| Bob Layton | |
 Bob Layton at the 2008 New York Comic Convention. The New York Comic Con held annually in New York City is a convention dedicated to comics graphic novels anime manga video games toys movies and television |
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| Born | September 25, 1953 |
| Area(s) | Penciler, Editor |
| Notable works | Iron Man, various Valiant Comics |
Bob Layton is an American comic book artist, who has worked for Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, DC Comics, Future Comics, amongst other smaller publications. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Iron Man is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of Activities to do with creating Art, practicing the Arts and/or demonstrating Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc Valiant Comics was an American Comic book Publishing company founded by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, writer/artists DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company Future Comics is a now-defunct Comic book publishing company founded by industry all-rounder Bob Layton, and his creative partners - Layton's mentor artist/editor
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Biography
Bob Layton, was born on September 25, 1953, and learned to read comics from the age of four, explaining that his "older sister Sue became bored with reading the same comic to me about fifty times. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. (It was a Showcase issue featuring The Challengers of the Unknown. The Challengers of the Unknown is a group of Fictional characters in Comic books published by DC Comics. )"[1] After leaving high school, he began "playing comics dealer. . . selling them out of his apartment in Indianapolis,"[2] through which (in 1973) he met Roger Stern, while the latter was working for a radio station in Indianapolis. Roger Stern (born September 17 1950) is an American Comic book Author and Novelist. Ultimately, the two began publishing a fanzine called "CPL" (Contemporary Pictorial Literature) out of Layton's apartment. A fanzine (see also Zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre for the pleasure [3]
CPL
Stern recalls that:
- "CPL started out as Bob's sale catalog. Bob was drawing the covers and including little reviews written by some of his customers. By issue #5, it turned into a small 'zine with a catalog insert, and I started writing short articles for it. I eventually became an editor of sorts. "[2]
CPL rapidly became a popular fan publication, and led to the two forming an alliance with Charlton Comics to produce and publish "the now-famous Charlton Bullseye magazine. Charlton Comics was an American Comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1986 having begun under a different name in 1944 "[3] During the mid-1970s, both Marvel and DC were publishing in-house "fan" publications (F. O. O. M. and The Amazing World of DC Comics respecitively), and Charlton wished to make inroads into the superhero market, as well as "establish a fan presence", leading to the alliance with CPL to produce the Charlton Bullseye. [3] This led to Charlton giving Layton and Stern "access to unpublished material from their vaults by the likes of Steve Ditko, Jeff Jones and a host of others. Steve Ditko (born 2 November 1927) is an American Comic book Artist and Writer best known as the co-creator of the "[3] This association with Charlton (and Bill Pearson, production manager) in turn led to Layton becoming acquainted with the legendary Wally Wood, with whom he apprenticed. Wallace Allan Wood ( June 17, 1927, Menahga Minnesota – November 2, 1981, Los Angeles California) was an American This apprenticeship led to work for Charlton (on anthology titles, but not working from the Charlton offices), Marvel and DC, while still publishing fanzines. Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company [3]
Early comics work
Marvel
Part of Layton's role as Wally Wood's apprentice included him occasionally delivering artwork to "NYC from Connecticut. Wallace Allan Wood ( June 17, 1927, Menahga Minnesota – November 2, 1981, Los Angeles California) was an American " Layton recalls that:
- "One day, I was in the Marvel offices. . . handing in Woody's pages to the production dept. So, I used the opportunity to show my samples around while I had 'my foot in the door'. When I passed the Art Director's office, I heard John Romita on the phone, frantically trying to find someone to ink a desperately late issue of Iron Man [by George Tuska]. John Romita may refer to John Romita Sr, a comic book artist best known for his art on The Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel Comics in the 1960s Iron Man is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. George Tuska (born April 26, 1916 in Hartford Connecticut) also known as Carl Larson, is an American Comic book and Like an idiot, I stuck my head in his doorway and said I could get the job done in the four or five days that was left on the schedule. It was an utter fabrication. . . but I REALLY wanted to work for Marvel Comics! Johnny gave me the pages and said, "Show me what you can do, Kiddo. " "[3]
