Veteran comic-book artist Al Plastino, who helped create the iconic “Supergirl” character, died Monday.
He was 91 and had been battling prostate cancer.
Plastino, who lived in Shirley, Long Island, was a versatile artist during the comics industry’s “Silver Age” of the 1950s and 60s, when he drew stories featuring some of the best-known superheroes, including Superman and Batman.
He also drew the wordless “Ferd’nand” newspaper comic strip from 1970 until 1989, and worked on the “Nancy” comic strip as well.
Comic-book and TV writer Mark Evanier, who announced Plastino’s death on his blog, called him “an excellent mimic of styles” who at one point was considered as a possible replacement for Charles Schulz on the famed “Peanuts” strip.
On his Web site, Plastino said he taught himself to draw by literally copying the best artists the world has known.
“ I used to go to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City — Dad would drop me off,” he said.
“I copied Renoir, Monet, Rembrandt, Raphael, Michaelangelo, all the masters.”
Last week, Plastino filed suit over the original artwork he drew for a comic book featuring Superman and President Kennedy, claiming it was stolen instead of being donated to JFK’s memorial library, as promised.
Plastino’s lawyer, Dale Cendali, said she was “extremely saddened by Al’s sudden passing, but was “more committed than ever to fulfilling his last wishes of getting his art back so it can properly be displayed as intended.”
“The art should be on display in a museum and serve to honor the memories of both a great artist and a great President,” she added.
Plastino is survived by his wife, AnnMarie Plastino; four children, MaryAnn Plastino-Charles, Fred Plastino, Janice Iapaolo, and Arlene Podlesny; and six grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were pending.