Hong Kong from Oriental Heroes to Mcdull. Comics abound. #AtoZChallenge

April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 Ronovan A to Z Challenge-Comic Creators Around the World Alice Mak, Art, AtoZ Challenge, Batman: Hong Kong, Brian Tse, Comic Books, Dragon Tiger Gate, Hong Kong, manhua, Mcdull, Oriental Heroes, Tony Wong, Wong Yuk-long, Writing

Today’s article is brought to you by the letter H by way of the A to Z Challenge¹ challenge. You can visit them with a list of almost 1800 bloggers from around the world participating in the challenge this month. Click the little 1 and it will take you down to the link.

Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the serious business of comic book creators. Many people don’t understand what comic books or graphic novels are. I am not speaking of Archie or Bugs Bunny. Those may come up at some point but I am looking for books in the form of images and text balloons.

Some of the first exposure to long words can be found in my early days of reading the Fantastic Four with the scientific jargon used. No, not POW! BiFF! BAM!

We’re headed to a land where the comics are called manhua or impromptu sketches. The third largest comic book market in the world, Hong Kong². I had five countries or regions that operate as separate entities and are recognized as such. I didn’t go to the Holy See, as you can, well as you can see.

Having said that I am not into, for the purpose of these article, Bugs Bunny type comics, let’s begin by talking about a pig.

Alice Mak³ & Brian Tse⁴

This artist and writing, respectively, duo brings us Mcmug⁵, a pig’s tale. Those last three words are mine. As well as Mcdull⁶. Mcmug is one of the most popular characters in Hong Kong and isn’t really a child’s figure. The comic speaks about social concerns in a way that likely can only be gotten away with through this particular style. The series has been running since 1991.

“Drawing is a language to me,” said Ms Mak. “If I don’t know how to say something to you, I will draw it instead.”

Alice Mak and Brian Tse are actually married.⁷ The formal training Ms. Mak received was from the former Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute⁸ where she took a design course. Otherwise she watched her elder brother while he took his drawing classes and sought at foreign illustrators for critiques.

Mr. Tse’s influence in regards to his writing is Raymond Briggs⁹, an illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist and author from England. Tse became influenced while studying at the University of Sydney. He and Mak met when he asked her to draw the images for his writings.

Let’s go a little more old school now, and really more where I belong.

Wong Jan-lung¹⁰

You might know him better as Wong Yuk-long or Tony Wong, Mr. Hong Kong comics himself. He brought us what was originally titled Little Rascals but is now called Oriental Heroes¹¹. Why, mentioned? This was apparently the first based on action and fighting. The graphic nature of the early editions lead to the Indecent Publication Law in 1975¹². The book involves the story of members of a Kungfu school Dragon Tiger Gate. They fight against injustice.

Perhaps the longevity of the series can be attributed to Wong’s willingness and his recognition in regards to changing art style and writing style. As times have changed, so has he. The two covers above are the same series decades apart, both by Wong.

I am happy to notice DC Comics took note of who they called “superstar artist” for their Batman: Hong Kong¹³ hardcover graphic novel.

I wanted to do something on Theresa Lee Wai-chun of Miss 13 Dot but I couldn’t find information enough to do anything with. Great art out there though.

I would have also included Old Master Q but the creator, Alfonso Wong was not born in Hong Kong.

Click the link below or the letter to go to Greece.

Greece from Arkas to Papadatos.

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References

1 http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2015.html
2 http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1559058/hong-kongs-comics-artists-find-new-perspective

Return to Alice Mak & Brian Tse
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Mak_%28cartoonist%29
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Tse
5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMug
6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDull
7 http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultureexpress/20120620/108374.shtml
8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Polytechnic_University
9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Briggs

Return to Wong Yuk-long
10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Yuk-long

11 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Heroes

12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Hong_Kong

13 http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/batman-hong-kong

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#Greece from #Arkas to Papadatos. #AtoZChallenge in #Comics

April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 Ronovan A to Z Challenge-Comic Creators Around the World Alecos Papadatos, Annie Di Donna, Apostolos Doxiadis, Arkas, AtoZ Challenge, Bertrand Russell, Byron Aptosoglou, Christos Papadimitriou, Greece, Little Hero, Logicomix, Rooster, Stelios Anemodouras

Greece. Not a place I would have thought to go for comic book creators. A place becomes fixed in your mind to represent something. Greece is mythology, philosophy, play writes, and epic poets. Why would I think of Greece as a source for material to create great comics? Just a touch of sarcasm there. We can be blinded by how many boxes we have stacked in our minds.

