Marshall Rogers R.I.P.

DC has announced that one of the great superhero comic book artists, Marshall Rogers, has died at age 57. Rogers drew Detective Comics #472 in 1976, the first comic this fan ever bought. That run came to be called "the definitive Batman," and laid the template for the Batman movies, the "dark deco" animated series, and Frank Miller's revisions. Here's the email from DC Comics: 'Marshall was one of the radical young stylists bringing new looks to DC in the '70s, especially with his memorable collaboration with Steve Englehart on Batman," says DC Comics President & Publisher Paul Levitz. "His debonair smile and charm were every bit as endearing as his art was energetic, and his colleagues at DC are all shocked to have a great artist pass so young."

'Born January 22, 1950, Rogers studied architecture at Kent State University before pursuing a career in comics. His earliest work appeared in Marvel Comics' black and white magazines; in 1976, his art first appeared in a backup story in DETECTIVE COMICS, the title with which he is most identified.

'Rogers quickly moved up to pencilling the lead stories in DETECTIVE, working with his frequent collaborators, writer Steve Englehart and inker Terry Austin, on a run of issues that featured the acclaimed "Joker Fish" story. He simultaneously drew a memorable run on MISTER MIRACLE.

'Rogers returned to Batman frequently after his initial run on DETECTIVE, contributing stories to BATMAN FAMILY and other titles, including a new look at the Dark Knight's beginnings in SECRET ORIGINS. In the 1980s, Rogers began working for Eclipse Comics, with projects including Coyote, Scorpio, the graphic novel Detectives, Inc., and his own creation, Cap'n Quick and A Foozle.

'By the mid-1980s, Rogers was working for Marvel Comics, where he illustrated Dr. Strange, G.I. Joe, Howard the Duck and more, as well as a long run on Silver Surfer. He became the artist on the Batman daily comic strip at the end of the decade.

'More recently, Rogers illustrated the miniseries GREEN LANTERN: EVIL'S MIGHT, then returned to the Dark Knight for a 5-part story in BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT. He reteamed with Englehart and Austin for the 2005 miniseries BATMAN: DARK DETECTIVE, a follow up on their classic work of the 1970s.'

More here, here, here, here, and here.