Colleen Doran
Encyclopedia
Colleen Doran is an American
writer/artist
, film conceptual artist, and cartoonist. She has illustrated hundreds of comics
, graphic novels, books and magazines, and dozens of stories and articles, including works written by Neil Gaiman
, Clive Barker
, Anne Rice
, J. Michael Straczynski
, Peter David
and Tori Amos
, including The Sandman, Wonder Woman
, Legion of Superheroes, Teen Titans, Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and her own fantasy series, A Distant Soil
.
She broke into the comic book industry when still a teenager, in the 1980s. A Distant Soil
was originally published by Wendy and Richard Pini
's WaRP Graphics
, publishers of Elfquest
, but Doran subsequently left the company due to an acrimonious dispute with Richard Pini, whom she alleged was attempting to claim copyright
on her work. The WaRP version of the story has never been reprinted, despite its unusual all-pencil style, although Colleen Doran did reprint a short Distant Soil story that had appeared in a WaRP anthology
.
After leaving WaRP, Colleen went on to completely rewrite and redraw the entire A Distant Soil series from scratch, self-publishing it for some years before moving on to Image Comics
where it is now in multiple printings as a series of graphic novels. The first volume had four printings, and it is now in its third collected volume. It has sold, collectively, more than 500,000 copies. The story centers on a young girl who is born heir to an alien religious dynasty, and explores issues of politics, gender identity and tolerance. Its strong characterization and unique art style has inspired the Young American Library Association to profile the book in their quarterly journal, and it has been nominated for the Spectrum Award
for Best Science Fiction in the Other category in 2001.
The character Thessaly in Neil Gaiman
's Sandman is based on Doran, and she illustrated two issues of that series (#20 and #34) in the early 1990s.
She has attended multiple World Science Fiction Conventions, San Diego Comic Cons, The Singapore Writers Festival
, and many The Lord of the Rings
conventions including Ring*Con, ELF, and ORC. She is also featured in the films Ringers (a documentary about The Lord of the Rings fans), Scenes From the Small Press: Colleen Doran by Rich Henn, and Sex, Lies and Superheroes.
Doran's more recent comics-art projects included The Book of Lost Souls
, a modern fantasy written by J. Michael Straczynski
and published by Marvel
's Icon
imprint which began in December 2005.
The upcoming Gone to Amerikay graphic novel to be drawn by Doran and written by Derek McCulloch
was announced as a 2012 release from DC/Vertigo. It was described as a "multi-generational Irish saga."
Doran also illustrated best selling young adult novelist Barry Lyga's first graphic novel for Houghton Mifflin, to be released in 2011. She will complete the long awaited Stealth Tribes graphic novel with Warren Ellis for Vertigo in 2011, and has signed to illustrate and adapt another graphic novel for an as yet unannounced publisher.
at the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington D.C. in 2006.
Doran was featured in The Cartoonist
, a 2009 documentary film on the life and work of Jeff Smith, creator of Bone.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
writer/artist
Comic book creator
A comic book creator is someone who creates a comic book or graphic novel.The production of a comic book by one of the major comic book companies in the U.S...
, film conceptual artist, and cartoonist. She has illustrated hundreds of comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
, graphic novels, books and magazines, and dozens of stories and articles, including works written by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
, Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
, J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
, Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
and Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
, including The Sandman, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, Legion of Superheroes, Teen Titans, Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and her own fantasy series, A Distant Soil
A Distant Soil
A Distant Soil is a science fiction/fantasy comic book series written and illustrated by Colleen Doran, and is the work for which she is best known....
.
Early life
At the age of five, Doran won an art contest sponsored by the Walt Disney Company. Doran created her comic book series, A Distant Soil, at the age of twelve.Career
She landed her first professional assignment for an advertising agency at age fifteen. While still in college, she was a full-time professional artist who was able to add her professional work to her college art curriculum for credit. Overwhelmed with assignments, she left college early.She broke into the comic book industry when still a teenager, in the 1980s. A Distant Soil
A Distant Soil
A Distant Soil is a science fiction/fantasy comic book series written and illustrated by Colleen Doran, and is the work for which she is best known....
was originally published by Wendy and Richard Pini
Wendy and Richard Pini
Wendy Pini née Fletcher, and Richard Pini are the husband-and-wife team responsible for creating the well-known Elfquest series of comics, graphic novels and prose works...
's WaRP Graphics
WaRP Graphics
WaRP Graphics, later Warp Graphics, is an alternative comics publisher best known for creating and being the original publisher of the Elfquest comic book series. It was created and incorporated in 1977 by Wendy and Richard Pini. The company title is an acronym formed from the founding couple's...
, publishers of Elfquest
Elfquest
Elfquest is a cult hit comic book property created by Wendy and Richard Pini in 1978. It is a fantasy story about a community of elves and other fictional species who struggle to survive and coexist on a primitive Earth-like planet with two moons. Several published volumes of prose fiction also...
, but Doran subsequently left the company due to an acrimonious dispute with Richard Pini, whom she alleged was attempting to claim copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
on her work. The WaRP version of the story has never been reprinted, despite its unusual all-pencil style, although Colleen Doran did reprint a short Distant Soil story that had appeared in a WaRP anthology
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
.
After leaving WaRP, Colleen went on to completely rewrite and redraw the entire A Distant Soil series from scratch, self-publishing it for some years before moving on to 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...
where it is now in multiple printings as a series of graphic novels. The first volume had four printings, and it is now in its third collected volume. It has sold, collectively, more than 500,000 copies. The story centers on a young girl who is born heir to an alien religious dynasty, and explores issues of politics, gender identity and tolerance. Its strong characterization and unique art style has inspired the Young American Library Association to profile the book in their quarterly journal, and it has been nominated for the Spectrum Award
Spectrum Award
The Spectrum Awards are given annually to the best works of contemporary fantastic art. The winners of every year are compiled in a book. The editors are Cathy and Arnie Fenner.-External links:* * , Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America...
for Best Science Fiction in the Other category in 2001.
The character Thessaly in Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
's Sandman is based on Doran, and she illustrated two issues of that series (#20 and #34) in the early 1990s.
She has attended multiple World Science Fiction Conventions, San Diego Comic Cons, The Singapore Writers Festival
Singapore Writers Festival
The Singapore Writers Festival is a biennial literary festival held in Singapore. It aims to present some of the world's major literary talents to the people of Singapore and Asia alike, as well as promoting new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience...
, and many The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
conventions including Ring*Con, ELF, and ORC. She is also featured in the films Ringers (a documentary about The Lord of the Rings fans), Scenes From the Small Press: Colleen Doran by Rich Henn, and Sex, Lies and Superheroes.
Doran's more recent comics-art projects included The Book of Lost Souls
The Book of Lost Souls
The Book of Lost Souls was an American comic book series published under the Icon Comics imprint, owned by Marvel Comics. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and pencilled by Colleen Doran....
, a modern fantasy written by J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
and published by Marvel
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...
's Icon
Icon Comics
Icon Comics is an imprint of Marvel Comics for creator-owned titles, designed to keep select "A-list" creators producing for Marvel rather than seeing them take creator-owned work to other publishers.-History:...
imprint which began in December 2005.
The upcoming Gone to Amerikay graphic novel to be drawn by Doran and written by Derek McCulloch
Derek McCulloch (comics)
Derek McCulloch is an author of graphic novels, comics, and books for children who was born in Ottawa in 1964, raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and lives in Oakland, California.-Biography:...
was announced as a 2012 release from DC/Vertigo. It was described as a "multi-generational Irish saga."
Doran also illustrated best selling young adult novelist Barry Lyga's first graphic novel for Houghton Mifflin, to be released in 2011. She will complete the long awaited Stealth Tribes graphic novel with Warren Ellis for Vertigo in 2011, and has signed to illustrate and adapt another graphic novel for an as yet unannounced publisher.
Other appearances
Doran was selected to give a series of lectures on MangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington D.C. in 2006.
Doran was featured in The Cartoonist
The Cartoonist
The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, Bone and the Changing Face of Comics is a 2009 documentary about the life and art of Jeff Smith, the creator of the Bone graphic novel series and regarded as one of America's greatest living cartoonists...
, a 2009 documentary film on the life and work of Jeff Smith, creator of Bone.
Comics
- Comic Book TattooComic Book TattooComic Book Tattoo is an Eisner Award and Harvey Award-winning anthology graphic novel made up of fifty-one stories, each based on or inspired by a song by American singer-songwriter Tori Amos, published by Image Comics in 2008. Rantz Hoseley, longtime friend of Amos, served as the book's editor....
- 2008 Image ComicsImage ComicsImage 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...
original graphic novel anthology - The Nightmare FactoryThe Nightmare FactoryThe Nightmare Factory is a 2007 comics anthology from Fox Atomic Comics adapting individual short stories by Thomas Ligotti. The second book in the series, The Nightmare Factory – Volume 2, was published in September 2008. It features new short essays by Ligotti.-External links:****, Comic Book...
- 2007 Fox Atomic ComicsFox Atomic ComicsFox Atomic Comics was formed in late 2006 as the graphic novel publishing arm of Fox Atomic. In partnership with publisher HarperCollins, Fox Atomic Comics produced and distributed graphic novels tied to Fox Atomic theatrical releases as well as original content. It closed, along with Fox Atomic,...
original graphic novel - The Book of Lost SoulsThe Book of Lost SoulsThe Book of Lost Souls was an American comic book series published under the Icon Comics imprint, owned by Marvel Comics. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and pencilled by Colleen Doran....
(with J. Michael StraczynskiJ. Michael StraczynskiJoseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
) 2005 Marvel/Icon series - Stealth Tribes (with Warren EllisWarren EllisWarren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
) DC/Vertigo 2004 graphic novel - OrbiterOrbiter (comics)Orbiter is a graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran, published in 2003 by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint.It is a hard science fiction story set in the early 21st Century about a team of specialists employed to understand the mysterious reappearance of the space shuttle Venture...
