Neal Pozner
Encyclopedia
Neal Pozner sometimes credited as Neil Pozner, was an award-winning art director
, editor
, and writer known for his work in the comic book
industry. He worked with DC Comics
at two points, first as a design director and later as Group Editor, Creative Services until his death.
from 1969–1972, when he joined CAPA-alpha
. He was an active member in CAPA-alpha at least until 1984. He graduated from The Cooper Union.
Before joining DC's staff, Pozner designed the first gay-themed bus ads for New York City as well several posters for Lincoln Center. He also designed record covers for musicians like The Kinks
, Jimi Hendrix
, George Benson
, and Carmen McRae
, as well as the Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he designed for CBS/Broadcast Group
and was briefly the associate art director of National Lampoon magazine.
Pozner first worked for DC in 1977, when he designed the front cover for a tabloid-format book based on the then-upcoming Superman movie. He was subsequently hired as DC's first real production designer
.
Pozner wrote the 1986 Aquaman
miniseries, as well as designing the character's blue "camouflage" uniform. He was also responsible for incorporating DC Comics characters into a series of AIDS
awareness house ads published in the company's comics.
One of Pozner's many tasks as Group Editor, Creative Services, at DC was recruiting new talent. Travis Charest
, Gene Ha
, Stuart Immonen
, and Phil Jimenez
are among the pencillers Pozner "discovered."
complications, artist Phil Jimenez
, whom Pozner had hired to work at DC, and with whom Pozner had had a romantic relationship, came out
in a tribute to Pozner in the pages of the DC title Tempest.
and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation
. His work was published in Novum Gebrausch Grafik.
Comics writer Christopher Priest
, who worked with Pozner at DC, based the personality of the character Triumph
on Pozner, describing him this way:
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, and writer known for his work in the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
industry. He worked with DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
at two points, first as a design director and later as Group Editor, Creative Services until his death.
Career
As a young man, Pozner published a comics fanzineFanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
from 1969–1972, when he joined CAPA-alpha
CAPA-alpha
CAPA-alpha was the first amateur press association devoted to comic books, started by Jerry Bails in the United States in 1964....
. He was an active member in CAPA-alpha at least until 1984. He graduated from The Cooper Union.
Before joining DC's staff, Pozner designed the first gay-themed bus ads for New York City as well several posters for Lincoln Center. He also designed record covers for musicians like The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, and Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
, as well as the Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he designed for CBS/Broadcast Group
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and was briefly the associate art director of National Lampoon magazine.
Pozner first worked for DC in 1977, when he designed the front cover for a tabloid-format book based on the then-upcoming Superman movie. He was subsequently hired as DC's first real production designer
Production designer
In film and television, a production designer is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the...
.
Pozner wrote the 1986 Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
miniseries, as well as designing the character's blue "camouflage" uniform. He was also responsible for incorporating DC Comics characters into a series of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness house ads published in the company's comics.
One of Pozner's many tasks as Group Editor, Creative Services, at DC was recruiting new talent. Travis Charest
Travis Charest
Travis Charest is a Canadian comic book penciller, inker and painter, known for his work on such books as Darkstars, WildC.A.T.s, Grifter/Shi, WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Golden Age and The Metabarons...
, Gene Ha
Gene Ha
Gene Ha is an American comics artist and writer best known for his work on books such as Top 10 and Top 10: The Forty-Niners, with Alan Moore and Zander Cannon, for America's Best Comics, the Batman graphic novel Fortunate Son, with Gerard Jones, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, among...
, Stuart Immonen
Stuart Immonen
Stuart Immonen is a Canadian comic book artist. He is best known for his work on Nextwave, Ultimate X-Men, The New Avengers and Ultimate Spider-Man...
, and Phil Jimenez
Phil Jimenez
Phil Jimenez is an American comic book writer, artist and penciller, known for his work as writer/artist on Wonder Woman from 2000 to 2003, as one of the five pencilers of the 2005-2006 miniseries Infinite Crisis, and his collaborations with writer Grant Morrison on New X-Men and The...
are among the pencillers Pozner "discovered."
Death
In the aftermath of Pozner's 1994 death from AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
complications, artist Phil Jimenez
Phil Jimenez
Phil Jimenez is an American comic book writer, artist and penciller, known for his work as writer/artist on Wonder Woman from 2000 to 2003, as one of the five pencilers of the 2005-2006 miniseries Infinite Crisis, and his collaborations with writer Grant Morrison on New X-Men and The...
, whom Pozner had hired to work at DC, and with whom Pozner had had a romantic relationship, came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
in a tribute to Pozner in the pages of the DC title Tempest.
Awards and tributes
Pozner was recognized with awards from professional associations like the Royal Society of ArtsRoyal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation
Graphic Arts Technical Foundation
Graphic Arts Technical Foundation is a nonprofit, scientific, technical, and educational organization which promotes the technological advancement of the printing industry worldwide....
. His work was published in Novum Gebrausch Grafik.
Comics writer Christopher Priest
Christopher Priest (comic book writer)
Christopher James Priest is a writer of comic books who is at times credited simply as Priest. He changed his name legally circa 1993.-Biography:...
, who worked with Pozner at DC, based the personality of the character Triumph
Triumph (comics)
Triumph is a fictional character, a former superhero in the DC Comics universe who first appeared in Justice League America #92 , and was created by Brian Augustyn, Mark Waid and Howard Porter, though the character is primarily associated with writer Christopher Priest...
on Pozner, describing him this way: