Al Plastino, Superman comic artist, gets super tribute in Shirley

Free of charge, the family of famed comic book artist Al Plastino has continued one of the late Shirley resident's prized traditions: giving away prints of the animated superheroes and villains that made him a fan favorite.

On Wednesday, Melanie Podlesny, Plastino's 17-year-old granddaughter, attended a ceremony at John S. Hobart Elementary School in Shirley along with other relatives to honor her grandfather's legacy and give a handful of comic book devotees prints of one of his Superman drawings. The prints depicting the superhero were among those her grandfather would draw to give away at comic conventions during his later years, Podlesny said.

Plastino died in 2013 at age 91.

"It’s how he would draw it back in the 1950s," Podlesny said, holding the illustration adorned with an explosive "BWWAAMM!" above Superman's signature red cape.

"You can see in the color of this piece that it’s a lot more retro Superman."

The ceremony before a few dozen students and staff from Hobart and William Floyd High School students included the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Plastino. The plaque is affixed below his painting of the late United States senator from New York for whom the school is named.

The school honored Shirley’s own comic book legend at a time when superheroes are ubiquitous in popular culture through countless movies and television programs, including the "Supergirl" show based on the titular character Plastino co-created.

"I wanted him to get notoriety as far as the impact that he made and I wanted the kids to realize that they had somebody so important living in Shirley," said Theresa Bianco, the district’s fine arts chairperson who teaches art at William Floyd High. "They need to realize ... somebody that lives right in their town did this and was so successful."

Born in 1921, Plastino grew up in the Bronx and had a fascination with drawing from a young age, according to two of his daughters and granddaughter. Sketchbook in hand, they said, he frequented museums, replicating artworks and seeking inspiration.

Plastino made a name for himself as one of the most prolific Superman and Batman artists during his time, splashing the characters onto the pages of comics throughout the 1940s, '50s and '60s. In addition to Supergirl, he is credited with co-creating the teenage "Legion of Superheroes" and the villain Brainiac. He also lent his handiwork to newspaper comic strips, including "Peanuts" and "Ferdinand."

In 1968, Plastino moved to Shirley to raise his family. His daughters said their father enjoyed painting local landscapes, from duck farms to the Moriches Inlet, with oil on either canvas or wood.

He also enjoyed sharing his craft with his children and grandchildren. Podlesny said she hopes to use the passion for art she inherited in a career in architecture. Her favorite piece her grandfather made was one of a kind: Supergirl wishing her a happy sixth birthday.

"To think that people are still following so much of what he was a part of makes him feel very important and alive with what’s going on in the world," said Janice Iapaolo, one of Plastino’s daughters. "There are so many positive things about it and our world really needs that positiveness and ... the fine arts world."

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Melanie Podlesny's last name.