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{{Short description|American comics artist (1919–2008)}}
{{other people}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox comics creator
{{Infobox comics creator
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|3|30|1919|8|13}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|3|30|1919|8|13}}
| death_place = Florida, U.S.
| death_place = Florida, U.S.
| nationality = American
| pencil = y
| pencil = y
| ink = y
| ink = y
| alias = Jay Noel
| alias = Jay Noel
| notable works = ''[[Action Comics]]'' ([[Tommy Tomorrow]], [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]])<br>''[[Spectacular Spider-Man]]''<br>''[[Star Spangled Comics]]'' ([[Robin (comics)|Robin]])
| notable works = ''[[Action Comics]]'' ([[Tommy Tomorrow]], [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]])<br>''[[Spectacular Spider-Man]]''<br>''[[Star Spangled Comics]]'' ([[Dick Grayson|Robin]])
| awards =
| awards =
| subcat = American
}}
}}
'''James Noel Mooney'''<ref>Full name per {{cite news|url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/apr/01/30gtillustrator-was-one-of-the-nicest-guys-youd/ |last=Treadway |first=Tyler |title=Illustrator in Port Salerno was 'one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet' |work=TC Palm |publisher=[[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Newspaper Group]] |location=[[Stuart, Florida]] |date=April 1, 2008 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5lYgmfnuk?url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/apr/01/30gtillustrator-was-one-of-the-nicest-guys-youd/ |archivedate=November 25, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> (August 13, 1919 &ndash; March 30, 2008)<ref>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JTN2-7NR James N. Mooney] at the [[United States Social Security Death Index]] via FamilySearch.org. Retrieved on March 2, 2013.</ref> was an [[Americans|American]] [[comics artist]] best known for his long tenure at [[DC Comics]] and as the signature artist of [[Supergirl]], as well as a [[Marvel Comics]] inker and [[Spider-Man]] artist, both during what comics historians and fans call the [[Silver Age of comic books]]. He sometimes [[inker|inked]] under the [[pseudonym]] '''Jay Noel'''.<ref name=evanier>{{cite web|authorlink=Mark Evanier |last=Evanier |first=Mark |url=http://povonline.com/iaq/IAQ05.htm |title=Why did some artists working for Marvel in the sixties use phony names? |publisher=P.O.V. Online |date=April 14, 2008 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5lXJY5e28?url=http://povonline.com/iaq/IAQ05.htm |archivedate=November 25, 2009 |accessdate=July 28, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref>
'''James Noel Mooney'''<ref>Full name per {{cite news|url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/apr/01/30gtillustrator-was-one-of-the-nicest-guys-youd/ |last=Treadway |first=Tyler |title=Illustrator in Port Salerno was 'one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet' |work=TC Palm |publisher=[[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Newspaper Group]] |location=[[Stuart, Florida]] |date=April 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830093816/http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/apr/01/30gtillustrator-was-one-of-the-nicest-guys-youd/ |archive-date=August 30, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> (August 13, 1919 &ndash; March 30, 2008)<ref>[https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JTN2-7NR James N. Mooney] at the [[United States Social Security Death Index]] via FamilySearch.org. Retrieved on March 2, 2013.</ref> was an [[Americans|American]] [[comics artist]] best known for his long tenure at [[DC Comics]] and as the signature artist of [[Supergirl]], as well as a [[Marvel Comics]] inker and [[Spider-Man]] artist, both during what comics historians and fans call the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]] and what is known as the [[Bronze Age of Comic Books]]. He sometimes [[inker|inked]] under the [[pseudonym]] '''Jay Noel'''.<ref name=evanier>{{cite web|author-link=Mark Evanier |last=Evanier |first=Mark |url=http://povonline.com/iaq/IAQ05.htm |title=Why did some artists working for Marvel in the sixties use phony names? |publisher=P.O.V. Online |date=April 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126083524/http://www.povonline.com/iaq/IAQ05.htm |archive-date=November 26, 2009 |access-date=July 28, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
[[File:MGNTNJNRNL1938.jpg |thumb|upright|Mooney's cover for the 1938 fanzine ''Imagination'', containing Ray Bradbury's first published story]]
[[File:MGNTNJNRNL1938.jpg |thumb|upright|Mooney's cover for the 1938 fanzine ''Imagination'', containing [[Ray Bradbury]]'s first published story]]


===Early life and career===
===Early life and career===
Jim Mooney was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles.<ref name=ev>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfromme.com/2008/03/31/jim-mooney-r-i-p/ |last=Evanier |first=Mark |publisher=P.O.V. Online |title=Jim Mooney, R.I.P. |date=March 31, 2008 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5lYhAHcUt?url=http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_31.html |archivedate=November 25, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Friends with [[pulp-fiction]] author [[Henry Kuttner]] and Californian [[science-fiction]] fans such as [[Forrest J. Ackerman]], he drew the cover for the first issue of ''Imagination'', an Ackerman [[fanzine]] that included [[Ray Bradbury]]'s first published story, "Hollerbochen's Dilemma".<ref>[http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?386389 ISFDB publication listing]</ref> Kuttner encouraged the teenaged Mooney to submit art to [[Farnsworth Wright]], the editor of the [[pulp magazine]] for which Kuttner was writing, ''[[Weird Tales]]''. Mooney's first professional sale was an illustration for one of Kuttner's stories in that magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mooney_jim.htm |title=Jim Mooney |date=July 7, 2013 |publisher=[[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6Mi3IFCRD?url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mooney_jim.htm |archivedate=January 18, 2014 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> During this period, Mooney also met future [[comic-book]] editors [[Mort Weisinger]] and [[Julius Schwartz]], who had come to the area to meet Kuttner.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels|first=M. Keith|last=Booker|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|ISBN=9780313357466|pages=419–420}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|work=[[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]] | volume=3| number=107 | date=February 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|pages=16–17| title=We Want This To Look Like 'Batman'|first1=Chris|last1=Boyko|first2=Jim|last2=Mooney|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issn=1932-6890}}</ref>
Jim Mooney was born in [[New York City]] and raised in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name=ev>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfromme.com/2008/03/31/jim-mooney-r-i-p/ |last=Evanier |first=Mark |publisher=P.O.V. Online |title=Jim Mooney, R.I.P. |date=March 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629034734/http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_31.html |archive-date=June 29, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Friends with [[pulp-fiction]] author [[Henry Kuttner]] and Californian [[science-fiction]] fans such as [[Forrest J. Ackerman]], he drew the cover for the first issue of ''Imagination'', an Ackerman [[fanzine]] that included [[Ray Bradbury]]'s first published story, "[[Hollerbochen's Dilemma]]".<ref>[http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?386389 ISFDB publication listing]</ref> Kuttner encouraged the teenaged Mooney to submit art to [[Farnsworth Wright]], the editor of the [[pulp magazine]] for which Kuttner was writing, ''[[Weird Tales]]''. Mooney's first professional sale was an illustration for one of Kuttner's stories in that magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mooney_jim.htm |title=Jim Mooney |date=July 7, 2013 |publisher=[[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104608/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mooney_jim.htm |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> During this period, Mooney also met future [[comic-book]] editors [[Mort Weisinger]] and [[Julius Schwartz]], who had come to the area to meet Kuttner.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels|first=M. Keith|last=Booker|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|isbn=9780313357466|pages=419–420}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]] | volume=3| number=107 | date=February 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|pages=16–17| title=We Want This To Look Like 'Batman'|first1=Chris|last1=Boyko|first2=Jim|last2=Mooney|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issn=1932-6890}}</ref>


