Cody White
On August 30th, 2018, the comics industry lost yet another long-standing talent in Marie Severin.
Severin, born on Long Island, New York in 1929, broke into the comics industry as a colorist for EC Comics in 1949 after being recruited by her older brother, John Severin, who was already drawing for the company. It was not long before Marie rose to the publisher’s top colorist, notable for her penchant to tone down particularly garish panels through her color work. EC Editor Al Feldstein referred to Marie as “the conscience of EC”.
Severin’s first recorded comics work.
In 1959, Severin found herself at Marvel Comics (then Atlas), where she served as the head colorist until 1972. During her Marvel tenure, Marie worked as a Jill-of-all-trades, providing pencils, inks, writing, coloring, and even some lettering work on numerous titles. In 1976, she co-created Spider-Woman with Archie Goodwin.
Incredible Hulk #103, pencils by Severin.
Severin was inducted in the Will Eisner Comics Hall of Fame in 2001 after five decades of contributions to the industry, notably as a woman artist in an industry dominated by men. A true trailblazer, Marie Severin will be greatly missed by many. Rest in Power, Marie.
Severin layouts for a Kirby cover, owned and shared by Philip Hester.