Kevin Nowlan
Kevin Nowlan | |
---|---|
Born |
1958 Nebraska |
Nationality | American |
Area(s) | Writer, Penciller, Inker |
Notable works | Tomorrow Stories |
Official website |
Kevin Nowlan (born 1958)[1] is an American comic-book artist who works as penciler, inker, colorist and letterer. He has been called "one of the few artists who can be called 'artists's artist'", a master of the various disciplines of comic production, from "design to draftsmanship to dramatics".[2]
Biography
Kevin Nowlan was born in 1958 in Nebraska.[3] He has four older brothers and sisters. His brother read comic books, particularly DC Comics titles, and Nowlan has had comics around him since he can remember.[4] Self-taught, Nowlan first came to the industry's attention in the early 1980s via illustrations in the fan press, most notably The Comics Journal and Amazing Heroes.[1][5]
Nowlan's first published work for Marvel Comics was Doctor Strange #57 (Feb. 1983).[3][6] He has worked for DC Comics and other comics publishers. He contributed to the adult Penthouse Comix. In 1992, he inked the Batman: Sword of Azrael miniseries which introduced the character Azrael.[7] One of his prominent contribution to comics is the creation of Jack B. Quick with writer Alan Moore. This character appeared several times in Tomorrow Stories under the America's Best Comics imprint.[6]
Although the majority of his work is as an inker, he has provided both pencils and lettering for various comics. He is a noted cover illustrator. Nowlan contributed character designs to Batman: The Animated Series, most notably The Mad Hatter and the Man-Bat.
Although inkers are often regarded as the penciller's poor cousin, Nowlan's influence on the final artwork places him in a different category altogether. Nowlan has described himself as a "finisher" rather than an inker, although only in specific reference to work "where you see too much of me", and has expressed an ambivalence towards this role, saying "it's not the right way to ink someone else's pencils".[5]
His style gives a strong emphasis towards both facial expression and posture, and in neither case is he constrained by the conventions of the comic-book hero, and his protagonists are often depicted with awkward expressions or body postures.
Steve Gerber's posthumous Man-Thing story The Screenplay of the Living Dead Man, with art by Nowlan, originally planned as a 1980s graphic novel before being left uncompleted by the artist,[8] was revived in the 2010s and appeared as a three-issue miniseries cover-titled The Infernal Man-Thing (Early Sept.-Oct. 2012).[9] The story was a sequel to Gerber's “Song-Cry of the Living Dead Man” in Man-Thing #12 (Dec. 1974).[8]
In 2011, Nowlan received the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award from the Inkwell Awards for "an inking career of outstanding accomplishment in comic books (lifetime achievement)".
Bibliography
Interior comic work includes:
- Doctor Strange #57: "Gather My Disciples Before Me!" (with Roger Stern, Marvel, 1983)
- Moon Knight (Marvel):
- "Colloquy" (with Steven Grant, in #29, 1983)
- "A Box of Music for Savage Studs" (with Doug Moench, in #31-32, 1983)
- "Exploding Myths" (with Doug Moench, in #33, 1983)
- "Second Wind" (with Tony Isabella, in #35, 1984)
- Dalgoda #2-6: "Grimwood's Daughter" (with Jan Strnad, Fantagraphics Books, 1985)
- The Outsiders Annual #1: "The Skull... the Serpent... and the Outsiders" (with Mike W. Barr, DC Comics, 1986)
- New Mutants #51: "Teacher's Choice" (with Chris Claremont, Marvel, 1987)
- Green Lantern Annual #3: "A Sense of Obligation" (with Richard Bruning, DC Comics, 1987)
- Secret Origins #39: "The Secret Origin of Man-Bat" (with Jan Strnad, DC Comics, 1989)
