This is topic appreciating WIN MORTIMER in forum Visionaries of Tomorrow at Legion World.


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Posted by MLLASH on :
 
Hey, I know the guy's work wasn't perfect but when I was a wee kid buying back-issues of ADVENTURE, I thought his art was swell for some reason.

And to this day, looking at it in the archives, I still like it!

I think Dean may have given me the word to describe it over in the BITS... forum: groovy.

I think Win Mortimer's LEGION art was groovy.
 

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Posted by He Who Wanders on :
 
I don't have any issues in front of me, but I remember Mortimer as a solid draftsman. He wasn't dynamic (which is what many fans were used to, thanks to Curt Swan) or flashy, but he could tell a story and tell it clearly.

In some ways, his art reminded me of that of Bob Brown, who was drawing AVENGERS in the early '70s -- another underrated talent.
 

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Posted by superboymddjr on :
 
ah...*sniff* thank god we have the archives where we can enjoy. *sniff*
 

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Posted by Fat Cramer on :
 
There was a lot of emotion in Mortimer's faces, his best point I think. He was a guy who could make Tharok look truly horrified when things were going wrong for the Fatal Five.
 

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Posted by New Kid on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Fat Cramer:
There was a lot of emotion in Mortimer's faces, his best point I think. He was a guy who could make Tharok look truly horrified when things were going wrong for the Fatal Five.

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Or at least Half-Horrified.
 

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Posted by matlock on :
 
I like Mortimer too. He was the only 60's era Legion artist whose work had that groovy quality, as has been mentioned. Can someone remind me, is Mr. Mortimer still with us? I'm afraid he probably isn't but it would be nice if he was.
 

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Posted by Fat Cramer on :
 
According to the bio in the Archives, he died in January 1998 of cancer.
 

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Posted by deanlegion on :
 
The thing about Mortimer's Legion work is that you kind of have to search to find the good. Overall, his depictions of the Legion's universe are fairly bland. He didn't use much creativity in drawing space ships or sci-fi, any alien or monster or creature he was required to draw usually came across as silly. His storytelling was adequate, but a lot of the stories he drew were laid out by Jim Shooter (according to the credits given in the Archive Edition).

The postitive parts of his work had more to do with aesthetics. He drew very beautiful women. Their costuming was fairly attractive. Definitely a Star Trek feel. He drew groovy plants and furniture in the "sets." I suppose this gives his work a certain level of kitch (sp?) which is fun.

Another thing is that his body of work is sandwiched between the clean, classic Swan era and the stylish, dynamic Cockrum era.

For some reason, I'm VERY drawn to the Mortimer issues. I fantasize about current artists re-doing those stories with those characters in those costumes. How cool would it be to see Adam Hughes draw that Uli Algor story? How bout Perez doing the Wanderers story? Can't help myself.
 

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Posted by mdm2995 on :
 
Now, after so many years later, I can look back and realize Mortimer's very good storytelling ability; sadly, as with so many other artists of the 50's and 60's, it comes after their passing. I was so upset at the time because Swan was (and remains) my favorite artist, certainly my favorite Legion artist. When I realized he was no longer coming back to Adventure Comics, I was crushed. But I realize in hindsight that Mortimer was a good artist.
 

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Posted by Low-Middle-Income Lad on :
 
I appreciated that his stories ended and Dave Cockrum's started... (Yes, I know I'm ignoring the Tuska stories )

Seriously, though... did the Legion flounder and disappear into the back of ACTION because of Win's art, or because of the uninspired stories he had to illustrate? I can't think of anything after the Mordru two-parter that I really enjoyed from that era... though the "Cham & the princess" story was cute...
 

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Posted by MLLASH on :
 
Mortimer drew the Taurus Gang story, which has always been one of my favorite ADVENTURE stories, Swan art or not.

The LEGION floundered because DC kept bumping the series around, not because Mortimer was drawing it.

There was no PREVIEWS back in those days... the fans didn't know WHERE to find the series...
 

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Posted by Low-Middle-Income Lad on :
 
I guess my point was, why were they bumped around at all? Sales would play a factor, certainly. Why were they stripped of their spot in ADVENTURE, and swapped with Supergirl?

