29 Facts About Michael Netzer

Michael Netzer is an American-Israeli artist best known for his comic book work for DC Comics and Marvel Comics in the 1970s, as well as for his online presence.

Michael Netzer's mother, Adele Ghazali, is a daughter to a Druze-Lebanese father and a Jewish-Lebanese mother who settled in New York in the 1920s.

Michael Netzer contracted polio at the age of eight months which partially paralyzed his left hip and leg.

Michael Netzer used his art for a campaign that won him election of vice-president of his senior class in Redford High School, where he gained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the JROTC program.

Michael Netzer worked as a sign painter and graphic designer while attending Wayne State University in Michigan for two years.

In September 1981, Michael Netzer traveled to Lebanon to visit his father, intending to continue afterwards to Israel.

Michael Netzer is married to Elana Yosef and they have five children.

In late 1975, Michael Netzer was invited to join Arvell Jones and Keith Pollard for a drive to New York City, where the two artists shared an apartment.

Michael Netzer joined Continuity Studios, which became his base as a freelancer.

Michael Netzer began work producing storyboards and advertising art for the studio, while procuring his first comics assignment, a two-part back-up story in Kamandi: "Tales of the Great Disaster".

Michael Netzer gained quick recognition as an illustrator at DC Comics and Marvel Comics, producing art for Kobra, Challengers of the Unknown, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes and Wonder Woman at DC, as well as various covers for Marvel.

Michael Netzer became active in efforts to form a Comics Creators Guild, that were based at Continuity.

In November 1977, Michael Netzer left his career in New York and hitchhiked across the United States.

Friedrich asked Michael Netzer to produce a story that would tell of his new-found aspirations, resulting in "The Old, New and Final Testaments", an eight-page vignette weaving socio-religious history with humanity's ambitions for the colonization of the Solar System.

Michael Netzer's colleagues described this activity as messianic and expressed concerns about his behavior.

In 1991, Michael Netzer returned to New York and Continuity Comics, where he produced art for several issues of Megalith.

In 2011, Michael Netzer responded to Miller at CBR's Comics Should Be Good, saying he'd worked in a similar style before Miller became known for it.

Michael Netzer added that no artist develops without visible influences, and that creators who preceded Miller were not known to criticize artists whom they inspired.

In 1998, he teamed up with Sofia Fedorov to establish a visual media production studio called Netzart Fedorov Media which allowed Michael Netzer to develop his skills in computer-generated illustration, advertising and web design.

In 2010, Michael Netzer returned to mainstream comics, producing art for Kevin Smith's Green Hornet from Dynamite Entertainment, along with illustrating a chapter of Erich Origen and Gan Golan's The Adventures of Unemployed Man from Little, Brown, publishers of the satire Goodnight Bush by the same writers.

In January 2004, Michael Netzer launched his first web site, "The New Comic Book of Life", outlining his theories on superhero mythology and the role it plays in cultural evolution.

Michael Netzer apologized to colleague Neal Adams for his lawsuit against him in the previous decade, though in 2018 Netzer renewed his assertion that he created the character of Ms.

In early 2009, Michael Netzer founded and launched Facebook Comic Con.

Michael Netzer participates in various activities on a pro bono basis.

In early 2011 Michael Netzer launched a campaign, Save the Comics, to bring public attention to the undercurrents of a decades-long sales slump for printed comic books.

On 10 February 2011, Michael Netzer lodged an online complaint at the Federal Trade Commission web site against DC Comics and Marvel Comics calling for industry leaders to turn their attention back to the business of comic book publishing.

Michael Netzer produced a two-page short satire, wherein Superman returns to Tehran with Batman and Wonder Woman, who all participate in an anti-American demonstration.

Michael Netzer responded by burning the original art of the controversial image, and filming a video clip of it, to demonstrate the value of the satire.

In May 2013, Michael Netzer led a campaign on behalf of comics writer Don McGregor when Dynamite Entertainment promoted the revival of Lady Rawhide, created by McGregor and Mike Mayhew.