Editing Jim Aparo

{{Short description|American comic book artist (1932–2005)}}
{{Infobox comics creator

| image         = Jim Aparo.jpg
| caption       = Jim Aparo by [[Michael Netzer]]
| birth_name    = James N. Aparo
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1932|8|24}}
| birth_place   = [[New Britain, Connecticut]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2005|7|19|1932|8|24}}
| death_place   = [[Southington, Connecticut]], U.S.
| nationality   = American
| cartoonist    = 
| write         = 
| art           = 
| pencil        = y
| ink           = y
| edit          = 
| publish       = 
| letter        = y
| color         = 
| alias         = 
| notable works = ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' ([[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]])<br />''[[Aquaman]]''<br />''[[The Brave and the Bold]]''<br />''[[Detective Comics]]''<br />''[[The Untold Legend of the Batman]]''
| awards        = * The [[Shazam Award]] in 1972
* The [[Inkpot Award]] in 1993
* [[Will Eisner Hall of Fame]] in 2019
| website       = 
}}
'''James N. Aparo''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|p|æ|r|oʊ}};<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xfgNQ5num8 The Storytellers: Jim Aparo]<!--at 0.43--></ref> August 24, 1932 – July 19, 2005)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSML-JYM |title=James N. Aparo |publisher=United States [[Social Security Death Index]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216060401/https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSML-JYM |archive-date=February 16, 2016|url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2013 |df= mdy-all}}</ref> was an American [[comic book]] artist, best known for his [[DC Comics]] work from the late 1960s through the 1990s, including on the characters [[Batman]], [[Aquaman]], and the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]], along with famous stories such as "[[Batman: A Death in the Family|A Death in the Family]]"<ref name=":2" /> and "[[KnightFall]]".

==Early life==
Jim Aparo was born on August 24, 1932, Aparo was raised in [[New Britain, Connecticut]],<ref name=ap-obit /> Aparo took art classes at [[New Britain High School]] and while also taking courses at Hartford Art School.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2014-07-19 |title=Jim Aparo, Batman's Greatest Ally |url=https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/jim-aparo-batmans-greatest-ally/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=New England Historical Society |language=en-US}}</ref> Aparo was primarily self-taught by studying and copying comic books. Growing up and taking inspiration from characters such as Superman, Batman, and Captain Marvel. Aparo was influenced by artists such as [[Alex Raymond]] and [[Milton Caniff]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Jim Aparo Interview - Comic Book Artist #9 - TwoMorrows Publishing |url=https://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/09aparo.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=www.twomorrows.com}}</ref> Aparo started his comic career later than most artists around the time working in advertising first while sending his art to various comic book publishers.<ref name=":0" /> On a summer vacation in Charlton, Aparo ran into [[Dick Giordano]] (the future executive editor of [[DC Comics]]) who saw potential in his work.

==Career==

===Charlton Comics===
He attempted to enter the comic book profession in his early 20s, approaching [[EC Comics]], which declined to hire him. He then worked in the advertising industry in Connecticut, often drawing fashion illustrations for newspaper advertisements. He continued to pursue a career in comic books and comic strips while working in advertising.<ref name="Comic Book Artist 9">{{cite journal |last=Amash |first=Jim |date=August 2000 |title=The Aparo Approach: Jim Aparo on his comics debut at Charlton Press |url=http://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/09aparo.html |journal=Comic Book Artist |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issue=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731054913/http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/09aparo.html |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

His first break in the comics field was with the comic strip ''Stern Wheeler'', written by Ralph Kanna, which was published in 1963 in a [[Hartford, Connecticut]], newspaper for less than a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/stern.htm |title=Stern Wheeler |first=Don |last=Markstein |year=2010 |publisher=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527060402/https://www.webcitation.org/6WoD9tsiQ?url=http://toonopedia.com/stern.htm |archive-date=May 27, 2024|url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2013 }}</ref> In 1966, editor [[Dick Giordano]] at [[Charlton Comics]] hired him as a comic book artist, where his first assignment was a humorous character called "Miss Bikini Luv" in "Go-Go Comics."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Eury |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Eury |date=August 2011 |title=In Praise of Jim Aparo |url=https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/backissue50preview |journal=[[Back Issue!]] |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=50 |pages=2–3}}</ref>

Over the next few years at Charlton, Aparo drew stories in many genres—Westerns, science fiction, romance, horror, mystery, and suspense. Most of his work was for standalone stories in anthology titles, but he also drew the historical-adventure feature "Thane of Bagarth" in the comic book ''Hercules''; the superheroine feature "[[Nightshade (DC Comics)|Nightshade]]" in ''[[Captain Atom]]''; the science fiction/Western/comedy backup "Wander" in ''Cheyenne Kid''; and the comic book adaptation of the [[comic strip]] ''[[The Phantom]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aparo_jim.htm|title= Jim Aparo|date= February 5, 2010|publisher= [[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120920180137/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aparo_jim.htm|archive-date= September 20, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>

Aparo was paid $15 to $20 per page at his time at Charlton Comics.<ref name=":1" />

Aparo was one of the few artists in mainstream comics at that time to serve as [[penciller]], [[inker]], and [[letterer]] for all of his work.<ref name="Comic Book Artist 9" />

===DC Comics===
In the late 1960s, [[Dick Giordano]] left Charlton for an editorial position at [[DC Comics]] and offered Aparo a job drawing the ''[[Aquaman]]'' comic book. After an initial issue (#40) for which Aparo provided only pencil art, Aparo resumed producing pencils, inks, and letters for most issues of the series until its cancellation. Aparo continued for a time to provide art to Charlton for ''[[The Phantom]]'', alternating between the two series month by month as both series were being released on a bimonthly basis at the time.<ref name="Comic Book Artist 9" />

Eventually Aparo resigned his assignment on ''[[The Phantom]]'' and worked almost exclusively for the remainder of his career for DC Comics. Aparo's next series assignment at DC was ''[[Phantom Stranger]]''. After Aquaman was cancelled, the bimonthly frequency of ''Phantom Stranger'' was insufficient to fill his typical production rate of one page per day, so DC assigned him several short jobs such as mystery stories for ''[[House of Mystery]]'' and ''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]''.<ref name="GCD">{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Jim+Aparo|title=Jim Aparo}}</ref>

In 1971, Aparo was assigned a fill-in job as the artist for ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #98 (Oct.–Nov. 1971). This series routinely featured [[team-up]]s of DC's [[Batman]] with other characters, in this case, the Phantom Stranger. As the regular artist on the Phantom Stranger's own series, Aparo was considered an appropriate choice.<ref name="Comic Book Artist 9" /> [[Murray Boltinoff]], the editor of ''The Brave and the Bold'', soon assigned Aparo the regular artistic responsibilities for the series (beginning with #100), which he continued until its cancellation with issue #200, missing only a few issues. Aparo even "co-starred" as himself in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #124 (January 1976).<ref>{{cite comic|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/29427/cover/4/?style=default |story=Small War of the Super Rifles|title=The Brave and the Bold|issue=124|date=Jan 1976|writer=[[Bob Haney]]|artist=Jim Aparo|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

During the more than 10 years as the artist for ''The Brave and the Bold'', its bimonthly frequency permitted Aparo to do many other significant works for DC (it became monthly in Nov. 1978). In addition to numerous covers, he served as the regular artist for a notorious series starring a ruthless avenging ghost called the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]], which ran in ''[[Adventure Comics]]'',<ref>{{cite book|last1=McAvennie|first1= Michael|editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah|chapter= 1970s|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=159 |quote =The Spectre re-materialized in the pages of ''Adventure Comics''. This time, however, he brought along an all-out wrathful disposition, delivering punishments that not only fit the crimes, but arguably exceeded them." "[Michael] Fleisher and [Jim] Aparo's run lasted only ten issues, yet it was widely regarded as some of their finest work, and the character's seminal period.}}</ref> and which in 2005 was collected in a trade paperback edition ({{ISBN|978-1-4012-0474-7}}). He also provided art for a revival of Aquaman in both ''Adventure Comics'' and a continuation of the previously-cancelled ''Aquaman''. He was assigned the solo Batman series in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' as of issue #437 (Oct.–Nov. 1973)<ref>{{cite book|last1= Manning|first1= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair|chapter= 1970s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 115|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= New DC editor Archie Goodwin scripted the lead feature with artist Jim Aparo.}}</ref> for a rather short time and drew occasional stories for anthology series.<ref name="GCD" /> Aparo and writer [[Len Wein]] introduced [[Sterling Silversmith]] in ''Detective Comics'' #446 (April 1975).<ref>Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 118</ref> He drew ''[[The Untold Legend of the Batman]]'', the first Batman [[miniseries]], in 1980, inking [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne's]] pencils in the first issue and providing full art for the second and third issues.<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 187 "Written by Len Wein, with art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, ''The Untold Legend of the Batman''...delved into the origin of the fabled Dark Knight."</ref> Aparo was one of the artists on the double-sized ''[[Justice League of America (comic book)|Justice League of America]]'' #200 (March 1982).<ref>{{cite journal|last = Sanderson|first = Peter |author-link = Peter Sanderson|title = ''Justice League'' #200 All-Star Affair|journal = Comics Feature|issue = 12/13<!-- This was a double issue hence the #12/13 issue number-->|page = 17|publisher = [[New Media/Irjax|New Media Publishing]]|date = September–October 1981}}</ref>

