Dick Dillin – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Dick Dillin — Come Together

August 24, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

The Atom and Hawkman #45, November 1969

As discussed earlier this year, 1961 is an anniversary for both the Sliver Age versions of Hawkman and The Atom.

Neither character was ultimately commercially viable for his own comic book, so DC tried combining two titles into one.

Unfortunately that didn’t work long either, but as they say, it was fun while it lasted.

Dick Dillin was one of DC”s “B-team” artists who deserves more respect than he typically receives.

Although his draftsmanship may not have been up to the higher levels of some of his peers, his ability to draw with imagination and solid storytelling was pretty on point in my book.

He pretty much drew every issue of Justice League of America for 12 years starting with issue #64 (1968) and ending with his untimely death at #183(1980). Considering all the various JLA crossovers (JSA, Freedom Fighters, etc.), Dillin likely drew hundreds of different heroes and villains during that time.

Just Atom and Hawkman? Piece of cake.

*The final individual issues of the Atom and Hawkman, and the first issue of the “new” title, The Atom and Hawkman.*

Dick Dillin — Whirlwind Entrance

October 5, 2019 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Justice League of America #64, August 1968

Continuing our series celebrating Supergirl’s 5^thseason premiere on the CW on Sunday.

One of the cool features of all of the DC CW shows is the introduction of supporting characters you would hardly imagine would ever make it into live action TV.

Rip Hunter? Firestorm? Mister Terrific? The Ray? The list goes on… and on… and on.

One such character is Red Tornado, who made it into an early episode of Supergirl. Ok, so he’s a villain… and his backstory definitely veers from much of his retcon continuity in the DCU, but who cares. He certainly looked great.

Red Tornado’s first appearance in his contemporary droid form is in Justice League #64, and this splash – the cover scene — is actually his first rendering in that first appearance issue. More importantly, it’s also the very first JLA appearance of artist Dick Dillin, who went on to draw the series for an astounding 12 years until his untimely death in 1980.

And that cover? One of my all time favorites, enhanced by that unique greenish background, and featuring a full cast of the Justice Society. It jumped out at you on the spinner racks 50 years ago, and still does today.