Al Plastino

Biography

Alfred John Plastino (born December 15, 1921 – died November 25, 2013) was a legendary American comic book artist and one of the most prolific Superman illustrators of the 1950s. He is best known for his historic collaboration with writer Otto Binder, during which they co-created some of the most enduring characters in the DC Universe. Most notably, Plastino drew the debut of Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) in Action Comics #252 (1959), designing her original look and establishing her visual identity. Beyond Supergirl, Plastino also drew the first appearances of the Legion of Super-Heroes (in Adventure Comics #247) and the iconic villain Brainiac (in Action Comics #242). His clean, expressive art style defined the "Silver Age" of Superman and laid the visual groundwork for the characters that James Gunn and the DC Studios team are adapting for the 2026 film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Known For

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