When ''The Brave and the Bold'' was cancelled in 1983, it was replaced with a series called ''[[Batman and the Outsiders]]'',<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 202 "Despite being the final issue of this particular series, the book wasn't closed on Batman's team-ups. Although Batman was through working with partners, it was time to think bigger, and in a special sixteen-page preview insert written by Barr and with art by Jim Aparo, the Outsiders debuted. A super-hero team of Batman's own creation, the Outsiders would soon star alongside Batman in the new monthly series ''Batman and the Outsiders''."</ref> a superhero team led by Batman. This series, which Aparo co-created with writer [[Mike W. Barr]], would be described by DC Comics writer and executive [[Paul Levitz]] as being "a team series more fashionable to 1980s audiences."<ref>{{cite book|author-link= Paul Levitz|last=Levitz|first= Paul|chapter= The Bronze Age 1970-1984|title= 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking|publisher= [[Taschen]]|year=2010|location= Cologne, Germany|isbn= 978-3-8365-1981-6|page= 462}}</ref> The [[Masters of Disaster (comics)|Masters of Disaster]] were among the supervillains created by Barr and Aparo for the series.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 149: ''Batman and the Outsiders'' #9 (April 1984) "The Masters of Disaster sealed their reputation as the Outsiders' greatest foes in this two-part tale by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo."</ref> It would run for several years, continuing with a Baxter paper spinoff titled ''The Outsiders''<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 215: "[''The Outsiders''] saw the popular team given the enhanced quality of a Baxter-format series...written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Jim Aparo."</ref> that did not include Batman and introduced [[Looker (comics)|Looker]].<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 155: ''The Outsiders'' #1 (Nov. 1985) "Written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Jim Aparo, this issue debuted Looker in full costume."</ref> For the final few issues, DC began to request that Aparo provide only pencils, and a long and nearly unbroken string of Aparo inking and lettering his own work came mostly to an end.
[[File:Death of Jason Todd.jpg|thumb|The scene from ''Batman'' #428 (1988), in which Batman discovers that Jason Todd is dead]]
Aparo's next major work consisted of pencils for ''Batman'' and ''Detective Comics'', where his art was almost always inked by [[Mike DeCarlo]]. Aparo returned to the ''Batman'' title with issue #414 (Dec. 1987) in collaboration with writer [[Jim Starlin]]. One of their first storylines for the title was "Ten Nights of The Beast"<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 233: "Using the Cold War as their backdrop, writer Jim Starlin and artist Jim Aparo crafted the four-part storyline 'Ten Nights of the Beast'."</ref> in issues #417–420 (March–June 1988) which introduced the [[KGBeast]]. Perhaps the most notable product of this period remains "[[Batman: A Death in the Family|A Death in the Family]]"<ref name=":2">Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "Written by Jim Starlin, with art by Jim Aparo and haunting covers by Mike Mignola, 'A Death in the Family' proved a best seller with readers in both single-issue and trade paperback form."</ref> (''Batman'' #426–429, 1988–1989), depicting the death of [[Jason Todd]] (Robin). The "A Lonely Place of Dying" storyline crossed over with ''The [[Teen Titans|New Titans]]'' title and introduced [[Tim Drake]] as the new [[Robin (character)|Robin]].<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 241: "With the pencils of [George] Pérez, Jim Aparo, and Tom Grummett, [Marv] Wolfman concocted the five-issue 'A Lonely Place of Dying'...In it, Tim Drake...earned his place as the new Robin."</ref> Aparo continued to draw Batman stories in ''Detective'' and ''Batman'' until the early 1990s. During this time, he was the regular artist on ''Batman'' when [[Bane (comics)|Bane]] broke Bruce Wayne's back during the "[[KnightFall]]" storyline.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: "'Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover event that passed through the pages of ''Batman'' by writer Doug Moench and artists Norm Breyfogle, Jim Aparo, and Mike Manley."</ref> In 1992, Aparo returned to do pencils, inks, and lettering for his Batman stories, but was soon returned to contributing only pencil art.

