When you think of great duos throughout history, several names immediately come to mind: Laurel & Hardy, Flatt & Scruggs, Abbott & Costello, Lewis & Martin, Batman & Robin, Spahn & Sain, to name a few. Now let me add one more duo to the list … Marty and Carrie … Nodell, that is.

Marty holding up a drawing of his famous creation with proud Carrie sporting a Green Lantern t-shirt, Chicago, 1995.

Marty and Carrie Nodell were two of the nicest people to ever walk the planet. In his latter years, Marty emerged as a celebrity in the graphic art and four-color world of the comic industry. And no one was a bigger fan of Marty and his work than the precious Carrie.
Born in Philadelphia and a star student from art schools in both Chicago and New York City, Marty Nodell is probably best known as the creator of the Golden Age (an era in comic history that roughly spans the late 30’s to the early 50’s) superhero, the Green Lantern. As Marty explained to me one day, following the success of Superman and Batman, he was determined to come up with a similar character. While waiting to board the New York subway to work sometime in 1940, he saw a trainman waving a green lantern. The color “green,” like our traffic lights on the highway, meant it was safe to proceed. Marty liked the concept of a “green light” in the darkness. And so, a comic legend was born.

Marty's art adorns the cover of the first appearance of "The Green Lantern," 1940.

The Nodell-crafted Green Lantern, also known as Alan Scott, was a train wreck survivor who discovered a magical ancient lantern formed from a green meteor. Alan Scott forged a ring from the lamp which gave him super powers (with the ring’s power source being the lamp). Nodell took his character to All-American Publications, which was later absorbed by DC Comics (who published Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman). Green Lantern made his debut in the July 1940 issue of All American Comics #16. The character was an instant success and received his own title in 1941. (Despite this success, Marty had to use a pen name to publish the character. He went by “Mart Dellon.”  In those days, if you worked in the comic industry, your credibility was ruined, a far cry from the celebrity status creators enjoy today).

The Green Lantern comic book ran until its cancellation in 1949. Reborn with a new costume and identity in the early 60’s, Green Lantern is still published today. The character will be featured in a major, big-budget film in 2011 starring Ryan Reynolds (Blade 3, Amityville Horror, Wolverine: Origins, etc).

Green with envy! Magazine cover release of actor Ryan Reynolds from the upcoming major action film, THE GREEN LANTERN!

While Marty would go on to illustrate for other publishers, including Timely Comics (Marvel Comics’ predecessor), he also enjoyed tremendous success outside the comic industry. One of those successes included working on presentations in the early 1950s for the Matador surface-to-surface missile.

The Martin Aircraft (now Lockheed Martin) Matador Ground-Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM). The Matador, developed in 1947, was the first missile ever deployed by the US Air Force.

Without a doubt, Marty’s most-famous non-comic creation came about in 1965. As an art director at the Leo Burnett Agency, Marty was a member of the design team that created the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Brothers meet at last! Green Lantern and the Doughboy, art by Marty Nodell.

I first met Marty in Seattle in 1992. He’d been appearing regularly with his beloved Carrie since 1980, traveling to numerous conventions to meet the many fans and collectors touched by the Green Lantern and its creator. At first they were surprised by the enthusiastic reactions they received! In time, they became convention regulars, appearing together for more than 25 years.

Marty at the Chicago convention. If you wanted to find him, you just followed the crowd!

Marty and Carrie immediately “adopted” me into their family and over the years, we linked up anytime we had the chance … Kansas City, Chicago (multiple times), Atlanta, St. Louis. In Chicago in 1995, I met their son, Spencer, who became an instant friend.

A special drawing Marty completed just for me and my wife, Renee: The Doughboy meets the Doughgirl!

I was a young Army Major when I first met Marty and Carrie in 1992. He used to joke with me that they’d “pushed me along to promotion” throughout my career. On September 12, 2001, the day after the monstrous attacks of 9-11, Marty called me (I was stationed in Illinois with the US Transportation Command at the time). He and Carrie were worried about me and concerned that I might have to deploy into combat. I assured them I would not … at least not immediately (I would eventually make my way to Iraq in 2004, but that’s a story for another day).
I received dozens of letters from Marty over the years, always hand-written in green ink on his custom made Green Lantern stationary. His gentle calls, kind letters, and warm smiles over the many dinners we shared still touch me today in the memories of my mind. When I’d walk up to them at a booth at various shows all over the country, they’d shout and cheer as if I were some type of VIP. Carrie would always jump up and give me a hug and tell me how much she’d missed me since our last visit. I’ll never forget them.

A "classic" Nodell Christmas card: the Doughboy as Santa on Green Lantern stationary!

Wayne Chrebet, the new "Green Lantern!"

