Krypton-Kid :: Original Sketches and Unpublished Works

Golden Age Green Lantern Oil Painting by Don Newton

Artist: Don Newton (All)

8 Comments - 402 Views - 6 Likes

Golden Age Green Lantern Oil Painting by Don Newton Comic Art

Additional Images:

Temporary Title

Previous Item:
Superman Sketch by Adam Hughes

Next Item:
GA Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman - Sheldon "Shelly" Moldoff

Artwork Details

Title:	Golden Age Green Lantern Oil Painting by Don Newton
Artist:	Don Newton (All)
Media Type:	Paint - Oil
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	402
Likes on CAF:	6 7
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	8
Added to Site:	9/23/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This is one of two oil paintings by Don that I own (the other is of Superman, who else?). It's a very interesting story as to how I came to own it...

In the early 70's, there was a comic convention that I attended in which Kirk Alyn was a guest. Don Newton also attended (this is where I first met Don). At the time, Don hadn't reached his professional status yet, but he was well-known among collectors because he used to do a lot of illustrations (even covers) for G. B. Love's Rocket's Blast/Comic Collector fanzine. At the show, there was a costume contest and first prize was an original oil painting of Kirk Alyn as Superman painted by Don. Well, Don was a huge fan of Captain Marvel, and he had an awesome costume professionally made that he wore to enter the contest (he really looked amazing in the costume as Captain Marvel). I also entered the contest as the GA Green Lantern with a costume that my Mom had made for me. In all modesty, she really did an amazing job on it, and Don raved about how much he liked it and what a great job she did. So, we both entered the contest and, as you might expect, Don won and I came in second. The problem now was that he won his own painting!

Now, Don certainly didn't want his painting back, so what to do? The judges decided to give the painting to Kirk Alyn (I never really understood that thinking at all, and "no" he wasn't in the contest too). Don came up to me afterwards and told me that he felt horrible about how this turned out because he knew how badly I wanted the painting and that he thought that even if he won, the painting would have gone to the second place winner -- which was me. He said that if he had known how it was going to turn out, he never would have entered the contest at all. I tried to explain to him that it was OK and that I was fine with it, but he obviously saw that I was disappointed. He said that he wanted to do another painting for me as a way to make up for how things had turned out. So, we talked about it for awhile, and he said that he really wanted to do an Alan Scott Green Lantern for me instead of Superman since that would be a sort of rememberence of my time as the GA Green Lantern. I agreed, a few months went by, it arrived in the mail, and the rest is history.

This piece is gorgeous! The pictures do not do it justice! The colors are just as bright and vivid as they were when he painted it over 50 years ago. The layout is classic and the lantern almost appears to actually be giving off light. I'm sure that you can see why I love this piece, and it is another piece in my collection that I would never consider parting with for anything.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Terry Hanks
Joined:	April 2017
Last Login:	August 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Arnie Grieves
Member Since 2010

Posted on 9/23/2023

Wow, what a great story and your second place consolation prize is superb.

ilia georgiev
Member Since 2006

Posted on 9/23/2023

The colors are vibrant! The giant lantern in the background is a great visual. The Green Lantern fugue is done perfectly in terms of the costume and musculature. This looks more finished then the Phantom cover paintings. The story is priceless. Congrats!

Will K
Member Since 2006

Posted on 9/23/2023

Great story and nice painting !! There isn't a lot out there about Don Newton beyond his bibliography. So it's nice to know he was an awesome artist AND a standup guy.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 9/24/2023

You were robbed. Newton won his own painting and it was his to do with it what he wanted. Those judges could have excluded the professional nature of his costume and gave him a special jury award. I bet the judges were Moe, Curly Joe, and Larry.

Terry Hanks
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 9/24/2023

Marcus Wai wrote:

You were robbed.� Newton won his own painting and it was his to do with it what he wanted. Those judges could have excluded the professional nature of his costume and gave him a special jury award.� I bet the judges were Moe, Curly Joe, and Larry.�

I appreciate you saying that, but I ended up with a really great piece that I am proud to own. There's a couple of more things that you might find interesting... first, I heard that some years later, Kirk Alyn ended up selling that painting. I can't remember who I heard purchased it, but I wish I had known that it ws up for sale so that I could have made a bid for it. Under the circumstances, it would have been great to own. Also, I was able to eventually purchase one of the Superman oil paintings that Don did (he did about 3 I think with slight variations). One was used as the cover for an issue of Rockets Blast/Comic Collector, but I don't think that mine was that version. Actually, I don't have a clue if it is or not, but it doesn't matter as I still love it regardless of whether or not it was ever published. All that being said, I would still like to have the Kirk Alyn version of Don's Superman painting just because of my connection to it. Thanks so much for your comment!

Mike (aka Off White) White
Member Since 2008

Posted on 9/28/2023

Great story and a gorgeous painting! Congrats!

Simon Ma
Member Since 2013

Posted on 10/3/2023

I am not sure if that is not the coolest acquisition story I have ever heard. The painting is tremendous in its own right but that memory of how you came about it makes it extra special. And as someone else has already said, it is good to hear that Don Newton was not only an accomplished comic artist but also an all-around sound guy – they do not always go together. Thank you for sharing.

<> Shemp
Member Since 2003

Posted on 10/21/2023

Beautiful painting! Love Don's paintings, always great see to one. Congrats!

All
	Indy Jones 9/7/2025 5:51:00 PM
	Constant N 9/7/2025 5:51:00 PM
	Dan Goodsell 9/7/2025 5:50:00 PM
	Tony Isaza 9/7/2025 5:50:00 PM
	Michael Hosey 9/7/2025 5:48:00 PM
View All


	Travis Leaf 9/7/2025 5:43:00 PM
	anthony cozart 9/7/2025 5:41:00 PM
	Francesco Francavilla 9/7/2025 5:29:00 PM
	Timothy L. 9/7/2025 5:21:00 PM
	Anthony Pfau 9/7/2025 5:21:00 PM