Also that year, Aparo was given his last regular series assignment for DC as pencil artist for ''[[Green Arrow]]'' issues #81–100. He and writer [[Kelley Puckett]] co-created [[Green Arrow (Connor Hawke)|Connor Hawke]], the son of [[Green Arrow]].<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "Future Green Arrow Connor Hawke debuted in the zero issue of ''Green Arrow'', courtesy of scripter Kelley Puckett and penciller Jim Aparo."</ref> Following that assignment, Aparo's work appeared infrequently, when Aparo was mostly assigned occasional Batman-related stories and covers in miniseries and specials. His published work in the late 1990s and early 2000s include a ''Batman Annual'' inked by former [[Marvel Comics]] mainstay [[Sal Buscema]], a ''G.C.P.D.'' miniseries, a ''Speed Force Special'' featuring the [[The Flash|Flash]], an issue of a ''[[Deadman (DC Comics)|Deadman]]'' miniseries that revisited his "Death in the Family" story, and a single page of ''[[Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame]]'' written by [[Neil Gaiman]] in which he had a final opportunity to draw the [[Phantom Stranger]] for publication.<ref name="GCD" />

His final work for DC during his life was the cover of the trade paperback ''Batman in the Eighties'', published in 2004. In 2006, previously-unpublished Aparo art depicting the unused, alternate ending of the storyline "A Death in the Family," in which the Jason Todd Robin lives instead of dies, appeared in ''Batman Annual'' #25.<ref>Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 287: "This issue also included an unpublished page from 'A Death in the Family' by writer Jim Starlin and penciller Jim Aparo that had been set to print in case readers voted for Jason's survival."</ref>

==Death==
Aparo died on July 19, 2005, at his home in [[Southington, Connecticut]].<ref name=ap-obit>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/22/arts/design/22aparo.html?_r=0 |title=James Aparo, 72, Comic Book Artist, Is Dead |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 22, 2005 |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606055324/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/22/arts/design/james-aparo-72-comic-book-artist-is-dead.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> At least one report attributed the cause of death to "a long battle with cancer",<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/07/19/losing-batmans-greatest-ally| date=July 19, 2005|title=Losing Batman's Greatest Ally|first=Hilary|last=Goldstein|publisher= [[IGN]] | archive-date= September 21, 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130921013752/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/07/19/losing-batmans-greatest-ally | url-status=live}}</ref> but his family's formal announcement said his death came from "complications relating to a recent illness".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookbin.com/jimaparorip001.html|title= Jim Aparo R.I.P|first= Spencer|last= Beck|date= July 19, 2005|publisher= ComicBookBin.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120717041939/http://www.comicbookbin.com/jimaparorip001.html|archive-date= July 17, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref> DC Comics ran an Aparo "In Memoriam" page in ''Batman'' #644 (Oct. 2005) and ''Detective Comics'' #811 (Nov. 2005).

==Awards==
Aparo was (automatically inducted) into the prestigious:
* [[Will Eisner Hall of Fame]] in 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |title=Eisner Awards - 2010-Present |website=[[San Diego Comic-Con]] |date=2 December 2012 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213024118/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* the [[Shazam Award]] for "Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic)" in 1972 for "The Demon Within" in ''[[House of Mystery]]'' #201 with [[John Albano]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam72.php|title= 1972 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120304160504/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam72.php|archive-date= March 4, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref> 
* the [[Inkpot Award]] in 1993<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|title= Inkpot Award Winners |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|archive-date= July 9, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
Comics work (interior pencil art) includes:

