Howard Chaykin

Howard started his career as Gil Kane's assistant while Kane was working on Blackmark, one of the early graphic novels. He learned a lot from watching Gil work.

In the early 1970s, Howard collaborated with several established professionals and contributed to both Marvel and DC Comics. His DC work included sci-fi and romance stories.

At Marvel Comics, he co-illustrated the first Killraven story with Neal Adams in 1973. He later drew various adventure strips, including his own creation, Dominic Fortune, featured in Marvel Preview.

In 1978, Howard wrote and illustrated his character Cody Starbuck for the anthology title Star Reach, one of the first independent comics of the 1970s.

In 1976, he was selected to draw Marvel's adaptation of the first Star Wars film. The series was a success, but Chaykin departed after ten issues.

He later penciled DC Comics' first miniseries, The World of Krypton, published from July to September 1979.

American Flagg! and Independent Work

Howard had a six-issue run on Marvel's Micronauts series, drawing issues #13–18 (Jan–June 1980).

In 1983, he launched American Flagg! for First Comics as both writer and artist. The series was highly influential, blending jazz, pulp adventure, science fiction, and sex. Howard wrote 29 issues, drew interiors for issues #1–12 and 14–26, and created covers for issues #1–33. He returned for the American Flagg! Special one-shot in 1986 and a four-issue run in 1987.

DC Revamps

In 1986, Howard revamped The Shadow in a four-issue miniseries for DC Comics, updating the setting to modern times with his signature style of extreme violence.

He followed this with a three-issue Blackhawk miniseries, returning to a 1930s setting.

Black Kiss and Controversy

In 1988, Howard created his most controversial work: Black Kiss, a 12-issue series published by Vortex Comics. Featuring explicit depictions of sex and violence, the story of sex-obsessed vampires in Hollywood pushed mainstream boundaries. Despite criticism, it sold well and Howard described it as “probably, on a per-page basis, the most profitable book I've ever done.”

1990s and Beyond

In the 1990s, Howard returned to DC with Twilight, a three-issue prestige format miniseries revamping DC’s sci-fi heroes from the 1950s and 1960s. He followed this with the graphic novel Ironwolf: Fires of the Revolution in 1992.

In 1993, Howard co-created and designed Firearm for Malibu Comics, followed by the four-issue satire Power and Glory in 1994 for Malibu’s Bravura imprint.

By the 2000s, Howard co-wrote American Century with David Tischmann for Vertigo. Set in post-war America, it drew inspiration from Terry and the Pirates and EC Comics war stories. His next work, Mighty Love (2004), was a 96-page graphic novel described as “You’ve Got Mail with super-powers,” marking his return to interior art.

Howard also revamped Challengers of the Unknown in a six-issue DC miniseries and wrote Bite Club, a Vertigo series about gangster vampires.

Legacy and Industry Involvement

Howard remains active in comic-related projects and serves on the Disbursement Committee of the comic-book industry charity The Hero Initiative.

To learn more about Howard: Wiki Page