Marty’s creation got another huge boost in 2000, thanks to the New York Jets and the always controversial wide receiver, Keyshawn Johnson. In his book, Just Give Me the Damn Ball!, Johnson blasted his former coach and offensive coordinator, as well as teammates QB Neil O’Donnell and WR Wayne Chrebet (Johnson had since been traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Prior to his first game against the Jets as a member of the Bucs, Johnson was asked about Jets’ receiver Wayne Chrebet. Johnson replied, “You’re trying to compare a flashlight to a star. Flashlights only last so long, a star is in the sky forever.” In a script that seemed movie worthy, Johnson’s words came back to haunt him. In the game, he was held to one catch while Chrebet caught the winning touchdown pass from Curtis Martin in the last minute. After the game, in a reference to Johnson’s “flashlight” remark, the New York media dubbed Chrebet “The Green Lantern.”

Marty signed this card for me from a DC comic art set spotlighting the company's greatest characters in the 90's. It was another opportunity for Marty to link to a new legion of adoring fans!

I called Marty the next morning and asked him if he’d heard about it. He had not, so I told him the whole story. Needless to say, he was very proud of it all. The Green Lantern was still very much alive and well.
I was in Iraq, serving as Chief of Intelligence Operations for the Multinational Forces-Iraq, in 2004 when Carrie passed away. She had always been Marty’s biggest fan and supporter. I am so sorry I could not be there for Marty and Spence to comfort them in their great loss. And in 2006, shortly after I retired from the Army, I got “the call” from Spence. It was bad news. Marty had passed away at the age of 91. Spence wanted me to know before it hit all the trade publications and became public knowledge. (That is SO like Spence … just as his parents were so giving, he was more concerned with the feelings of others in a time of intense sorrow.  Thanks, Spence!  I’ll never forget it!).  Marty and Carrie were together again, but for the rest of us, without the light of the Green Lantern, the world looked pretty dark.

A sad day for the heroes of the Golden Age: We will miss you always, Marty!

Here’s a small sample of what others said about Marty after his passing.

Steve Geppi
President and CEO
Diamond Comic Distributors
“Marty Nodell was one of the pioneers in our field, and it’s wonderful that he lived to see his work enjoyed and appreciated by so many. Many convention-goers had their first experience meeting a Golden Age creator because he was so kind and outgoing with modern fans. He leaves today’s creators with a clear path to follow in that regard, and generations of enthusiasts with a rich legacy of storytelling.

Gary Colabuono
Dealer – Collector
It is truly a sad time for all of us who knew Marty. Marty loved fans. He never got tired of talking about his years in the comics business. He never got tired of doing sketches and signing autographs. He was easily the most accessible and approachable comic creator I’ve ever known.

John Petty
Director of Media Relations
Heritage Auction Galleries
I’m devastated by the loss of Marty Nodell, a man I’m honored to have known him and to have spent time with on a number of occasions. A true pioneer in the field of both comics and advertising, his passing leaves a void that is impossible to fill. Marty was always happy to tell a story or talk to fans or provide an autograph or whatever. Even during the last few years, when his health was obviously declining, Marty went to shows, accompanied by his son, Spence, and was accessible to anyone who wanted a moment of his time. More than a great artist and a wonderful storyteller, Marty was a true gentleman, a mensch in every sense of the world, and he will be sorely missed. Fortunately, he leaves a significant legacy behind him, in both the Green Lantern and the Pillsbury Doughboy, so, in a very real sense, Marty is with us whenever we come into contact with either of these great, lasting and iconic characters. Even more consoling is the fact that he and Carrie, his wife of many, many years, from whom he was inseparable in life, are now reunited in some great, green and verdant place where they can be together for all time.

Paul Litch
Senior Grader and Modern Age Specialist
Comics Guaranty (CGC)
Martin Nodell taught us that the greatest gift we possess is our imagination, and that with an unyielding will we can make our ideas a reality. It is a unique and special lesson that he shared with us. He was inspirational, now he is inspiration.

Weldon Adams Comic Historian/Collector
Martin Nodell was both someone I considered a friend and a man that I admired greatly.
It wasn’t hard to be a friend of Marty or his wife Carrie. All you really had to do was to meet him once. And then you were just about family. Keep that lantern lit for us, Marty.

Tom Gordon III
Managing Editor
Gemstone Publishing
Marty was one of the kindest people, who had a passion for what he had accomplished and a love for the comics and his fans

This year, Marty was a nominee to be inducted into the Comics Hall of Fame as part of the Eisner Awards (the ‘Academy Awards’ of the industry, named after legendary creator Will Eisner) at the San Diego Comicon.  While he was not inducted this year, I have full confidence that it will come eventually.  It’s an honor a long time coming.  Years ago, Marty asked me to write about him someday.  He knew I loved to write and was trying to break into the publishing world. I promised him that I would certainly do so. Today, Marty, I want you to know that my promise is fulfilled.

A special handout Marty developed to introduce his character to younger fans who didn't realize the hero of their comics had actually been fighting crime since 1940!

Every day as I travel about my busy life, I stop at red lights and look for a sign that it’s safe to proceed. And then, I see a green light in the darkness.  That green light always brings a smile, because I think of Marty when I see it. Rest in peace, Marty and Carrie. I can still see your light, no matter how dark it gets!

In brightest day, in darkest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let all who worship evil’s might,
Beware my power … Green Lantern’s light!

Farewell, dear friend, Marty. The REAL power of the Green Lantern was YOU!