===Charlton Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Captain Atom]]'' ([[Nightshade (DC Comics)|Nightshade]]) #87–89 (Aug. 1967–Dec. 1967)
* ''Career Girl Romances'' #40 (June 1967)
* ''Charlton Premiere'' #4 (May 1968)
* ''Cheyenne Kid'' #66–71 (May 1968–March 1969) [Wander]
* ''[[Ghost Manor (comics)|Ghost Manor]]'' #77 (Nov. 1984)
* ''[[Ghostly Tales]]'' #65–68, 71–72, 74–76, 79, 81, 137, 141–142, 146, 149, 153, 164 (Feb. 1968–Dec. 1983)
* ''Go-Go'' #5–9 (Feb. 1967–Oct. 1967)
* ''Gunfighter'' #52, 83 (Oct. 1967 and March 1984)
* ''Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God'' #1–10 (1968–1969)
* ''I Love You'' #67 (April 1967)
* ''Love Diary'' #62, 66 (Oct. 1969 and May 1970)
* ''[[The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves]]'' #4–5, 7–8, 17, 66, 69 (1967–1981)
* ''[[Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt]]'' #60 (1967) [Prankster]
* ''[[The Phantom]]'' #31–34, 36–38 (1969–1970)
* ''Romantic Story'' #94 (July 1968)
* ''[[Scary Tales (comics)|Scary Tales]]'' #22 (Oct, 1980)
* ''Secret Agent'' #10 (Oct. 1967) [Tiffany Sinn]
* ''[[Space Adventures (comics)|Space Adventures]]'' #2, 4 (July and Nov. 1968)
* ''Space Adventures Presents U.F.O.'' #60 (Oct. 1967)
* ''[[Strange Suspense Stories]]'' vol. 2 #1–2, 4 (Oct. 1967–Nov. 1968)
{{div col end}}

===DC Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' (Adventurers' Club) #426–427; ([[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]]) #431–433, 435–436, 440; ([[Aquaman]]) #441–452; ([[Deadman (DC Comics)|Deadman]]) #459–461, 464 (1973–1979)
* ''[[All-Star Western]]'' (vol. 2) #5 (1971)
* ''[[Aquaman]]'' #40–59 (1968–1978)
* ''Aquaman'' (vol. 3) #52 (flashback sequence) (1999)
* ''[[Azrael (comics)|Azrael]] Annual'' #3 (1997)
* ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #414–420, 426–435, 440–448, 450–451, 480–483, 486–491, 494–500, 533–534, 558, 560–562 (1987–1999)
* ''Batman Annual'' #24 (2000), ''Batman Annual'' #25 (2006)
* ''[[Outsiders (comics)#Batman and the Outsiders/Adventures of the Outsiders (1983–1986)|Batman and the Outsiders]]'' #1–9, 11–12, 16–20 (1983–1985)
* ''Batman: Blackgate Isle of Men'' (1998)
* ''Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat'' (1996)
* ''[[The Batman Chronicles]]'' #7, 14 (1997–1998)
* ''[[Batman Family]]'' #17 (Batman, [[Dick Grayson|Robin]], and [[Huntress (Helena Wayne)|Huntress]]) (1978)
* ''[[Batman: GCPD]]'' #1–4 (miniseries) (1996)
* ''[[Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight]]'' #142–145, ''Annual'' #1 (1991–2001)
* ''[[Batman: Shadow of the Bat]]'' #61, 68 (1997)
* ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #98, 100–102, 104–136, 138–145, 147, 149–152, 154–155, 157–162, 168–170, 173–178, 180–182, 184, 186–189, 191–193, 195–196, 200 (1971–1983)
* ''DCU Holiday Bash'' #1 (1996)
* ''[[Deadman (DC Comics)|Deadman]]: Dead Again'' #2 of 5 (miniseries) (2001)
* ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #437–438, 444–446, 500, 625–632, 638–643, 716, 719, 722, 724 (1973–1998)
* ''[[Ghosts (comics)|Ghosts]]'' #1 (1971)
* ''[[Green Arrow]]'' #0, 81–88, 91–95, 98–100, 109, 123 (1993–1997)
* ''[[House of Mystery]]'' #192, 201, 209 (1971–1972)
* ''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #93, 97, 105 (1971–1973)
* ''[[Justice League (comic book)|Justice League of America]]'' #200 (among other artists) (1982)
* ''[[Mystery in Space]]'' #111 (1980)
* ''Outsiders'' #1–7, 9–14, 17–22, 25–26 (1985–1988)
* ''[[Phantom Stranger]]'' (vol. 2) #7–26 (1969–1973)
* ''[[Secret Origins]]'' (vol. 2) #10 (Phantom Stranger) (1987)
* ''[[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]]'' (vol. 3) #16 (1994)
* ''[[Speed Force]]'' #1 ([[Barry Allen|The Flash]]/[[Wally West|Kid Flash]] story) (1997)
* ''[[Steel (John Henry Irons)|Steel]]'' #33 (1996)
* ''[[Superboy and the Ravers]]'' #8 (1997)
* ''[[Teen Titans]]'' #36 ([[Aqualad]]) (1971)
* ''[[Time Warp (comics)|Time Warp]]'' #1 (1979)
* ''[[The Unexpected (1968 comic book)|The Unexpected]]'' #127, 132 (1971–1972)
* ''[[The Untold Legend of the Batman]]'' #2–3 (miniseries) (1980)
* ''[[The Witching Hour (DC Comics)|Witching Hour]]'' #25 (1972)
* ''Wrath of the Spectre'' #4 (miniseries) (1988){{#tag:ref|''Wrath of the Spectre'' was a four-issue miniseries published in 1988. Issues #1–3 reprint the character's run in ''Adventure Comics'' #431–440 (all but #434 and #437–439 drawn by Aparo), while issue #4 prints three stories that were written in 1975 and newly illustrated for this miniseries by Aparo again.|group=note|name=wrath}}
{{div col end}}