- A1 #4: "The Hero of the Tale" (with Jan Strnad, Atomeka, 1990)
- Vertigo Jam: "The Castle" (with Neil Gaiman, one-shot, Vertigo, 1993)
- Penthouse Comix (Penthouse):
- "Scion" (with George Caragonne, in #1-5, 1994–1995)
- "Rod in Hell" (with Dave Johnson, in #29, 1998)
- The Big Book of Urban Legends: "Curses! Broiled Again!" (with Robert Boyd, Jan Harold Brunvald and Robert Loren Fleming, Paradox Press, 1994)
- WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #25: "On Earth..." (with Alan Moore and Dave Johnson, Wildstorm, 1995)
- Batman Black and White #4: "Monsters in the Closet" (with Jan Strnad, DC Comics, 1996)
- Aliens: Havoc #1 (with Mark Schultz, among other artists, Dark Horse, 1997)
- Gen¹³ #36: "No Good Deed" (with John Arcudi, Wildstorm, 1998)
- Tomorrow Stories #1-4, 10, 12, Special #1: "Jack B. Quick" (with Alan Moore, America's Best Comics, 1999–2006)
- Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame (with Neil Gaiman, among other artists, one-shot, DC Comics, 2000)
- ABC Special: "Jack B. Quick's Amazing World of Science!" (with Alan Moore, America's Best Comics, 2001)
- 9-11 Volume 1: "Untitled" (with Alan Smithee, Dark Horse, 2002)
- 52 (DC Comics):
- "The Origin of Elongated Man" (with Mark Waid, co-feature, in #13, 2006)
- "The Origin of Adam Strange" (with Mark Waid, co-feature, in #20, 2006)
- The Goon: Noir #2: "Man of the Hour" (with John Arcudi, Dark Horse, 2006)
- X-Men: First Class Special: "The Museum of Oddities" (with Jeff Parker, Marvel, 2007)
- Wednesday Comics #1-12 ("Metal Men") (with Dan DiDio and José Luis García-López, DC Comics, 2009)
- Hellboy: Buster Oakley Gets His Wish (with Mike Mignola, one-shot, Dark Horse, 2011)
- Infernal Man-Thing #1-3 (with Steve Gerber, Marvel, 2012)
Covers only
- The Comics Journal #68, 75, 77, 98-99 (Fantagraphics Books, 1981–1985)
- Amazing Heroes #13, 17, 35, 56, 115, 167 (Fantagraphics Books, 1982–1989)
- The Defenders #128, 133-134, 137, 139-141, 149, 151 (Marvel, 1984–1986)
- The Incredible Hulk #292, 298, 362 (Marvel, 1984–1989)
- Doctor Strange #69, 81 (Marvel, 1985–1987)
- Solomon Kane #2 (Marvel, 1985)
- Teen Titans Spotlight #6 (DC Comics, 1987)
- The Adventures of the Outsiders #42 (DC Comics, 1987)
- Tales of the Legion #344 (DC Comics, 1987)
- Alpha Flight #44-45, 47-48, 51-52, 54, Annual #2 (Marvel, 1987)
- Centurions #1-2 (DC Comics, 1987)
- Strange Tales #4-8, 11, 14-18 (Marvel, 1987–1988)
- Secret Origins #17, 26, 44 (DC Comics, 1987–1989)
- Phantasy Against Hunger #1 (Tiger Comics, 1987)
- Omicron: Astonishing Adventures on Other Worlds #2 (Pyramid Productions, 1987)
- Batman #412, 703 (DC Comics, 1987–2010)
- Kickers, Inc. #12 (Marvel, 1987)
- New Mutants #56 (Marvel, 1987)
- Solo Avengers #8 (Marvel, 1988)
- Doctor Zero #3 (Epic, 1988)
- Powerline #3 (Epic, 1988)
- Strikeforce: Morituri #21 (Marvel, 1988)
- Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #5 (Marvel, 1988)
- St. George #3 (Epic, 1988)
- Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #1 (Marvel, 1988)
- The Transformers #47 (Marvel, 1988)
- Action Comics #639, 795 (DC Comics, 1989–2002)
- Marvel Comics Presents #16, 172 (Marvel, 1989–1995)
- Wolverine #11-16 (Marvel, 1989)
- Armor #11-12 (Continuity, 1991–1992)
- Magnus Robot Fighter #10 (Valiant, 1992)
- Bloodshot #5 (Valiant, 1993)
- Harbinger #18-21, 25 (Valiant, 1993–1994)
- Megalith #3 (Continuity, 1993)
- Showcase '94 #1 (DC Comics, 1994)
- Overstreet's FAN #1 (Gemstone, 1995)
- Dark Horse Insider #41 (Dark Horse, 1995)
- Superman vs. Aliens #1-3 (DC Comics, 1995)
- Man-Bat #1-3 (DC Comics, 1996)
- ID4: Independence Day #0-2 (Marvel, 1996)
- DV8 #1 (Wildstorm, 1996)
- Dr. Strangefate, one-shot (Amalgam Comics) (1996)
- X-Men: Lost Tales #1 (Marvel, 1997)
