in The Human Torch
#5[a] (Summer 1941), published by Timely Comics
, the Golden Age forerunner of Marvel Comics
.
Through 1943, Greene drew the adventures of Target and the Targeteers in Novelty Press
' Target Comics, and penciled a small number of Captain America
and Miss America
stories for Timely. During the decade, he also penciled comic-book stories for Ace Comics
, Eastern Color, and Hillman Periodicals
. For Holyoke Publishing, he drew the features "Fangs", "Inspector Hunt", and "Speed Spaulding".
, crime
and romance comics
for Atlas Comics
, that decade's forerunner of Marvel Comics, and also drew romance stories for DC Comics
, Orbit Publications
, Quality Comics
, and Ziff-Davis. His first known story for DC, where he would become best known during the imminent Silver Age of Comic Books
, was the six-page "The Wrong Love", in Secret Hearts #18 (Nov. 1953). His first science fiction
for DC was the eight-page "Earth Is the Target" in Mystery in Space
#26 (July 1955), an anthology series in which Greene and writer Gardner Fox
would co-create the team Star Rovers
in issue #66 (March 1961).
Well into the early 1960s, Greene contributed many dozens of anthological SF stories to Mystery in Space and Strange Adventures. He also drew all six issues of DC's The New Adventures of Charlie Chan
(June 1958 - April 1959), starring the long-running fictional Chinese-American detective of novels and films.
on a backup Atom story in The Atom #8 (Sept. 1963). Along with Murphy Anderson
, he became one of Kane's two regular inkers on that series, which generally featured two Atom stories each issue. Greene also soon became Kane's regular inker on Green Lantern
, beginning with issue #29 (June 1964). As historian Daniel Herman wrote, "Finally, Kane had somebody who could keep up with his frenetic pacing and full-bodied anatomy."
Greene soon became one of editor Julius Schwartz
's most prolific inkers, one whose work helped define the DC look of the mid to late 1960s. He began inking the Elongated Man
backup feature in Detective Comics
, over penciler Carmine Infantino
, and Batman
stories over, initially, penciler Sheldon Moldoff
(ghosting for Bob Kane
), beginning in Batman #169-170, 172-174 (Feb.-March 1965, May–July 1965). Greene soon became, as well, one of the regular Batman inkers in Detective Comics, including on issue #359 (Jan. 1967), the debut of Batgirl
, with penciler Infantino — all while continuing to ink the adventures of the previous three characters mentioned.
In addition to all this, Schwartz assigned Greene to succeed the retired Bernard Sachs
as regular inker on the publisher's primary superhero-team series, Justice League Of America, beginning with issue #46 (Aug. 1966). Greene "added a new crispness to Mike Sekowsky
's pencils for three years until [Greene]'s retirement in 1969." As Herman assessed, "Although Greene had a strong personality as a penciler, as an inker, he was able to successfully submerge his style and to highlight the pencilers he was embellishing."
Late in his career, Greene also returned to Marvel Comics
, for whose predecessor companies he had drawn in the 1940s and 1950s. Freelancing, he inked George Tuska
on a 20-page story of the jungle lord Ka-Zar
in Marvel Super-Heroes
#19 (March 1969); and the 20-page story in the superspy series Nick Fury
, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
#12 (May 1969), co-inking Barry Windsor-Smith
(then billed as Barry Smith) in one of the future industry star's earliest professional works. Steve Parkhouse
co-wrote both issues.
After his final issue of Justice League (#73, Aug. 1969), Greene inked one last superhero story, the lead feature in Atom and Hawkman
#45 (Nov. 1969). He then both penciled and inked stories in two issues each of Our Army at War
and the supernatural
anthology The Unexpected
, plus one story each in The Witching Hour
and House of Secrets. His stories in The Unexpected #117 and House of Secrets #84 (both cover-dated March 1970, and drawn at least three months earlier) mark his final published works.
