Ragged Cloth Cafe, serving Art and Textiles

Many of us are aware of the “pop art” women of Roy Lichtenstein. But, Lichtenstein actually copied these images from romance comics of his day. And, before Lichtenstein’s portrayal of comic book women, there were the women of Matt Baker.

Little is known about the legendary artist Matt Baker. He was famous for his images of the “good girls”. This was a classification given to glamorous heroines who were like pin-ups. He was one of the first major African-American comic book artists.

He was born in 1921 and had rheumatic fever as a child, which weakened his heart. He died from a heart attack at the early age of 37. He was considered a really stylish dresser and was never married. Baker would say “Why make one woman miserable when I can make many women happy?” He started his career out at Iger studios before he was handed Phantom Lady, his best-known subject. He was mainly a freelance artist and worked for a succession of other comic book companies throughout his career. Baker’s career was predominately centered in the “Golden Age” of comics, which lasted from 1938 to 1955.

Continue reading ‘Matt Baker, by Joanna van Ritbergen (guest contributor)’