Severin EC Comics Marvel war Western-John Powers Severin (December 26, 1921 – February 12, 2012) was an American comic book artist noted for his distinctive work with EC Comics, primarily on the war comics Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat; for Marvel Comics, especially its war and Western comics; and for his 45-year stint with the satiric magazine Cracked. He was one of the founding cartoonists of Mad in 1952. Severin was inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2003. Severin's family members working in the publishing and entertainment fields include his sister Marie Severin, a comic book artist, who was the colorist for EC's comics; his son John Severin, Jr., the head of Bubblehead Publishing; his daughter, Ruth Larenas, a producer for that company; and his grandson, John Severin III, a music producer and recording engineer. After the fall of EC, the artist moved to Marvel precursor Atlas Comics where he became perhaps the most recognizable cartoonist for the company's many Western titles through the late '50s and into the '60s. Cornerstone characters like the Rawhide Kid, Kid Colt and more found definition and popularity under his pen, and Severin continued to explore multiple genres and characters during this run including more war comics like the early adventures of Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos as well as superhero work as the Marvel Age of comics dawned on titles including "The Incredible Hulk." read more
The third major phase of Severin's career came when he started working for long-standing "MAD" rival "Cracked" in the '70s. The artist had briefly contributed strips to "MAD" during its initial EC run and took to the work of satirical cartooning with style. For the next 20 years he was one of the most recognizable cartoonists in "Cracked's" staple, contributing celebrity and pop culture parodies and often painting covers featuring the magazine's mascot Sylvester P. Smythe. Severin died at his home in Denver, Colorado on February 12, 2012 at the age of 90, with his family, including his wife of 60 years, Michelina, at his side. He is survived by his wife, his sister Marie, six children, 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a step-great-granddaughter. Michelina Severin's cousin was Mad associate editor Jerry DeFuccio, who scripted stories John Severiin illustrated in Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat. source
The third major phase of Severin's career came when he started working for long-standing "MAD" rival "Cracked" in the '70s. The artist had briefly contributed strips to "MAD" during its initial EC run and took to the work of satirical cartooning with style. For the next 20 years he was one of the most recognizable cartoonists in "Cracked's" staple, contributing celebrity and pop culture parodies and often painting covers featuring the magazine's mascot Sylvester P. Smythe. Severin died at his home in Denver, Colorado on February 12, 2012 at the age of 90, with his family, including his wife of 60 years, Michelina, at his side. He is survived by his wife, his sister Marie, six children, 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a step-great-granddaughter. Michelina Severin's cousin was Mad associate editor Jerry DeFuccio, who scripted stories John Severiin illustrated in Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat. source
