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Sheldon Moldoff

Sheldon Moldoff

Sheldon Moldoff is a legendary comic book artist for DC comics. Not the most polite guy to meet and not outgoing to fans. Moldoff co-created Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Batwoman, Clayface (Matt Hagen) and the original Batgirl.

Name:
Sheldon Moldoff
Aliases:
  • Shelly Moldoff
Birth date:
April 14th, 1920
Death date:
February 19th, 2012
Home town:
Tamarac, Florida
Country:
United States
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One of Bob Kane's uncredited artists (aka "Ghost Artist") for years he went without getting any credit for his work in Batman and Detective comics. So all the artwork that Sheldon Moldoff did Bob Kane got credit for. It was decades before DC Comics acknowledged all his efforts. His career spans almost every first appearance of the most famous DC creations ever known. Sheldon drew the covers for the first appearances of both the Green Lantern (Alan Scott) in All-American Comics #16 and The Flash in Flash Comics #1. He also worked on Sensation Comics #1, which featured the origin story of Wonder Woman. And he did the artwork on the inside cover of Action Comics #1 featuring the first appearance of Superman. He has pencilled 146 issues of Detective Comics, 121 issues of Batman and 67 issues of Worlds Finest Comics. But this Golden Age phenomenon is known, to hardcore comic enthusiasts for his work on issues of both Hawkman and Hawkgirl in the Flash Comics series.

Many fans would buy Batman artwork thinking it was Bob Kane's, when it was actually Sheldon's. Moldoff has co-created numerous Bat-creations including Poison Ivy, Batwoman, Batgirl, Mr. Freeze (although when he fist appeared Freeze was known as "Mr. Zero"), Bat Mite, Ace the Bat Hound, Simon Hurt, Christopher Freeman, Lord Death Man and Matt Hagen ( Clayface) (Just to name a few). Hagen is not the first Clayface, but the more popular Clayface later used in the animated series. Moldoff is also the sole creator of The Black Pirate ( Jon Valor). Moldoff also penciled Detective Comics #33 (as well as co-lettered) which featured the first appearance of Martha and Thomas Wayne (Bruce Wayne's Parents) (though he does not get creator credit).

When Moldoff was let go by DC in 1967 he turned to doing storyboards for animation. He did work for the show Courageous Cat & Minute Mouse. He also did a cartoon called Marco Polo Jr. And he has done contract work for Big Boy, Blockbuster and Red Lobster among others.

Moldoff also did service for the Military during World War 2.

Moldoff's son was a jerk to his fans as was his grandson. And Mr. Moldoff (who wasn't the kindest or most polite man) actually fought Mart Nodell (a great guy and the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet) at a convention for recreating one of Moldoff's covers and having it on display!

As for Awards he has received both the Inkpot in 1991 and the Xanadu in 1997.

Characters Created by Sheldon Moldoff

  • Doctor Hurt
  • Lord Death Man
  • El Gaucho
  • Bat-Mite
  • Kid Eternity
  • Katherine Kane (Batwoman: the original)
  • Elizabeth Kane (Batgirl: the original)
  • Ace The Bat Hound
  • Matt Hagen
  • Mr. Freeze
  • Poison Ivy
  • Calendar Man
  • Julian Day
  • Ranger
  • Little Raven
  • The Black Pirate

Issues

June 1938

July 1938

October 1938

November 1938

December 1938

January 1939

March 1939

August 1939

September 1939

October 1939

November 1939

December 1939

January 1940

February 1940

March 1940

April 1940

May 1940

June 1940

Volumes

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1949

1954

1955

1956

1958

1961

1964

1966

1968

1973

1975

1981

2000

Characters