Joe Phillips (comic book artist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joe Phillips (born February 13th 1969) is an American comic book artist well-known for both mainstream comic book work, as well as work for gay-themed magazines. He is also the creator of the award winning adult films The House of Morecock and Stonewall & Riot: The Ultimate Orgasm.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Joe started drawing at a very young age when his mother bought him a pad of paper and some pens, which he says "started my lifelong obsession with art". Art became his way of communicating, and he pursued his passion into his teens when he joined a creative arts school. "It was a veritable episode of Fame says Joe.
According to Joe, it was when he was introduced to the heroically-drawn figures of comic book heroes like The Flash and Green Lantern, combined with his awakening hormones, that brought him to the realization of both his budding homosexuality and his future as an artist. Later, he took his portfolio around to numerous regional comic conventions and ended up with work from a small comic book company, David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview, where he worked on the title Southern Knights.
From there, Joe went mainstream, working on the likes of Speed Racer, The comic book adapatation of Interview With The Vampire, Mister Miracle, Timber Wolf, and Justice League Of America. He was also one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios, his tenure lasting from 1991 until early 1993. Gaijin Studios has long been considered an influential breeding ground for some of comics' most prominent talents, thanks in part to Joe's contributions.
After several years of success in comics and a move to San Diego, Joe found that the comics market had begun a severe crash and work was becoming scarce. After a stint freelancing for Wildstorm, Phillips found himself creatively unfulfilled and ultimately left the comics scene to work for the gay-themed XY Magazine.
Joe was then in his element. He launched a line of paper-doll-style magnets for the gay market called "JoeBoy Dress-Me Magnets." Soon after, Joe started Joe Boy Comics, a collection of humorous gay comic strips, which were very successful. Afterwards, Joe produced more risque humor work for adult websites like Absolutely Male and Kara's Adult Playground. Joe's creation, The House of Morecock was so successful as a website that it's short cartoons were released on DVD. Books featuring lead character Jonas Morecock followed. Gay themes are a key part of his work, though he still works for mainstream clients like Budweiser and DC Comics. Other clients that Joe has been comissioned to create art for include ID Lube, Inside Pride, Jocko Underwear, Prism Comics plus singers Ari Gold and Levi Kreis.
Joe explains his outlook as so: "I draw from the idea that we would all like to be in a beautiful place, with our friends and loved ones. When I was younger, I always wanted to see more positive images of gay life. When I didn't find enough of them, I began creating the images myself."
In September 2006 Joe finished production of his second adult animated DVD entitled Stonewall & Riot: The Ultimate Orgasm. His other adult DVD House of Morecock gained Phillips a GayVN award in 2002 in the catergory "Best Alternative Release". His other film Stonewall & Riot was nominated in the same catergory for a 2007 GayVN award yet sadly did not win.
Joe owns and operates, along with his brother Lex, a film studio: Adult Visual Animation which has released both of their adult DVD films. Joe is currently working on his next major film project, a 3D animated movie "Witch Kids" which is based on a comic book. The film is in pre-prodution and as yet, has no release date. Joe describes the upcoming film as "A cross between Harry Potter and Teen Titans".
[edit] Work Timeline
[edit] Movies
- Witch Kids (Announced)
- Stonewall & Riot: The Ultimate Orgasm (October 2006)
- The House of Morecock (September 2001)
[edit] Books
- Boys Will Be Boys – Extended Edition (April 2007)
- Chasing Adonis: Gay Men And the Pursuit of Perfection (Illustration Only) (January 2007)
- Cali Boys (April 2006)
- Tales From The House Of Morecock, Vol 2 (September 2005)
- The House Of Morecock (Postcard Book) (August 2005)
- Tales From The House Of Morecock (June 2005)
- The Joy Of Gay Sex (Illustrations Only) (May 2004)
- For The Boys (Postcard Book) (April 2004)
- For The Boys (April 2004)
- The Adventures Of A Joy Boy! Volume One (March 2004)
- Reeling in the Years: Gay Men's Perspectives on Age and Ageism (Illustrations Only) (January 2004)
- Boys Will Be Boys (Postcard Book) (March [[2003])
- Boys Will Be Boys (March 2003)
- Sissyphobia: Gay Men and Effeminate Behaviour (Illustrations Only) (June 2001)
[edit] Calendars
- Boys Will Be Boys 2007 (September 2006)
- Boys Will Be Boys 2006 (September 2005)
- For The Boys 2006 (September 2005)
- Boys Will Be Boys 2005 (September 2004)
- For The Boys 2005 (September 2004)