(with Warren Ellis) DC/Vertigo (April 2003) graphic novel - Reign of the ZodiacReign of the ZodiacReign of the Zodiac is a comic-book series created in 2003 by Keith Giffen , Colleen Doran and Bob Wiacek , and published by DC Comics....
(with Keith GiffenKeith GiffenKeith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
) DC (June 2003) series - The Sandman: Dream Country (with Neil GaimanNeil GaimanNeil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
) DC/Vertigo graphic novel/series - Wonder WomanWonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
: The Once and Future Story (with Trina RobbinsTrina RobbinsTrina Robbins is an American comics artist and writer. She was an early and influential participant in the underground comix movement, and one of the few female artists in underground comix when she started. Both as a cartoonist and historian, Robbins has long been involved in creating outlets for...
) DC Comics graphic novel (1998) - Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Marvel Epic Comics, Checker Publishing series/graphic novel
- The Forbidden Book graphic novel collection
- Clive Barker’s Nightbreed Marvel/Epic Comics series
- Anne Rice’s The Master of Rampling Gate Innovation graphic novel
- A Distant SoilA Distant SoilA Distant Soil is a science fiction/fantasy comic book series written and illustrated by Colleen Doran, and is the work for which she is best known....
reprints:- Late-1980s color reprints:
- A Distant Soil: Immigrant Song Donning/Starblaze (1987)
- A Distant Soil: Knights of the Angel Whitford Press (1989)
- 1990s and on black and white reprints:
- A Distant Soil: The Gathering Image Comics (1997) compilation of comic issues 1-13
- A Distant Soil: The Ascendant Image Comics (1998) compilation of comic issues 15-25
- A Distant Soil: The Aria Image Comics (2001) compilation of comic issues 26-31
- A Distant Soil: Coda Image Comics (2005) compilation of comic issues 32-38
- Late-1980s color reprints:
- Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast film adaptation The Walt Disney Company
- Captain America Marvel Comics Group series
- Star Trek DC Comics series
- Silver Surfer Marvel Comics series
- Amazing Spider-Man Marvel Comics series
- The Legion of Superheroes DC Comics series
- Valor DC Comics series
- Shade DC/Vertigo series
- The Death Gallery DC/Vertigo
- The Sandman Gallery DC/Vertigo
- Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld vol. 2 #12, DC Comics
- Power Pack Marvel series
Illustration
- Girl to Grrrl Manga: How to Draw the Hottest Shoujo Manga Impact Books, writer/artist
- Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics Watson-Guptill art book
- Anime Mania Watson-Guptill art book
- Disney Adventures The Walt Disney Company
- Young Readers Digest Readers Digest
- CPM Magazine The Cahner’s Group
- Play Station Magazine Imagine Entertainment
- Trading cards for various projects: Topps
- Trading Cards for Various Projects: Skybox
- The Art of Star Wars: Topps
- Star Wars Magazine
- Star Wars product illustration
- Walt Disney product illustration
- Marvel Comics product illustration
- Star Trek product illustration
- Planned Parenthood
- Robotech Art II Donning Co Publishers art book
- The Swat Team Manual
Conceptual art
Distance conceptual artist for Sony/Pipe Studios animated series in development.Professional organizations
Organizations she is a member of include:- American Society of Portrait Artists
- Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists
- National Cartoonists Society
Awards and honors
- Chesley Award Nominee
- 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...
Nominee - Comics' Buyer's Guide Award Favorite Colorist Nominee
- Delphi Institute Grant Award
- American Representative Japan/America Manga Seminar, Tokyo
- Guest of Honor, San Diego Comic Con
- Multiple Awards and Honors, SF, Comic and Fantasy art shows
- Multiple Awards and Honors various gallery exhibits
- American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
2002 featured speaker - Spectrum Award Nominee
- Women Cartoonist's Hall of Fame, 2007, Friends of LuluFriends of LuluFriends of Lulu was a non-profit, national charitable organization in the United States, founded in 1994 to promote readership of comic books by women and the participation of women in the comic book industry...
- International Horror Guild Award: The Nightmare Factory (anthology) 2008, Best Illustrated Narrative
Exhibits
- Four Color Images Gallery, New York, NY
- Kunstlerhaus, Stuttgart, Germany
- Porto, Portugal
- Secession Gallery, Vienna, Austria
- Gijon Cultural Center, Gijon, Spain
- San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
- Museum of Cartoon Art, Rye Brook, New York
- Gallery Nucleus: 20 Years of Sandman 2008
- Krannert Art Museum; Out of Sequence: Underrepresented Voices in American Comics
- Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar; Out of Sequence
Interviews
- http://web.archive.org/web/20041213150258/www.pulp-mag.com/archives/5.08/interview_doran_01.shtml
- http://web.archive.org/web/20041213224706/www.pulp-mag.com/archives/5.08/interview_doran_02.shtml