Layton's reaction was one of panic, and his search for help to meet the deadline led him to Dick Giordano and Neal Adams' Continuity Associates where his "fledgling contempories" ("Terry Austin, Bob Wiacek, Joe Rubinstein, Bob McLeod, Joe Brosowski, Carl Potts and a host of others") were able to lend a hand and help him finish the book. Dick Giordano (born Richard Joseph Giordano on July 20, 1932) is an American Comic book Artist and editor Neal Adams (born June 6, 1941, Governors Island, Manhattan, New York City) is an American Comic book and Terry Austin may refer to Terry Austin (footballer, English footballer Terry Austin (comics, American comic book artist Josef "Joe" Rubinstein is a Comic book artist and Inker, most associated with inking Marvel Comics ' The Official Handbook of the For the comic book artist see Bob McLeod (comics. For the football player of the same name see Bob McLeod (football player. Carl Potts (born November 11, 1952 in Oakland California) is an American Comic-book Writer, artist and editor A month later, Layton received a package containing "an entire issue of pencils on the Champions", and discovered that he was "the new regular inker on the book. The Champions was a short-lived fictional Comic book Superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. " He worked for Marvel "for about a year, then signed an exclusive one-year contract with DC--after they made me 'an offer I couldn't refuse'. "[3][1]
DC
Layton began work for DC in Spring/Summer 1977, taking up regular inking duties on All Star Comics, as well as inking multiple issues ofSecret Society of Super-Villains, DC Super Stars and DC Special, among others. All Star Comics is a 1940s Comic book series from All-American Publications, one of the early companies that merged with National Periodical Publications The Secret Society of Super Villains ( SSoSV) is a group of Comic book Supervillains that exist in the DC Universe. [4] In Nov/Dec 1977, he inked the first issue of David Michelinie's Star Hunters, and after a number of other shorter inking jobs, moved back to Marvel in late 1978, to ultimately take up one of his best remembered roles. David Michelinie (born May 6 1948) is an American Comic book Writer.
Marvel Comics
In 1978, Layton reunited with Star Hunters writer David Michelinie, to co-write a re-imagined Iron Man. David Michelinie (born May 6 1948) is an American Comic book Writer. Iron Man is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. The two would become regular writing and creative partners, and began their collaboration on Iron Man with November, 1978's issue #116, taking over the writing from Bill Mantlo. Bill Mantlo (born November 9, 1951) is an American Comic-book Writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, and an Attorney [5] The two would create some of the best loved Iron Man/Tony Stark stories and transform the title from a low-end book into one of Marvel’s all-time best sellers, staying with the title until #154 (Michelinie wrote a couple more issues without Layton), and then returning for a second lengthy run from February 1987's issue #215 to #250 (Dec 1989). Iron Man is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Layton continued to ink and work on covers for titles such as The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Power Man and Iron Fist, and, later, Micronauts (among others), but Iron Man was his primary concern. This article is about the comic book character and series For all other media appearances see Hulk in other media. Micronauts is the North American name for the Microman toy line created by Japanese toy company Takara (later absorbed by TOMY) In September 1982, however, he launched one of the earliest miniseries ever, writing, penciling and inking the four-issue Hercules: Prince of Power. A miniseries (also mini-series) in a serial Storytelling medium is a production which tells a story in a pre-planned limited number of episodes Its success spawned a four-issue sequel in 1984, also written, drawn and inked fully by him, and a 1988 graphic novel (#37 in the "Marvel Graphic Novel" series) - Full Circle. Around this time, he also designed the highly successful Marvel Secret Wars toy line for Mattel, which deal formed the impetus behind the 1984 Secret Wars event. Mattel Inc ( is the world's largest Toy importing company based on revenue This article refers to the 1984 Secret Wars comic book series