Looking at a list of countries for comic book creators, Greece is not even included. However, I have a list of countries instead, and with Greenland not having something to offer me, perhaps due to a language barrier in searching, Greece, such an easy language for we Americans, became my choice. Do you get I am in a sarcastic mood as I begin this article? I’ve been translating articles for days now in attempts to create good articles. Love learning, hate I don’t know languages.

Normally in the series I have been saving the tip of the iceberg for last, but not today. Or maybe I am, we don’t know yet. I am starting with the one that I have found the most awe about across the internet. And there is reason for that awe. No, not aw, although the sparrows are cute.

Arkas

Arkas¹ is a mystery. First publishing Rooster in 1981, Arkas has stayed out of the public eye. Byt this I mean, Arkas is not the artist’s real name, as far as we know. I imagine an agent or lawyer knows, the person handling the contracts for publishing for pay. Other than that, great speculation has been the norm for decades.

“His characteristic style of speech and image was so mature and well-designed right from his first publication that the general public had the impression that this was not a new young artist but an acclaimed master who was publishing under a pseudonym!” ²

One reason Arkas is so popular is, the author stays away from being overtly political. There is normally a moral to the stories written. I am using “he” as that is the considered gender by the internet articles I’ve read. I would not be surprised if Arkas is a woman. In a way I believe signs would point to it. The secrecy being part of my reasoning.

Characters in Arkas’ work are people and animals, both of whom talk. I greatly enjoyed the one called Flying Starts about a father sparrow and his son. Sarcastic and self deprecating a times but very telling of society. And. It. Is. Funny. I don’t believe anything is lost in the translation to English, which I noticed someone commented that only a little was lost. I can’t see how any could be lost. Arkas is popular because the work can be in any country or society and be relevant.

Byron Aptosoglou

Byron Aptosoglou³ a comic book artist who in 1953 created a comic book, or album as they are known in Europe, titled Little Hero⁴. The co-creator was Stelios Anemodouras⁵. The book revolved around three Greek children who fought against the occupation of their country by Bulgarians, Germans, and Italians. The book ended in 1968 with Anemodouras returing to full time artist. The book continued in reprints and theatrical productions.

Alecos Papadatos

Alecos Papadatos⁶ is a writer and illustrator with training in animation at the University of Sorbonne I⁷, in Paris. What propelled Papadatos to fame in the comic book community is a book called Logicomix⁸ he created along with Apostolos Doxiadis⁹, Christos Papadimitriou¹⁰ and Annie Di Donna¹¹. The insanity of the success of this graphic novel is the fact Bertrand Russell¹² is used as the narrator as you are told his story. I find that amazing and give a credit deal of credit to the minds who came up with the idea and the people who supported the effort and made it such a success. Truly amazing. Oddly you also have the story of how the creators of the book debate over the meaning of the story itself. A brilliant idea.
The book made it to #1 on the New York Times Best Seller Graphic Novels List.

Click the link or the letter for France.

France Creators from Zig et Puce to Mœbius.

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References
Return To Arkas
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkas
2 http://www.arkas.gr/index.php/gr/1/lang/en0.htm The official site.

Return To Aptosoglou
3 https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aptosoglou_byron.htm
4 Wikipedia Google Translate Little Hero
5 Wikipedia Google Translate For Stelios Anemodouras

Return To Papdatos
6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alecos_Papadatos
7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Paris
8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logicomix
9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Doxiadis
10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christos_Papadimitriou
11 I couldn’t find any real links to information about this artist. She was the colorist on the Logicomix. Actually a very important part of the process. A colorist makes or breaks the artwork.
12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russell
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France Creators from Zig et Puce to Mœbius. #AtoZChallenge

April 7, 2015April 6, 2015 Ronovan A to Z Challenge-Comic Creators Around the World Airtight Garage, Alain Saint-Ogan, Arzach, Barbarella, Blueberry, France Comic Book, Jacques Martin, Jean Henri Gaston Giraud, Jean-Claude Forest, Mœbius, Stan Lee, The Adventures of Alix, Zig et Puce

France. The list today could go on forever, but it won’t. What I will do is give you a few that jump out at me. If I miss a favorite of yours, my apologies. Many of the sites are in French and at the moment, I haven’t the strength of concentration to delve into translating. Normally I would, and I may very well do a new version in the future, but today I give you the following.

One thing I found interesting is how countries where American comics were popular handled WWII and the restriction and banning of Western comics in those countries while under Nazi or Fascist control.

