Carmine Infantino

Carmine Infantino (May 24, 1925-) is a comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States.

Tenure as DC Comics' editorial director

In 1967, as it became obvious that books with Infantino covers seemed to be selling better than others, he was tasked with designing covers for the entire company. When DC was sold to Kinny National, Carmine was promoted to Editorial Director. He started by hiring new talent, and promoting artists to editorial positions.

Related Topics:
1967 - Kinny National - Editorial Director

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Dick Giordano was hired away from Charlton Comics while Joe Orlando, Joe Kurbert and Mike Sekowsky became editors. New titles were started with work from new talents like Neal Adams and Denny O'Neil. In 1971, Infantino was made publisher.

Related Topics:
Dick Giordano - Charlton Comics - Joe Orlando - Joe Kurbert - Mike Sekowsky - Neal Adams - Denny O'Neil - 1971 - Publisher

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Infantino's challenge was reversing the company's declining circulation. Complicating matters, the newly merged company owner, Warner Communications and distributor IDN had little faith in the company beyond the marketability of its characters and newsstand and grocery stores didn't want to handle a magazine with such low profit margins.

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Infantino attempted a number of changes. They in included starting several new books in the late 1960s to early 1970s. They included new series like Bat Lash, the Secret Six, and characters like Deadman and The Creeper came upon the scene. In addition, older characters were re-vamped Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman to mixed results. Sales were not there in the beginning, causing Infantino to cancel the books, some believe too early.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1970s - Bat Lash - Secret Six - Deadman - The Creeper

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In 1971, Infantino scored a major coup in signing on the star artist Jack Kirby from Marvel Comics, after a dispute with partner Stan Lee led him to leave the company. Kirby had been privately developing new characters in his past years at Marvel, but had been reluctant to use them for that company. At DC, he was unleased. Beginning with Jimmy Olsen, Jack launched his Fourth World saga with the titles The New Gods, [Forever People, Mister Miracle which he intended to interest a new crowd of olders readers, the ones the Marvel had been so successful in courting.

Related Topics:
Jack Kirby - Jimmy Olsen - Fourth World - The New Gods - Forever People - Mister Miracle

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Jack wanted to try new publishing formats such as hardcover comics in book stores and B&W publications on the racks. His intention was to be an idea man who would create new series, and assign other artists to carry them out. Kirby had moved to California, and would work from there, using West Coast artists and writers, escentialy creating a 'DC West'.

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However, the more cautious Infantino was not open to new formats especially with continuing mediocre sales. The resulting conflict with his star led to The Fourth World titles had being prematurely cancelled before the project gained reader momentum. Infantino set about suggesting new projects for Kirby to do, to fulfill Kirby's 15 page per week contract. Kirby returned to Marvel when his contract ran out.

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In an effort to raise revenue, Infantino raised prices from .15 to .25 cents. He also raised the page count by adding reprints and some new features. Marvel met the price increase, then dropped back to .20 cents, with DC stubbornly staying with .25. It was a sales disaster. Marvel flooded the racks with cheap reprint books in an effort to drive DC sales down even lower. Carmine matched them book for book and the company revenues suffered in the price war.

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After working on the script for the Superman movie, Infantino managed to collaborate with Stan Lee for Superman vs. Spider-Man. Before deales on the book had been recorded, Infantino was let go by Warner, after being with the company since the 1940s. Infantino returned to freelance work.

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