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In Memoriam: Martin Nodell
Nodell was best known as the creator of the Golden Age superhero the Green Lantern. The origin of the character came to Nodell while he was waiting to board the New York City subway. Nodell saw a trainman waving a green lantern. The character the Green Lantern, also known as Alan Scott, was a train wreck survivor who discovered a magical ancient lantern formed from a green meteor. Alan Scott forged a ring from the lamp which gave him super powers with the rings power source being the lamp. Nodell took his character to All-American Publications, which was later absorbed by DC Comic. Green Lantern made his debut in the July 1940 issue of All American Comics #16. The character proved popular and received its own title in the fall of 1941. The Green Lantern comic book ran until its cancellation in 1949. A new incarnation debuted in 1959, and other interpretations followed. Nodell would go on to illustrate for other publishers including Timely Comics, Marvel Comics' predecessor. His work there included cover art for Captain America Comics #74 and Marvel Tales #93. He also worked outside the comic book industry. According to his son, Spencer Nodell, one of his proudest achievements was working on presentations for the 1950s for the Matador surface-to-surface missile. In 1965 Nodell was an art director at the Leo Burnett Agency. where he was a member of the design team that created the Pillsbury Doughboy. Starting in 1980, Nodell along with his wife, Caroline (Carrie) would travel to numerous comic book conventions and meet the many fans and collectors who the Green Lantern and its creator had touched. At first they were surprised by the enthusiastic reactions they received, but they became convention regulars over the two decades. Carrie Nodell passed away in 2004. Martin Nodell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and studied at art schools in both Chicago and New York City. He is survived by his sons Spencer and Mitchell, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Steve Geppi President and CEO Diamond Comic Distributors “Marty Nodell was one of the pioneers in our field, and it's wonderful that he lived to see his work enjoyed and appreciated by so many. Many convention-goers had their first experience meeting a Golden Age creator because he was so kind and outgoing with modern fans. He leaves today's creators with a clear path to follow in that regard, and generations of enthusiasts with a rich legacy of storytelling. Marty and his late wife, Carrie, always treated me like one of the family, so my deepest sympathies go out to their son, Spencer, and his family. Paul Levitz President and Publisher DC Comics Marty was a gentle soul who got a renewed lease on life from discovering his fans after years away from comics. He and Carrie delighted in the convention circuit, and we'll miss both their warmth and laughter. Gary Colabuono Dealer - Collector It is truly a sad time for all of us who knew Marty. When Carrie died Marty really never recovered. He lost that special spark and twinkle in his eye when she passed away. I spoke to him last month on his 91st birthday. He was in good spirits and eating birthday cake. While I was working at a suburban Chicago newspaper in 1978, the employee newsletter ran a short feature on me. It was one of those strange ad salesman has weird hobby stories. A few days later my phone rang and the voice said, “Hello, this is Marty Nodell. You may not be aware of this, and you may not even care, but back in 1940 I created the Green Lantern.” I was shocked. Here was the man who had created one of the most important and enduring characters of all time and he was calling me up! It turned out that he had been working part-time doing advertising illustrations for our paper and had seen the story. The only thing I could say to him was, “Where have you been?” From that moment on we became close friends and for the next 30 years or so I watched in amazement as Marty (with the invaluable assistance of Carrie and their son, Spence) created a third career for himself. Marty loved fans. He never got tired of talking about his years in the comics business. He never got tired of doing sketches and signing autographs. He was easily the most accessible and approachable comic creator I've ever known. Marty made his first public appearance at a convention in Chicago at the Moondog's booth in 1980. He and Carrie were very apprehensive about it, but I'll never forget the line that stretched out the door of the dealer's room at the old Ramada O'Hare. Carrie was so funny. I remember her saying, “Gary, you were right. They do love him!” My heart goes out to Spence and his kids. We lost a great figure in comics' history. They lost a dad and grandpa. John Petty Director of Media Relations Heritage Auction Galleries I'm devastated by the loss of Marty Nodell, a man I'm honored to have known him and to have spent time with on a number of occasions. A true pioneer in the field of both comics and advertising, his passing leaves a void that is impossible to fill. I first met Marty when he came to Dallas years ago for a convention, and I had an opportunity to interview him on a radio show I was hosting at the time. Both he and his wife, Carrie, were gracious, generous, funny, accommodating and genuine, and that's how I'll always remember both of them. Marty was always happy to tell a story or talk to fans or provide an autograph or whatever. Even during the last few years, when his health was obviously declining, Marty went to shows, accompanied by his son, Spence, and was accessible to anyone who wanted a moment of his time. More than a great artist and a wonderful storyteller, Marty was a true gentleman, a mensch in every sense of the world, and he will be sorely missed. Fortunately, he leaves a significant legacy behind him, in both the Green Lantern and the Pillsbury Doughboy, so, in a very real sense, Marty is with us whenever we come into contact with either of these great, lasting and iconic characters. Even more consoling is the fact that he and Carrie, his wife of many, many years, from whom he was inseparable in life, are now reunited in some great, green and verdant place where they can be together for all time. Paul Litch Senior Grader and Modern Age Specialist Comics Guaranty (CGC) Martin Nodell taught us that the greatest gift we possess is our imagination, and that with an unyielding will we can make our ideas a reality. It is a unique and special lesson that he shared with us. He was inspirational, now he is inspiration. Weldon Adams Comic Historian/Collector Martin Nodell was both someone I considered a friend and a man that I admired greatly. It wasn't hard to be a friend of Marty or his wife Carrie. All you really had to do was to meet him once. And then you were just about family. I had gotten to know Marty and Carrie from the vast number of times they were at local conventions here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Each time I saw them they treated me like I was the sole reason they came to town. If you paid attention, you would notice that is how they treated everyone they met. One particular show happened to be over Thanksgiving weekend. I asked what they were doing for Thanksgiving and found out they were just going to stay at the hotel. I hated to think of this sweet couple who obviously loved being with people but were planning on spending Thanksgiving alone in a hotel instead of with their family.So I invited them to my in-laws for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. They were wonderful guests! Full of stories and laughs and they insisted on giving my in-laws a signed hard copy of the Green Lantern archives before they left. Keep that lantern lit for us, Marty. Tom Gordon III Managing Editor Gemstone Publishing Marty was one of the kindest people, who had a passion for what he had accomplished and a love for the comics and his fans. I met him a few years ago and enjoyed the opportunity of talking with him and his wife Carrie. One of my fondest memories of Marty will be having dinner with the Nodell's and John Petty at Wizard World Texas in 2003 and all the wonderful stories Marty told.
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