After attending art school and working as a parking valet and other odd jobs for [[nightclubs]],<ref name="adelaide">{{cite web | url = http://www.adelaidecomicsandbooks.com/mooney.html | publisher = (Interview) Adelaide Comics and Books | title = Jim Mooney | date= March 2004 | accessdate= November 4, 2012 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707084052/http://www.adelaidecomicsandbooks.com/mooney.html | archivedate= July 7, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Mooney went to New York City in 1940 to enter the fledging comic-book field. Following his first assignment, the new feature "The Moth" in [[Fox Publications]]' ''[[Mystery Men Comics]]'' #9-12 (April–July 1940), Mooney worked for the comic-book packager [[Eisner & Iger]], one of the studios that would supply outsourced comics to publishers testing the waters of the new [[mass media|medium]]. He left voluntarily after two weeks: "I was just absolutely crestfallen when I looked at some of the guys’ work. [[Lou Fine]] was working there, [[Nick Cardy]] ... and Eisner himself. I was beginning to feel that I was way, way in beyond my depth...." <ref name="adelaide" />
After attending art school and working as a parking valet and other odd jobs for [[nightclubs]],<ref name="adelaide">{{cite web | url = http://www.adelaidecomicsandbooks.com/mooney.html | publisher = (Interview) Adelaide Comics and Books | title = Jim Mooney | date= March 2004 | access-date= November 4, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707084052/http://www.adelaidecomicsandbooks.com/mooney.html | archive-date= July 7, 2011 | url-status=live}}</ref> Mooney went to New York City in 1940 to enter the fledgling comic-book field. Following his first assignment, the new feature "The Moth" in [[Fox Publications]]' ''[[Mystery Men Comics]]'' #9–12 (April–July 1940), Mooney worked for the [[comic book packager]] [[Eisner & Iger]], one of the studios that would supply outsourced comics to publishers testing the waters of the new [[mass media|medium]]. He left voluntarily after two weeks: "I was just absolutely crestfallen when I looked at some of the guys’ work. [[Lou Fine]] was working there, [[Nick Cardy]] ... and Eisner himself. I was beginning to feel that I was way, way in beyond my depth...."<ref name="adelaide" />
[[Image:SuperMysteryComics v1n5.jpg|thumb|left|''Super Mystery Comics'' #5 (Dec. 1940): Jim Mooney's first professional cover art<!--both pencils and inks, per Grand Comics Database-->]]
[[Image:SuperMysteryComics v1n5.jpg|thumb|left|''Super-Mystery Comics'' #5 ([[Ace Magazines]], Dec. 1940): Jim Mooney's first professional cover art<!--both pencils and inks, per Grand Comics Database-->]]
Mooney went on staff at [[Fiction House]] for approximately nine months, working on features including "Camilla" and "Suicide Smith" and becoming friends with colleagues [[George Tuska]], [[Ruben Moreira]], and Cardy. He began freelancing for [[Timely Comics]], the 1940s predecessor of Marvel, working on that company's "animation" line of [[funny animal]] and movie-cartoon tie-in comics.
Mooney went on staff at [[Fiction House]] for approximately nine months, working on features including "Camilla" and "Suicide Smith" and becoming friends with colleagues [[George Tuska]], [[Ruben Moreira]], and Cardy. He began freelancing for [[Timely Comics]], the 1940s predecessor of Marvel, working on that company's "animation" line of [[talking animals in fiction|talking animal]] and movie-cartoon tie-in comics.


As Mooney describes his being hired by editor-in-chief and art director [[Stan Lee]]:
As Mooney describes his being hired by editor-in-chief and art director [[Stan Lee]]:


{{quote|I met Stan the first time when I was looking for work at Timely. . . . I came in, being somewhat young and cocky at the time, and Stan asked me what I did. I said I penciled; he said, 'What else?' I said I inked. He said, 'What else?' I said, 'Color.' 'Do anything else?' I said, 'Yeah, I letter, too.' He said, 'Do you print the damn books, too?' I guess he was about two or three years my junior at that point. I think I was about 21 or 22.<ref name="cba">{{cite journal|url=http://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/07mooney.html |title=Jim Mooney Over Marvel: From Terrytoons to Omega the Unknown, Jim talks Comics|work=[[Comic Book Artist]]|number=7|date=February 2000|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004526/http://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/07mooney.html| archivedate= May 14, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>}}
{{quote|I met Stan the first time when I was looking for work at Timely. . . . I came in, being somewhat young and cocky at the time, and Stan asked me what I did. I said I penciled; he said, 'What else?' I said I inked. He said, 'What else?' I said, 'Color.' 'Do anything else?' I said, 'Yeah, I letter, too.' He said, 'Do you print the damn books, too?' I guess he was about two or three years my junior at that point. I think I was about 21 or 22.<ref name="cba">{{cite journal|url=http://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/07mooney.html |title=Jim Mooney Over Marvel: From Terrytoons to Omega the Unknown, Jim talks Comics|journal=[[Comic Book Artist]]|number=7|date=February 2000|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004526/http://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/07mooney.html| archive-date= May 14, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>}}


Mooney also wrote and drew a funny-animal feature, "Perky Penguin and Booby Bear", in 1946 and 1947 for ''[[Treasure Chest (comics)|Treasure Chest]]'', the [[Catholic]]-oriented comic book distributed in [[parochial schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aladin0.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0treasure--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=treasure&cl=CL2.6.31 |title=''Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact'' Creators: Mooney, Jim |publisher=[[Washington Research Library Consortium|WRLC Libraries Digital and Special Collection]], [[Catholic University of America]], The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives |accessdate=November 4, 2012 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5lYhoHOAp?url=http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0treasure--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00 |archivedate=November 25, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>
Mooney also wrote and drew a talking animal feature, "Perky Penguin and Booby Bear", in 1946 and 1947 for ''[[Treasure Chest (comics)|Treasure Chest]]'', the [[Catholic]]-oriented comic book distributed in [[parochial schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0treasure--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=treasure&cl=CL2.6.31 |title=''Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact'' Creators: Mooney, Jim |publisher=[[Washington Research Library Consortium|WRLC Libraries Digital and Special Collection]], [[Catholic University of America]], The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives |access-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091125222241/http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0treasure--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=treasure&cl=CL2.6.31 |archive-date=November 25, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Supergirl and DC===
===Supergirl and DC===
In 1946, Mooney began a 22-year association with the company that would evolve into DC. He began with the series ''[[Batman]]''<ref>{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|last2=Dougall|first2=Alastair, ed.|chapter= 1940s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 42|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Thanks to the imagination of artists like Dick Sprang and Jim Mooney, Gotham City seemed to be full of giant props that Batman utilized whenever possible to fight his villains.}}</ref> as a [[ghost writer|ghost artist]] for credited artist [[Bob Kane]]. As Mooney recalled of coming to DC,
In 1946, Mooney began a 22-year association with the company that would evolve into DC. He began with the series ''[[Batman]]''<ref>{{cite book|last1= Manning|first1= Matthew K.|last2=Dougall|first2=Alastair|chapter= 1940s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 42|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Thanks to the imagination of artists like Dick Sprang and Jim Mooney, Gotham City seemed to be full of giant props that Batman utilized whenever possible to fight his villains.}}</ref> as a [[ghost writer|ghost artist]] for credited artist [[Bob Kane]]. As Mooney recalled of coming to DC,
{{quote|[T]he funny animal stuff was no longer in demand, and an awful lot of us were scurrying around looking for work . . . and I heard on the grapevine that they were looking for an artist to do Batman. So I buzzed up there to DC, talked to them and showed them my stuff, and even though they weren't so sure because of my funny-animal background, they gave me a shot at it. I brought the work in, and [editor] [[Whitney Ellsworth]] said, 'OK, you're on'. . . . [I]t was ghosting. [Prominent Batman ghost-artist] [[Dick Sprang]] [had] taken off and wanted to do something else. So Dick took off for Arizona, and DC was looking for someone to fill in. So, that's where I fit in, and I stayed on Batman for quite a few years. . . .<ref name="cba" />}}
{{quote|[T]he funny animal stuff was no longer in demand, and an awful lot of us were scurrying around looking for work . . . and I heard on the grapevine that they were looking for an artist to do Batman. So I buzzed up there to DC, talked to them and showed them my stuff, and even though they weren't so sure because of my funny-animal background, they gave me a shot at it. I brought the work in, and [editor] [[Whitney Ellsworth]] said, 'OK, you're on'. . . . [I]t was ghosting. [Prominent Batman ghost-artist] [[Dick Sprang]] [had] taken off and wanted to do something else. So Dick took off for Arizona, and DC was looking for someone to fill in. So, that's where I fit in, and I stayed on Batman for quite a few years. . . .<ref name="cba" />}}


Writer Bill Finger and Mooney introduced the [[Catman (comics)|Catman]] character in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #311 (Jan. 1963).<ref>Forbeck, Matt "1960s" in Dougall, p. 80: "Writer Bill Finger and artist Jim Mooney introduced a new Batman villain destined to return again and again: Catman"</ref> Mooney branched out to the series ''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]'', and such features as "[[Dial H for Hero]]" in ''[[House of Mystery]]'',<ref>{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1960s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 116|quote = Writer Dave Wood and artist Jim Mooney put young Robby Reed in touch with the mysterious H-Dial.}}</ref> and [[Tommy Tomorrow]] in both ''[[Action Comics]]'' and ''[[World's Finest Comics]]''. He also contributed to [[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas Comics]], the 1950s iteration of Marvel, on at least a handful of 1953-54 issues of ''Lorna the Jungle Queen''.<ref name=gcd>{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Jim+Mooney|title=Jim Mooney}}</ref>
Writer Bill Finger and Mooney introduced the [[Catman (comics)|Catman]] character in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #311 (Jan. 1963).<ref>[[Matt Forbeck|Forbeck, Matt]] "1960s" in Dougall, p. 80: "Writer Bill Finger and artist Jim Mooney introduced a new Batman villain destined to return again and again: Catman"</ref> Mooney branched out to the series ''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]'', and such features as "[[Dial H for Hero]]" in ''[[House of Mystery]]'',<ref>{{cite book|last1=McAvennie|first1= Michael|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah|chapter= 1960s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 116|quote = Writer Dave Wood and artist Jim Mooney put young Robby Reed in touch with the mysterious H-Dial.}}</ref> and [[Tommy Tomorrow]] in both ''[[Action Comics]]'' and ''[[World's Finest Comics]]''. He also contributed to [[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas Comics]], the 1950s iteration of Marvel, on at least a handful of 1953-54 issues of ''Lorna the Jungle Queen''.<ref name=gcd>{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Jim+Mooney|title=Jim Mooney}}</ref>


Most notably, Mooney drew the backup feature "[[Supergirl]]" in ''Action Comics'' from 1959 to 1968.<ref name=gcd /> For much of this run on his signature character, Mooney lived in Los Angeles, managing an [[antiquarian]] [[book store]] on [[Hollywood Boulevard]] and sometimes hiring art students to work in the store and [[inker|ink]] backgrounds on his [[penciler|pencilled]] pages.<ref name=ev /> By 1968, he had moved back to New York, where DC, he recalled, was
Most notably, Mooney drew the backup feature "[[Supergirl]]" in ''Action Comics'' from 1959 to 1968.<ref name=gcd /> For much of this run on his signature character, Mooney lived in Los Angeles, managing an [[antiquarian]] [[book store]] on [[Hollywood Boulevard]] and sometimes hiring art students to work in the store and [[inker|ink]] backgrounds on his [[penciler|pencilled]] pages.<ref name=ev /> By 1968, he had moved back to New York, where DC, he recalled, was
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===Spider-Man and Marvel===
===Spider-Man and Marvel===
[[Image:JimMooneySpider-Man.jpg|thumb|275px|Jim Mooney drew himself into these three panels from ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #41 (April 1980).<ref name="adelaide" />]]
[[Image:JimMooneySpider-Man.jpg|thumb|275px|Jim Mooney drew himself into these three panels from ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #41 (April 1980).<ref name="adelaide" />]]
By now, however, the rates were closer, and Mooney left DC. Marvel editor [[Stan Lee]] had him work with ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' [[penciler]] [[John Romita, Sr.|John Romita]]. Mooney first worked on Spider-Man by inking ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' magazine's two issues.<ref>{{cite book|last = Manning|first = Matthew K.|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1960s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 43|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= Drawn by Romita and Jim Mooney, the mammoth 52-page lead story focused on corrupt politician Richard Raleigh's plot to terrorize the city.}}</ref> Mooney would go on to ink a run of ''Amazing Spider-Man'' (#65, 67-88; Oct. 1968, Dec. 1968 - Sept. 1970), which he recalled as "finalising it over John’s layouts".<ref name="adelaide" /> Among the new characters introduced during Mooney's run on the title were [[Randy Robertson]] as a member of the supporting cast in issue #67 (Dec. 1968)<ref>Manning "1960s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 45: "Written by Lee with art by Romita and Mooney...Randy Robertson made his debut. The son of city editor Randy Robertson, he would go on to be the first African American member of Peter Parker's group of friends."</ref> and the [[Prowler (comics)|Prowler]] in #78 (Nov. 1969).<ref>Manning "1960s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 49: "In this tale written by [Stan] Lee and drawn by the team of John Buscema and Jim Mooney, window washer Hobie Brown became fed up with his dead-end job and used his inventive mind to craft the identity and weapons of the Prowler."</ref> Mooney also embellished [[John Buscema]]'s pencils on many issues of ''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|The Mighty Thor]]''.
By now, however, the rates were closer, and Mooney left DC. Marvel editor [[Stan Lee]] had him work with ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' [[penciler]] [[John Romita, Sr.|John Romita]]. Mooney first worked on Spider-Man by inking ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' magazine's two issues.<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Manning|first1 = Matthew K.|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura|chapter= 1960s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 43|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= Drawn by Romita and Jim Mooney, the mammoth 52-page lead story focused on corrupt politician Richard Raleigh's plot to terrorize the city.}}</ref> Mooney would go on to ink a run of ''Amazing Spider-Man'' (#65, 67-88; Oct. 1968, Dec. 1968 - Sept. 1970), which he recalled as "finalising it over John’s layouts".<ref name="adelaide" /> Among the new characters introduced during Mooney's run on the title were [[Randy Robertson]] as a member of the supporting cast in issue #67 (Dec. 1968)<ref>Manning "1960s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 45: "Written by Lee with art by Romita and Mooney...Randy Robertson made his debut. The son of city editor Randy Robertson, he would go on to be the first African American member of Peter Parker's group of friends."</ref> and the [[Prowler (Marvel Comics)|Prowler]] in #78 (Nov. 1969).<ref>Manning "1960s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 49: "In this tale written by [Stan] Lee and drawn by the team of John Buscema and Jim Mooney, window washer Hobie Brown became fed up with his dead-end job and used his inventive mind to craft the identity and weapons of the Prowler."</ref> Mooney also embellished [[John Buscema]]'s pencils on many issues of ''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|The Mighty Thor]]''.<ref name=gcd />


