Steve Lightle facts for kids

Steve Lightle (born November 19, 1959 – died January 8, 2021) was an American comic book artist. He mostly worked as a penciller, which means he drew the first sketches for comic pages. He was famous for his art in DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes and Doom Patrol comic series.

Who Was Steve Lightle?

Steve Lightle grew up to become a well-known comic book artist. He went to Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City metropolitan area. His journey into professional comics began in 1984.

Steve's First Comic Work

Steve Lightle's very first professional comic story was a five-page adventure. It appeared in a comic called Black Diamond #4 in February 1984. This comic was published by AC Comics.

Soon after, he started working for DC Comics. He drew a 10-page story for New Talent Showcase #4 in April 1984. This series was created to help new artists get their start in the comic world.

Drawing for the Legion of Super-Heroes

In 1984, Steve Lightle took over as the main artist for the Legion of Super-Heroes comic. He said working on this comic was like a "dream assignment" for him. One of the stories he drew showed the sad moment when a long-time Legion member, the Karate Kid, passed away.

Even though he didn't draw the inside pages for long, Steve continued to create the covers for the Legion of Super-Heroes until 1988. He also helped create two unique Legionnaires: Tellus and Quislet. These characters looked very different from the usual human-like heroes.

Other Comic Projects

In 1986, Steve Lightle contributed to a special comic series called DC Challenge. He also drew a part of Batman #400 in October 1986.

The next year, he was the first artist for a new version of the Doom Patrol comic. However, he left after drawing the first five issues. After this, Steve mostly focused on drawing comic covers. He often drew and then inked his own artwork for these covers.

From 1989 to 1990, Steve Lightle was the regular cover artist for Classic X-Men. This comic was later renamed X-Men Classic. He created new covers and special opening pictures for the reprinted stories inside.

Steve Lightle's Legacy

Steve Lightle passed away suddenly on January 8, 2021, at the age of 61. His wife, Marianne, and son, Matthew, shared the news on social media. He died from a heart problem that was caused by COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri.

Steve Lightle is remembered for his detailed artwork and his contributions to many popular comic series. His work helped shape the look of characters and stories that many fans still love today.