- Night Force #12 (DC Comics, 1997)
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #101 (DC Comics, 1997)
- Gen¹³ Bootleg #15-16 (Wildstorm, 1998)
- Superman: Save the Planet #1 (DC Comics, 1998)
- Legends of the DC Universe #10-11, 39 (DC Comics, 1998–2001)
- |Superman, Inc. gn (DC Comics, 1999)
- Superman v2 #150 (DC Comics, 1999)
- Merv Pumpkinhead, Agent of D.R.E.A.M. gn (Vertigo, 2000)
- Superman 80-Page Giant #3 (DC Comics, 2000)
- Deadpool #49 (Marvel, 2001)
- Hulk Smash #1-2 (Marvel, 2001)
- Just a Pilgrim #3 (Black Bull, 2001)
- Superman vs. Aliens II #1-4 (DC Comics, 2002)
- DC First: Batgirl/Joker #1 (DC Comics, 2002)
- DC First: Green Lantern/Green Lantern #1 (DC Comics, 2002)
- DC First: Superman/Flash #1 (DC Comics, 2002)
- DC First: Superman/Lobo #1 (DC Comics, 2002)
- The Adventures of Superman #608-609, 612-616, 619-623 (DC Comics, 2002–2004)
- The Resistance #2 (Wildstorm, 2002)
- Superman: Blood of My Ancestors gn (DC Comics, 2003)
- The Legion #38 (DC Comics, 2004)
- Hawkman #32-33 (DC Comics, 2004)
- Outsiders #26-27 (DC Comics, 2005)
- Shaolin Cowboy #6 (Burlyman Entertainment, 2006)
- Red Sonja #19 (Dynamite, 2007)
- JLA: Classified #32-36 (DC Comics, 2007)
- Manhunter #28 (DC Comics, 2007)
- Metamorpho: Year One #1-6 (DC Comics, 2007–2008)
- Witchblade #120 (Top Cow, 2008)
- Reign in Hell #1 (DC Comics, 2008)
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1 (DC Comics, 2008)
- X-Men: First Class Giant-Size Special #1 (Marvel, 2008)
- B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #1-5 (Dark Horse, 2009)
- The War That Time Forgot #7 (DC Comics, 2009)
- Batman Confidential #26-28 (DC Comics, 2009)
- The Spirit #30 (DC Comics, 2009)
- Superman #702 (DC Comics, 2010)
- The Authority #27 (Wildstorm, 2010)
- Wildcats #28 (Wildstorm, 2010)
- Flashpoint: The Outsider #1-3 (DC Comics, 2011)
- Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1 (DC Comics, 2012)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kevin Nowlan". Lambiek Comiclopedia. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ↑ Chiarello, Mark, ed.; Peterson, Scott (1996). Batman: Black & White, Vol. 1. DC Comics. ISBN 978-1401215897.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Solinas, Antonio (2006). "The thin black line: a Kevin Nowlan interview". De-code.net. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012.
- ↑ Nolen-Weathington, Eric (2004). Modern Masters Volume Four: Kevin Nowlan. TwoMorrows Publishing. ISBN 978-1893905382.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Irving, Christopher (no date). "More Than Just an Inker: An Interview with Kevin Nowlan". Richmondcomix.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2008.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kevin Nowlan at the Grand Comics Database
- ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1990s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "Azrael, one of the most important characters of the modern Batman mythos, was dropped right under the noses of an unsuspecting reading populace in the debut issue of Batman: Sword of Azrael by esteemed bat-scribe Denny O'Neil, talented young penciler Joe Quesada, and inker extraordinaire Kevin Nowlan."
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Arrant, Chris (September 21, 2011). "The Next Big-Wait Project Emerges: Man-Thing by Gerber and Nowlan". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ Infernal Man-Thing at the Grand Comics Database
External links
- Official blog
- Gallery of published and unpublished works
- Kevin Nowlan at Mike's Amazing World of Comcs
- Kevin Nowlan at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
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