As a penciler, Mooney did several issues of ''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'', as well as Spider-Man stories in ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'', and he both penciled and inked issues of writer [[Steve Gerber]]'s ''[[Man-Thing]]'' and the entire 10-issue run of Gerber's cult-hit ''[[Omega the Unknown]]'',<ref>{{cite book|last = Sanderson|first = Peter|authorlink = Peter Sanderson|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1970s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|date = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 175|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= In March [1976], a new super hero series began called ''Omega the Unknown'', created by writers Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and artist Jim Mooney. The title character was an alien humanoid, who rarely spoke and served as protector to an eerily precocious young boy.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last= Callahan|first= Timothy|title= ''Omega the Unknown''|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= 31|pages= 41–46|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= December 2008|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> among many other titles. Mooney named his collaborations with Gerber as being among his personal favorites.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/mooney.shtml|title= The Silver Age Sage|first= Bryan D.|last= Stroud|year= 2007|publisher= WTV-Zone.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120829051026/http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/mooney.shtml|archivedate= August 29, 2012|deadurl= no|accessdate= November 25, 2013|quote= I loved working with Steve Gerber and ''Omega'' to a certain extent, too, but ''Man-Thing'' was one of my very favorites.}}</ref> In 2010, [[Comics Bulletin]] ranked Gerber and Mooney's run on ''Omega the Unknown'' tenth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/447/top-10-1970s-marvels/ |title=Top 10 1970s Marvels |first=Jason |last=Sacks |date=September 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Comics Bulletin]] |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6IbkCDdAA?url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/447/top-10-1970s-marvels/ |archivedate=August 3, 2013 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=August 3, 2013 |df= }}</ref> [[Carrion (comics)|Carrion]] debuted in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #25 (Dec. 1978) by [[Bill Mantlo]] and Mooney.<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 105: "The ghost of Miles Warren, the villainous Jackal, came to call - in a fashion - in this story written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Jim Mooney."</ref> Writer [[Ralph Macchio (comics)|Ralph Macchio]] and Mooney introduced the [[List of Marvel Comics characters: R#Rapier|Rapier]] in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #2 (1980).<ref>Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 115: "Although this issue by writer Ralph Macchio and artist Jim Mooney would prove a strong case for the character, he would be destined for a short career in the comic book world."</ref>
As a penciler, Mooney did several issues of ''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'', as well as Spider-Man stories in ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'', and he both penciled and inked issues of writer [[Steve Gerber]]'s ''[[Man-Thing]]'' and the entire 10-issue run of Gerber's cult-hit ''[[Omega the Unknown]]'',<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Sanderson|first1 = Peter|author-link = Peter Sanderson|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura|chapter= 1970s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|date = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 175|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= In March [1976], a new super hero series began called ''Omega the Unknown'', created by writers Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and artist Jim Mooney. The title character was an alien humanoid, who rarely spoke and served as protector to an eerily precocious young boy.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last= Callahan|first= Timothy|title= ''Omega the Unknown''|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= 31|pages= 41–46|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= December 2008|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> among many other titles. Mooney named his collaborations with Gerber as being among his personal favorites.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/mooney.shtml|title= The Silver Age Sage|first= Bryan D.|last= Stroud|year= 2007|publisher= WTV-Zone.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120829051026/http://www.wtv-zone.com/silverager/interviews/mooney.shtml|archive-date= August 29, 2012|url-status= live|access-date= November 25, 2013|quote= I loved working with Steve Gerber and ''Omega'' to a certain extent, too, but ''Man-Thing'' was one of my very favorites.}}</ref> In 2010, [[Comics Bulletin]] ranked Gerber and Mooney's run on ''Omega the Unknown'' tenth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/447/top-10-1970s-marvels/ |title=Top 10 1970s Marvels |first=Jason |last=Sacks |date=September 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Comics Bulletin]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801070005/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/columns/447/top-10-1970s-marvels |archive-date=August 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 3, 2013 }}</ref> [[Carrion (comics)|Carrion]] debuted in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #25 (Dec. 1978) by [[Bill Mantlo]] and Mooney.<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 105: "The ghost of Miles Warren, the villainous Jackal, came to call - in a fashion - in this story written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Jim Mooney."</ref> Writer [[Ralph Macchio (comics)|Ralph Macchio]] and Mooney introduced the [[List of Marvel Comics characters: R#Rapier|Rapier]] in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #2 (1980).<ref>Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 115: "Although this issue by writer Ralph Macchio and artist Jim Mooney would prove a strong case for the character, he would be destined for a short career in the comic book world."</ref>


Mooney also worked on Marvel-related [[coloring books]], for the child-oriented ''[[Spidey Super Stories]]'', and for a Spider-Man feature in a children's-magazine spin-off of the [[PBS]] educational series ''[[The Electric Company]]'', which included segments featuring Spider-Man.<ref name=gcd /> On the other end of the spectrum, he drew in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Marvel publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]]'s bawdy [[Men's adventure|men's-adventure magazine]] comics feature "[[The Adventures of Pussycat]]": "Stan [Lee] wrote the first one I did, and then his brother [[Larry Lieber|Larry [Lieber]]] wrote the ones that came later".<ref name="cba" />
Mooney also worked on Marvel-related [[coloring books]], for the child-oriented ''[[Spidey Super Stories]]'', and for a Spider-Man feature in a children's-magazine spin-off of the [[PBS]] educational series ''[[The Electric Company]]'', which included segments featuring Spider-Man.<ref name=gcd /> On the other end of the spectrum, he drew in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Marvel publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]]'s bawdy [[Men's adventure|men's-adventure magazines]] comics feature entitled "Pussycat. The feature appeared in "Men's Annual," "Male Annual" and "Stag" magazines. A one shot reprint of those stories appeared in 1968's "[[The Adventures of Pussycat]]": "Stan [Lee] wrote the first one I did, and then his brother [[Larry Lieber|Larry [Lieber]]] wrote the ones that came later".<ref name="cba" />Stan Lee was not the editor of this reprint, Goodman's son Chip was.


