Signed by hand by the Golden Age artists and famed JSA contributors stated (both Sheldon Moldoff, co-creator and first artist to draw Hawkman, as well as Mart Nodell, co-creator and first artist to draw Green Lantern), this trading card is in good condition with minor wear (see scans) and will be shipped with the utmost care. Both Moldoff and Nodell contributed to the issue depicted on the card (Moldoff illustrating the issues Hawkman story and Nodell the Green Lantern story). Please note- the signatures are real. They are the actual, hand-signed signatures of the comic creators stated. They are not pre-printed on the card.
About the artists:
Sheldon Moldoff (1920-2011) made his first appearance on the comics scene with another famous first appearance, that of Superman in Action Comics #1. His debut work was a sports filler that appeared on the inside back cover of that now most famous of all comics.
Moldoff of course went on to illustrate the Man of Steel as well as numerous other comic mainstays, including Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkman, the Spectre and, of course, Batman. His list of credits includes not only work in Action Comics #1, but several other key Golden Age books, including the JSA's first appearance in All-Star Comics #3, Green Lantern's first appearance on the cover of All-American Comics #16, and The Flash's first appearance in All-Flash Comics #1.
But he is most closely associated with Batman. Along with Dick Sprang and Win Mortimer, he became one of three primary ghost artists for Bob Kane on the Dark Knight Detective, illustrating the character for nearly two decades and introducing (co-creating and being the first artist to illustrate the characters) Bat-Mite, Ace the Bat-Hound and the original Batgirl (Betty Kane).
Mart Nodell (1915 - 2006) is best know as the co-creator and first artist to draw the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott, in 1940. He also drew the JSA and the Golden Age Flash, among others, and later went on to design for Pillsbury their trademark Pillsbury Doughboy.
Born in Philadelphia, Nodell was the son of Jewish immigrants. He attended both the Art Institute of Chicago and, after moving to New York City in the 1930's, the Pratt Institute. In 1938 he started freelancing and, in 1940, he provided illustrations for All-American Publications (one of the three companies that ultimately merged to from the company that would become DC Comics).
Seeking steadier employment, Nodell sought to create a new super hero that would step into the rapidly expanding ranks of costumed crime fighters in the wake of Superman's debut two years earlier. Taking inspiration from Greek mythology and the image of the train station lantern bearer (green signaling "go"), Nodell submitted his idea and, after waiting two weeks, received the call to come to All-American and discuss his idea. Publisher Max Gaines approved the character and Nodell, after producing five pages of an eight page story, then teamed with writer Bill Finger (of Batman fame) to complete the story. They worked on the comic for the next seven years.
While Nodell is best known for Green Lantern, his other work includes Timely characters such as Captain America, The Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner. He also worked on horror comics for Timely.
Nodell left comics in 1950 to pursue a career in advertising but, over thirty years later, he briefly returned to provide a few more illustrations for DC, including a 13-page puzzle and activity section in the Super Friends Special #1, Harlequin for DC's Who's Who, and an Alan Scott pinup in Green Lantern issue 19 (1991) for the 50th anniversary of the character. His last published Green Lantern appeared in Superman: The Man of Steel Gallery #1 with Superman and Alan Scott.
In 2011, Nodell was posthumously nominated as a Judges' Choice for the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.
~Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance:
Excepting pack-pulled autograph trading cards, CGC Signature Series, signed Sideshow prints, and like collectibles, all autographed items Vault Collectibles sells were personally witnessed, by myself, being signed by the writer, artist, or celebrity in question. No third party is involved. Further, art sketches - and most published original art I sell - were obtained directly from the artist themselves.
For buyers desiring this guarantee in written form, this statement guarantees that the above referenced item is as stated in the listing description. A screen capture of the completed auction page, which includes this statement of provenance, may be saved by the buyer as a digital file or print off in hardcopy form. As this serves as written proof of said guarantee, no physical documentation will be included in the package when the item is mailed.
J. Brian O’Bryant
VaultCollectibles
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