Amazing World of Carmine Infantino

In “The Amazing World of Carmine Infantino: An Autobiography,” Carmine Infantino and J. David Spurlock explore Infantino’s biography from youth, through his Golden Age comics work, the changes of the Silver Age and the 1960s, and his freelancing later on. Infantino, one of the giants of the field, worked for both Marvel and DC as well as smaller companies and animation, so his insights will both entertain and inform comic book aficionados. Further, this volume forefronts the art, both Infantino’s own work and work indicative of the periods he describes, using its unique size to better showcase artistic samples. Most interestingly for fans are some examples of never-before-published work and preliminary sketches.Discussing the postwar state of the industry after the comic book moral panic, Infantino writes, “The business was wounded pretty badly by the Kefauver hearings and Wertham, really doing a number on us. DC called everyone in and told us we had to take a two- or three-dollar page rate reduction. We were naturally upset, but they said it was either that or no work” (pg. 38). He continues, “DC became a closed shop for years. New artists came by looking for work, including Neal Adams, but no new talent was hired for years. Those of use who were there were lucky to be getting work” (pg. 39).Infantino writes of the Silver Age revival, “One day in 1956, I brought a job in – I think it was a romance – and, without fanfare, Julie said to me, ‘You’re going to draw a super-hero again.’ I was surprised because they hadn’t been selling. Of the hundreds of costumed characters created in the ’40s, only Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman survived in their own titles. Julie [Julius Schwartz] said, ‘You’re going to be doing The Flash’” (pg. 50). He continues, “‘The Flash’ jump-started the whole super-hero business again and went a long way in saving the comic book business from extinction” (pg. 54). Not only did Infantino help revive superheroes, he played a key role in re-designing Batman for the 1960s with a look that influenced the ABC television series. Infantino writes, “Batman became the most popular comic book character in the world. We were getting an unheard of 95% sell-through with print-runs up to 900,000 copies per issue!” (pg. 67).The book also features several testimonials from Infantino’s compatriots in the business. Arnold Drake discusses his difficulty creating Deadman for DC and the way Infantino helped him: “I told [DC editor Jack] Miller about my idea for a new character named Deadman and even produced a rough sketch of what he might look like. Well, Jack let me know in no uncertain terms that the Comics Code censors would never allow a character named ‘Deadman.’ Fully rejected and with all the wind out of my sails, I prepared for my exit. At that point I noticed Carmine behind and out of Miller’s view. He was gesturing with his fist up in the air, that I should not give up but really give it to Miller… Following Carmine’s instigation, I proceeded to lay into Miller; that we couldn’t run around paralyzed in constant fear of what the Code might do. I told him the company had to proceed with every good idea and leave the Code’s business to the Code. Well, it worked” (pgs. 70-71).Spurlock writes, “One of Carmine’s most notable mandates as Editorial Director was the infuse relevancy into the comics line. The most recognized series of its day was the lauded ‘Green Lantern/Green Arrow’” (pg. 99). Discussing the business side of things, Infantino writes, “With rare exceptions, like the super-hero boom of the early ’40s and the Batman boom of the mid-’60s, the comic book business tends to make more money on licensing of characters for film, TV, toys, etc., than it does in publishing” (pg. 125). Overall, the book will appeal to fans of Golden- and Silver-Age comic books, particularly with its emphasis on Infantino’s art. Some of the remembrances may be contradicted by other sources, but it’s still a lovely memoir intended more for the fans than cultural historians.

The World according to Carmine Infantino is a deep, look into one of the industries giants. Full of clever writing, and lots of historic analogies and tidbits of life in the times.Reviews Carmine's career from day 1 (birth) all the way to modern time. When you read this and see what this man has brought to field of Art, you immediately want to go grab up everything you have orcan get by him just to see in more detail what has gone on in the background of these pulp paper gems of art history.Cleverly done, the book appears as if it could have been part of a series of treatises on the men who made comics what they are today.Very enjoyable, one of those you cant put it down til your done type of books, that you will have no regrets purchasing.

Too many words, not enough art. For most of us who started reading DC comics in the early 60's, CI was THE artist and his art work graced the covers of virtually every DC super hero comic, but they were woefully underrepresented in the book. I really don't care to read what Neil Adams thinks of him, I make my own determinations, nor do I particularly care how he fit into the corporate structure of DC. It's all about the art, stupid!

Very good.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable tale of comics history through the eyes of the great Carmine Infantino told, appropriately, with lots of illustrations.