, at the time of his death, though his death certificate
was issued in New York
state.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
known for his work for a host of publishers from the 1940s to 1970s, most prominently DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, where as an inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
on series including Batman
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
, Green Lantern
Green Lantern (comic book)
Green Lantern is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics heroes of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Alan Scott, appeared in All-American Comics #16, and was later spun off into the first volume of Green Lantern in 1941. That series was canceled in 1949 after 39 issues...
, Justice League of America and The Atom
Atom (comics)
The Atom is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe.There have been five characters who have shared the Atom codename. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Connor and first appeared in All-American Publications'...
he helped to define the company's house style for its 1960s Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
superheroes.
Early career
Sid Greene broke into comics during the 1930s to 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic BooksGolden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
. Initially, he freelanced at Funnies, Inc., one of the early "packages" that supplied comic books on demand for publishers testing the new medium
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
. His first confirmed work, during a time when published credits were not routinely given in comics, is as penciler and inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
of a nine-page "Spark Stevens" story in Fox Comics' The Green Mask #5 (June 1941), although Greene has been tentatively identified on stories in issues of Fiction House
Fiction House
Fiction House is an American publisher of pulp magazines and comic books that existed from the 1920s to the 1950s. Its comics division was best known for its pinup-style good girl art, as epitomized by the company's most popular character, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.-History:-Jumbo and Jack...
's Planet Comics
Planet Comics
Planet Comics was a science fiction comic book title produced by Fiction House and ran for 73 issues from January 1940 to Winter 1953. Like many of Fiction House's early comics titles, Planet Comics was a spinoff of a pulp magazine, in this case Planet Stories, which featured space operatic tales...
and Fight Comics cover-dated as early as April 1940. His first signed work is as penciler-inker of a 10-page story starring the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
the Patriot
Jeffrey Mace
Jeffrey Solomon "Jeff" Mace, also known as the Patriot and Captain America, is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, created during the 1940s period which fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
in The Human Torch
Jim Hammond
Herbert Edward 'Jim' Hammond was an English professional football player for Fulham and a cricket player for Sussex.Having been signed from non-league side Lewes F.C., Hammond played for Fulham between 1928 and 1938, scoring 150 goals in 342 games. He was once called up for duty with the national...
#5[a] (Summer 1941), published by Timely Comics
Timely Comics
Timely Comics, an imprint of Timely Publications, was the earliest comic book arm of American publisher Martin Goodman, and the entity that would evolve by the 1960s to become Marvel Comics....
, the Golden Age forerunner of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
Through 1943, Greene drew the adventures of Target and the Targeteers in Novelty Press
Novelty Press
Novelty Press was an American Golden Age comic-book publisher that operated from 1940–1949. It was the comic book imprint of Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post...
' Target Comics, and penciled a small number of Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and Miss America
Miss America (Marvel Comics)
Miss America is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 Miss America (Madeline Joyce Frank) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in Marvel Mystery...
stories for Timely. During the decade, he also penciled comic-book stories for Ace Comics
Ace Comics
Ace Comics was a comic book series published by David McKay Publications between 1937 and 1949 — starting just before the Golden Age era of comics...
, Eastern Color, and Hillman Periodicals
Hillman Periodicals
Hillman Periodicals, Inc. was an American magazine and comic book publishing company founded in 1938 by Alex L. Hillman, a former New York City book publisher...
. For Holyoke Publishing, he drew the features "Fangs", "Inspector Hunt", and "Speed Spaulding".
Coming to DC Comics
In the 1950s, after doing at least one story for Avon Comics, Greene did anthological horrorHorror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, crime
Crime comics
Crime comics is a genre of American comic books and format of crime fiction. The genre was originally popular in the 1940s and 1950s and is marked by a moralistic editorial tone and graphic depictions of violence and criminal activity. Crime comics began in 1942 with the publication of Crime Does...
and romance comics
Romance comics
Romance comics is a comics genre depicting romantic love and its attendant complications such as jealousy, marriage, divorce, betrayal, and heartache. The term is generally associated with an American comic books genre published through the first three decades of the Cold War...
for Atlas Comics
Atlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
, that decade's forerunner of Marvel Comics, and also drew romance stories for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, Orbit Publications
Orbit Publications
Orbit Publications was a publishing house operated by Rae Herman known for its comic books of the 1940s and 1950s "Golden Age of Comic Books"...
