If you enjoy superheroes or graphic novels, you owe this man a debt of gratitude.
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Clarence Matthew Baker (December 10, 1921 – August 11, 1959) drew a bunch of comic books you’ve never read. You see, Baker worked during what is called the “Golden Age of Comic Books”. For the most part, future DC Comics characters dominated this era which ran from about the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel were prominent figures during this time. In 1938, Detective Comics (which became DC Comics) published Action Comics which debuted a new hero named Superman. This is generally considered the beginning of the Golden Age.
During this era, Matt Baker drew a comic book called Phantom Lady from 1947 to 1949 for Fox Comics.
Baker’s largest contribution to the comic book world is a 1950 “picture novel” named It Rhymes With Lust. This work is generally considered to one of the forerunners of the graphic novel genre.
TL;DR
- Matt Baker helped usher in the creation of superheroes.
- He was influential in the creation of the modern graphic novel.
What You Should Do Now:
- Read a graphic novel, preferably one by a black creator, but any graphic novel will do.
- Read a comic book from a black creator.
28 Days of Inspirational Black People:
- Ed Brooke
- Blanche Bruce
- Andrew Young
- Denys Cowan
- Antoine Fuqua
- John Singleton
- Countee Cullen
- Dennis Kimetto
- Robert Hayden
- Lee Daniels
- Anthony Mackie/Falcon
- Val James
- Abebe Bikila
- Steve McQueen
- Ernest J. Gaines
- Charlie Sifford
Photo — Flickr/ Lar3