Nestor Redondo
Encyclopedia
Nestor Redondo was a comic-book artist
best known for his work for DC Comics
, Marvel Comics
, and other American
publishers in the 1970s and early 1980s.
, The Philippines.
Redondo began his career drawing Filipino komiks
serials, which were written by his brother Virgilio, including Mars Ravelo
's Darna series. (Nestor had another brother, Frank, a.k.a. "Quico," who drew comics for DC
in the 1970s and '80s.) In 1969 and 1970 Redondo did a four-page serial Mga Kasaysayang Buhat sa Bibliya (Tales from the Bible) in each issue of Superyor Komiks Magasin, which was produced by his own company, Nestor Redondo Publications. This company launched a program of on-the-job training for young writers and artists.
In the 1970s, Redondo began to do work for publishers in the United States
. His earliest U.S. credit is penciling and inking the seven-page story "The King Is Dead", by writer Jack Oleck
, in DC Comics
' House of Mystery
#194 (Sept. 1971). Through the 1970s, Redondo drew dozens of such supernatural
anthology
stories for DC titles including House of Secrets, The Phantom Stranger, Secrets of Sinister House
, The Unexpected
, Weird War Tales
, and The Witching Hour
. He went on to draw all seven issues of Rima the Jungle Girl (May 1974 - May 1975), based on the heroine of a Victorian
novel, as well as Swamp Thing
#11-23 (Aug. 1974 - July 1976), issues of Tarzan
and Lois Lane
, and DC's tabloid-sized one-shot collection of Bible stories, cover-titled The Bible but officially titled Limited Collectors' Edition #C-36 (July 1975).
Redondo also drew for editor Vincent Fago's 1973 Pendulum Press Illustrated Classics, including Dracula
and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adaptations reprinted by Marvel Comics
three years later as Marvel Classics Comics.
time-travel series Aztec Ace
, by writer Doug Moench
and pencilers Michael Hernandez
and Dan Day. In 1990, he contributed to two issues of the Marvel Comics superhero series Solarman
as well as to an issue of Innovation Comics' Newstralia.
More regularly, however, Redondo has contributed to various Christian
comics, including Marx, Lenin, Mao and Christ, published in 1977 by Open Doors
(and reprinted in 2010 by Calvary Comics), Ben-Hur published in 1978 by Pendulum Press, Aida-Zee, Behold 3-D, and Christian Comics & Games #0 and #1 produced in the 1990s by the Nate Butler Studio, and Born Again Comics #2 featuring a story about Filipino actor-turned-evangelist Fred Galang. He was also a panelist for the first Christian comics panel discussion of Comic-Con International
, in 1992.
At the end of his life and career Redondo worked as an animation designer for the Marvel Studios
in Los Angeles.
In preparation for the 1st International Christian Comics Training Conference in Tagaytay, the Philippines, in January 1996, Redondo wrote On Realistic Illustration for his main teaching session but died before he was able to deliver it personally.
at the San Diego Comic Convention.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
best known for his work for 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...
, Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, and other American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publishers in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Early life and career
Redondo was born April 5, 1928 in Candon, Ilocos SurIlocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
, The Philippines.
Redondo began his career drawing Filipino komiks
Komiks
Comics in the Philippines were partially inspired by American mainstream comic strips and comic books during the early 20th century, particularly after World War II, the medium became widespread and popular throughout the country, though its popularity has subsided somewhat with the advent of...
serials, which were written by his brother Virgilio, including Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...
's Darna series. (Nestor had another brother, Frank, a.k.a. "Quico," who drew comics for DC
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...
in the 1970s and '80s.) In 1969 and 1970 Redondo did a four-page serial Mga Kasaysayang Buhat sa Bibliya (Tales from the Bible) in each issue of Superyor Komiks Magasin, which was produced by his own company, Nestor Redondo Publications. This company launched a program of on-the-job training for young writers and artists.
In the 1970s, Redondo began to do work for publishers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His earliest U.S. credit is penciling and inking the seven-page story "The King Is Dead", by writer Jack Oleck
Jack Oleck
Jack Oleck was an American novelist and comic book writer particularly known for his work in the horror genre.The brother-in-law of comics pioneer Joe Simon, Oleck's comic book career was basically in two parts. During the Golden Age of comics Oleck wrote for EC Comics and the Simon-Jack Kirby...
