Carmine Infantino, the legendary comic book creator who played an integral role in the American comic book business both as an artist and editor, passed away today. Regarded by many as one of the greatest pencillers the industry has ever known, he is perhaps most associated with his work in revitalizing the DC Comics character The Flash, a move that signaled a return of popularity for superheroes and ushered in what is fondly referred to even today as the Silver Age of American comics.

Infantino was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1925. As a freshman in high school, he was hired by Harry Chesler, whose studio included members Jack Cole, Jack and Otto Binder, Mort Meskin and others. Infantino would go on to work for many publishers before arriving at DC Comics in 1947. His first published work for DC was a short story in which he and writer Robert Kanigher created the original Black Canary.

During the early 1950s, Infantino mostly worked on Western, mystery and science fiction comics for DC, as the popularity of superheroes had declined following the aftermath of the Senate hearings resulting from Frederic Wertham's Seductin of the Innocent. Then, in 1956, DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz would task Kanigher and Infantino with revitalizing superheroes by updating the Flash.

This new version of the character debuted in Showcase #4, with a new backstory, secret identity (Barry Allen instead of Jay Garrick) and groundbreaking design created by Infantino. The success of this debut led to the rebirth of superhero comics. Five years later, Infantino would illustrate the "Flash of Two Worlds," a landmark story in the pages of Flash #123, marking the first meeting of the Silver and Golden Age era Flashes and, more significantly, introduced Earth Two and the concept of the Multiverse to DC Comics. The success of "Flash of Two Worlds" would lead to DC revamping many of it's other Golden Age characters who'd been dormant for years.

Infantino would go on to co-create other notable characters for DC, including Elongated Man, Deadman and of course Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in the pages of Detective Comics #359, a story titled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!"

In 1967, Infantino was promoted to Art Director of DC Comics, and later Editorial Director, where his impact was immediate and profound. In his new role, he employed a strategy of hiring artists as editors, first bringing Charlton Comics artist Dick Giordano to DC, who would later become the publisher's Executive Editor. Infantino also made artists Joe Orlando, Mike Sekowsky and Joe Kubert editors. Under Infantino's stewardship, creators Neal Adams and Denny O'Neill were brought into the fold, and that duo would go on to create definitive reinterpretations of characters like Batman, Green Lantern and Green Arrow. In 1970, Infantino signed Jack Kirby to a contract with DC Comics, which led to the creation of Kirby's enduringly popular Fourth World saga, as well as later creations including The Demon, Kamandi, and others. The following year, Infantino was promoted to publisher of DC Comics, a title he would hold until 1976 when he was replaced by Jenette Kahn.

Infantino would go on to co-create other notable characters for DC, including Elongated Man, Deadman and of course Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in the pages of Detective Comics #359, a story titled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!"

In 1967, Infantino was promoted to Art Director of DC Comics, and later Editorial Director, where his impact was immediate and profound. In his new role, he employed a strategy of hiring artists as editors, first bringing Charlton Comics artist Dick Giordano to DC, who would later become the publisher's Executive Editor. Infantino also made artists Joe Orlando, Mike Sekowsky and Joe Kubert editors. Under Infantino's stewardship, creators Neal Adams and Denny O'Neill were brought into the fold, and that duo would go on to create definitive reinterpretations of characters like Batman, Green Lantern and Green Arrow. In 1970, Infantino signed Jack Kirby to a contract with DC Comics, which led to the creation of Kirby's enduringly popular Fourth World saga, as well as later creations including The Demon, Kamandi, and others. The following year, Infantino was promoted to publisher of DC Comics, a title he would hold until 1976 when he was replaced by Jenette Kahn.