In 1975, Mooney, wanting to move to Florida, negotiated a 10-year contract with Marvel to supply artwork from there. "It was a good deal. The money wasn't too great, but I was paid every couple of weeks, I had insurance, and I had a lot of security that most freelancers never had".<ref name="cba" /> That same year, Mooney and his wife, Anne, had a daughter, Nolle.<!--sp OK--><ref>"[[Bullpen Bulletins]]": "A Gargantuan Gallery of Garulous [sic] Goings-On Guaranteed to Garner Your Gratitude!", in Marvel Comics [[cover date]]d November 1975, including ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #164</ref>
In 1975, Mooney, wanting to move to Florida, negotiated a 10-year contract with Marvel to supply artwork from there. "It was a good deal. The money wasn't too great, but I was paid every couple of weeks, I had insurance, and I had a lot of security that most freelancers never had".<ref name="cba" /> That same year, Mooney and his wife, Anne, had a daughter, Nolle.<!--sp OK--><ref>"[[Bullpen Bulletins]]": "A Gargantuan Gallery of Garulous [sic] Goings-On Guaranteed to Garner Your Gratitude!", in Marvel Comics [[cover date]]d November 1975, including ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #164</ref>


===Later life and career===
===Harris, Claypool and DC===
In Florida, Mooney co-created Adventure Publications' ''[[Star Rangers]]'' with writer [[Mark Ellis (American author)|Mark Ellis]], and worked on ''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]'' for [[DC Comics]], ''[[Anne Rice]]'s The Mummy'' for [[Millennium Publications]], and the ''[[Creepy (magazine)|Creepy]]'' [[miniseries]] for [[Harris Comics]]. When Harris editor [[Richard Howell (comics)|Richard Howell]] left to co-found [[Claypool Comics]] in 1993, Mooney produced many stories for the 166-issue run of ''[[Cassandra Peterson|Elvira]], Mistress of the Dark'' and became the regular inker on writer [[Peter David]]'s ''Soulsearchers and Company'', over the pencils of [[Amanda Conner]], [[Neil Vokes]], [[John Heebink]], and mostly [[Dave Cockrum]]. Mooney also inked four covers of Howell's ''Deadbeats'' series. Mooney's other later work included the sole issue of writer [[Mark Evanier]]'s ''Flaxen'', over Howell pencils; a retro "[[Supreme (comics)#Probe|Lady Supreme]]" story for [[Awesome Entertainment]]; and commissioned pieces.<ref name=gcd /> In 1996, Mooney was one of the many creators who contributed to the ''[[Superman: The Wedding Album]]'' one-shot wherein the title character married [[Lois Lane]].<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Dolan, p. 275: " The behind-the-scenes talent on the monumental issue appropriately spanned several generations of the Man of Tomorrow's career. Written by Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern, the one-shot featured the pencils of John Byrne, Gil Kane, Stuart Immonen, Paul Ryan, Jon Bogdanove, Kieron Dwyer, Tom Grummett, Dick Giordano, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Nick Cardy, Al Plastino, Barry Kitson, Ron Frenz, and Dan Jurgens."</ref>
In Florida, Mooney co-created Adventure Publications' ''[[Star Rangers]]'' with writer [[Mark Ellis (American author)|Mark Ellis]], and worked on ''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]'' for [[DC Comics]], ''[[Anne Rice]]'s The Mummy'' for [[Millennium Publications]], and the ''[[Creepy (magazine)|Creepy]]'' [[miniseries]] for [[Harris Comics]].


When Harris editor [[Richard Howell (comics)|Richard Howell]] left to co-found [[Claypool Comics]] in 1993, Mooney produced many stories for the 166-issue run of ''[[Cassandra Peterson|Elvira]], Mistress of the Dark'' and became the regular inker on writer [[Peter David]]'s ''Soulsearchers and Company'', over the pencils of [[Amanda Conner]], [[Neil Vokes]], [[John Heebink]], and mostly [[Dave Cockrum]]. Mooney also inked four covers of Howell's ''Deadbeats'' series. He continued to work for Claypool until July 2006 when the company announced that the print end of its published line would cease. Mooney's other later work included the sole issue of writer [[Mark Evanier]]'s ''Flaxen'', over Howell pencils; abd a retro "[[Supreme (comics)#Probe|Lady Supreme]]" story for [[Awesome Entertainment]].<ref name=gcd />
⚫
Mooney's wife Anne died in 2005.<ref name=ev /> Mooney died March 30, 2008, in Florida after an extended illness.<ref name=ev />

In 1996, Mooney was one of the many creators who contributed to the ''[[Superman: The Wedding Album]]'' one-shot wherein the title character married [[Lois Lane]].<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Dolan, p. 275: " The behind-the-scenes talent on the monumental issue appropriately spanned several generations of the Man of Tomorrow's career. Written by Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern, the one-shot featured the pencils of John Byrne, Gil Kane, Stuart Immonen, Paul Ryan, Jon Bogdanove, Kieron Dwyer, Tom Grummett, Dick Giordano, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Nick Cardy, Al Plastino, Barry Kitson, Ron Frenz, and Dan Jurgens."</ref>

===Commissions, Retirement, and Death===

Throughout his later years, Mooney kept busy creating commissioned art pieces for fans.<ref name=gcd />

⚫
His wife Anne died in 2005.<ref name=ev /> Mooney died March 30, 2008, in Florida after an extended illness.<ref name=ev />


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
Comics work (pencils or inking) includes:
Comics work (pencils or inking) includes:
⚫
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}


