Terry Austin (comics)

Terry Kevin Austin[3] (born August 23, 1952)[4] is an American comic book creator working primarily as an inker.

Terry Austin
BornTerry Kevin Austin
(1952-08-23) August 23, 1952
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1][2]
Area(s)Writer, Inker
Notable works
Uncanny X-Men
AwardsEagle Awards, Favourite Inker, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1987.
Inkpot Award, 1980.
Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award, Favorite Inker, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997.
Inkwell Awards, The Joe Sinnott Award, 2009

Early life and career

Austin grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Wayne State University.[1] He started inking comics as an assistant to Dick Giordano and Neal Adams, doing "Crusty Bunker" work for Adams' Continuity Associates.[1][5] Austin came to prominence in 1976–1977, inking Marshall Rogers' pencils on a celebrated run of Batman stories for DC Comics' Detective Comics collaborating with writer Steve Englehart.[6] During this same period, Austin inked Michael Netzer (Nasser) on DC's Martian Manhunter in Adventure Comics and Green Arrow/Black Canary in World's Finest Comics, as well as Al Milgrom on Marvel Comics' Captain Marvel. He later teamed with Rogers again on Marvel's Doctor Strange.[7]

Austin's inks on John Byrne's pencils, from Uncanny X-Men #141 (Jan. 1981), p. 12.

X-Men

In 1977, Austin and penciler John Byrne became the new art team on Uncanny X-Men. With writer Chris Claremont they produced a series of stories — particularly "The Dark Phoenix Saga" — which elevated the title into the top-selling American comic book.[8] (Austin was given the Eagle Award for Favourite Inker three times during this period.)

Post-X-Men

Austin left Uncanny X-Men in 1981 and has since worked on a variety of titles for both Marvel and DC, including Doctor Strange (over Paul Smith and Dan Green pencils), Superman vol. 2 (over Byrne), Justice League (over Kevin Maguire) and Green Lantern (over Darryl Banks).[7] Austin contributed to several anniversary issues for DC including Justice League of America #200 (March 1982),[9] Superman #400 (Oct. 1984),[10] and Batman #400 (Oct. 1986).[11] He was the regular inker of DC's Superman Adventures for nearly six years, from 1996–2002. His inking work since 2002 has included over fifteen years of inking the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series for Archie Comics, which he continued until the series cancellation in 2017.[7]

Inking style and influence

Austin's inking — especially in the period of the 1970s and early 1980s — is notable for its smooth, precise rendering; and extremely detailed backgrounds, making his embellishing work easily identifiable. His style has been highly influential on a subsequent generation of inkers including Al Gordon, Andy Lanning, Scott Williams,[12] and Rob Liefeld.[13]

Writing and penciling

Austin has also worked as a writer, primarily for Marvel's X-Men titles and a run on Cloak and Dagger.[7] Austin wrote and inked the Dark Horse Comics' adaptation of Splinter of the Mind's Eye published in 1995.[14]

His rare penciling jobs can be seen on the covers of Uncanny X-Men #123, #142 and Annual #3 (with Frank Miller), as well as his self-published book, Austin Art: 60 Pages of Drawings by Terry Austin (2003).[15]

Personal life

Austin resides near Poughkeepsie, New York, where he plays volleyball and gets together often with fellow comics veteran Fred Hembeck. Austin's affection for the comic strip character Popeye is well-established,[2] and over the years Austin has included drawings of Popeye in various published comics as "Easter eggs" for sharp-eyed readers.[16]

Awards

Austin's work has gained him frequent and notable recognition over the years, including multiple Eagle Awards for best inker,[17][18][19][20][21][22] an Inkpot Award,[23] multiple Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for Favorite Inker,[24] and the Inkwell Awards 2008 "Favorite Inker (Retro) Award"[25] and the 2009 "Joe Sinnott Award".[26]

Bibliography

Aardvark-Vanaheim

Atlas/Seaboard Comics
  • Phoenix #3 (1975)

Archie Comics

Dark Horse Comics

DC Comics

DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics

DC Comics and Marvel Comics

  • Amazon #1 (1996)
  • Green Lantern / Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1 (1995)
  • Silver Surfer / Superman #1 (1996)

Image Comics

Malibu Comics

Marvel Comics

Other publishers
  • Austin Art: 60 Pages of Drawings by Terry Austin (self-published, 2003)

References
  1. Cooke, Jon B. (2002). "Terry Austin Interview: The Artistry of Terry Austin". Comic Book Artist Collection Volume 2. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 36–43. ISBN 978-1-893905-13-9.
  2. "Profile: Terry Austin," Marvel Age (Marvel Comics, 1991).
  3. Bails, Jerry (n.d.). "Austin, Terry". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015.
  4. Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  5. Theakston, Greg and Nowlan, Kevin, et al., at Bails, Jerry; Ware, Hames. Crusty Bunkers. Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  6. Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, eds. (2014). "2000s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 281. ISBN 978-1465424563.
  7. Terry Austin at the Grand Comics Database
  8. Daniels, Les (1991). "The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)". Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 186. ISBN 9780810938212. The controversial story created a sensation and The X-Men became the comic book to watch.
  9. Trumbull, John (April 2016). "A League Divided: Justice League of America #200". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (87): 65–72.
  10. Addiego, Frankie (December 2013). "Superman #400". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (69): 68–70.
  11. Trumbull, John (December 2013). "A New Beginning...And a Probable End Batman #300 and #400". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (69): 49–53.
  12. "The Twenty Greatest Inkers of American Comic Books: #9, Terry Austin". Atlas Comics. n.d. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  13. "Todd McFarlane & Rob Liefeld Interview Comic Con 2019". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  14. Hidalgo, Pablo; Trevas, Chris (2012). Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion. Del Rey. p. 228. ISBN 978-0345511195.
  15. Hembeck, Fred (June 2008). "Terry Austin Art Book Sales Department". FredHembeck.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  16. Cronin, Brian. "Comic Book Easter Eggs - Terry Austin Popeye Easter Eggs!", CBR (March 5, 2013).
  17. "Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1978". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  18. "Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1979". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  19. "Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1980". Eagle Awards. 1980. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  20. "Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1986". Eagle Awards. 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  21. "Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1987". Eagle Awards. 2012. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  22. "Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1988". Eagle Awards. 2012. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  23. "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  24. Miller, John Jackson (1995). "CBG Fan Award". Comics Buyer's Guide 1996 Annual. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 30. ISBN 978-0873414067.
  25. Almond, Bob (February 22, 2011). "2008 Winners". Inkwell Awards. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016.
  26. Almond, Bob (January 23, 2011). "2009 Winners". Inkwell Awards. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016.
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