In conjunction with our current exhibition Frank Robbins: The Prodigy, featuring the lesser-known body of paintings by the famed comic book writer and artist, this is a gallery talk by comic book art historian Arlen Schumer (author/designer, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art). In 1971 Robbins, already established for years as a DC Comics writer on their Batman titles, became the first creative talent to both write and illustrate a Batman story in the character's published history, the first of four that Robbins would execute over the next year; then, in 1974, Robbins illustrated for DC four issues of one of Batman's major inspirations, The Shadow. Both of Robbins' runs created considerable controversy among fans at the time for his radical, stylized approach to "superhero" illustration, one that continues to elicit strong reactions, fifty years later.
New York City, NY; NYC