===Collections===
* '''''Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo'''''
** Vol. 1 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #98, 100–102, 104–122. 512 pages, April 2012, {{ISBN|978-1401233754}}
** Vol. 2 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #123–145 and 147–151, ''Detective Comics'' #437–438. 528 pages, October 2013, {{ISBN|978-1401242961}}
** Vol. 3 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #152, 154–155, 157–162, 168–179, 173–178, 180–182, ''Detective Comics'' #444–446, 448, 468–470, ''Batman Family'' #17, and various covers from those titles. 520 pages, August 2017 {{ISBN|978-1401271619}}
* '''''Batman: The Brave and the Bold—The Bronze Age Omnibus'''''
** Vol. 1 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #74–106. 904 pages, January 2017, {{ISBN|978-1401267186}}
** Vol. 2 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #110–156. 776 pages, September 2018, {{ISBN|978-1401281670}}
** Vol. 3 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #157–200. 904 pages, (publication date September 2021) {{ISBN|978-1401292829}}
* '''''Batman and the Outsiders'''''
** Vol. 1 collects ''The Brave and the Bold'' #200, ''Batman and the Outsiders'' #1–13, ''New Teen Titans'' #37. 368 pages, February 2017, {{ISBN|978-1401268121}}
** Vol. 2 collects ''Batman and the Outsiders Annual'' #1, ''Batman and the Outsiders'' #14–23. 312 pages, February 2018, {{ISBN|978-1401277536}}
* '''''Jim Aparo's Complete The Phantom'''''
** Collects ''The Phantom'' #31–34, #36–38. Also, essays on Jim Aparo with original art. 192 pages, January 2017, {{ISBN|978-1613451106}}
* '''''Aquaman: a Celebration of 75 Years'''''
** collects ''Adventure Comics'' #120, 174, 220, 260, 266, 269, 444, 452, and 475, ''Aquaman'' (vol. 1) #1, 18, 40, ''Aquaman'' (vol. 2) #3, ''Aquaman'' (vol. 3) #2, 34, ''Aquaman'' (vol. 4) #4, 17, ''Aquaman'' (vol. 5) #1, 43. 400 pages, October 2016, {{ISBN|978-1401264468}}
* '''''Aquaman: Death of A Prince'''''
** collects ''Adventure Comics'' #435–437, #441–455, ''Aquaman'' #57–63. 336 pages, July 2011, {{ISBN|978-1401231132}} with a reprint deluxe hardcover edition published February 2020 {{ISBN|978-1779500953}}
* '''''Aquaman: The Search for Mera'''''
** collects ''Aquaman'' #40–48. 216 pages, November 2018, {{ISBN|978-1401285227}}
* '''''Aquaman: The Deadly Waters'''''
** collects ''Aquaman'' #49–56. 208 pages, August 2020, {{ISBN|978-1779502940}}
* '''''Wrath of the Spectre'''''
** collects ''Adventure Comics'' #431–440, ''Wrath of the Spectre'' #1–4. 200 pages, June 2005, {{ISBN|978-1401204747}}
* '''''Deadman Book Four'''''
** collects ''DC Special Series'' #8, ''Adventure Comics'' #459–466, ''DC Comics Presents'' #24. 168 pages, January 2014, {{ISBN|978-1401243241}}
* '''''DC Universe by Len Wein'''''
** collects ''Phantom Stranger'' #20–24 (Aparo), ''Action Comics'', ''DC Comics Presents'' and more. 384 pages, February 2019 {{ISBN|978-1401287870}}
* '''''The Joker The Bronze Age Omnibus'''''
** collects ''The Joker'' #1–10, ''Batman'' 251, 260, 286, 291–294, 321, 353, 365–366, and 400, ''The Brave and the Bold'' 111, 118, 129–130, 141, and 191, ''Detective Comics'' 475–476, 504, 526, and 532, ''Wonder Woman'' 280–283, ''DC Comics Presents'' 41 and 72, and more. Jim Aparo's art appears on 11 of the issues included, fully one fourth of the content, and his interior art is featured in all of ''The Brave and the Bold'' issues included. Furthermore, Aparo's rendition of the Joker is embossed in raised features on the back of the hardcover book. 832 pages, August 2019 {{ISBN|978-1-4012-9340-6}}
* '''''The Spectre: The Wrath of the Spectre Omnibus'''''
