Today in Comics History, November 12: Happy birthday, Don Newton!

Born on this day in 1934: comic book artist Don Newton (Batman, Detective Comics, World's Finest Comics, Adventure Comics, Aquaman, The New Gods, The Phantom, more; co-creator of Jason Todd, the Yolanda Montez Wildcat, and Nocturna)!


"DC Profile #78: Don Newton" in DC Comics cover-dated October 1981



Don created many gorgeous painted comic book covers for Charlton Comics:


An interview with Don from one of the great comic publisher-focused fanzines:




from Charlton Bullseye (1975 series) #5 (CPL/GANG, July 1976), interview by Howard Siegel, art by Don Newton
Don Newton died at the age of 49. Here's a lovely anecdote about how his friend (and Don's favorite inker) inker Joe Rubinstein petitioned Marvel to let him ink Don's final stories despite Joe's Marvel-exclusive contract.


from Infinity Inc. (1984 series) #12 (DC, March 1985)
If you want to experience the energy and action of Don Newton's work (and you should!), I highly recommend looking up his Batman/Detective Comics stories. Those are some truly great Dark Knight tales from the 70s and 80s.


Happy birthday, Don! You are much missed.


from Amazing Heroes #56 (Fantagraphics, October 1984)