Frank McLaughlin (artist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frank McLaughlin |
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| Born | Francis X. McLaughlin March 18, 1935 Meriden, Connecticut |
| Died | March 4, 2020 (aged 84) Milford, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist, Artist |
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Notable works
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Judomaster Justice League of America |
Francis X. McLaughlin (March 18, 1935 – March 4, 2020) was a talented American comics artist. He helped create the superhero Judomaster. He also drew for popular comic strips like Gil Thorp. Frank McLaughlin worked on many famous comic books for companies like Marvel Comics and DC Comics. He also wrote books about how to draw comics.
Contents
Frank McLaughlin: A Life in Comics
Early Life and First Steps
Frank McLaughlin was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1935. He grew up in Stratford, Connecticut. As a kid, he loved the work of famous magazine artists. He also admired comic strip artists like Alex Raymond.
He studied art at the University of Bridgeport. He also went to the New Haven State Teachers College. His first art job was drawing belt buckles for a company catalog.
After college, Frank worked for a brake company. He played on their top-ranked softball team. Later, he joined the United States Army. After his military service, he became a technical illustrator for Sikorsky Aircraft.
Starting in Comic Books
In the early 1960s, Frank McLaughlin joined the comic book world. A friend suggested he apply to Charlton Comics. This company was in Derby, Connecticut. He was hired as an assistant to the editor.
Frank did many jobs there. He proofread stories and fixed art. He also helped with lettering and managed projects. He even helped clean the storeroom! Sometimes, he helped ink comic books. His first known work was inking a story in Battlefield Action #39 in 1961.
Creating Judomaster
Frank McLaughlin became the art director at Charlton Comics by 1962. He worked on many different comics. These included superhero titles like Blue Beetle and Captain Atom. He also worked on adventure and spy comics.
Frank was a martial artist himself. He practiced judo for many years. This love for martial arts led him to create a new character. He worked with writer Joe Gill. Together, they created Judomaster.
Judomaster first appeared in Special War Series #4 in November 1965. The character was an American soldier in World War II. He learned martial arts from an islander he saved. Judomaster wore a costume inspired by the Japanese flag. Later, he got a sidekick named Tiger. The series was very popular.
Working with Marvel and DC Comics
After leaving Charlton Comics, Frank McLaughlin became a freelance artist. This meant he could work for different companies. Around 1971, he started helping on the comic strip The Heart of Juliet Jones.
The next year, he began working for the biggest comic companies: DC Comics and Marvel Comics. His first work for DC was inking a Zatanna story. For Marvel, he inked a romance comic.
Frank became a well-known inker. He inked many famous characters for Marvel. These included Captain Marvel and Captain America. He then worked mostly for DC Comics. He inked stories for Atom, Black Lightning, and Zatanna. He also became the regular inker for Justice League of America. He worked on Batman and Green Lantern comics too.
In the 1980s, Frank continued to ink for DC. He worked on The Flash, Wonder Woman, and Green Arrow. He also wrote articles about martial arts for Marvel's The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu magazine.
Beyond Comic Books
Besides his comic book work, Frank McLaughlin also drew for several comic strips. He helped with Brenda Starr, Reporter and Nancy. From 2001 to 2008, he drew the sports comic strip Gil Thorp.
Teaching and Writing Books
Frank McLaughlin also shared his knowledge with others. He taught art at the Paier College of Art. He also taught at Guy Gilchrist's Cartoonist's Academy.
He helped create a reading program called "Writing to Read." This program used comic book storytelling to help kids learn to read. He also wrote books about drawing comics. These include How to Draw Those Bodacious Bad Babes of Comics and How to Draw Monsters for Comics. He wrote these with Mike Gold.
Personal Life
Frank McLaughlin loved judo. He practiced it from age 18 to 50. He got married in 1965. He had two children, Erin and Terry. His niece, Anne McLaughlin, is also an artist.
Frank McLaughlin passed away on March 4, 2020, at the age of 84. He left behind a great legacy in the world of comics.