===DC Comics===
===DC Comics===
⚫
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Action Comics]]'' ([[Tommy Tomorrow]]) #172-196, 199-251; ([[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]]) #253-342, 344-350, 353-358, 360-373 (1952–69); ([[Superman]]) #667 (among other artists) (1991)
*''[[Action Comics]]'' ([[Tommy Tomorrow]]) #172–196, 199–251; ([[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]]) #253–342, 344–350, 353–358, 360–373 (1952–1969); ([[Superman]]) #667 (among other artists) (1991)
*''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #91, 284 (1944–61); ([[Legion of Super-Heroes]]) #328-331, 361 (1965–67)
*''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #91, 284 (1944–1961); ([[Legion of Super-Heroes]]) #328–331, 361 (1965–1967)
*''Adventures of [[Superboy]]'' (based on TV Series) #18-20 (1991)
*''Adventures of [[Superboy]]'' (based on TV Series) #18–20 (1991)
*''[[Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' #480 (among other artists) (1991)
*''[[Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' #480 (among other artists) (1991)
*''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #38, 41, 43-44, 48-49, 53-54, 56, 59-60, 72, 76, 148, 150, (1946–62)
*''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #38, 41, 43–44, 48–49, 53–54, 56, 59–60, 72, 76, 148, 150 (1946–1962)
*''[[Detective Comics]]'' #126, 132, 134, 143, 163, 181, 296, 299, 311, 318 (1947–63)
*''[[Detective Comics]]'' #126, 132, 134, 143, 163, 181, 296, 299, 311, 318 (1947–1963)
*''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'', vol. 2, #19 (1988)
*''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'' vol. 2 #19 (1988)
*''[[House of Mystery]]'' #2, 5-6, 10, 20, 23-24, 27, 30, 32-35, 39-40, 46-47, 49, 51, 56, 70, 83, 85, 156-170, 178 (1952–69)
*''[[House of Mystery]]'' #2, 5–6, 10, 20, 23–24, 27, 30, 32–35, 39–40, 46–47, 49, 51, 56, 70, 83, 85, 156–170, 178 (1952–1969)
*''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #1, 3-4, 9 (1956–58)
*''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #1, 3–4, 9 (1956–1958)
*''[[Star-Spangled Comics]]'' ([[Robin (comics)|Robin]]) #74, 76-95, 97-130 (1947–52)
*''[[Star Spangled Comics]]'' ([[Dick Grayson|Robin]]) #74, 76–95, 97–130 (1947–1952)
*''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy The Comic Book]]'' (based on TV series) #1-8 (1990)
*''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy The Comic Book]]'' (based on TV series) #1–8 (1990)
*''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #185 (1966)
*''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #185 (1966)
*''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #92 (1966)
*''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #92 (1966)
*''[[Superman: The Wedding Album]]'' (among other artists) (1996)
*''[[Superman: The Wedding Album]]'' (among other artists) (1996)
*''[[Tales of the Unexpected (comics)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'' #10, 17-19, 23-25, 28, 32-33, 35-37, 39-46, 48-49, 53 (1957–60)
*''[[Tales of the Unexpected (comics)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'' #10, 17–19, 23–25, 28, 32–33, 35–37, 39–46, 48–49, 53 (1957–1960)
*''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' ([[Batman]]) #27, 37, 39-40, 42, 44; ([[Tommy Tomorrow]]) #102-120; ([[Superman]] and Batman) #121-130, 132-134, 136-140 (1947–64)
*''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' ([[Batman]]) #27, 37, 39–40, 42, 44; ([[Tommy Tomorrow]]) #102–120; ([[Superman]] and Batman) #121–130, 132–134, 136–140 (1947–1964)
{{div col end}}


===Marvel Comics===
===Marvel Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
⚫
*''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #65, 68-71, 73-81, 86-87 (1968–70)
*''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #65, 67–82, 84–88, 116–118, 126, 173–175, 178, 189–190, 192–193, 196–202, 205, 211–219, 221–222, 226–227, 229–233 (1968–1982)
*''[[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]'' #179-180 (1979)
*''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #86, 88, 105 (as inker); 179–180 (as penciler) (1971–1979)
*''[[Battlestar Galactica (comics)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' #14 (1980)
*''[[Battlestar Galactica (comics)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' #14 (1980)
*''Crypt of Shadows'' #3, 5, 16 (1973–75)
*''Crypt of Shadows'' #3, 5, 16 (1973–1975)
*''[[Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)|Ghost Rider]]'' #2-9 (1973–74)
*''[[Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)|Ghost Rider]]'' #2–9 (1973–1974)
*''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' vol. 2 #230 (1978)
*''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' vol. 2 #230 (1978)
*''[[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]'' #16 (1977)
*''[[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]'' #16 (1977)
*''[[Journey into Mystery]]'' vol. 2 #8 (1973)
*''[[Journey into Mystery]]'' vol. 2 #8 (1973)
*''[[Man-Thing]]'' #17-22 (1975)
*''[[Man-Thing]]'' #17–22 (1975)
*''Man-Thing'' vol. 2 #1-3 (1979–80)
*''Man-Thing'' vol. 2 #1–3 (1979–1980)
*''[[Marvel Comics Presents]]'' #16, 73 (1989–91)
*''[[Marvel Comics Presents]]'' #16, 73 (1989–1991)
*''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' #14-17, 27 (1974–76)
*''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' #14–17, 27 (1974–1976)
*''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' #8, 10-11, 24-31, 72 (1973–78)
*''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' #2, 7–8, 10–11, 16, 24–31, 72, 93 (1973–1978)
*''[[Carol Danvers|Ms. Marvel]]'' #4-8, 13, 15-18 (1977–78)
*''[[Carol Danvers|Ms. Marvel]]'' #4–8, 13, 15–18 (1977–1978)
*''[[Omega the Unknown]]'' #1-10 (1976–77)
*''[[Omega the Unknown]]'' #1–10 (1976–1977)
*''[[Solarman]]'' #1 (1989)
*''[[Solarman]]'' #1 (1989)
*''[[Daimon Hellstrom|Son of Satan]]'' #1 (1975)
*''[[Daimon Hellstrom|Son of Satan]]'' #1 (1975)
*''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' #11, 21, 23, 25-26, 29-34, 36-37, 53, 125 (1977–87)
*''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' #7, 11, 21, 23, 25–26, 29–34, 36–37, 39, 41–42, 49–57, 59–63, 65–66, 68, 71, 73–79, 81–83, 85–99, 102, 125, ''Annual'' #1–2 (1977–1987)
*''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' magazine #1-2 (1968)
*''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' magazine #1–2 (1968)
*''Spider-Man, Firestar and Iceman at the Dallas Ballet Nutcracker'' (1983)
*''Spider-Man, [[Firestar (Marvel Comics)|Firestar]] and [[Iceman (Marvel Comics)|Iceman]] at the Dallas Ballet [[The Nutcracker|Nutcracker]]'' (1983)
*''[[Namor|Sub-Mariner]]'' #65-66 (1973)
*''[[Namor|Sub-Mariner]]'' #25, #65–66 (1970, 1973)
*''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]'' #188, 201, 204, 214–216, 218, 322, 324–325, 327 (1971–1983)
*''[[ThunderCats (comics)|Thundercats]]'' #1-6, 19 (1985–88)
*''[[Web of Spider-Man]]'' #5-6, 10 (1985–86)
*''[[ThunderCats (comics)|Thundercats]]'' #1–6, 19 (1985–1988)
⚫
*''[[Web of Spider-Man]]'' #1–3, 5–6, 10 (1985–1986)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscatinline}}
{{commons category|Jim Mooney}}
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/suprgirl.htm Supergirl] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://www.webcitation.org/5lYhM8rkN?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/suprgirl.htm WebCitation archive] 11-25-09
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/suprgirl.htm Supergirl] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240524190728/https://www.webcitation.org/5lYhM8rkN?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/suprgirl.htm WebCitation archive] 11-25-09
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/features/creator.php?creatorid=107 Jim Mooney] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=107 Jim Mooney] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namm43.htm#N125 Jim Mooney] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namm47.htm#N125 Jim Mooney] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title= "[[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]]" feature in ''[[Action Comics]]'' artist|before=[[Al Plastino]]|after=[[Kurt Schaffenberger]]|years= 1959–1968}}
{{succession box|title=''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' artist|before=[[Don Heck]]|after=[[Gil Kane]]|years= 1968–1970}}
{{succession box|title=''[[Man-Thing]]'' artist|before=[[John Buscema]]|after=[[Don Perlin]]|years= 1975-1980}}
{{s-end}}
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Latest revision as of 19:04, 22 June 2024

