Howard Victor Chaykin[1] (/ˈtʃeɪkɪn/; born October 7, 1950)[2] is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker. His career, which started out as a gofer for Gil Kane at the age of 19, spanned working for various comic book artists and writers, ultimately arriving at developing and drawing his own characters alone and in collaborations during the course of 50 years. He worked for nearly all the biggest publishers, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, First Comics, and Epic Comics. Beyond the realm of comics, his work can be found in graphic books and television animated shows.

Early life

Howard Chaykin was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Rosalind Pave and Norman Drucker, who soon separated.[3] Chaykin was initially raised by his grandparents in Staten Island, New York City, until his mother married Leon Chaykin in 1953 and the family moved to East Flatbush and later to 370 Saratoga Avenue, Brownsville, Brooklyn. At 14,[1] Chaykin moved with his now divorced mother to the Kew Gardens section of Queens.[3] He said in 2000 he was raised on welfare after his parents separated and that his absent biological father eventually was declared dead, although Chaykin, as an adult, located him alive. Chaykin's "nutty and cruel" adoptive father, whom Chaykin until the 1990s believed was his biological father,[3] encouraged Chaykin's interest in drawing and bought him sketchbooks.[1]

Chaykin was introduced to comics by his cousin, who gave him a refrigerator box filled with them.[4] He graduated from Jamaica High School at 16, in 1967; in mid-1968, Chaykin worked at Zenith Press. He attended Columbia College in Chicago that fall, but left school and returned to New York the following year.[3] Chaykin said that after high school, "I hitchhiked around the country" before becoming, at 19, a "gofer" for the New York City–based comic book artist Gil Kane,[5] whom he would name as his greatest influence.[4]

Career

Chaykin in May 2019

Chaykin's earliest work with comic books was under the tutelage of Gil Kane, whom he would later call his mentor.[6][7]

Personal life

In 1972, Chaykin married Daina Graziunas.[3] The marriage ended in 1977' the following year, he married Leslie Zahler.[56] That marriage ended in 1986. In 1989, in Los Angeles, Chaykin married Jeni Munn, a union that lasted through 1992.[57] In November 2002, in Ventura, Chaykin married Laurel Beth Rice.

As of 2013, Chaykin serves on the Disbursement Committee of the comic-book industry charity The Hero Initiative.[58]

Awards

  • 1977 Inkpot Award[59]
  • 1978 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Continued Story for Star Wars #1–6—"Film Adaptation"[60]
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Penciler
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Inker
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Writer
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Comic (American Flagg!)
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite Single or Continued Story (American Flagg! #1–2, "Hard Times")
  • 1984 Eagle Award for Favourite New Comic Title (American Flagg!
  • 1984 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Character (Reuben Flagg)
  • 1984 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Supporting Character (Raul the cat)
  • 1984 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Comic Cover (American Flagg! #2, "Back in the U.S.A.")
  • 1984 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Comic Cover (American Flagg! #3, "Killed in the Ratings")
  • 2006 Eagle Award for Favourite Comics Writer/Artist[61]

Bibliography

His work as an artist (interior pencil art, except where noted) includes:

Chaykin in 2012

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Other publishers

Television

  • The Flash (1990)
    • Episode 3: "Watching the Detectives" (co-written with John Francis Moore)
    • Episode 4: "Honor Among Thieves" (plotted with Moore, teleplay by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo)
    • Episode 7:"Child's Play" (teleplay co-written with Moore, plot by Stephen Hattman and Gail Morgan Hickman)
    • Episode 8: "Shroud of Death" (plotted with Moore, teleplay by Michael Reaves)
    • Episode 9: "Ghost in the Machine" (co-written with Moore)
    • Episode 12: "The Trickster" (co-written with Moore)
    • Episode 16: "Deadly Nightshade" (co-written with Moore)
    • Episode 19: "Done with Mirrors" (co-written with Moore)
    • Episode 22. "The Trial of the Trickster" (co-written with Moore)
  • Mutant X (2001) (Seasons 1 and 2)
    • Season 1:
      • Episodes 1 and 2: "The Shock of the New"
      • Episode 8: "In the Presence of Mine Enemies"
      • Episode 18: "Ex Marks the Spot" (co-written with Mark Amato and David Newman)
      • Episode 22: "A Breed Apart"
    • Season 2:
      • Episode 1: "Past as Prologue"

