Early life

Joe Staton grew up in Tennessee and graduated from Murray State University in 1970.

Career

Staton started his work with Charlton Comics in 1971 and gained notability as the artist of the super-hero book E-Man. Staton produced art for various comics published by Charlton, Marvel and Warren during the 1970s.

Hired initially by Roy Thomas to work for Marvel, Staton was then recruited by Paul Levitz to work on DC Comics' revival of the Justice Society of America in All Star Comics and later Adventure Comics. In these titles he illustrated stories including the origin of the JSA in DC Special #29. and the death of the Earth-Two Batman. Staton also illustrated the solo adventures of two female JSA members created during the JSA revival - drawing Power Girl in Showcase and the Huntress. During that time, Staton additionally drew Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, the 1970s revival of the Doom Patrol in Showcase, and the Metal Men. In 1979, Staton began a two-and-a-half-year run on Green Lantern, during which he co-created the Omega Men with writer Marv Wolfman.

Staton served as art director for First Comics for three years in the 1980s. He returned to DC Comics afterwards for a second run on Green Lantern and with writer Steve Englehart, oversaw the title's name change to Green Lantern Corps. Staton and Englehart also created the DC weekly crossover series Millennium (Jan.-Feb. 1988). In addition, Staton illustrated Guy Gardner, The Huntress, The New Guardians and Superman & Bugs Bunny.

As of the late 2000s, Staton draws DC's Scooby-Doo title for younger readers, as well as the more mature-themed Femme Noir for Ape Entertainment. On January 19, 2011, Tribune Media Services announced that Staton and writer Mike Curtis would replace Dick Locher as the creative team of the Dick Tracy comic strip. The new creative team have worked together on Scooby-Doo, Richie Rich, and Casper the Friendly Ghost and started on March 14, 2011. Staton also illustrated Charles Santino's graphic novel adaptation of Ayn Rand's Anthem.

Awards

In 2013, 2014, and 2015 Staton and writer Mike Curtis received the Best Syndicated Strip Harvey Award for Dick Tracy.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]