The Charlottesville, Va., Daily Progress reports that Golden Age artist Hardin “Jack” Burnley, co-creator of Starman, died Tuesday of complications due to a broken hip. He was 95.
Burnley was a syndicated sports cartoonist who illustrated for Damon Runyon before being hired by DC Comics. He drew the cover for New York World’s Fair Comics #2 (1940), which marked the first time Superman, Batman and Robin were depicted together. He’s noted as the first artist other than their creators to draw the characters.
Later that year, Burnley took over as artist on Action Comics until moving to Adventure Comics in 1941, where he created Starman with Gardner Fox.
He also drew several Batman covers, penciled the daily Superman comic strip and the Batman Sunday strip. Briefly in 1944, Burnley handled the Sunday installments of both Superman and Batman.
In 1947, he returned to newspaper illustration, working for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and then the San Francisco News, from which he retired in 1976. He and his wife, the late Dolores Farris, moved to Charlottesville in 1981.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:03 pm
Boy, it doesn’t get any better this year for Golden Age pioneers. First, its Martin Nodell, now Jack Burnley. We’re losing out so many of these early unsung heroes of the comics world, and Mr. Burnley will be missed. As a big fan of STARMAN before the James Robinson era, I’m sad that Mr. Burnley wasn’t given more credit for creating such a great character.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:14 pm
would love to read more about him and his life. I think its important.
December 21st, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Does anyone know when he was born? The best I can get is 1911, but nothing more specific than that.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Dang. I remember his covers; they were great.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:03 pm
Jimmy-did you read in the above linked obit that Brunley once worked with Damon Runyon? I would love to find out more about Brunley myself.
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:22 am
I know 95 is a “good run”, but I can’t help but feel saddened by this news. Mr. Burnley was my favorite “Golden Age” artist–his art was incredibly polished and rich. His Superman covers are still, after over 60 years, iconic. God Bless Mr. Burnley and his family.
December 27th, 2006 at 6:59 am
I’ve always liked his clean, polished look. Starman was a character that DC always thought should have been a bigger character. It certainly wasn’t that the art was lacking. That cover to New York World’s Fair # 2 is certainly a Golden Age classic in its own right. I too am saddened at his passing and our gradual erosion of the Golden Age pioneers that built this great industry.