Gene Colan died last night at age 84. Colan developed a style that’s instantly recognizable, at least from his 60′s work up to the award winning Captain America story he drew in 2010. I think he was at his best working with dark, atmospheric subject matter, but he was pretty damn good in general.

Colan’s first Captain America cover was published in 1950. Unfortunately, it was during the two issue run of Captain America’s Weird Tales, when the book shifted to horror stories. No Cap on the cover, but it does have the Thing in the chest, and an obvious attempt to compete with EC comics:

Although he started working in the late 40′s, pretty much all the work he did early on was uncredited. However, you can definitely see his style in these 50′s horror covers:

In the 50′s and early 60′s, Colan also drew war, westerns, and even romance. His style shifted a bit to match each genre, but you can really see his touch on the romance books.

Sorry Beatles, Ann-Margaret’s going out with Elvis tonight:

While he was doing romance work for DC, Colan was moonlighting for Marvel under the name Adam Austin, drawing the Sub Mariner, X-Men, and Iron Man. He started using his real name when he went to work full time for Marvel during their late 60′s expansion. During this era, he worked on many of Marvel’s premiere books.

His cover for Iron Man #1 is arguably the most iconic version ever. Colan revisited this cover in a 2001 painting:

In the 70′s, Colan worked on a couple of offbeat books for Marvel: Tomb of Dracula and Howard the Duck.

Colan also contributed to Wesley Snipes’ tax problems by co-creating Blade the Vampire Hunter.

In the 80′s and 90′s, Colan did some work for other companies in addition to Marvel.

Colan continued to produce commissions, Christmas cards, and the occasional story even after his “retirement” a few years ago.

His final comic book (drawn while blind in one eye and not able to see too well from the other) won an Eisner award in 2010. A “very special issue” of Captain America. Not “very special” in the inappropriate sexual contact way…”very special” in the dying soldiers turning into vampires way!

Gene Colan will be missed, but he leaves behind a spectacular body of work. RIP Gene.