Star Reach and Marvel

Gordon's career began in the mid-1970s as penciler and inker of the story "A Christmas Carol", starring Michael T. Gilbert's funny-animal detective the Wraith, in Quack #6 (Dec. 1977), from the early independent comics publisher Star Reach. The following year, Gordon began freelance inking for Marvel Comics, working with pencilers Bob Budiansky and Steve Leialoha, respectively, on a backup story each in Captain America #220-221 (April—May 1978). He was the regular inker on Spider-Woman, with penciler Carmine Infantino from #7-16 (Oct. 1978 - July 1979), and worked as well on at least one issue each of The Avengers, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Marvel Premiere, Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-in-One, Master of Kung Fu, Power Man and Iron Fist, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Thor Annual and "What If..." through 1982.

DC, Eclipse, Marvel, and Image

In 1982 Gordon left Marvel for DC Comics to ink writer-penciler-co-creator Scott Shaw and fill-in penciler Stan Goldberg on the funny-animal superhero series Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew. In 1983, Gordon did a year-and-a-half-long run at the independent Eclipse Comics, inking Will Meugniot on Will and Mark Evanier's The DNAgents, as well as inking Rick Hoberg for the company's spin-off series Surge and its anthology Eclipse Monthly.

Afterward, he returned to Marvel to become the regular inker on the company's flagship series Fantastic Four, and on the science-fiction adventure limited series Rocket Raccoon (with Mike Mignola penciling). Other work around this time includes issues of The Eternals and Power Pack, and Marvel's licensed series Thundercats and Transformers.

Freelancing once again for DC, Gordon in 1987 began inking Kevin Maguire while working with plotter/thumbnail artist Keith Giffen on one of that era's most critically lauded series, Justice League International. Two years later, Gordon, this time inking Giffen, also began cowriting with Giffen and Tom and Mary Bierbaum for DC's revamped Legion of Super Heroes. Gordon took over the complete writing and scripting chores for issues #21 though 24 (Aug. 1991), while continuing to ink Giffen.

In 1992 he began adapting a childhood creation, WildStar, with Jerry Ordway for creator-owned company Image Comics. WildStar: Sky Zero was the title of the miniseries that was written, inked, edited (with the help of Bud Shakespeare) and produced by Gordon, and penciled by Jerry Ordway. There was also a continuing WildStar series started with penciler Chris Marrinan.

Other late 1980s and 1990s work includes Marvel's The Sensational She-Hulk, The Silver Surfer and a run over penciler Erik Larsen on The Amazing Spider-Man; DC's Valor and Timber Wolf (the latter of which he also wrote and thumbnailed); Hero Comics' Champions; Awesome Entertainment's "Supreme" series and Judgment Day Alpha both written by Alan Moore; Tom Strong written by Alan Moore for DC’s imprint America's Best Comics; Image Comics' Freak Force and others.

He continued his working relationship with Ordway, inking Marvel's The Avengers vol. 2. Other 2000s work for Marvel includss Captain Marvel #25 (Sept. 2004) and Marvel Holiday Special #1 (Jan. 2006).

Outside of comics, Gordon has also done commercial and advertising art, fashion illustration, advertising and commercial voice overs including audiobooks, and played in rock bands.

Gordon has accumulated an extensive array of recognition within the comics industry, including two Eisner Awards and several Harvey Award nominations.

• Harvey Award for Best Inker 1988 (nominated) - Justice League International #1, DC Comics
• Harvey Award for Best New Series 1988 (nominated) - Justice League International, by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon, DC Comics
• Eisner Award for Best Art Team 1988 (nominated) - Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon, for Justice League International #1, DC Comics
• Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/Single Story 2000 - Tom Strong #1 (ABC Comics): "How Tom Strong Got Started," by Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, and Al Gordon
• Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story 2000 - Tom Strong #4—7 (ABC Comics), by Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, Al Gordon, and guest artists
• Harvey Award for Best Inker 2000 (nominated) - Tom Strong, ABC Comics (Tom Strong also nominated for Best New Series 2000 and Best Continuing or Limited Series 2000)
• Harvey Award for Best Inker 2001 (nominated) - Tom Strong, ABC Comics

Writer

• Legion of Super-Heroes (1989)
• Timber Wolf (1992)
• Who's Who: Update '93 (1992)
• Wildstar (1995)
• Wildstar: Sky Zero (1993)

Penciller

• The DC Comics Encyclopedia (2004)
• Judgment Day (2003)
• Web of Spider-Man (1985)
• What If? (1977)

Inker

• The Adventures of The New Men (1996)
• Alan Moore's Awesome Universe Handbook (1999)
• The Amazing Spider-Man (1963)
• Ambush Bug: Nothing Special (1992)
• America's Best Comics (2004)
• America's Best Comics Preview (1999)
• America's Best Comics Primer (2008)
• America's Best Comics Special (2001)
• Avengers Assemble (2004)
• The Avengers(1963)
• The Avengers (1998)
• Back Issue (2003)
• Brigade (1993)
• Captain America (1968)
• Captain America (1998)
• Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! (1982)
• Captain Carrot and the Final Ark (2007)
• Captain Marvel (2002)
• Comics Feature (1980)
• Countdown (2000)
• Cover Run: The DC Comics Art of Adam Hughes (2010)
• Danny Fingeroth's Write Now! (2002)
• Defenders (2001)
• Detective Comics (1937)
• DNAgents (1983)
• DNAgents (2004)
• Doom Patrol (1987)
• Eclipse Monthly (1983)
• Essential Marvel Team-Up (2002)
• Essential Marvel Two-In-One (2005)
• Essential Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (2005)
• Essential Spider-Woman (2005)
• Essential X-Factor (2005)
• Essential X-Men (1999)
• Eternals (1985)
• Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis (2009)
• Excalibur: Air Apparent (1991)
• Excalibur: XX Crossing (1992)
• Fantastic Four (1961)
• Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne (2005)
• Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comics Magazine (2001)
• Farscape: War Torn (2002)
• The Flash (1987)
• Freak Force (1993)
• Gen13 (1995)
• Giant Size Spider-Man (1998)
• Glory (1995)
• Glory (1996)
• Glory (1999)
• Green Lantern Corps Quarterly (1992)
• Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files (2008)
• Heroes for Hope Starring the X-Men (1985)
• Highbrow Entertainment (1994)
• Infinity Inc. (1984)
• Invasion! (1988)
• The Invincible Iron Man DVD-ROM (2007)
• The Invincible Iron Man (2007)
• Iron Man (1968)
• Judgment Day (1997)
• Judgment Day Sourcebook (1997)
• Justice League (1987)
• Justice League International (1987)
• Legion of Super-Heroes (1984)
• Legion of Super-Heroes (1989)
• Lobo's Greatest Hits (1991)
• Marvel Age (1983)
• Marvel Comics Presents (1988)
• Marvel Holiday Special (1991)
• Marvel Premiere (1972)
• Marvel Team-Up (1972)
• Marvel Two-In-One (1974)
• Master of Kung Fu (1974)
• Mek (2003)
• Miracleman (1985)
• New Men (1994)
• Orion (2000)
• Phantom Force (1993)
• Power Man and Iron Fist (1978)
• Power Pack (1984)
• Powerline (1988)
• Quack! (1976)
• Reload/Mek (2004)
• Rocket Raccoon (1985)
• Sabretooth Classic (1994)
• The Savage Dragon (1993)
• The Savage Sword of Conan (1974)
• Secret Origins (1986)
• The Sensational She-Hulk (1989)
• Silver Surfer (1987)
• Soulsearchers and Company (1993)
• The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976)
• Spider-Man Comics Weekly (UK) (1973)
• Spider-Man Visionaries: Roger Stern (2007)
• Spider-Man: Birth of Venom (2007)
• Spider-Man: The Cosmic Adventures (1993)
• Spider-Woman (1978)
• Superman & Savage Dragon: Chicago (2002)
• Supreme (1992)
• Supreme (1997)
• Supreme: The New Adventures (1996)
• Supreme: The Return (1999)
• Surge (1984)
• Tales Of The New Gods (2008)
• Tales of the Teen Titans (1984)
• Thor (1966)
• Thundercats (1985)
• Timber Wolf (1992)
• Tom Strong (1999)
• The Transformers (UK) (1984)
• The Transformers (1984)
• The Transformers: Generations (2006)
• Uncanny X-Men (1963)
• Valor (1992)
• Web of Spider-Man (1985)
• What If? (1977)
• What The--?! (1988)
• Who's Who in Star Trek (1987)
• Who's Who in the DC Universe (1990)
• Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes (1988)
• Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985)
• Who's Who: Update '87 (1987)
• Who's Who: Update '88 (1988)
• Who's Who: Update '93 (1992)
• Wildstar (1995)
• Wildstar: Sky Zero (1993)
• Women of Marvel (2006)
• X-Men: Mutant Massacre (1999)
• X-Men: The Asgardian Wars (1989)
• Youngblood Super Special (1997)

Cover artist

• The Adventures of The New Men (1996)
• Amazing Heroes (1981)
• The Amazing Spider-Man (1963)
• Ambush Bug Nothing Special (1992)
• America's Best Comics Preview (1999)
• America's Best Comics Primer (2008)
• DNAgents (1983)
• Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988)
• Doom Patrol (1987)
• Freak Force (1993)
• Ghost Rider (1973)
• Infinity Inc. (1984)
• Justice League International (1987)
• L.E.G.I.O.N. (1989)
• League of Champions (1990)
• Legion of Super-Heroes (1989)
• Legion: Secret Files (1998)
• Legionnaires (1993)
• The Malibu Sun (1992)
• Marvel Comics Presents (1988)
• The New DNAgents (1985)
• New Men (1994)
• Nova (1999)
• The Official Teen Titans Index (1985)
• The Outsiders (1985)
• Rocket Raccoon (1985)
• The Savage Dragon (1993)
• Secret Origins (1986)
• Shadow Reavers (2001)
• Surge (1984)
• Timber Wolf (1992)
• Tom Strong (1999)
• The Trouble with Girls (1989)
• Valor (1992)
• Who's Who in the DC Universe (1990)
• Wildstar (1995)
• Wildstar: Sky Zero (1993)
• Youngblood (1998)
• Youngblood Super Special (1997)

Editor

• WildStar
• Timespirits (The Collected Trade Paperback) To be released in 2011.
• Fred Hembeck's The Near Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus