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Matt Wagner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matt Wagner
Wagner seated at a table
Wagner in 2007
Born (1961-10-09) October 9, 1961 (age 63)
Front Royal, Virginia, US
Area(s)Writer, Penciller, Inker, Letterer, Colourist
Notable works
Mage
Grendel
AwardsInkpot Award 1988

Matt Wagner (born October 9, 1961)[1] is an American comics artist and writer who is best known as the creator of the series Mage and Grendel.

Career

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Matt Wagner's first published comic book work was Comico Primer #2 (1982), which was the first appearance of Grendel.[2] In addition to his creator-owned series Mage and Grendel,[3] he has worked on comics featuring the Demon and Batman as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre.[4] In 1991, he illustrated part of the "Season of Mists" story arc in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series.[5][6] He wrote and drew Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity a limited series featuring DC's three major heroes in 2003.[7] He followed it with Batman and the Monster Men[8] and Batman and the Mad Monk[9] in 2006.[10]

His other projects include Madame Xanadu for Vertigo, with artist Amy Reeder Hadley.[11][12] He has produced numerous comics covers, including painted ones for Green Arrow[4] and has written several Green Hornet limited series for Dynamite Entertainment.[13]

Outside comics, Wagner provided art for the 1984 Villains & Vigilantes adventure Battle Above the Earth written by Steven Crow.

In April 2022, Wagner was reported among the more than three dozen comics creators who contributed to Operation USA's benefit anthology book, Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, a project spearheaded by IDW Publishing Special Projects Editor Scott Dunbier, whose profits would be donated to relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees resulting from the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14][15] Wagner produced a new Grendel story featuring Hunter Rose for the anthology.[15]

Awards and nominations

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  • 1988:
  • 1993:
    • Won "Best Finite Series/Limited Series" Eisner Award, for Grendel: War Child[18]
    • Nominated for "Best Writer/Artist" Eisner Award, for Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight: "Faces"[18]
    • Nominated for "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award, for Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight: "Faces"[18]
    • Nominated for "Best Inker" Eisner Award, for Grendel: War Child[18]
  • 1995: Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for Sandman Mystery Theatre[19]
  • 1999:
    • Won "Best Anthology" Eisner Award, for Grendel: Black, White, and Red[20]
    • Won "Best Short Story" Eisner Award, for "Devil's Advocate" in Grendel: Black, White, and Red #1[20]
    • Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for Grendel: Black, White, and Red[20]

Bibliography

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Mage: The Hero Defined, cover by Matt Wagner.

Atomeka Press

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  • A1 #2 (1989) (story in anthology)
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  • The True North #1 (1988)
  • The True North II #1 (1991)

Comico

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  • Grendel #1–3 (1983–1984)
  • Grendel vol. 2 #1–40 (1986–1990)
  • Mage #1–15 (1984–1986)
  • Magebook #1–2 (1985)
  • Primer #2, 5 (1982–1983)
  • Silverback #1–3 (1989)

Dark Horse Comics

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  • Dark Horse Presents #40, 45 (1990) (stories in anthology title)
  • Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special #1 (1991) (story in anthology title)
  • Grendel Tales: Devil's Choices #1 (1995)
  • Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths #1 (1994)
  • Grendel Tales: Homecoming #1–3 (1994–1995)
  • Grendel Tales: The Devil's Hammer #1–2 (1994)
  • Grendel: Behold the Devil #0, #1–8 (2007–2008)
  • Grendel: Black, White, and Red #1–4 (1998–1999)
  • Grendel: Devil's Legacy #1–5 (2000)
  • Grendel: War Child #1–10 (1992–1993)
  • The Terminator: One Shot (1991)

DC Comics

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Vertigo

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Dynamite Entertainment

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  • Django/Zorro #1–7 (2014–2015)
  • Green Hornet: Year One #1–12 (2010–2011)
  • Grendel vs. The Shadow (2014)
  • The Shadow #100 (2015) (eight page story)
  • The Shadow: The Death of Margo Lane (2016)
  • The Shadow: Year One #1–10 (2013–2014)
  • The Spirit #1–13 (2015–2016)
  • Zorro #1–20 (2008–2010)
  • Zorro Rides Again #1–12 (2011–2012)

Image Comics

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  • Mage: The Hero Defined #0–15 (1997–1999)
  • Mage: The Hero Denied #0–15 (2017–2019)

Legendary Comics

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  • The Tower Chronicles: Dreadstalker #1–10 (2014–2015)
  • The Tower Chronicles: Geisthawk #1–4 (2012–2013)

Marvel Comics

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References

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  1. ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
  2. ^ Eury, Michael (February 2004). "Wagner and Schutz: Creator Relations". Back Issue! (2). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 29.
  3. ^ "Matt Wagner". Lambiek Comiclopedia. 2015. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Matt Wagner at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ^ Bender, Hy (1999). The Sandman Companion. New York, New York: DC Comics. p. 266. ISBN 978-1563894657.
  6. ^ Burgas, Greg (January 7, 2013). "Comics You Should Own – Sandman". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014.
  7. ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2014). "2000s". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). Batman: A Visual History. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 268. ISBN 978-1465424563. Matt Wagner headed to DC Comics to write and illustrate this three-issue prestige-format series that retold the original meeting between Batman and Superman and heroine Wonder Woman.
  8. ^ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 286: "Writer/artist Matt Wagner utilized the Monster Men from [Batman #1] as well as their creator, Dr. Hugo Strange."
  9. ^ Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 291: "The second in his 'Dark Moon Rising' series, writer/artist Matt Wagner dug up another Golden Age gem in the person of the Mad Monk in this six-issue follow-up to Batman and the Monster Men."
  10. ^ Ramey, William E. (September 30, 2006). "Interview: Matt Wagner". Batman-on-film.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
  11. ^ Cowsill, Alan (2010). "2000s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year by Year: a Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Madame Xanadu was a relatively minor player in the DC Universe, but [Matt] Wagner, assisted by stunning art by Amy Hadley, crafted a first-class tale.
  12. ^ Renaud, Jeffrey (April 11, 2008). "Wagner Saws Madame Xanadu in Half with Vertigo". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Sunu, Steve (January 27, 2011). "Wagner Brings Green Hornet: Year One to a Close". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ Kaplan, Rebecca O. (April 18, 2022). "ZOOP launches benefit anthology COMICS FOR UKRAINE: SUNFLOWER SEEDS". The Beat. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Brooke, David (April 18, 2022). "'Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds' to benefit Ukrainian refugees". AIPT. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "1988 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015.
  17. ^ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c d "1993 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015.
  19. ^ "1995 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016.
  20. ^ a b c "1999 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
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