Bernard Krigstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bernard Krigstein |
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Krigstein self-portrait
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| Born | March 22, 1919 New York City, US |
| Died | January 8, 1990 (aged 70) New York City, US |
| Area(s) | Penciller, Inker |
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Notable works
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"Master Race" |
| Awards | Jack Kirby Hall of Fame (1992) Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame (2005) |
Bernard Krigstein (born March 22, 1919 – died January 8, 1990) was an American artist. He was known for his amazing and new ways of drawing comic books. His work for EC Comics was especially famous. You could usually spot his art by his special signature: B. Krigstein. His most well-known comic book story is "Master Race". It was first printed in April 1955 in a comic called Impact.
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About Bernard Krigstein
Bernard Krigstein was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He grew up in a Jewish family. He studied art at Brooklyn College. Krigstein started drawing comics in 1943. His first known work was for Harvey Comics in a comic called Champ Comics. He drew a patriotic story called "The Liberty Lads." This time was known as the Golden Age of Comic Books, when comics became very popular.
After serving in World War II, he returned to drawing comics in 1945. He worked for many different publishers.
In 1952, Krigstein helped start a group for comic artists. It was called The Society of Comic Book Illustrators. The group wanted to help artists get fair treatment. Krigstein was the president of this group. During this time, he started working for EC Comics. The publisher, William Gaines, liked Krigstein's ideas. Between 1953 and 1955, Krigstein created some of his most famous stories for EC Comics.
His Famous Story: "Master Race"
Krigstein's most famous comic book story is "Master Race". It was published in 1955. The story is about a former Nazi officer who tried to escape justice. He is spotted years later on the New York City Subway. This story was very important because it talked about the Holocaust. This was a difficult topic that was not often discussed in popular media back then.
Krigstein often wanted to do more with the stories he was given. "Master Race" was planned for six pages, but he expanded it to eight. The comic company was so impressed that they changed the issue to fit his extra pages. Krigstein used special drawing techniques. He stretched out certain scenes to show more detail. For example, he used many small, repeated drawings to show a train moving. He also broke down a character's final struggle into four separate pictures. This made the action feel very real and intense.
The famous artist Art Spiegelman said Krigstein's art was "cinematic." This means it was like watching a movie. Krigstein made time feel different in his comics. He could slow it down or speed it up. This made his stories very powerful and unique.
Working on Mad Magazine
Krigstein also drew funny comics. He worked on Mad magazine. Some of his humor stories included "From Eternity Back to Here" and "Bringing Back Father."
In the early 1960s, Krigstein stopped drawing comics. He started making illustrations for magazines, book covers, and record albums. He eventually focused on fine art, which is art made for its own sake, not for commercial use. In 1962, he began teaching art at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan. He taught there for 20 years.
Krigstein once said that the most interesting things happen "between" the comic panels. He believed that artists should be allowed to explore these moments. He felt this would help comics become more than just simple stories.
Illustrating Books
Bernard Krigstein also illustrated several books for young readers:
- Lloyd Alexander, Border Hawk: August Bondi, published in 1958.
- Evelyn Sibley Lampman, Rusty's Space Ship, published in 1957.
Awards and Recognition
The book Border Hawk: August Bondi, which Krigstein illustrated, won the National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature in 1959.
After he passed away, Krigstein was honored for his contributions to comics. He was added to the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1992. He was also inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2003. These are two of the biggest honors in the comic book world.
A book about his work, B. Krigstein, Vol. 1 by Greg Sadowski, won a Harvey Award and an Eisner Award in 2003.
Personal Life
Bernard Krigstein was married to Natalie. She also wrote comics, especially romance comics. They had a daughter named Cora in 1949.
Images for kids
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Bernard Krigstein's "Master Race" from Impact #1 (April 1955)