France was no exception to this situation.

Alain Saint-Ogan

Saint-Ogan¹ was born August 7, 1895, in Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine. We have to begin here when speaking of French comics. An author and artist, Saint-Ogan brought to French comic works it had not seen before, and thus gives him the distinction of being a pioneer of sorts in the field. With Zig et Puce² or Zig and Flea we have for the first time the Western text balloons within the image rather than underneath.

Saint-Olgan was a true early comic creator in nation torn in many ways through war. Meaning, politics showed in many of his productions. One thing that made Zig et Puce popular was the third character, not mentioned in the title, Alfred, their pet penguin. Yes. A penguin.

He passed away in 1974.

Jacques Martin

Jacques Martin³, a writer and artist born in Strasbourg, France in 1921, began earnestly a career in comics in 1942 and then took a jump in the right direction by finding his way to Georges Remi, the man known simply as Hergé⁴.
Learning the ligne claire⁵ style, Martin created his most famous work, Alix⁶, also called The Adventures of Alix. The book is about Alix, during the time of Julius Caesar and his adventures, with great historic detail, throughout the Roman Empire and World. The book began in 1948 and continues today, although Martin had to pass the artist duties over due to failing eyesight starting in 1998. He passed away in 2010.

Jean-Claude Forest

Jean-Claude Forest⁷, writer and artist born in Le Perreux-sur-Marne, a Paris suburb in 1930. Trained at the Paris School of Design, Forest began work quickly and eventually went on to create one very famous character. He is the first of the list today to be into the science fiction part of the comic book world. Which is reflected in his creation, Barbarella⁸. Barbarella was known as the first adult comic in that it contained some eroticism. Many may remember the movie⁹ based on the books that stared Jane Fonda.

He passed away in 1988.

Jean Henri Gaston Giraud

“Mœbius”¹⁰ as the man is known, an artist born in 1938 in Nogent-sur-Marne, France. Yes, I waited until the end to give this one to you. Why? He is probably the most influential man on the list.

In western/cowboy comics he gave us Blueberry¹¹, along with writer Jean-Michael Charlier¹². Some say this is his most famous among those in France. His science-fiction work of note was with the books Arzach¹³ and Airtight Garage¹⁴. He even worked with Stan Lee¹⁵ on a Marvel¹⁶ two issue story of Silver Surfer¹⁷ called Parable¹⁸ which won an Eisner Award¹⁹.

Giraud passed away in 2012. Perhaps one of the greatest influences Giraud had and maybe still has is through his graphic short story The Long Tomorrow²⁰. The visuals of the story were an impact on movies such as Blade Runner²¹, and even the probe droid in the opening of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back²². He also was a storyboard artist on movies such as Alien²³.

Watch the man himself at work.

Click the image below for England or this link: England Comics Creators at home and their US invasion.

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References

England Comics Creators at home and their US invasion. #AtoZChallenge

April 6, 2015April 9, 2015 Ronovan A to Z Challenge-Comic Creators Around the World 2000AD, Alan Moore, AtoZ Challenge, Dan Dare, Frank Hampson, Killing Joke, Marcus Morris, Peter Milligan, The League of Extraordinary Gentelmen, Watchmen, X-Force

I attempted to do a few other countries, saving this one for another letter. I knew I couldn’t get away with a series on comic book creators without England. It was going to be under Great Britain. Due to the political nature and sensitivity of another country I attempted, but learned a great deal about, I decided the U.K. could be separated into the actual countries, if that be the right term to use.

What I will attempt here, is to keep the creators mentioned to those born in what would be called England proper, my term.

Before some of you howl for The Beano¹, or The Dandy²,those may make an appearance later in the alphabet where they provide an outlet for many creators.

One thing to keep in mind about comics from England is they were not a focus nor had as much an impact as they did in the United States during the early years of development. Why? Something called WWII and a focus on staying alive, holding onto a country, and putting paper and ink to better uses.

I’ll begin in an odd place today, with:

Marcus Morris

Reverend John Marcus Harston Morris OBE³ was a Publisher born in 1915 in Preston, Lancashire. His venture into comics began as a result of his belief the church was not doing enough in the way of putting out anything to combat the influences of the more violent American comics. He thought British youth needed something more wholesome and I suppose role model like.

He began a publishing career with The Anvil, including articles by C.S. Lewis⁴ and went on to titles such as the Eagle, Girls, Robin, and Swift. Each for a target age group.

