Chris Eliopoulos
Encyclopedia
Chris Eliopoulos is an American
cartoonist and letterer
of comic books.
, in New York City, from 1985–1989. He majored in graphic design and minored in illustration. He is a resident of River Vale, New Jersey
.
series, even after much of the comic book industry (including Eliopoulos himself, on other titles) had come to rely on computer-generated fonts for dialogue; this was done at Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen
's request; Larsen preferring the individual look of hand-lettered dialogue.
He designed the fonts for Marvel Comic's in-house computer lettering unit. He has also contributed lettering work to Valiant Comics
, DC Comics
, and other publishers. For Dark Horse Comics
, Eliopoulos wrote and/or drew some Star Wars stories.
Eliopoulous is also known for his comic strip Desperate Times, which showcases art admittedly inspired by the work of Bill Watterson of "Calvin and Hobbes" fame. "Desperate Times" features the misadventures of bachelor losers Marty and Toad, which ran as a back-up feature in Savage Dragon, and later Desperate Times comics from Savage Dragon publisher Image Comics
and AAArgh! Comics, a part of After Hours Press
.
Eliopoulos quoted in interview about art inspiration.
Following the September 11 attacks, Eliopoulos contributed a story to a Marvel Comics benefit book about how his family was affected by the event, which shares the date of his wedding anniversary.
He is the artist and co-writer on Marvel Comics
' former back-up feature and current series of one-shot comics
, Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, teamed with writer Marc Sumerak
. The first one-shot in the series was nominated for an Eisner Award
and a Harvey Award
in 2005.
Eliopoulos also writes and draws daily webcomics. On the side, Eliopoulos has managed to contributed hundreds of cartoon strips to the book series "The Complete Idiot's Guide..." on almost every imaginable topic. He's also created dozens of custom cartoons for clients including Sports Illustrated
.
miniseries for Comic Book Resources
, praised Eliopoulos' lettering, singling issue #4 in particular, for which he positively compared Eliopoulous' work to letterer John Workman
, to whom Zawisza felt Eliopoulos was paying homage.
Nominations include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartoonist and letterer
Letterer
A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and...
of comic books.
Early life
Eliopolous attended the Fashion Institute of TechnologyFashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
, in New York City, from 1985–1989. He majored in graphic design and minored in illustration. He is a resident of River Vale, New Jersey
River Vale, New Jersey
River Vale is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 9,659. The community was ranked #29 on the 100 Best Places to Live 2007 survey published by CNN/Money magazine....
.
Career
Eliopoulos is known as a prolific letterer, in particular for hand-lettering the first 100 issues of the ongoing Savage DragonSavage Dragon
Savage Dragon is an ongoing American comic book series created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic features the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon...
series, even after much of the comic book industry (including Eliopoulos himself, on other titles) had come to rely on computer-generated fonts for dialogue; this was done at Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen
Erik Larsen
Erik J. Larsen is an American comic book writer, artist and publisher. He is best known for his work on Savage Dragon, as one of the founders of Image Comics, and for his work on Spider-Man for Marvel Comics.-Early life:...
's request; Larsen preferring the individual look of hand-lettered dialogue.
He designed the fonts for Marvel Comic's in-house computer lettering unit. He has also contributed lettering work to Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
, DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, and other publishers. For Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, Eliopoulos wrote and/or drew some Star Wars stories.
Eliopoulous is also known for his comic strip Desperate Times, which showcases art admittedly inspired by the work of Bill Watterson of "Calvin and Hobbes" fame. "Desperate Times" features the misadventures of bachelor losers Marty and Toad, which ran as a back-up feature in Savage Dragon, and later Desperate Times comics from Savage Dragon publisher Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
and AAArgh! Comics, a part of After Hours Press
After Hours Press
After Hours Press is an independent American comic book publisher based in Rockland County, New York. It specializes in establishing new properties and developing I.P.'s . It was founded by Buddy Scalera, Darren Sanchez and Chris Eliopoulos.AHP is particularly focused in the writing and production...
.
Eliopoulos quoted in interview about art inspiration.
Following the September 11 attacks, Eliopoulos contributed a story to a Marvel Comics benefit book about how his family was affected by the event, which shares the date of his wedding anniversary.
He is the artist and co-writer on Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' former back-up feature and current series of one-shot comics
One shot (comic)
A one-shot is a comic book that is a pilot or a stand-alone story created as a single issue, rather than the more typical series format.-United States:...
, Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, teamed with writer Marc Sumerak
Marc Sumerak
Marc Sumerak is a freelance comic book writer from Cleveland, Ohio.Mr. Sumerak is currently best known for his work on Marvel Comics' all-ages Power Pack series , as well as the Eisner Award & Harvey Award nominated Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius...
. The first one-shot in the series was nominated for an Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
and a Harvey Award
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
in 2005.
Eliopoulos also writes and draws daily webcomics. On the side, Eliopoulos has managed to contributed hundreds of cartoon strips to the book series "The Complete Idiot's Guide..." on almost every imaginable topic. He's also created dozens of custom cartoons for clients including Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
.
Reception
Doug Zawisza, reviewing the 2011 Fear ItselfFear Itself (comics)
"Fear Itself" is a 2011 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics, consisting of a seven-issue, eponymous miniseries written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Laura Martin, a prologue book by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Scott Eaton, and...
miniseries for Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, praised Eliopoulos' lettering, singling issue #4 in particular, for which he positively compared Eliopoulous' work to letterer John Workman
John Workman
John Workman is an editor, writer, artist, designer, colorist and letterer in the comic book industry...
, to whom Zawisza felt Eliopoulos was paying homage.
Awards
Awards include:- 20022002 in comics-March:* Adventures of Superman #600: super-sized anniversary issue by Joe Casey, Mike Wieringo, and Jose Marzan, Jr. -April:* Batman #600: "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive," part one, 64-page giant, written by Ed Brubaker.-January:...
and 20032003 in comics-January:* January 2: Kid Colt artist Jack Keller dies at age 80.- April :* Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau...
Wizard Fan Award "Favorite Letterer" - 20072007 in comics-January:*January 10: Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator released.*January 24: The Boys is canceled with issue #6.-February:*February 2: Newsarama reports that The Boys has been picked up by Dynamite Entertainment....
"Best Letterer" Eagle Award - 20082008 in comics-January:*January 9: Teen Titans: The Lost Annual, delayed since 2003, is published.*January 23: Hellblazer #240, marking the 20th anniversary of the series, is released.-February:...
"Best Letterer" Harvey AwardHarvey AwardThe Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
, for DaredevilDaredevil (Marvel Comics)Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
Nominations include:
- 20062006 in comics-January:*January 1, 2006: Newsweek offer a look back at 2005 through editorial cartoons. *January 2, 2006: The Cincinnati Enquirer cartoonist Jim Borgman starts a blog to detail his creative process...
"Best Letterer" Eisner AwardEisner AwardThe Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the... - 2006 "Best Letterer" Eagle Award
- 2008 "Special Award for Humor" Harvey AwardHarvey AwardThe Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
, for Franklin RichardsFranklin RichardsFranklin Richards is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in Fantastic Four.Franklin is an Omega-Level mutant with vast psionic and reality-manipulating powers... - 2008 "Best letterer" Eagle Award
External links
- Misery Loves Sherman Chris Eliopoulos' Webcomic
- Desperate Times Daily @ ComicBookGazette.com A New Page of Chris Eliopoulos' Desperate Times Comic Every Day