Layton continued to work on various issues of a number of titles, before, in February 1986, reviving the original X-Men characters in the series X-Factor, which he wrote and co-inked (first issue only), with artwork by Jackson Guice. The X-Men is a team of fictional Superhero characters in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Jackson "Butch" Guice is an American comic book artist. Layton wrote the first five issues, before handing over the series to Louise Simonson, who would make it her own. Louise Simonson (born Mary Louise Alexander, September 26, 1946 in Atlanta, Georgia, formerly Louise Jones, when married After Michelinie and Layton finished their second Iron Man run with issue #250, Layton returned to the title briefly to write, pencil and ink #254, and then to write #256 (as a stop-gap before Byrne and John Romita Jr. took over with #258) in May 1990 before leaving Marvel. John Lindley Byrne (born July 6 1950) is a British -born Canadian - American author and artist of Comic books Since the John Salvatore Romita Jr (born August 17, 1956) is an American Comic book artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics A year later, he returned to the comics industry to ink Jim Shooter's Magnus, Robot Fighter #1, from Valiant Comics. James Shooter (born September 27 1951 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American Writer, occasional fill-in artist editor, and Magnus Robot Fighter is a fictional character created by writer/artist Russ Manning in 1963 based primarily on Tarzan. Valiant Comics was an American Comic book Publishing company founded by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, writer/artists
Valiant Comics
Bob Layton was one of the chief architects of the Valiant Universe, along with Jim Shooter, Barry Windsor-Smith, Steve Massarsky, Jon Hartz. Valiant Comics was an American Comic book Publishing company founded by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, writer/artists Valiant Comics was an American Comic book Publishing company founded by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, writer/artists James Shooter (born September 27 1951 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American Writer, occasional fill-in artist editor, and Barry Windsor-Smith, also known as Barry Smith (born May 25, 1949) is a British Comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has Steven J Massarsky (died October 5, 2007) was an American Lawyer and Businessman who founded Voyager Communications, parent He co-created a number of the core characters including X-O Manowar, and later became Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President, during which time he controlled the company during its most profitable period. X-O Manowar ( Aric Dacia) is a fictional Valiant Comics Superhero created by writer and former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief
His first Valiant work appeared in Magnus, Robot Fighter #1 (May, 1991), in which he inked Art Nichols artwork from Jim Shooter's script. He would continue with Magnus for five issues (and produce covers to issue #9), while also inking the inaugural issues of Solar, Man of the Atom, which he also edited. Solar is an American fictional Comic book character Originally known as Doctor Solar Man of the Atom, he first appeared in a comic book published by Gold In February, 1992, he co-created (with Shooter and Steve Englehart) and penciled the first issue of X-O Manowar, (after which he handed over the core art duties to Sal Velluto, but provided inks for #2). Steve Englehart (born April 22, 1947, Indianapolis Indiana) is an American Comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel X-O Manowar ( Aric Dacia) is a fictional Valiant Comics Superhero created by writer and former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief The following month he drew the cover to David Michelinie's Rai
In August, 1992, he co-wrote, edited and inked Archer & Armstrong #1, edited and provided pencilwork on Eternal Warrior #1, and inked Barry Windsor-Smith on Unity #0. Archer & Armstrong was a Comic book series by Valiant Comics, with sales of 350000 books a month Barry Windsor-Smith, also known as Barry Smith (born May 25, 1949) is a British Comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has Starting in November, 1992, he co-edited with Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson the Predator/Magnus, Robot Fighter two-issue crossover, and in December was again inking (and editing) a Michelinie-written comic: H.A.R.D. Corps. Dark Horse Comics is one of the largest independent American Comic book publishers behind dominant publishers Marvel Comics and DC Comics The name Mike Richardson may refer to Mike C Richardson, former professional American football player of the 1980s Mike Richardson (publisher HARD Corps was a Valiant Comics title which ran from 1992 - 1995 Layton also edited Turok, Dinosaur Hunter, Deathmate and Secret Weapons before (in November, 1993) writing the first of thirteen issues of The Second Life of Doctor Mirage. Turok is a fictional American comic book character initially in comics from Western Publishing published through licensee Dell Comics. He was also editing a vast array of titles during this time, for which he won the Editor of the Year award (1993), as voted by the readers of the then-new comics magazine, Wizard. Wizard or Wizard The Magazine of Comics Entertainment and Pop Culture (originally titled Wizard The Guide to Comics and