The Eagle⁵ featured Dan Dare⁶ created by artist and writer Frank Hampson. One thing would come back to haunt specifically Hampson in later years that Morris did in order to get Eagle published. Watch the video below about Frank Hampson to find out.

Frank Hampson

Frank Hampson⁷ was born in Audenshaw, Lancashire in 1918. He was hired by Morris as illustrator on The Anvil and went onto fame with Dan Dare which he created. Over time Hampson eventually met with legal troubles over breach of contract with his working on strip ideas while under contract with Longacre Press⁸. This resulted in his basically leaving the comics industry. During his days on Dan Dare, Hampson used models and research to have everything just right for his space missions. The photos here side by side show who Dan Dare was based on. Yes, that’s a younger Hampson on the right. He even had as a consultant a young science fiction writer named Arthur C. Clarke⁹.

I know you’ve been waiting for him.

Alan Moore

Alan Moore¹⁰ is a writer born in Northampton, England in 1953. Genius. I could stop there but I am certain you want more. His big start into the world of comic books came after being rejected for 2000AD¹¹, famously known for the character of Judge Dredd¹². Instead he wrote short stories for other publications at the encouragement of their editor. If you are lucky you also have copies of Moore’s work in Doctor Who Weekly¹³ from this time, which would be the early to mid 1980s.

He did eventually find his footing in 2000AD and he refers to his best work as The Ballad of Halo Jones¹⁴. The story of which ended sooner than expected due to intellectual property rights. But Moore had other outlets.

Marvel UK¹⁵ came calling with Doctor Who Weekly and primarily Captain Britain¹⁶. I admit Captain Britain is one of my favorite characters in the mainstream comic book atmosphere, from as far back as his appearance in Marvel Team-Up #65 with Spider-Man, which I have #66¹⁷, the second part.

Moore then entered into a venture that would bring him into more of the writer we know today. Warrior¹⁸ came calling. An anthology book that gave creators more freedom. With Marvelman¹⁹ and V for Vendetta²⁰, Moore had made it, but then-America came calling.

DC²¹ and Swamp Thing²², John Constantine²³ of the Hellblazer²⁴ comic. Batman: The Killing Joke²⁵, and I will leave you with two others or we will be here all day. Watchmen²⁶, see as the mini series of all time and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen²⁷.

I strongly urge you to go to Wikipedia and read all you can and follow the links to his various work. He is an inspiration in many ways. Not only in his writing and creativity but in his commitment to the rights of the creator of characters.

The video has some spoilers if you haven’t read Watchmen and might be interested in doings so. I suggest you do. I have them and I can tell you they are not like any other comics you’ve read. Moore puts the superhero in a whole different light and reality. He makes them more real than when Marvel made buildings have plumbing when they were lifted up, while DC had Superman picking them up and putting them down with no problem. This is bigger than that. You do get to hear Moore read from Rorschach’s journal. I found it cool to hear how the writer thought it sounded in his head.

Peter Milligan²⁸, born of England, currently London, best I can tell, links to Alan Moore in that he wrote Hellblazer. But his beginning was with a familiar book called 2000AD where he had his own ongoing strip called Bad Company²⁹. Milligan found his way into American and DC and as the ongoing writer for Batman³⁰ in Detective Comics³¹.

Milligan is responsible for the character of Azrael³², who became Batman for a time after Bruce Wayne’s³³back, who was in fighting as Batman, was broken by Bane³⁴. He also did work for Marvel³⁵ by launching Elektra³⁶. Wrote on X-Force³⁷, which was cancelled and replaced with X-Statix³⁸ also cancelled. Basically the same and with Milligan writing.

There are many more creators that could be mentioned. But if I did, as with Alan Moore, we would be here all day. Some have been mentioned previously, and some will be mentioned in future countries as partners of other creators. But for now, that’s it from England.

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Click the D for Denmark or click the following title which is a link as well.

Denmark, Superman and Valhalla? Okay.

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Denmark, Superman and Valhalla? Okay. #AtoZChallenge

April 4, 2015April 3, 2015 Ronovan A to Z Challenge-Comic Creators Around the World A to Z Challenge, Comic Books, Denmark, Grindel, Henning Kure, Neil Gaiman, Peter Madsen, Peter Snejbjerg Nielsen, Rune T. Kidde, Sandman, Superman, Teddy Kristiansen

All links open in this page for the convenience of screen readers of the blind and the visually impaired.

