Just saw the news that cartoonist and all-around artist extraordinaire Al Plastino has passed away.
The “Greats” are leaving us. Nick Cardy passed away recently too and I didn’t have the heart to post or comment about it, as doing so frequently seems pointless and futile I suppose.
I had the good fortune to meet Nick Cardy at Baltimore Comic Con a couple years ago, and we discussed inking techniques and some of the artists Mr. Cardy knew, like Tex Blaisdell, whom I had as a teacher at the Joe Kubert School. Speaking of which, I believe that was the last time I saw and spoke with Joe Kubert as well.
This year at New York Comic Con 2013, my one goal was to meet Al Plastino during his appearance at the Hero Initiative booth, where he was signing autographs for the charity organization. I told him I didn’t need his signature, but that I just wanted to say “hello” and tell him his career and attitude had been an inspiration to me, particularly some comments he made a number of years ago in an interview. When I reminded him of it, he laughed, stood up, and shook my hand, saying “Don’t forget those words!”
I told Mr. Plastino they were already on my blog for others to see. Here they are again:
“Mort [Weisinger] and I got along with in a business way, but it was an awful time. If you shook in your boots, especially in those days, they would jump all over you. When he was very rude to [Jerry] Siegel, I told him, “You wouldn’t be sitting behind that desk if he hadn’t created Superman, you know.” I never kept my voice down. When they wanted me to do something over I would say, “Whatever I give you is the best I can do.” My attitude was, they’re not bosses, they’re editors.”
-Al Plastino (Golden/Silver Age “Superman” artist extraordinaire)
from an interview with Jim Kealy & Eddy Zeno
Alter Ego fanzine #59
Thank you, Al Plastino.
More about Mr. Plastino at Mark Evanier’s blog
