Ask most people, and they’ll tell you Stan LeeOpens in a new tab is the oldest person working in comics today. It’s a sensible guess, as Stan “the Man” recently turned 94 years old. But I’m here to tell you, Stan is not the oldest professional working in comics. Nope, that honor goes to artist Ken Bald, who, according to NewsaramaOpens in a new tab, has just been named by Guinness World RecordsOpens in a new tab as the “oldest artist to illustrate a comic book cover” for his 2015 Contest of Champions #2 cover for Marvel ComicsOpens in a new tab, which he drew at the age of 95.
This is breaking the record previously held by the late Joe SimonOpens in a new tab, the artist best known for co-creating Captain AmericaOpens in a new tab with Jack KirbyOpens in a new tab back in 1940. This is the now 96-year-old Bald’s second Guinness honor, following a previous record as “oldest comic book artist.” In a statement, Bald said “At 96 years old, you’d never think you’d be setting any world records, let alone setting two. Both records have been a great thrill for me.”
If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. At 96 Ken Bald proves this to be true https://t.co/4IQkkAXX60Opens in a new tab #MondayMotivationOpens in a new tab pic.twitter.com/h0sM0bA2vMOpens in a new tab
— GuinnessWorldRecords (@GWR) May 8, 2017Opens in a new tab
Guinness World Records adjudicator Alex Angert added, “It is an honor to present Ken with this tremendous achievement that is a testament to his passion to the comic book industry and his skills in illustrating timeless and beloved comic book stories.”
Bald was born in New York City in 1920, and is maybe best known for illustrating TV tie-in strips like Dark ShadowsOpens in a new tab and Dr. Kildare. His very first comics work was in 1943’s Captain America Comics #32. Among the characters that Bald co-created for Marvel were Namora and Sun Girl, While those characters don’t get much love these days, Namora was the mother and main visual inspiration for longtime New WarriorsOpens in a new tab character Namorita, who is still around today.
You can check out Bald’s full record-breaking cover art for Contest of Champions down below in our gallery.
Which old school classic comic book artist is your personal favorite, and who do you wish was still working today? Leave us your thoughts down below in the comments.
Images: Marvel Comics
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