, Quality Comics
Quality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
, and Ziff-Davis. His first known story for DC, where he would become best known during the imminent Silver Age of Comic Books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
, was the six-page "The Wrong Love", in Secret Hearts #18 (Nov. 1953). His first science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
for DC was the eight-page "Earth Is the Target" in Mystery in Space
Mystery in Space
Mystery in Space is the name of two science fiction comic book series published in the United States by DC Comics, then known as National Comics. The first series ran for 110 issues from 1951 - 1966, with a further 7 issues continuing the numbering during a 1980s revival of the title...
#26 (July 1955), an anthology series in which Greene and writer Gardner Fox
Gardner Fox
Gardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer best known for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic-book historians estimate that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories....
would co-create the team Star Rovers
Star Rovers
"Star Rovers" was an short, science fiction, American comic book feature published by DC Comics between 1961 and 1964. The feature first appeared in seven issues of DC's science-fiction anthology comic Mystery in Space, followed by two issues of DC's companion science-fiction title Strange Adventures...
in issue #66 (March 1961).
Well into the early 1960s, Greene contributed many dozens of anthological SF stories to Mystery in Space and Strange Adventures. He also drew all six issues of DC's The New Adventures of Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
(June 1958 - April 1959), starring the long-running fictional Chinese-American detective of novels and films.
Silver Age superheroes
Greene's first DC superhero work was inking Gil KaneGil Kane
Eli Katz who worked under the name Gil Kane and in one instance Scott Edward, was a comic book artist whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s and every major comics company and character.Kane co-created the modern-day versions of the superheroes Green Lantern and the Atom for DC Comics, and...
on a backup Atom story in The Atom #8 (Sept. 1963). Along with Murphy Anderson
Murphy Anderson
Murphy Anderson is an American comic book artist, known as one of the premier inkers of his era, who has worked for companies such as DC Comics for over fifty years, starting in the 1930s-'40s Golden Age of Comic Books...
, he became one of Kane's two regular inkers on that series, which generally featured two Atom stories each issue. Greene also soon became Kane's regular inker on Green Lantern
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
, beginning with issue #29 (June 1964). As historian Daniel Herman wrote, "Finally, Kane had somebody who could keep up with his frenetic pacing and full-bodied anatomy."
Greene soon became one of editor Julius Schwartz
Julius Schwartz
Julius "Julie" Schwartz was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in the Bronx, New York...
's most prolific inkers, one whose work helped define the DC look of the mid to late 1960s. He began inking the Elongated Man
Elongated Man
The Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was in The Flash vol. 1, #112...
backup feature in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
, over penciler Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books...
, and Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
stories over, initially, penciler Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon "Shelly" Moldoff is an American comic book artist best known his early work on the DC Comics characters Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and as one of Bob Kane's primary "ghost artists" on the superhero Batman. He co-created the Batman supervillains Poison Ivy, Mr...
(ghosting for Bob Kane
Bob Kane
Bob Kane was an American comic book artist and writer, credited as the creator of the DC Comics superhero Batman...
), beginning in Batman #169-170, 172-174 (Feb.-March 1965, May–July 1965). Greene soon became, as well, one of the regular Batman inkers in Detective Comics, including on issue #359 (Jan. 1967), the debut of Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
, with penciler Infantino — all while continuing to ink the adventures of the previous three characters mentioned.