For other people named Jim Mooney, see Jim Mooney (disambiguation).
Jim Mooney
Born(1919-08-13)August 13, 1919
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 2008(2008-03-30) (aged 88)
Florida, U.S.
Area(s)Penciller, Inker
Pseudonym(s)Jay Noel
Notable works
Action Comics (Tommy Tomorrow, Supergirl)
Spectacular Spider-Man
Star Spangled Comics (Robin)

James Noel Mooney[1] (August 13, 1919 – March 30, 2008)[2] was an American comics artist best known for his long tenure at DC Comics and as the signature artist of Supergirl, as well as a Marvel Comics inker and Spider-Man artist, both during what comics historians and fans call the Silver Age of Comic Books and what is known as the Bronze Age of Comic Books. He sometimes inked under the pseudonym Jay Noel.[3]

Biography

[edit]
Mooney's cover for the 1938 fanzine Imagination, containing Ray Bradbury's first published story

Early life and career

[edit]

Jim Mooney was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles.[4] Friends with pulp-fiction author Henry Kuttner and Californian science-fiction fans such as Forrest J. Ackerman, he drew the cover for the first issue of Imagination, an Ackerman fanzine that included Ray Bradbury's first published story, "Hollerbochen's Dilemma".[5] Kuttner encouraged the teenaged Mooney to submit art to Farnsworth Wright, the editor of the pulp magazine for which Kuttner was writing, Weird Tales. Mooney's first professional sale was an illustration for one of Kuttner's stories in that magazine.[6] During this period, Mooney also met future comic-book editors Mort Weisinger and Julius Schwartz, who had come to the area to meet Kuttner.[7][8]

After attending art school and working as a parking valet and other odd jobs for nightclubs,[9] Mooney went to New York City in 1940 to enter the fledgling comic-book field. Following his first assignment, the new feature "The Moth" in Fox Publications' Mystery Men Comics #9–12 (April–July 1940), Mooney worked for the comic book packager Eisner & Iger, one of the studios that would supply outsourced comics to publishers testing the waters of the new medium. He left voluntarily after two weeks: "I was just absolutely crestfallen when I looked at some of the guys’ work. Lou Fine was working there, Nick Cardy ... and Eisner himself. I was beginning to feel that I was way, way in beyond my depth...."[9]

Super-Mystery Comics #5 (Ace Magazines, Dec. 1940): Jim Mooney's first professional cover art

Mooney went on staff at Fiction House for approximately nine months, working on features including "Camilla" and "Suicide Smith" and becoming friends with colleagues George Tuska, Ruben Moreira, and Cardy. He began freelancing for Timely Comics, the 1940s predecessor of Marvel, working on that company's "animation" line of talking animal and movie-cartoon tie-in comics.

As Mooney describes his being hired by editor-in-chief and art director Stan Lee:

I met Stan the first time when I was looking for work at Timely. . . . I came in, being somewhat young and cocky at the time, and Stan asked me what I did. I said I penciled; he said, 'What else?' I said I inked. He said, 'What else?' I said, 'Color.' 'Do anything else?' I said, 'Yeah, I letter, too.' He said, 'Do you print the damn books, too?' I guess he was about two or three years my junior at that point. I think I was about 21 or 22.[10]

Mooney also wrote and drew a talking animal feature, "Perky Penguin and Booby Bear", in 1946 and 1947 for Treasure Chest, the Catholic-oriented comic book distributed in parochial schools.[11]

Supergirl and DC

[edit]

In 1946, Mooney began a 22-year association with the company that would evolve into DC. He began with the series Batman[12] as a ghost artist for credited artist Bob Kane. As Mooney recalled of coming to DC,

[T]he funny animal stuff was no longer in demand, and an awful lot of us were scurrying around looking for work . . . and I heard on the grapevine that they were looking for an artist to do Batman. So I buzzed up there to DC, talked to them and showed them my stuff, and even though they weren't so sure because of my funny-animal background, they gave me a shot at it. I brought the work in, and [editor] Whitney Ellsworth said, 'OK, you're on'. . . . [I]t was ghosting. [Prominent Batman ghost-artist] Dick Sprang [had] taken off and wanted to do something else. So Dick took off for Arizona, and DC was looking for someone to fill in. So, that's where I fit in, and I stayed on Batman for quite a few years. . . .[10]

Writer Bill Finger and Mooney introduced the Catman character in Detective Comics #311 (Jan. 1963).[13] Mooney branched out to the series Superboy, and such features as "Dial H for Hero" in House of Mystery,[14] and Tommy Tomorrow in both Action Comics and World's Finest Comics. He also contributed to Atlas Comics, the 1950s iteration of Marvel, on at least a handful of 1953-54 issues of Lorna the Jungle Queen.[15]

Most notably, Mooney drew the backup feature "Supergirl" in Action Comics from 1959 to 1968.[15] For much of this run on his signature character, Mooney lived in Los Angeles, managing an antiquarian book store on Hollywood Boulevard and sometimes hiring art students to work in the store and ink backgrounds on his pencilled pages.[4] By 1968, he had moved back to New York, where DC, he recalled, was

... getting into the illustrative type of art then, primarily Neal Adams, and they wanted to go in that direction. Towards the end there I picked up on it and I think my later 'Supergirl' was quite illustrative, but not quite what they wanted. I knew the handwriting was on the wall, so I was looking around.... The reason I hadn't worked at Marvel for all those years was because they didn't pay as well as DC. ... I think at that time [it] was $30 [a page] when I was getting closer to $50 at DC".[9]

Spider-Man and Marvel

[edit]
Jim Mooney drew himself into these three panels from The Spectacular Spider-Man #41 (April 1980).[9]

By now, however, the rates were closer, and Mooney left DC. Marvel editor Stan Lee had him work with The Amazing Spider-Man penciler John Romita. Mooney first worked on Spider-Man by inking The Spectacular Spider-Man magazine's two issues.[16] Mooney would go on to ink a run of Amazing Spider-Man (#65, 67-88; Oct. 1968, Dec. 1968 - Sept. 1970), which he recalled as "finalising it over John’s layouts".[9] Among the new characters introduced during Mooney's run on the title were Randy Robertson as a member of the supporting cast in issue #67 (Dec. 1968)[17] and the Prowler in #78 (Nov. 1969).[18] Mooney also embellished John Buscema's pencils on many issues of The Mighty Thor.[15]

As a penciler, Mooney did several issues of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man, as well as Spider-Man stories in Marvel Team-Up, and he both penciled and inked issues of writer Steve Gerber's Man-Thing and the entire 10-issue run of Gerber's cult-hit Omega the Unknown,[19][20] among many other titles. Mooney named his collaborations with Gerber as being among his personal favorites.[21] In 2010, Comics Bulletin ranked Gerber and Mooney's run on Omega the Unknown tenth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".[22] Carrion debuted in The Spectacular Spider-Man #25 (Dec. 1978) by Bill Mantlo and Mooney.[23] Writer Ralph Macchio and Mooney introduced the Rapier in The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #2 (1980).[24]

Mooney also worked on Marvel-related coloring books, for the child-oriented Spidey Super Stories, and for a Spider-Man feature in a children's-magazine spin-off of the PBS educational series The Electric Company, which included segments featuring Spider-Man.[15] On the other end of the spectrum, he drew in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Marvel publisher Martin Goodman's bawdy men's-adventure magazines comics feature entitled "Pussycat. The feature appeared in "Men's Annual," "Male Annual" and "Stag" magazines. A one shot reprint of those stories appeared in 1968's "The Adventures of Pussycat": "Stan [Lee] wrote the first one I did, and then his brother Larry [Lieber] wrote the ones that came later".[10]Stan Lee was not the editor of this reprint, Goodman's son Chip was.

