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Ernie Chan
Ernie Chan at Super-Con 2009.JPG
Chan in May 2009.
Born Ernesto Chua
(1940-07-27)July 27, 1940
The Philippines
Died May 16, 2012(2012-05-16) (aged 71)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Area(s) Penciller, Inker
Pseudonym(s) Ernie Chua
Notable works
Batman
Conan the Barbarian
Detective Comics
Kull the Conqueror
Savage Sword of Conan
Awards Inkpot Award (1980)
Inkwell Awards (2024) Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame

Ernesto Chan (born July 27, 1940 – died May 16, 2012) was a talented Filipino-American artist who drew many comic books. He was also known as Ernie Chua. He worked for famous companies like Marvel Comics and DC Comics. Ernie Chan is especially known for his work on Conan the Barbarian and Batman. He often drew characters who were not superheroes, focusing on stories about horror, war, and sword and sorcery.

About Ernie Chan

Ernie Chan was born with the name Ernie Chua. He later explained that "Chua" was a mistake on his birth certificate. He used that name until he could change it to "Chan" when he became a U.S. citizen in 1976.

He moved to the United States in 1970. Ernie Chan studied with a famous artist named John Buscema. He also worked with him as an inker on the Conan comic books in the 1970s. An inker adds ink lines over the pencil drawings to make them clear and ready for printing. He also inked drawings by John's brother, Sal, for The Incredible Hulk.

His Work in Comics

Ernie Chan started working in the American comics industry in 1972. He began at DC Comics, drawing horror and mystery comics like Ghosts and House of Mystery.

By 1974, he was regularly working for Marvel Comics on Conan the Barbarian. From 1975 to 1976, he worked only for DC Comics. During this time, he drew Claw the Unconquered. He also drew the first appearances of characters like Captain Stingaree and the Black Spider in Detective Comics. For a few years, he was the main artist who drew the covers for DC Comics.

Ernie Chan drew several issues of Conan and Doctor Strange. He also worked on Kull the Destroyer in 1977 and Power Man and Iron Fist in the 1980s. From about 1978, he mostly worked for Marvel, focusing a lot on Conan in the 1980s.

Beyond Comics

In the early 1990s, Ernie Chan joined Sega, a video game company. He helped design characters and create art for video games, including Eternal Champions.

He retired in 2002, but he still did some special artwork for people who asked for it. In 2009, he returned to comics to draw a webcomic called The Vat.

Personal Life

Ernie Chan lived in Oakland, California. He had three children. His daughter Cleo Caron Chan was born in 1978, and his daughter Kate Anne Chan was born in 1980. Ernie Chan passed away on May 16, 2012, after battling cancer.

Awards and Recognition

Ernie Chan received an Inkpot Award in 1980. This award celebrates people who have made great contributions to comics and science fiction.

In 2024, Ernie Chan was honored by being added to the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame. This recognizes his amazing work as an inker in the comic book world.

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