Dean Hsieh
Encyclopedia
Dean Hsieh is an American
musician
and comic book
creator who is currently writing and drawing Devil's Wake
through Zuda, DC Comic's web comic imprint
.
to "produce comics and stories that reflected the hard edge of rock 'n' roll." He wrote and drew several stories featuring bands such Guns 'N' Roses, Motley Crue
, Metallica
, Rolling Stones, and AC/DC
.
While in college, he met fellow aspiring comic artist Will Allison and struck a friendship based on their mutual love of manga
and anime
. Hsieh began working on a new comic, Athena, which was originally featured in Antarctic Press's short-lived anthology series Absolute Zero. Hsieh and Allison decided to start their own independent comic company, A.M.Works, in order to publish their creator-owned series Athena and Pervert Club. Hsieh's Athena, described as "full of intriguing situations and neat near-future science fiction," ran for fourteen issues and was collected into two graphic novels
Antarctic Press
released his next comic Westside which was a three-issue full-color mini-series. A special edition of the first issue comes with a CD soundtrack.
In December 2008, Hsieh's entry Devil's Wake
(originally titled Aeon of the Dead) won the monthly online contest sponsored by Zuda Comics. The full-color comic is written and digitally painted by Hsieh and is currently running on Zuda's website.
, and Huggy Bear." They released two 7" singles and were heavily involved in the local fanzine Peek-A-Boo, which later became Peek-A-Boo Records.
His next garage rock band, The 1-4-5s, released a debut single on Peek-a-Boo Records and was then signed to Estrus Records. Their first full-length, Rock Invasion, was released on Estrus. They released numerous 7" singles and toured the West Coast. The band also found some success in Japan where they toured and played with fellow Japanese garage rockers The 5.6.7.8s and Supersnazz. The band broke up shortly after releasing the 10" Rock 'N Roll Spook Party on Estrus.
After the 1-4-5s broke up, Hsieh formed a new garage rock band, The Wontons. They played for several years and toured America and Japan. The Wontons released several 7" singles under different record labels and contributed to numerous compilations. Their only full-length album, Hex Appeal, was released by Bloody Banner Records.
In December 1999, Hsieh became a part of Golden Millennium, a glam-rock supergroup featuring fellow Austin
musicians from Spoon
, The Kiss Offs, and Silver Scooter. He also played in the short-lived electro-punk band The Weirding.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
creator who is currently writing and drawing Devil's Wake
Devil's Wake
Devil's Wake is a webcomic from DC imprint Zuda Comics, created by Dean Hsieh. Originally titled Aeon of the Dead, it was selected as winner of Zuda's December 2008 competition.-Synopsis:It's been thirteen years since the Last Pandemic...
through Zuda, DC Comic's web comic imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
.
Comics
Hsieh began his career in comics when he was only sixteen and still in High School. After writing a negative letter to Rock 'N' Roll Comics, he was hired by the fledgling company Revolutionary ComicsRevolutionary Comics
Revolutionary Comics was a U.S. comic book publisher best known for the series Rock 'N' Roll Comics, launched in 1989. Founded by publisher Todd Loren, the line featured unlicensed biographies of rock stars, told in comic book form but geared for adults, often with very adult situations...
to "produce comics and stories that reflected the hard edge of rock 'n' roll." He wrote and drew several stories featuring bands such Guns 'N' Roses, Motley Crue
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Rolling Stones, and AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
.
While in college, he met fellow aspiring comic artist Will Allison and struck a friendship based on their mutual love of manga
Manga
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...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. Hsieh began working on a new comic, Athena, which was originally featured in Antarctic Press's short-lived anthology series Absolute Zero. Hsieh and Allison decided to start their own independent comic company, A.M.Works, in order to publish their creator-owned series Athena and Pervert Club. Hsieh's Athena, described as "full of intriguing situations and neat near-future science fiction," ran for fourteen issues and was collected into two graphic novels
Antarctic Press
Antarctic Press
Antarctic Press is a San Antonio-based comic book publishing company which publishes "American Manga" style comic books.Founded by Ben Dunn in 1984, Antarctic Press has produced over 850 titles with a total circulation of over 5 million...
released his next comic Westside which was a three-issue full-color mini-series. A special edition of the first issue comes with a CD soundtrack.
In December 2008, Hsieh's entry Devil's Wake
Devil's Wake
Devil's Wake is a webcomic from DC imprint Zuda Comics, created by Dean Hsieh. Originally titled Aeon of the Dead, it was selected as winner of Zuda's December 2008 competition.-Synopsis:It's been thirteen years since the Last Pandemic...
(originally titled Aeon of the Dead) won the monthly online contest sponsored by Zuda Comics. The full-color comic is written and digitally painted by Hsieh and is currently running on Zuda's website.
Music
Hsieh began playing guitar in the early nineties, and his band Teen Titans played "fast paced, nerd-core that looked up to the likes of the Pixies, WireWire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
, and Huggy Bear." They released two 7" singles and were heavily involved in the local fanzine Peek-A-Boo, which later became Peek-A-Boo Records.
His next garage rock band, The 1-4-5s, released a debut single on Peek-a-Boo Records and was then signed to Estrus Records. Their first full-length, Rock Invasion, was released on Estrus. They released numerous 7" singles and toured the West Coast. The band also found some success in Japan where they toured and played with fellow Japanese garage rockers The 5.6.7.8s and Supersnazz. The band broke up shortly after releasing the 10" Rock 'N Roll Spook Party on Estrus.
After the 1-4-5s broke up, Hsieh formed a new garage rock band, The Wontons. They played for several years and toured America and Japan. The Wontons released several 7" singles under different record labels and contributed to numerous compilations. Their only full-length album, Hex Appeal, was released by Bloody Banner Records.
In December 1999, Hsieh became a part of Golden Millennium, a glam-rock supergroup featuring fellow Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
musicians from Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
, The Kiss Offs, and Silver Scooter. He also played in the short-lived electro-punk band The Weirding.
Film
In 2005, Hsieh worked as part of the animation department A Scanner DarklyA Scanner Darkly (film)
A Scanner Darkly is a 2006 science fiction thriller directed by Richard Linklater based on the novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick. The film tells the story of identity and deception in a near-future dystopia constantly under intrusive high-technology police surveillance in the midst of a drug...
.
External links
- Zuda Comics, Official Website for Devil's Wake
- Dean Hsieh's personal website