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Leonard Nowak
The Thinker? —vintage drawing, original 'Superman' artist

c. 1940s

About the Item

Leonard Nowak, 'The Thinker?', conté crayon and India ink, c. 1940s. Signed in ink, lower left. Original cartoon drawing, on textured, off-white wove drawing paper, the full sheet with scalloped edge cut by the artist, in excellent condition. Matted to museum standards, unframed. Image size 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches; sheet size 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches. ABOUT THE ARTIST Leonard "Leo" Nowak (1907-2001) was an American illustrator best known for his work on the original Superman comic book series during its 'Golden Age'. Nowak was assistant and ghost illustrator to Joe Shuster, who co-created with writer Jerry Siegel the DC Comics character Superman, which first appeared in Action Comics #1, 1938. Superman became one of the most iconic comic characters of all time, spawning an entirely new and quintessentially American genre—superhero comics. Before his illustrious career with Shuster, Nowak initially pursued a livelihood as a musician. During his downtime from the music scene, Nowak's artistic aptitude shone through. He painted a compelling mural in a nightclub where he performed regularly. A chance encounter with a salesman captivated by Nowak's work led to an introduction to Siegel and Shuster. This unexpected turn of events marked the beginning of Nowak's journey into the world of comic book illustration. Nowak was the first, in both the comic strip and the comic book, to portray Lex Luthor as bald (in Luthor's earlier appearances, he had red hair). In 1942, Nowak co-created with Jerry Siegel, the first character known as Robotman. Nowak was conscripted into the United States Army in 1943, ending his career as a comic book illustrator. During the 1970s, Nowak relocated to Inyokern, California, where he pursued work as a political cartoonist.
  • Creator:
    Leonard Nowak (1907 - 2001)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1940s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Myrtle Beach, SC
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 988481stDibs: LU53237021942

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