Loads of great inkers work in comics, and all your suggestions have been excellent. So who did I go with? Well, how about the best inker from the DC age of comics? (Archive.)

11/24/07

328. Murphy Anderson

Now, Mr. Anderson is a fantastic artist all on his own, but I'd have to say that his inking defined an entire generation of comics and gave the Silver Age its punch. He worked with all the greats-- guys like Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, and Mike Sekowsky-- and provided the slick sci-fi sheen on Batman, Green Lantern, and more. For a while there, he was inking seemingly every cover on every DC book, giving the line a distinct feel.

In the 1970s, the "Swanderson" team of Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson combined to create a beloved artistic run on the Superman titles. Anderson gave Swan's pencils a grounded, realistic tone, fitting with the "new era" of Superman. Together, they put the "man" back into Superman. Check out the full and distinct features. Swan put the emotion on the characters' faces, but Anderson etched it forever into our brains.

Murphy Anderson? Been there, inked that. His smooth inks gave a distinct look and feel to the Silver Age superhero invasion. Those books look gorgeous, and we've got him to thank. Dude's a legend. Sorry if this column's cut short, but it seems the internet is sparse in terms of Murphy Anderson info and images. I think that goes to show that inkers just don't get enough credit or praise for their work-- something we've got to change. For an excellent piece on the man, however, turn your browsers to this website.

What's your favorite Murphy Anderson work?