Dean Motter
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In the late 1970s, Toronto-based illustrator/ designer/ writer Dean Motter edited and art directed Andromeda, a Canadian comic book series which adapted the works of major science–fiction authors such as Arthur C. Clarke and A.E. van Vogt. During that time Motter and collaborator Ken Steacy created The Sacred & The Profane (Star Reach), which Archie Goodwin referred to as "the first true graphic novel" in the contemporary comics medium.
Motter achieved recognition for his album cover design during his tenure as art director for CBS Records Canada, and later with his own studio, Modern Imageworks. His record jackets and promotional graphics (for acts such as The Nylons, Triumph, Loverboy, The Diodes, Liona Boyd and Jane Siberry) have been conferred with several awards.
Motter is best known as the creator and designer of Mister X, one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s. In 1988, he co-wrote and illustrated The Prisoner for DC Comics based on Patrick McGoohan's 1960s British television series. The following year he created the logo and basic cover design for DC's Piranha Press imprint.
Dean relocated in New York City in 1990 where he served as art director and senior designer for Byron Preiss Visual Publications (for whom he also edited a line of Philip Marlowe graphic novels.) In 1993, he joined the staff at DC Comics where he oversaw the corporate and licensing designs for many of America’s most beloved comic book characters. He returned to the freelance community in 1997, retaining his previous employers among his most active clients.
Motter’s acclaimed Vertigo mini-series Terminal City and its sequel Terminal City: Aerial Graffiti (both illustrated by Michael Lark) were nominated for a number of Eisner and Harvey Awards during their 1996-1998 run.
His artwork has been featured in many comic book publications, notably the Classics Illustrated adaptation of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Batman: Gotham Knights, Grendel: Red, White and Black, John Constantine: Hellblazer and 9-11: Artists Respond as well as the Superman's First Flight children's book for Scholastic. He has written stories for Superman Adventures and Star Wars Tales.
In 2001 Dean re-united with Michael Lark to create the award-winning Batman: Nine Lives graphic novel for DC Comics. During that time he also wrote and illustrated Electropolis for Image Comics.
Motter has compiled and designed the retrospectives, Echoes: The Drawings of Michael Wm. Kaluta and The Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schomberg for Vanguard Productions, as well as Mister X: The Definitive Collection (including Motter’s reminiscences and newly illustrated finale) for ibooks.
Through a Glass Darkly: Shattered Reflections of Wonderland, a book of Motter’s illustrations from the Lewis Carroll classic was released in 2005.
