ABOUT VINCE COLLETTA, column by Mark Evanier

Adding onto the discussion of inker Vince Colletta, Mark Evanier on a number of occasions has railed on Colletta for his damage to Jack Kirby's pencils. Evanier previously in other editorials said even on Colletta's best-regarded inks over Kirby in the Mid 1960's (such as Kirby's THOR run, circa 1965-1970), Colletta would erase backgrounds or turn detailed backgrounds into silhouettes to eliminate detail he would otherwise have to ink.

And incredibly, after all that, When Kirby moved to DC in 1970, Colletta was able to continue as Kirby's inker! Interesting how Colletta (not too surprisingly) was savaged by every major penciller. And how even editor/artists like Romita Sr., Orlando, and Infantino would not allow their own work to be inked by Colletta. But then Infantino, who personally negotiated Kirby's move to DC in 1970, assigned Colletta to ink all Kirby's work!


Also discussed by Evanier is Colletta's instantly being shut out from further inking assignments at Marvel after Jim Shooter's firing. Evanier's link of Colletta's scathing letter to Marvel's 1987 editorial staff is expired, but here it is at another link, both Colletta's handwritten letter, and transcribed in more readable form. Less impressive a diatribe when seen from the perspective that he was handing in incomplete work for others to finish, and relying on his influence with Shooter to get away with it.