Ira R. Schnapp (October 10, 1892 – July 1969) was a logo designer and letterer who defined the DC Comics house style for thirty years.
in 1938, Schnapp was hired by comic book publisher DC Comics for his first job. It was an association that lasted for thirty years. Schnapp worked for DC from 1938 to 1968, creating scores of logos and lettering countless covers and interiors, yet ironically he only received a single in-print credit (in Inferior Five #6, published in 1966). Most of Schnapp's work was done on front covers, and "mere" cover letterers (or interior letterers, for that matter) were never credited in the era in which Schnapp worked.
In mid-1938, Schnapp created the iconic Action Comics logo for DC. He also refined and perfected the Superman logo in 1940. Over time, Schnapp designed scores of logos for the company's comic books, virtually defining DC's look for 30 years. In addition to the Action and Superman logos, some of the more celebrated logos Schnapp designed include Adventure Comics; The Atom; The Flash; Green Lantern; Hawkman; Justice League of America; Metal Men; Secret Origins; and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane.
With Superman editor Mort Weisinger, Schnapp designed and hand-lettered the DC house ads "Coming... Super-Attractions!" which proliferated throughout the pages of the company's comics.
Among many other books, Schnapp was the original interior letterer on Superman and Green Lantern.
In 1955, with changes brought about by Dr. Fredric Wertham and the adoption of the Comics Code, Schnapp designed the Comics Code Authority seal, which became a fixture on comic book covers for over forty years.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Schnapp
Ira Schnapp in the Grand Comics Database:
http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?target=issue_cover&method=icontains&logic=False&order1=date&order2=series&letters=schnapp
in 1938, Schnapp was hired by comic book publisher DC Comics for his first job. It was an association that lasted for thirty years. Schnapp worked for DC from 1938 to 1968, creating scores of logos and lettering countless covers and interiors, yet ironically he only received a single in-print credit (in Inferior Five #6, published in 1966). Most of Schnapp's work was done on front covers, and "mere" cover letterers (or interior letterers, for that matter) were never credited in the era in which Schnapp worked.
In mid-1938, Schnapp created the iconic Action Comics logo for DC. He also refined and perfected the Superman logo in 1940. Over time, Schnapp designed scores of logos for the company's comic books, virtually defining DC's look for 30 years. In addition to the Action and Superman logos, some of the more celebrated logos Schnapp designed include Adventure Comics; The Atom; The Flash; Green Lantern; Hawkman; Justice League of America; Metal Men; Secret Origins; and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane.
With Superman editor Mort Weisinger, Schnapp designed and hand-lettered the DC house ads "Coming... Super-Attractions!" which proliferated throughout the pages of the company's comics.
Among many other books, Schnapp was the original interior letterer on Superman and Green Lantern.
In 1955, with changes brought about by Dr. Fredric Wertham and the adoption of the Comics Code, Schnapp designed the Comics Code Authority seal, which became a fixture on comic book covers for over forty years.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Schnapp
Ira Schnapp in the Grand Comics Database:
http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?target=issue_cover&method=icontains&logic=False&order1=date&order2=series&letters=schnapp
Like thisOct 10, 2015
They could have used him recently. He created some great logos, while most of the current DC logos (I'm looking square at you, Justice League titles) have been the laziest attempts at logos I've ever seen. They even use a variation of that logo above for the Target-exclusive Justice League toyline and it still looks leagues better than what's on the comics.
They need to go back and see this guy's work and get some good inspirations for making logos.Oct 11, 2015
I agree that we've lost some of the "comic booky" vibe of text/logo use in comics over the past 15 years or so. It's a shame to throw out the baby with the water like that--some of the "comic booky" aspects work especially well--after all, it's comics.Oct 12, 2015
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