His workload decreased greatly towards the end of 1994, in large part due to the sale of Valiant (Voyager Communications, Inc. ) to video game giant Acclaim Entertainment for $65,000,000. Acclaim Entertainment was an American Video game developer and publisher. 00 USD, a deal in which Layton played an instrumental part. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been His story concepts and design work on Turok, Dinosaur Hunter was also utilized to great effect by Acclaim when the video game became the largest selling title in Acclaim’s history, with over 1. 5 million units sold. He continued to work editorially, however, largely for the new Acclaim imprint Armada Comics, for which he edited a number of Magic: The Gathering comics during 1995-6. Although Magic The Gathering is essentially a strategy game that uses decks of cards an intricate storyline underlies the cards released in each expansion He also edited Bob Hall's four-issue Armed & Dangerous (Apr-Jul 1996), and returned to X-O Manowar for which he wrote the final three issues. Bob Hall is an American motoring Journalist. He is married to Karen Kato and is the identical twin brother of motoring journalist Jim N
After a several-year association with Valiant/Acclaim, Layton moved to Florida for a short retirement. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the (Although he found time to write the first eleven (of twelve) issues of Acclaim's Doctor Tomorrow between 1997 and 1998, also inking a couple of issues, notably #6 which was drawn by Dick Giordano, who also resided in Florida and was something of a mentor to Layton. Dick Giordano (born Richard Joseph Giordano on July 20, 1932) is an American Comic book Artist and editor )
Return to DC and Marvel
In 1998, he returned to DC, re-teaming briefly with penciler Sal (X-O Manowar) Velluto on a story in September 1998's The New Gods Secret Files and Origins, before collabotaring with his fellow Floridian and artistic friend/mentor Dick Giordano on several projects. The New Gods are a Fictional race published by DC Comics, as well as the title for four series of comics about those characters Dick Giordano (born Richard Joseph Giordano on July 20, 1932) is an American Comic book Artist and editor The two-issue prestige format Elseworlds tale Batman: Dark Knight of the Round Table was co-drawn and co-inked by the both of them, from a script by Layton and debuted a month after their six-issue mini-series The L.A.W. (Living Assault Weapons), which ran from September 1999 to February 2000, with script and inks by Layton, and full pencils by Giordano. Prestige format is a term coined by DC Comics but now in wider use to refer to a Square-bound Comic book with Cardstock covers Elseworlds is the publication Imprint for a group of Comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon The LAW (Living Assault Weapons was a six-issue American comic book Limited series, published by DC Comics. The two also wrote a second Batman Elseworlds tale, Batman: Hollywood Knight a three-issue mini-series which told the story of a Serials-actor who became convinced he was The Batman. Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials or Film serials, were Short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a Feature It was written by Layton with pencils and inks by Giordano.
Between Elseworlds, Layton worked with Marvel Comics on an Iron Man reunion, which saw him produce the four-part limited series Iron Man: Bad Blood with his long-term Iron Man collaborator David Michelinie. The comic ran from September to December, 2000, with art by Layton and, as previously, the plot was a joint effort, and the final script by Michelinie. Layton then stayed at Marvel for a short time, teaming up with Dan Jurgens as inker on Captain America (#38-50), as well as inking a short run on The Avengers (#44-47). Dan Jurgens (born June 27, 1959) is an American Comic book Writer and Artist. He also inked the Dan Jurgens-drawn The Power Company: Manhunter and part of Just Imagine Stan Lee... Secret Files and Origins for DC in March 2002. Just Imagine Stan Lee is a Comic book published by DC Comics.
