Steve Lightle

American comic artist (1959–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve Lightle (November 19, 1959^[1] – January 8, 2021)^[2]^[3] was an American comics artist who worked primarily as a penciller. He was best known as the artist of DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes and Doom Patrol titles.

BornNovember 19, 1959

Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.

DiedJanuary 8, 2021 (aged 61)

Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

AreaPenciller

Notable works

Doom Patrol
Legion of Super-Heroes
Classic X-Men

Quick facts Born, Died ...

Steve Lightle
Born	(1959-11-19)November 19, 1959 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Died	January 8, 2021(2021-01-08) (aged 61) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Area	Penciller
Notable works	Doom Patrol Legion of Super-Heroes Classic X-Men

Biography

Steve Lightle was born in Kansas City, Kansas^[2] and attended the Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City metropolitan area.^[4] His first professional comic book work was a five-page story in Black Diamond #4 (Feb. 1984) published by AC Comics.^[5]^[6] He followed this with his debut at DC Comics, drawing a 10-page story in New Talent Showcase #4 (April 1984), a series intended to provide work for up-and-coming artists who did not have a regular assignment.^[7]

In 1984, Lightle followed Keith Giffen as the penciller of Legion of Super-Heroes.^[8] Lightle described it as being a "dream assignment" to work on the title.^[9] One of Lightle's issues featured the death of longtime Legion member Karate Kid.^[10] Although Lightle's tenure as interior artist was brief, he continued as cover artist until 1988.^[6] Lightle co-created the characters Tellus and Quislet, whose unusual appearances contrasted with the humanoid appearances of the other Legionnaires.^[11]

In 1986, Lightle was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series^[12] and drew part of Batman #400 (Oct. 1986).^[13] The following year, he was the original penciller of the revival of Doom Patrol,^[14] but he left after the first five-issue story arc due to creative differences.^[15] Much of Lightle's work after that was as cover artist, typically inking his own penciled artwork. In 1989 and 1990, Lightle was the regular cover artist for Classic X-Men^[6] (later retitled X-Men Classic). He produced new covers and frontispieces to accompany the reprinted stories.

On January 8, 2021, Lightle's wife Marianne and son Matthew announced through social media that he had died suddenly from a cardiac arrest caused by COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri. He was 61 years old.^[2]^[3]^[16]

Bibliography

AC Comics

Black Diamond #4 (1984)

DC Comics

Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant #1 (Superboy) (1998)
Batman #400 (1986)
Batman and the Outsiders #10 (1984)
Booster Gold: Futures End #1 (2014)
DC Challenge #12 (1986)
Doom Patrol vol. 2 #1–5 (1987–1988)
The Flash vol. 2 #226 (2005)
The Flash 80-Page Giant #2 (1999)
The Flash Annual #10 (1997)
History of the DC Universe hardcover (three pages) (1988)
JLA-Z #1 (one page) (2003)
The Legion #24, 34 (2003–2004)
Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #3–5, 7–10, 12–14, 16, 23 (1984–1986)
New Talent Showcase #4–6 (1984)
The Outsiders #2–3 (backup stories) (1985–1986)
Who's Who in the DC Universe #2–3, 6–7, 13–14 (1990–1991)
Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1–2 (1988)
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3, 5, 8, 12–13, 16, 18, 20, 23 (1985–1987)
Who's Who: Update '87 #3–4 (1987)
Wonder Woman Gallery #1 (1996)
Wonder Woman Secret Files and Origins #1 (1998)
World's Finest Comics #304, 306 (1984)

Marvel Comics

The Amazing Spider-Man '96 #1 (1996)
Excalibur: XX Crossing (1992)
Generation X '95 #1 (1995)
Marvel Comics Presents #109–116 (Wolverine and Typhoid Mary); #123–130 (Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary); #132–136 (Wolverine); #150 (Vengeance, Wolverine, Daredevil, Typhoid Mary); #175 (Steel Raven, New Genix) (1992–1995)
Marvel Holiday Special (Spider-Man) (1992)
Quasar #39–40 (1992)
Web of Spider-Man Super Special #1 (1995)
X-Factor #32 (1988)

References

[1]
Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
[2]
Sacks, Ethan (January 18, 2021). "Comic book artist's sudden death a shock: 'We had no idea he had Covid'". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024.
[3]
Perry, Spencer (January 8, 2021). "Steve Lightle, DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes Artist, Dies at 61". comicbook.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025.
[4]
Bails, Jerry (n.d.). "Lightle, Steve". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2007.
[5]
"Steve Lightle". Lambiek Comiclopedia. January 9, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024.
[6]
Steve Lightle at the Grand Comics Database
[7]
Greenberger, Robert (April 2014). "New Talent and Bonus Babies". Back Issue! (71). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 67.
[8]
Schweier, Philip (October 2013). "Back to the Future: The Legion in the 1980s". Back Issue! (68). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 57–61.
[9]
Vollmar, Rob (June 14, 2007). "Conversation With A Craftsman: Steve Lightle Talks With Rob Vollmar". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on June 14, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2012. I was made to feel very welcome on Legion, and since the characters had been favorites of mine consistently since childhood, it was a dream assignment. I can't say enough good about Paul Levitz, who encouraged me to be involved in every aspect of the book and its characters.
[10]
Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. In a story written by Paul Levitz, with art by Keith Giffen and Steve Lightle...the Karate Kid gave his life heroically while battling Nemesis Kid.
[11]
Signh, Arune (October 30, 2002). "Because You Demanded It, A Legionnaire Returns: Steve Lightle Talks Legion". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2012. I hold the distinction of having suggested the first non-humanoid Legionnaires in the long history of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Tellus and Quislet were the first nonhuman members of the Legion, and I'm very happy that Paul Levitz and I broke that barrier by creating them.
[12]
Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!". Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 43.
[13]
Trumbull, John (December 2013). "A New Beginning...And a Probable End Batman #300 and #400". Back Issue! (69). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 51.
[14]
Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 229: "October [1987] saw a new Doom Patrol series, by writer Paul Kupperberg and artist Steve Lightle."
[15]
Browning, Michael (July 2013). "The Doom Patrol Interviews: Steve Lightle". Back Issue! (65). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 51. I'd decided that it wasn't going in the direction I wanted and the promises I had been made hadn't even been anywhere near fulfilled.
[16]
Arrant, Chris (January 8, 2021). "Iconic Legion of Super-Heroes artist Steve Lightle dies at age 61". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2021.