For the record, I have to say I also liked the Tornado Twins story, and the two-parter that ended the Legion run in ADVENTURE had its moments.
 

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Posted by MLLASH on :
 
I read somewhere (an archive?) that some dude editor was gonna retire and DC didn't want him to. They wanted him to start up a Supergirl series.

So he agreed to stay on a year but got the brilliant idea to swap out Supergirl and The Legion.

That way, DC got its SUPERGIRL series (starting with Adv. 381 as we all know) and he didn't have to create an additional title to edit.

I am a li'l embarrassed to admit I cannot remember the guy's name... someone help!!
 

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Posted by Legion Lad on :
 
Mort Weisinger, the real man behind the Legion.
 

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Posted by andrewnolan2001 on :
 
I have always appreciated the art of Win Mortimer and was quite pleased to see a post on the subject. Some of the admiration, however, can be attributed to the fact that I started to read the Legion with Adventure #358 (just in time for both Curt Swan and Win Mortimer). The Adventure/Action Era of the Legion is still a joy to read 40 years later.

LLL!!!

PS ...and, of course, I'm always looking for original Win Mortimer Legion art!
 

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Posted by mdm2995 on :
 
It was just a product of the times. In those days, DC was operated by a lot of middle-aged businessmen, many of whom had very little idea how to compete with Marvel, who was overtaking them in sales. One time, they'd try to counteract Marvel by experimenting with things like Deadman, Bat Lash, Hawk & Dove, Anthro, Creeper, Angel & Ape, artists-as-editors, etc, but then they'd try things like coloring in the gutters between panels (!)Marvel tried experiments like Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Sub-Mariner, Captain America, Dr.Strange, the 25-cent Silver Surfer comic and the 35-cent Spectacular Spider-Man mags. DC had been promising a Supergirl title but for whatever reason wouldn't just come out and give her a title of her own. On a whim, they switched places with the Legion and Supergirl. With the concurrent increased production and immediate reduction, of new titles and cancellations, the status quo was maintained. Problem was, while Supergirl remained in print, mainly by being a Superman family member till even that franchise collapsed in the 80's, the Legion nearly disappeared and Adventure never recovered. It limped along for years; DC was too blatantly stupid to return the Legion to the pages of Adventure, only until after it's first cancellation. The idea of a serial reprinting was a good one, but the digest format was not a very good one. That title should never have been cancelled, especially because of the idiotic business decisions of DC. With More Fun Comics cancelled in 1949, Adventure Comics was DC's oldest comic, older than both Detective and Action. And every few years, DC will mention some "new project" with the "working title of Adventure Comics." Pretty sad for the "original universe."
 

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Posted by MLLASH on :
 
That does seem a sad end to befall ADVENTURE COMICS.
 

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Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
 
That is sad

I say Adventure Comics should be the Superman team-up comic by Keith Giffen we always talk about, featuring Ambush Bug, the Heckler and the Substitute Legion!

Rob Liefield could even supply covers!
 

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Posted by legionadventureman on :
 
He drew very beautiful women. Their costuming was fairly attractive. Definitely a Star Trek feel.
[/QUOTE]

Oh yes, Mr. Mortimer did indeed draw attractive-looking women...from Lois Lane to Supergirl, all Mr. M's female characters were striking.

The costuming was pretty futuristic as Sketch Lad pointed out, I really liked the design on Princess Elwinda's gown with the glimpse of a leg encased in a go-go boot.

His later collaberation with Vince Colletta (another who drew very glamourous ladies) on the Supergirl stories in SUPERMAN FAMILY showed his artwork to be at its peak.

I guess, being someone who likes to dabble with sketches of all things Legion, i could appreciate what real art is all about.
 

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Posted by Shadow Kid on :
 
Win Mortimer was a little bit boring for my liking. He lacked the interesting, unique vision of the future that Curt Swan and John Forte brought to the table.

The only cool thing I remember about Win Mortimer's run as artist is that groovy splash page of Brainy tripping out. Forget what issue or even which story it was in but it was awesome.
 

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Posted by legionadventureman on :
 
Hey there, SK,

Brainy tripped out? Are u sure it wasnt Timber Wolf who tripped out - I think the title of the Action story was the "Forbidden Fruit" or something like that.
 

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