Future Comics
Launched in December, 2000, after Layton felt somewhat disillusioned during his most recent stay at Marvel, he founded a new company, Future Comics with Dick Giordano, and David Michelinie, with Layton as Editor in Chief, Michelinie as Head Writer, Giordano as Art Director and Skip Farrell as publisher. Future Comics is a now-defunct Comic book publishing company founded by industry all-rounder Bob Layton, and his creative partners - Layton's mentor artist/editor Dick Giordano (born Richard Joseph Giordano on July 20, 1932) is an American Comic book Artist and editor David Michelinie (born May 6 1948) is an American Comic book Writer. Between 2000 and 2002, they prepared to revolutionize the direct market system by bypassing distributors and selling direct to customers and shops through the Internet. The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for North American Comic books.
In August, 2002, Freemind #0 was released. Edited and inked by Layton, written by Layton and Michelinie and with pencils by Giordano it was followed by another title - Metallix - before the company decided to bow to pressure and sign with distributor Diamond in an attempt to maximize sales, while maintaining their independent approach. Diamond Comic Distributors Inc (often called Diamond Comics, DCD, or casually Diamond) is the largest Comic book distributor Ultimately, after three titles (the third was Deathmask), and seventeen total issues, the company was not making enough money to survive, and it folded, with one announced title - Peacekeeper - unpublished.
Current
Layton's work continues to be collected in multiple trade paperback collections. Paperback, softback, or softcover describe and refer to a Book by the nature of its binding. In 2006, he produced a number of variant covers to issues of Superverse Comics' Zoom Suit, written by John Taddeo, and in 2007 his work was featured in issues of Marvel's encyclopedic All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z: Update. Zoom Suit is a series of comic books created and written by John Taddeo, that debuted in April 2006, a year after the animated short film won its first Best Animation Layton is currently working for Marvel as a freelance artist and writer on several projects including Iron Man: Legacy of Doom mini-series, Iron Man: The End, as well potential Hercules projects.
He continues to enjoy "doing commission work," writing:
- "How often do you, as an artist, get an opportunity to revisit a drawing and correct your mistakes? It’s also a lot less work that doing a monthly, 22-page comic. And occasionally, the fans come up with some great concepts fore [sic] me to execute. "[1]
He says that he "miss[es] telling stories," and to that end has showcased unpublished issues of Future Comics properties on his website, where he also presents his "new, serialized comic" Colony, with art by Giordano, and which "is a project that [Layton has] been developing for [over] 10 years and is currently making the rounds in Hollywood. "[1] Other potential film deals for the Future Comics characters are also reportedly semi-ongoing. [6]
Selected bibliography
- The Thing (1983-86 series) #23
References
- ^ a b c d "Bob Layton: Man & Iron Man" by Clifford Meth for Comics Bulletin. The Thing ( Benjamin "Ben" Jacob Grimm) is a Fictional character, a founding member of the Superhero team known as the Fantastic Four The Thing ( Benjamin "Ben" Jacob Grimm) is a Fictional character, a founding member of the Superhero team known as the Fantastic Four Accessed March 31, 2008
- ^ a b "Writer Roger Stern on the CPL/Gang-Charlton Connection" Interview by Jon B. Cooke for Comic Book Artist #12 (Twomorrows). Accessed March 31, 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g Bob Layton interviewed by Richard Vasseur for Jazma Online, May 30, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008
- ^ ComicBookDb: Bob Layton Sr.. Accessed March 31, 2008
- ^ ComicBookDb: Iron Man #116. Accessed March 31, 2008
- ^ "The Days of Future Past" - Excerpts from a report to investors over Future's failure by Bob Layton. Accessed March 30, 2008
External links
| Preceded by None |
X-Factor (vol. 1) writer 1986 |
Succeeded by Louise Simonson |
| Preceded by Bill Mantlo |
Iron Man writer 1978–1981 (with David Michelinie) |
Succeeded by David Michelinie |
| Preceded by Danny Fingeroth |
Iron Man writer 1987–1989 (with David Michelinie) |
Succeeded by Dwayne McDuffie |
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