, in 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...
' House of Mystery
House of Mystery
The House of Mystery is the name of several horror-mystery-suspense anthology comic book series. It had a companion series, House of Secrets.-Genesis:...
#194 (Sept. 1971). Through the 1970s, Redondo drew dozens of such supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
stories for DC titles including House of Secrets, The Phantom Stranger, Secrets of Sinister House
Secrets of Sinister House
Secrets of Sinister House was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by DC Comics from 1972–1974, a companion to Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion.-Publication history:...
, The Unexpected
The Unexpected
The Unexpected was a DC Comics horror comic book, a continuation of Tales of the Unexpected. It ran 117 issues, #105-222, from 1968 to 1982.-Publication history:...
, Weird War Tales
Weird War Tales
Weird War Tales was a war comic book title with supernatural overtones published by DC Comics which ran from September 1971 to June 1983.-Background:...
, and The Witching Hour
The Witching Hour (DC Comics)
The Witching Hour was a DC comic book horror anthology that ran from 1969 to 1978. Its tagline was "It's 12 o'clock... The Witching Hour!"...
. He went on to draw all seven issues of Rima the Jungle Girl (May 1974 - May 1975), based on the heroine of a Victorian
Victorian literature
Victorian literature is the literature produced during the reign of Queen Victoria . It forms a link and transition between the writers of the romantic period and the very different literature of the 20th century....
novel, as well as Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
#11-23 (Aug. 1974 - July 1976), issues of Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
and Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
, and DC's tabloid-sized one-shot collection of Bible stories, cover-titled The Bible but officially titled Limited Collectors' Edition #C-36 (July 1975).
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adaptations reprinted by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
three years later as Marvel Classics Comics.
Later life and career
In the mid-1980s, Redondo inked the Eclipse ComicsEclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
time-travel series Aztec Ace
Aztec Ace
Aztec Ace was a comic title from the defunct independent publisher Eclipse Comics. Originally written by Doug Moench and pencilled by Dan Day, 15 issues appeared from 1984 to 1985...
, by writer Doug Moench
Doug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
and pencilers Michael Hernandez
Michael Bair
Michael A. Hernandez is an American comic book artist , best known for his work as an inker. His work includes Marvel Comics' Alpha Flight, and DC Comics' Hawkman...
and Dan Day. In 1990, he contributed to two issues of the Marvel Comics superhero series Solarman
Solarman
Solarman was a superhero that ran briefly in his own 1989 title from Marvel Comics.In reality Solarman is teenager Benjamin Tucker, who dreams of becoming an artist for Marvel Comics even though his Los Angeles gym-owner father wants him to become a jock...
as well as to an issue of Innovation Comics' Newstralia.
More regularly, however, Redondo has contributed to various Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
comics, including Marx, Lenin, Mao and Christ, published in 1977 by Open Doors
Open Doors
Open Doors is a non-denominational mission supporting persecuted Christians in more than 50 countries where Christianity is socially or legally discouraged or oppressed...
(and reprinted in 2010 by Calvary Comics), Ben-Hur published in 1978 by Pendulum Press, Aida-Zee, Behold 3-D, and Christian Comics & Games #0 and #1 produced in the 1990s by the Nate Butler Studio, and Born Again Comics #2 featuring a story about Filipino actor-turned-evangelist Fred Galang. He was also a panelist for the first Christian comics panel discussion of Comic-Con International
Comic-Con International
San Diego Comic-Con International, also known as Comic-Con International: San Diego , and commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, was founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans...
, in 1992.
At the end of his life and career Redondo worked as an animation designer for the Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios, originally Marvel Films, is an American television and motion picture studio based in Manhattan Beach, California. Marvel Studios is a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, a self-contained part of the The Walt Disney Company conglomerate....
in Los Angeles.
In preparation for the 1st International Christian Comics Training Conference in Tagaytay, the Philippines, in January 1996, Redondo wrote On Realistic Illustration for his main teaching session but died before he was able to deliver it personally.
Awards
In 1979, Redondo received the Inkpot AwardInkpot Award
The Inkpot Award, bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International, is given to some of the professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields, who are guests of that organization's yearly multigenre fan convention, commonly known as...
at the San Diego Comic Convention.