If you are participating in the challenge, if you will put a link to your post for today in a comment below I will make sure to visit you and my readers can too. There are so many out there I know I am missing some of my friends. I’ll keep putting this message in each day just in case.

Denmark. Never thought about comics from there before. But now I know. Several for you to read about today. From those who gave comics a rebirth in the country in the 1970s to the more recent crop of creators, I give you a taste of them all today.

Peter Madsen

Peter Madsen was born in 1958 and is partly responsible for the rebirth of the comic book industry in Denmark. He is primarily known for his work on the albums of the comic Valhalla. Madsen was not alone in the new wave of comics Denmark in the 1970s. He had help from editor Henning Kure and fellow cartoonist Rune T. Kidde. Valhalla is so popular, the books were turned into an animated film which Madsen do-directed.

But Madsen would not have been involved with Valhalla and who knows where he might have ended up if not for, editor and writer Henning Kure.

Henning Kure

Henning Kure–Here is the translation of his wikipedia page. (born 11 December 1953 in Hoptrup) is a Danish comics creator, writer, editor and mythologist. Worked as editor for Inter Press in 1974-1988, where he greatly influenced the development of comics in Denmark. From 1995-2009 he was manuscript editor at Egmont producing series for Disney’s Donald Duck Jumbo books, which he himself has supplied scripts.

Initiator and one of the driving forces behind Valhalla comic, which he has both worked as an editor and writer. The seventh volume as lead author. Kure also helped to translate the series into an animated feature films.

Kures children’s book Troll story also appeared as a picture book in collaboration with Rune T. Kidde and drafter of Valhalla series, Peter Madsen. The TV series Trol Therein is based on the universe and characters from his Troll story.

Kure also work as a story-doctor for several Danish writers, including Jussi Adler-Olsen.

As a mythologist and self-taught Norse philologist, Kure has researched and developed several new interpretations of Norse mythology, which include described in scientific articles and in the academic paper In the beginning was the scream. Conceptual thought in the Old Norse myth of creation.

Rune T. Kidde

Rune Torstein Kidde was born in 1957 and of all the creators today he was perhaps the most maddeningly creative one, with a sad twist for an artist. He’s been mentioned above in the previous two creators’ entries. I will give some of his other works. Part of what I found interesting with Kidde was his editing. He edited The Phantom and Beetle Bailey. He also worked with Mort Walker as well as Will Eisner, of course. Walker is an of course because of Beetle Bailey.

I mentioned a sad twist to Kidde’s career. He lost his eyesight in 1990. You would think he might have slowed down. Through instruction to friends who were artists he kept working in illustrating, but even greater was his work in radio for children’s programming as well as writing books of poetry, prose, biographies and family histories. Also he was an accomplished folk singer and musician and even had a role as an actor. He passed away in 2013.

Peter Snejbjerg Nielsen

Peter Snejbjerg Nielsen was born in 1983 and is a freelance artist who currently resides in Copenhagen, Denmark. He studied at Kolding Kunsthåndværkerskole, which translates to Kolding School of Design, located in Kolding, Denmark.

His career began in 1986 with Rune Fleischer, writer and artist. What some of us may know him from are things like Hellblazer with writer Garth Ennis and The Books of Magic, all at Vertigo Comics. Also Animal Man, Starman and Adventure Comics at DC Comics.

You may notice how Nielsen uses the style of drawing in comics called ligne claire or clear line that I have mentioned before pioneered by Hergé of Belgium. It’s not so much the style but there is the lack of hatching. Many artists have gone the way of a more painting feel to their works which would do away with the hatching technique. There is a certain fluid style and feel to Nielsen’s work that I do like. But when in something like Batman, I do like the hatching style to give a grittier feel.

Teddy Kristiansen

Teddy Kristiansen is an Eisner Award winning painter/artist most known here in the United States for his work on The Sandman Midnight Theatre by Neil Gaiman, as well as his award winning Superman graphic novel with writer Steve Seagle, It’s A Bird through DC/Vertigo.

He has also done work for Dark Horse on Grendel Tales and did an English translation of The Red Diary through Image Comics. I like the contrasting styles we see between Nielsen and Kristiansen. With the artists from Argentina, with their being so close and even teacher and student you have similarities. Here you have two very different approaches.

Next we have the letter E. Who will they be? Where will they be from? I have no idea at this moment.

Click below for Croatia. Or you can just clink this title-Croatia brings us Chess and Comics. Who knew that first one?