References

  1. 1 2 3 Howard Chaykin interview (May 2000). "The Chaykin Factor: American Flagg! Creator Howard Chaykin Talks Comics". Comic Book Artist (8). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 62. Reprinted in Comic Book Artist Collection, Vol. 3. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. 2005. p. 176. ISBN 978-1893905429.
  2. ↑ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Costello, Brannon, ed. (2011). "Chronology". Howard Chaykin: Conversations. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. p. xv. ISBN 978-1604739756.
  4. 1 2 3 Brian K. Vaughan (w), Fiona Staples (a). "The Third Degree: Howard Chaykin" Saga, no. 6, p. 27 (August 2012). Image Comics.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Chaykin, Comic Book Artist #8, p. 63. Reprinted in Comic Book Artist Collection, Vol. 3 p. 177
  6. ↑ Costello 2011, p. 250–288.
  7. ↑ Bell, Josh (November 3, 2014). "Chaykin Pulls No Punches When Discussing His Career, Comics & More". CBR.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024.
  8. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (2012). The Art of Howard Chaykin. Mount Laurel, New Jersey: Dynamite Entertainment. pp. 26–28. ISBN 978-1606901694.
  9. ↑ Fear #10 at the Grand Comics Database
  10. ↑ Chaykin, Comic Book Artist #8, p. 64. Reprinted in Comic Book Artist Collection, Vol. 3 p. 178
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Howard Chaykin at the Grand Comics Database
  12. ↑ Warner, Meredith (March 25, 2017). "How Bernie Wrightson uncovered the soul of the monster in his work". latimes.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Fantasy became a DC Comics reality when writer/editor Denny O'Neil and artist Howard Chaykin brought forth a new comic based on Fritz Leiber's adventurous and virtuous warriors of myth, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.
  14. ↑ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 157 "After the debut tale by acclaimed artist Howard Chaykin and co-scripter Denny O'Neil, Ironwolf became the lead protagonist in the Weird Worlds [title]."
  15. ↑ Chaykin, Howard (1986). Ironwolf #1 - Introduction. DC Comics.
  16. ↑ Arndt, Richard J. (April 2018). ""Nice" Is the Word: A Few Words on Archie Goodwin". Back Issue! (103). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 11–12.
  17. ↑ Sanderson, Peter (2008). "1970s". In Gilbert, Laura (ed.). Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 159. ISBN 978-0756641238. Roy Thomas conceived the initial idea of an alternate-future Earth sequel to H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds...Neal Adams plotted the first story with a script by Gerry Conway and art by Adams and Howard Chaykin.
  18. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 171: "In Marvel Preview #2, 1930s adventurer Dominic Fortune, created by Howard Chaykin, made his debut."
  19. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 180: "In July 1977, Marvel's comics adaptation of George Lucas's Star Wars movie was released, created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Howard Chaykin."
  20. ↑ Edwards, Ted (1999). "Adventures in the Comics". The Unauthorized Star Wars Compendium. New York, New York: Little, Brown and Company. pp. 38–39. ISBN 9780316329293.
  21. ↑ Cooke, Jon B. (October 2000). "Simonson Says The Man of Two Gods Recalls His 25+ Years in Comics". Comic Book Artist (10). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 25.
  22. ↑ Nolen-Weathington, Eric (2006). Modern Masters, Volume 8: Walter Simonson. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 1-893905-64-0.
  23. ↑ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 181 "The worldwide success of Superman: The Movie motivated [DC] to publish more Superman-related titles. With that, editor E. Nelson Bridwell oversaw a project that evolved into comics' first official limited series – World of Krypton...Featuring out-of-this-world artwork from Howard Chaykin, [Paul] Kupperberg's three-issue limited series explored Superman's homeworld."
  24. ↑ Callahan, Tim (February 2013). "World of Krypton Comics' First Miniseries". Back Issue! (62). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 59–62.
  25. ↑ "Various – The Legend Of Jesse James". Discogs. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  26. ↑ Lantz, James Heath (October 2014). "Inner-Space Opera: A Look at Marvel's Micronauts Comics". Back Issue! (76). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 46.
  27. ↑ "Look There, and Here: A whole lotta Chaykin goin' on… – Ragged Claws Network". 2022-04-23. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  28. ↑ De Blieck Jr., Augie (September 3, 2004). "A Little Bit of Flagg!-Waving". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Eagle Nominations Announced," The Comics Journal #89 (May 1984), p. 11.
  30. ↑ Dallas, Keith. "1983: Controversy Over a Proposed New Comics Code," American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1980s (TwoMorrows, 2013).
  31. ↑ Schweier, Philip (July 2016). "Shedding Light on The Shadow". Back Issue! (89). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 15–16.
  32. ↑ Phegley, Kiel (February 20, 2012). "Howard Chaykin on the Art of "The Shadow"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  33. 1 2 Deppey, Dirk (March 29, 2010). "TCJ Audio Archive: Howard Chaykin". The Comics Journal. Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics Books. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Time2 Omnibus". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Interview: Howard Chaykin". Pink Raygun. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  36. ↑ Parkin, Lance (January 2002). Alan Moore: The Pocket Essential. Hertfordshire, England: Trafalgar Square Publishing. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-1-903047-70-5.
  37. ↑ Dooley, Michael (July 1, 2013). "Howard Chaykin on his lewd, depraved, banned graphic novels". Print. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Black Kiss purposefully broke several boundaries of comic book propriety, and it was a huge sales success. It was also one of the most harshly criticized comics of its time.
  38. ↑ Glass, Joe (June 13, 2017). "Howard Chaykin And The Trans Image: Obsession With A Theme". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. We come to another of Chaykin's works—one mired in such controversy it saw the comic censored and even banned in some countries—Black Kiss.
  39. ↑ Phegley, Kiel (March 26, 2010). "Chaykin recalls a 'Black Kiss'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012.
  40. ↑ Greenberger 2012, p. 132.
  41. ↑ Gutierrez, David (March 15, 2006). "DVD Verdict interviews Howard Chaykin, writer of The Flash". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012.
  42. ↑ Irvine, Alex (2008). "American Century". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The Vertigo Encyclopedia. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7566-4122-1. OCLC 213309015.
  43. ↑ Schweier, Philip (September 15, 2003). "A Whole lot of Chaykin Goin' On". Comic Book Bin. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012.
  44. ↑ Irvine, Alex (2008). "Bite Club". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The Vertigo Encyclopedia. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-0-7566-4122-1. OCLC 213309015.
  45. ↑ "BARNUM!: In Secret Service to the USA by David Tischman, Howard V. Chaykin". Publishers Weekly. November 3, 2003. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024.
  46. ↑ Richards, Dave (February 9, 2005). "George Bailey's nightmare: Chaykin talks City of Tomorrow". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  47. ↑ "24 College Ave. chapter archive". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012.
  48. ↑ Hawkgirl at the Grand Comics Database
  49. ↑ Parkin, JK (May 28, 2008). "Die Hard comic chronicles John McClane's first year". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 29, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  50. ↑ Richards, Dave (June 22, 2011). "Chaykin assembles Avengers 1959". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  51. ↑ "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century #1". Archived from the original on December 10, 2013.
  52. ↑ "The History of Comics, as Told by HOWARD CHAYKIN (Sort of)". Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  53. ↑ Kaplan, Rebecca O. (April 18, 2022). "ZOOP launches benefit anthology Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds". The Beat. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  54. ↑ Brooke, David (April 18, 2022). "'Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds' to benefit Ukrainian refugees". AIPT. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  55. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 20, 2022). "Comic Book Creators Team for Ukraine Relief Effort Anthology 'Sunflower Seed'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  56. ↑ Costello 2011, p. xvi.
  57. ↑ Costello 2011, p. xviii.
  58. ↑ "Hero Initiative Board Members Disbursement Committee". The Hero Initiative. 2013. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013.
  59. ↑ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  60. ↑ Previous Winners: 1978, at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 9 September 2018.)
  61. ↑ Previous Winners: 2006 at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 16 January 2020.)

Interviews

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Chaykin