In 1975, Mooney, wanting to move to Florida, negotiated a 10-year contract with Marvel to supply artwork from there. "It was a good deal. The money wasn't too great, but I was paid every couple of weeks, I had insurance, and I had a lot of security that most freelancers never had".[10] That same year, Mooney and his wife, Anne, had a daughter, Nolle.[25]

Harris, Claypool and DC

[edit]

In Florida, Mooney co-created Adventure Publications' Star Rangers with writer Mark Ellis, and worked on Superboy for DC Comics, Anne Rice's The Mummy for Millennium Publications, and the Creepy miniseries for Harris Comics.

When Harris editor Richard Howell left to co-found Claypool Comics in 1993, Mooney produced many stories for the 166-issue run of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and became the regular inker on writer Peter David's Soulsearchers and Company, over the pencils of Amanda Conner, Neil Vokes, John Heebink, and mostly Dave Cockrum. Mooney also inked four covers of Howell's Deadbeats series. He continued to work for Claypool until July 2006 when the company announced that the print end of its published line would cease. Mooney's other later work included the sole issue of writer Mark Evanier's Flaxen, over Howell pencils; abd a retro "Lady Supreme" story for Awesome Entertainment.[15]

In 1996, Mooney was one of the many creators who contributed to the Superman: The Wedding Album one-shot wherein the title character married Lois Lane.[26]

Commissions, Retirement, and Death

[edit]

Throughout his later years, Mooney kept busy creating commissioned art pieces for fans.[15]

His wife Anne died in 2005.[4] Mooney died March 30, 2008, in Florida after an extended illness.[4]

Bibliography

[edit]

Comics work (pencils or inking) includes:

DC Comics

[edit]

Marvel Comics

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Full name per Treadway, Tyler (April 1, 2008). "Illustrator in Port Salerno was 'one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet'". TC Palm. Stuart, Florida: Scripps Newspaper Group. Archived from the original on August 30, 2008.
  2. ^ James N. Mooney at the United States Social Security Death Index via FamilySearch.org. Retrieved on March 2, 2013.
  3. ^ Evanier, Mark (April 14, 2008). "Why did some artists working for Marvel in the sixties use phony names?". P.O.V. Online. Archived from the original on November 26, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Evanier, Mark (March 31, 2008). "Jim Mooney, R.I.P." P.O.V. Online. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009.
  5. ^ ISFDB publication listing
  6. ^ "Jim Mooney". Lambiek Comiclopedia. July 7, 2013. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014.
  7. ^ Booker, M. Keith (2010). Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels. ABC-CLIO. pp. 419–420. ISBN 9780313357466.
  8. ^ Boyko, Chris; Mooney, Jim (February 2012). "We Want This To Look Like 'Batman'". Alter Ego. 3 (107). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 16–17. ISSN 1932-6890.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Jim Mooney". (Interview) Adelaide Comics and Books. March 2004. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d "Jim Mooney Over Marvel: From Terrytoons to Omega the Unknown, Jim talks Comics". Comic Book Artist (7). Raleigh, North Carolina. February 2000. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ "Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact Creators: Mooney, Jim". WRLC Libraries Digital and Special Collection, Catholic University of America, The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives. Archived from the original on November 25, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  12. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair (2014). "1940s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 42. ISBN 978-1465424563. Thanks to the imagination of artists like Dick Sprang and Jim Mooney, Gotham City seemed to be full of giant props that Batman utilized whenever possible to fight his villains.
  13. ^ Forbeck, Matt "1960s" in Dougall, p. 80: "Writer Bill Finger and artist Jim Mooney introduced a new Batman villain destined to return again and again: Catman"
  14. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Writer Dave Wood and artist Jim Mooney put young Robby Reed in touch with the mysterious H-Dial.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Jim Mooney at the Grand Comics Database
  16. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura (2012). "1960s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 43. ISBN 978-0756692360. Drawn by Romita and Jim Mooney, the mammoth 52-page lead story focused on corrupt politician Richard Raleigh's plot to terrorize the city.
  17. ^ Manning "1960s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 45: "Written by Lee with art by Romita and Mooney...Randy Robertson made his debut. The son of city editor Randy Robertson, he would go on to be the first African American member of Peter Parker's group of friends."
  18. ^ Manning "1960s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 49: "In this tale written by [Stan] Lee and drawn by the team of John Buscema and Jim Mooney, window washer Hobie Brown became fed up with his dead-end job and used his inventive mind to craft the identity and weapons of the Prowler."
  19. ^ Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 175. ISBN 978-0756641238. In March [1976], a new super hero series began called Omega the Unknown, created by writers Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and artist Jim Mooney. The title character was an alien humanoid, who rarely spoke and served as protector to an eerily precocious young boy.
  20. ^ Callahan, Timothy (December 2008). "Omega the Unknown". Back Issue! (31). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 41–46.
  21. ^ Stroud, Bryan D. (2007). "The Silver Age Sage". WTV-Zone.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2013. I loved working with Steve Gerber and Omega to a certain extent, too, but Man-Thing was one of my very favorites.
  22. ^ Sacks, Jason (September 6, 2010). "Top 10 1970s Marvels". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  23. ^ Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 105: "The ghost of Miles Warren, the villainous Jackal, came to call - in a fashion - in this story written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Jim Mooney."
  24. ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 115: "Although this issue by writer Ralph Macchio and artist Jim Mooney would prove a strong case for the character, he would be destined for a short career in the comic book world."
  25. ^ "Bullpen Bulletins": "A Gargantuan Gallery of Garulous [sic] Goings-On Guaranteed to Garner Your Gratitude!", in Marvel Comics cover dated November 1975, including Fantastic Four #164
  26. ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Dolan, p. 275: " The behind-the-scenes talent on the monumental issue appropriately spanned several generations of the Man of Tomorrow's career. Written by Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern, the one-shot featured the pencils of John Byrne, Gil Kane, Stuart Immonen, Paul Ryan, Jon Bogdanove, Kieron Dwyer, Tom Grummett, Dick Giordano, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Nick Cardy, Al Plastino, Barry Kitson, Ron Frenz, and Dan Jurgens."
[edit]

Media related to Jim Mooney at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by "Supergirl" feature in Action Comics artist
1959–1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by The Amazing Spider-Man artist
1968–1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Man-Thing artist
1975-1980 		Succeeded by
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