In addition to all this, Schwartz assigned Greene to succeed the retired Bernard Sachs
Bernard Sachs
Bernard Sachs was a Jewish-American neurologist. After graduating with a B.A. from Harvard in 1878, Sachs travelled to Europe and studied under some of the most prominent physicians of the time, such as Adolf Kussmaul , Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen , Friedrich Goltz , Rudolf Virchow...
as regular inker on the publisher's primary superhero-team series, Justice League Of America, beginning with issue #46 (Aug. 1966). Greene "added a new crispness to Mike Sekowsky
Mike Sekowsky
Michael Sekowsky was a Jewish American comic book artist best known as the exclusive penciler for DC Comics' Justice League of America during most of the 1960s, and as the regular writer and artist on Wonder Woman during the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Early life and career:Mike Sekowsky began...
's pencils for three years until [Greene]'s retirement in 1969." As Herman assessed, "Although Greene had a strong personality as a penciler, as an inker, he was able to successfully submerge his style and to highlight the pencilers he was embellishing."
Late in his career, Greene also returned to Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, for whose predecessor companies he had drawn in the 1940s and 1950s. Freelancing, he inked George Tuska
George Tuska
George Tuska , who early in his career used a variety of pen names including Carl Larson, was an American comic book and newspaper comic strip artist best known for his 1940s work on various Captain Marvel titles and the crime fiction series Crime Does Not Pay, for and his 1960s work illustrating...
on a 20-page story of the jungle lord Ka-Zar
Ka-Zar
Ka-Zar is the name of two jungle-dwelling comics fictional characters published in the United States. The first appeared in pulp magazines of the 1930s, and was adapted for his second iteration, as a comic book character for Timely Comics, the 1930s and 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics...
in Marvel Super-Heroes
Marvel Super-Heroes (comics)
Marvel Super-Heroes is the name of several comic book series and specials published by Marvel Comics.-Marvel Super-Heroes Special:The first was the one-shot Marvel Super-Heroes Special #1 , reprinting Daredevil #1 and The Avengers #2 Marvel Super-Heroes is the name of several comic book series and...
#19 (March 1969); and the 20-page story in the superspy series Nick Fury
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
#12 (May 1969), co-inking Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith, born Barry Smith is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States....
(then billed as Barry Smith) in one of the future industry star's earliest professional works. Steve Parkhouse
Steve Parkhouse
Steve Parkhouse is a writer, artist and letterer who has worked for many British comics, especially 2000 AD and Doctor Who Magazine.-Biography:...
co-wrote both issues.
After his final issue of Justice League (#73, Aug. 1969), Greene inked one last superhero story, the lead feature in Atom and Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
#45 (Nov. 1969). He then both penciled and inked stories in two issues each of Our Army at War
Our Army at War
Our Army at War was the title for a comic book published by DC Comics that featured war themed stories and was the first appearance for popular heroes such like Sgt. Rock and Enemy Ace. The series started in August 1952 and ended in February 1977....
and the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
anthology The Unexpected
The Unexpected
The Unexpected was a DC Comics horror comic book, a continuation of Tales of the Unexpected. It ran 117 issues, #105-222, from 1968 to 1982.-Publication history:...
, plus one story each in The Witching Hour
The Witching Hour (DC Comics)
The Witching Hour was a DC comic book horror anthology that ran from 1969 to 1978. Its tagline was "It's 12 o'clock... The Witching Hour!"...
and House of Secrets. His stories in The Unexpected #117 and House of Secrets #84 (both cover-dated March 1970, and drawn at least three months earlier) mark his final published works.
Death
Sid Greene was living in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, at the time of his death, though his death certificate
Death certificate
The phrase death certificate can describe either a document issued by a medical practitioner certifying the deceased state of a person or popularly to a document issued by a person such as a registrar of vital statistics that declares the date, location and cause of a person's death as later...
was issued in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state.
External links
- Sid Greene at AtlasTales.com
Further reading
- Amazing Heroes #107 (1986)
- Comic Book Marketplace #15 (July 1992)