December
11 Green Lantern creator Nodell dies

Green Lantern creator Martin Nodell has died. Details from DC:

Artist Martin Nodell, co-creator of the Golden Age Green Lantern, passed away on December 9 at age 91.

“Marty was a gentle soul who got a renewed lease on life from discovering his fans after years away from comics,” says DC Comics President & Publisher Paul Levitz.  “He and Carrie delighted in the convention circuit, and we’ll miss both their warmth and laughter.”

Nodell began his comics career in the late 1930s, and first drew Green Lantern in 1940’s ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #16, working with writer/co-creator Bill Finger.  The character proved popular enough to earn a solo title the following year.  Nodell also illustrated the Green Lantern chapters for several Justice Society of America adventures in ALL STAR COMICS.

Nodell left DC Comics in the late 1940s to draw Captain America and other features for Timely before moving into advertising in 1950.  Among other accomplishments, he is credited for creating the look of the Pillsbury Doughboy.  Nodell returned to DC to draw Green Lantern on several occasions, including a page for GREEN LANTERN SECRET FILES in 2002.