** collects ''Showcase'' #60, 61, 64, ''The Brave & the Bold'' 72, 75, 116, 180, and 199, ''The Spectre'' 1–10, ''Adventure Comics'' 431–440, ''DC Comics Presents'' 29, ''Wrath of the Spectre'' #4, and ''Ghosts'' 97–99. Jim Aparo did all of the art in 7 of the 10 ''Adventure Comics'' issues, and 2 of ''The Brave and the Bold'' issues. He also inked the remaining ''Adventure Comics'', and penciled 40 pages of art for the 1988 ''Wrath of the Spectre'' special editions, and illustrated the cover for ''The Brave and the Bold'' #199—which means his art is more than one third of the content of the omnibus. In addition, Aparo's art is used for both the cover of the book, and the dustjacket, including the jacket flaps. 680 pages, September 2020 {{ISBN|978-1-7795-0293-3}}
* '''''Deadman Omnibus'''''
** collects ''Strange Adventures'' 205–216, ''The Brave & the Bold'' 79, 86, 104, and 133, ''Aquaman'' 50–52, ''Challengers of the Unknown'' 74, 84–87, ''Justice League of America'' 94, ''World's finest'' 223 and 227, ''The Phantom Stranger'' 33, 39–41 ''Superman Family'' 183, ''DC Superstars'' 18, ''DC Comics Presents'' 24, ''Adventure Comics'' 459–466, ''Detective Comics'' 500, ''Secret Origins'' 15, ''Deadman'' 1–4 (1986). Jim Aparo did interior art for six issues in the omnibus, and cover art for 10 other issues. 944 pages, December 2020 {{ISBN|978-1779504883}}
* '''''The Phantom Stranger Omnibus'''''
** collects ''The Phantom Stranger'' 1–6 (1952), ''The Phantom Stranger'' 1–41 (1969), ''The Saga of the Swamp Thing'' 1–13, ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' 18, ''The Brave and the Bold'' 89, 98, 145, ''Showcase'' 80, ''Justice League of America'' 103, ''House of Secrets'' 150, ''DC Superstars'' 18, ''Secret Origins'' 10, and ''DC Comics Presents'' 25 and 72. 680 pages, May 2022 {{ISBN|978-1779506030}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs="The Aparo Approach: https://www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/09aparo.html
"Jim Aparo, Batman’s Greatest Ally"
https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/jim-aparo-batmans-greatest-ally/}}

==External links==
* {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=123|title=Jim Aparo}}
* [http://docs.comics.org/images/5/5d/DC_Profiles_74.jpg "DC Profile #76: Jim Aparo"] at the Grand Comics Database
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=15 Jim Aparo] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=''[[Aquaman]]'' artist|before=[[Nick Cardy]]|after=[[Don Newton]]|years=1968–1971 and 1977}}
{{succession box|title=''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' artist|before=[[Bob Brown (comics)|Bob Brown]] and Nick Cardy|after=n/a|years=1971–1983}}
{{succession box|title=''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' artist|before=[[Kieron Dwyer]]|after=Kieron Dwyer|years=1987–1990}}
{{succession box|title=''Batman'' artist|before=[[Tom Mandrake]]|after=[[Mike Manley (artist)|Mike Manley]]|years=1992–1993}}
{{s-end}}
{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}
{{Inkpot Award 1990s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aparo, Jim}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:American advertising artists and illustrators]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:Artists from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Southington, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Silver Age comics creators]]
[[Category:20th-century American artists]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]