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Steve Lightle

Steve Lightle (November 19, 1959[1] – January 8, 2021)[2][3] was an American comics artist who worked primarily as a penciller. He was best known as the artist of DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes and Doom Patrol titles.

Biography

Steve Lightle was born in Kansas City, Kansas[2] and attended the Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City metropolitan area.[4] His first professional comic book work was a five-page story in Black Diamond #4 (Feb. 1984) published by AC Comics.[5][6] He followed this with his debut at DC Comics, drawing a 10-page story in New Talent Showcase #4 (April 1984), a series intended to provide work for up-and-coming artists who did not have a regular assignment.[7]

In 1984, Lightle followed Keith Giffen as the penciller of Legion of Super-Heroes.[8] Lightle described it as being a "dream assignment" to work on the title.[9] One of Lightle's issues featured the death of longtime Legion member Karate Kid.[10] Although Lightle's tenure as interior artist was brief, he continued as cover artist until 1988.[6] Lightle co-created the characters Tellus and Quislet, whose unusual appearances contrasted with the humanoid appearances of the other Legionnaires.[11]

In 1986, Lightle was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series[12] and drew part of Batman #400 (Oct. 1986).[13] The following year, he was the original penciller of the revival of Doom Patrol,[14] but he left after the first five-issue story arc due to creative differences.[15] Much of Lightle's work after that was as cover artist, typically inking his own penciled artwork. In 1989 and 1990, Lightle was the regular cover artist for Classic X-Men[6] (later retitled X-Men Classic). He produced new covers and frontispieces to accompany the reprinted stories.

On January 8, 2021, Lightle's wife Marianne and son Matthew announced through social media that he had died suddenly from a cardiac arrest caused by COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri. He was 61 years old.[2][3][16]

Bibliography

AC Comics

  • Black Diamond #4 (1984)

DC Comics

  • Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1 (Superboy) (1998)
  • Batman #400 (1986)
  • Batman and the Outsiders #10 (1984)
  • Booster Gold: Futures End #1 (2014)
  • DC Challenge #12 (1986)
  • Doom Patrol vol. 2 #1–5 (1987–1988)
  • The Flash vol. 2 #226 (2005)
  • The Flash 80-Page Giant #2 (1999)
  • The Flash Annual #10 (1997)
  • History of the DC Universe hardcover (three pages) (1988)
  • JLA-Z #1 (one page) (2003)
  • The Legion #24, 34 (2003–2004)
  • Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #3–5, 7–10, 12–14, 16, 23 (1984–1986)
  • New Talent Showcase #4–6 (1984)
  • The Outsiders #2–3 (backup stories) (1985–1986)
  • Who's Who in the DC Universe #2–3, 6–7, 13–14 (1990–1991)
  • Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1–2 (1988)
  • Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3, 5, 8, 12–13, 16, 18, 20, 23 (1985–1987)
  • Who's Who: Update '87 #3–4 (1987)
  • Wonder Woman Gallery #1 (1996)
  • Wonder Woman Secret Files and Origins #1 (1998)
  • World's Finest Comics #304, 306 (1984)

Marvel Comics

  • The Amazing Spider-Man '96 #1 (1996)
  • Excalibur: XX Crossing (1992)
  • Generation X '95 #1 (1995)
  • Marvel Comics Presents #109–116 (Wolverine and Typhoid Mary); #123–130 (Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary); #132–136 (Wolverine); #150 (Vengeance, Wolverine, Daredevil, Typhoid Mary); #175 (Steel Raven, New Genix) (1992–1995)
  • Marvel Holiday Special (Spider-Man) (1992)
  • Quasar #39–40 (1992)
  • Web of Spider-Man Super Special #1 (1995)
  • X-Factor #32 (1988)

External links

References

  1. John Jackson Miller. Industry Birthdays Comics Buyer's Guide, June 10, 2005, retrieved December 12, 2010^
  2. Ethan Sacks. Comic book artist's sudden death a shock: 'We had no idea he had Covid' NBC News, January 18, 2021^
  3. Spencer Perry. Steve Lightle, DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes Artist, Dies at 61 comicbook.com, January 8, 2021^
  4. Jerry Bails. Lightle, Steve Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999, n.d.^
  5. Steve Lightle Lambiek Comiclopedia, January 9, 2021^
  6. {{Grand Comics Database search|type=credit|search= Steve+Lightle|title= Steve Lightle}}^
  7. Robert Greenberger. New Talent and Bonus Babies Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, April 2014^
  8. Philip Schweier. Back to the Future: The Legion in the 1980s Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, October 2013^
  9. Rob Vollmar. Conversation With A Craftsman: Steve Lightle Talks With Rob Vollmar Silver Bullet Comics, June 14, 2007, retrieved March 30, 2012^
  10. Matthew K. Manning. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle Dorling Kindersley, 2010^
  11. Arune Signh. Because You Demanded It, A Legionnaire Returns: Steve Lightle Talks Legion Comic Book Resources, October 30, 2002, retrieved March 30, 2012^
  12. Robert Greenberger. It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge! Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, August 2017^
  13. John Trumbull. A New Beginning...And a Probable End Batman #300 and #400 Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2013^
  14. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 229: "October [1987] saw a new Doom Patrol series, by writer Paul Kupperberg and artist Steve Lightle."^
  15. Michael Browning. The Doom Patrol Interviews: Steve Lightle Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, July 2013^
  16. Chris Arrant. Iconic Legion of Super-Heroes artist Steve Lightle dies at age 61 GamesRadar+, January 8, 2021, retrieved January 8, 2021^