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#Croatia brings us Chess and Comics. Who knew that first one? #AtoZChallenge

April 3, 2015April 3, 2015 Ronovan A to Z Challenge-Comic Creators Around the World A to Z Blogging Challenge, Andrija Maurović, Comics, Croatia, Dark Horse, Darko Macan, Edvin Biuković, Grendel, Marvel, Stjepan Šejić, Top Cow, Witchblade, X-Men

All links open in this page for the convenience of screen readers of the blind and the visually impaired.

If you are participating in the challenge, if you will put a link to your post for today in a comment below I will make sure to visit you. There are so many out there I know I am missing some of my friends. I’ll keep putting this message in each day just in case.

Click to Read In Croatian
We’re in Croatia today. Was I surprised at what I found? You betcha. I had no idea the talent that and that I had actually seen and read the work of some of these men.

Andrija Maurović

Andrija Maurović, the father of Croatian comic books. A writer and artist born in the village of Muo, part of Kotor, in 1901. He attended the Academy of Arts in Zagreb. But as creatives are known to do, he wasn’t exactly a model student. Although there were conflicts, he was the best illustrator and his work appeared in media everywhere.

I chose the below as the one image to show of his illustrating talent. Do you even need to understand the language of the text to know the story? There is a reason some are called the classics and the father’s of something. A talent unappreciated these days. But I believe slowly coming back into fashion. A master storyteller.

His work was mostly based on classic book by authors such as Alex Tolstoy, Zane Grey, August Šenoa, Jack London, B. Traven, Max Brand, and H. G. Wells. But today I wanted to point to something that shows how influential a creative person in comics can be.

Perhaps Maurović’s greatest contribution was his Dubrovnik chess set commissioned by the 9th Chess Olympiad for the following years tournament. You may recognize it. The below is not an original, as they are difficult to find. Bobby Fischer’s original set was stolen. This is how the pieces look and this is how my set look. At least one of them. I have several. Even my son plays chess.

Maurović’s passed away in 1981 at the age of 80 in Zagreb and is buried in the Mirogoj cemetery one of the landmarks of Zagreb. A place established in 1876 that is the resting place of all faiths.

Edvin Biuković

Edvin Biuković was born in Zagreb in 1969. He was an artist who made his first appearance in the pages of the Croatian magazine Patak with his strip Dokaz. But what puts this man on the radar for me is his work on Grendel created by Matt Wagner for Dark Horse. You have to understand that Dark Horse in the comics industry is the place to go to write and create work that is pure and true to the vision of the creator. Dark Horse is who brought us Sin City and Hell Boy. Both turned into successful movie franchises.

To have worked on Grendel says a lot for Edvin’s talent. Grendel was one of the hottest selling books and cult favorites of it’s time. Not as in cult cult but as in pop culture cult. Edvin also worked on Star Wars comics for Dark Horse and Human Target for Vertigo. Sadly he passed away in 1999 only two weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Fellow Croatian artist Goran Sudžuka sites Edvin as an influence.

Edvin’s creative partner was Darko Macan.

Darko Macan

Darko Macan is a writer and artist born in Zagreb in 1966. He’s a man after my own hear with degrees in History and Archaeology. As mentioned above he gained fame in the American comics industry along with Edvin Biuković on Grendel created by Matt Wagner for Dark Horse. He also worked on Star Wars, Hellblazer, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Cable (Marvel Comics) Macan still lives in Zagreb where he has also received awards for children’s books. He’s the perfect example of it’s not what you do it’s that you love doing and just do it.

Stjepan Šejić

Stjepan Šejić is an artist born in Vinkovci in 1981. Oddly a man starting out to be a lawyer who turned found what he really wanted to do and what he loved. He chose great examples to be inspired by in Marc Silvestri and Michael Turner. Were we lucky he found a copy of Witchblade from Top Cow or what? Amazingly he ended up being the longest running artist on Witchblade, the very book that influenced his own art style.

The man can go big and powerful, small and quiet and then he can draw women that make men wish they were comic book characters as well. His style is not stagnant.

Another Top Cow book he is noted for is The Darkness. I mention it for two reasons, it has a relationship to Witchblade but I also wanted to share an image and see if you might wonder who Šejić might use as a model. Makes me wonder if they chose him for the fact he looks like the character.

To list this young man’s accomplishments would take way too long. Battlestar Galactica, Red Sonja, Terminator, X-Men, as well as work for the companies Image, Arcana, and Dynamite Comics.

That’s it for today. Hope you enjoyed and be back tomorrow for D day. Check out my article on creators from Belgium by clicking the B image below.

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