Dean Motter
Encyclopedia
Dean Motter is an illustrator, designer and writer who worked for many years in Toronto
, Canada
, New York City
, and Atlanta. Motter is best known as the creator and designer of Mister X
, one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s.
and A.E. van Vogt. During that time Motter and collaborator Ken Steacy
created The Sacred & The Profane (Star Reach
), which Archie Goodwin
referred to as "the first true graphic novel" in the contemporary comics medium.
Motter achieved recognition for his album cover design during his tenure as art director for CBS Records Canada, and later with his own studio, Modern Imageworks. His record jackets and promotional graphics (for acts such as The Nylons
, Triumph
, Loverboy, The Diodes
, Liona Boyd
and Jane Siberry) have won several awards. Motter has been nominated for a Juno Award
six times, and won twice. He won a Juno Award
in 1983 for "Best Album Graphics
" for his work on the Anvil
album Metal on Metal
. The following year, he again won the "Best Album Graphics" award for his work on the Seamless album by The Nylons
, along with Jeff Jackson and Deborah Samuel.
In 1988, he co-wrote and illustrated Shattered Visage
for DC Comics
based on Patrick McGoohan's 1960s British television series The Prisoner
. The following year he created the logo and basic cover design for DC's Piranha Press
imprint.
Dean relocated in New York City in 1990 where he served as art director and senior designer for Byron Preiss Visual Publications (for whom he also edited a line of Philip Marlowe
graphic novels.) In 1993, he joined the staff at DC Comics
where he oversaw the corporate and licensing designs for many of their characters. He returned to the freelance community in 1997, retaining his previous employers among his most active clients.
Motter’s acclaimed Vertigo mini-series Terminal City
and its sequel Terminal City: Aerial Graffiti (both illustrated by Michael Lark
) were nominated for a number of Eisner and Harvey Award
s during their 1996–1998 run.
His artwork has been featured in many comic book publications, notably the Classics Illustrated
adaptation of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Batman: Gotham Knights, Grendel: Red, White and Black, John Constantine: Hellblazer
and 9-11: Artists Respond as well as the Superman's First Flight children's book for Scholastic. He has written stories for Superman Adventures, Star Wars Tales, Will Eisner's The Spirit, and Wolverine.
In 2001 Dean re-united with Michael Lark to create the award-winning Batman: Nine Lives graphic novel for DC Comics
. During that time he also wrote and illustrated Electropolis for Image Comics
.
Motter has compiled and designed the retrospectives, Echoes: The Drawings of Michael Wm. Kaluta and The Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schomberg for Vanguard Productions, as well as Mister X: The Archives (including Motter’s reminiscences and newly illustrated finale) for Dark Horse Books.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Atlanta. Motter is best known as the creator and designer of Mister X
Mister X (Vortex)
Mister X was a series of comic books first published in 1983–90 by Toronto-based Vortex Comics. Created by album and book cover designer Dean Motter, it was developed for a year in close collaboration with comic artist and illustrator Paul Rivoche, whose series of poster illustrations stirred up...
, one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s.
Early career
In the late 1970s, Dean Motter edited and art directed Andromeda, a Canadian comic book series which adapted the works of major science–fiction authors such as Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
and A.E. van Vogt. During that time Motter and collaborator Ken Steacy
Ken Steacy
Ken “Value Added” Steacy is a Canadian comics artist and writer best known for his work on the NOW Comics comic book series of Astro Boy and of the Comico comic series of Jonny Quest, as well as his graphic novel collaborations with Harlan Ellison and Dean Motter...
created The Sacred & The Profane (Star Reach
Star Reach
Star Reach was an influential, American science fiction and fantasy comics anthology published from 1974 to 1979 by Mike Friedrich...
), which Archie Goodwin
Archie Goodwin (comics)
Archie Goodwin was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. He worked on a number of comic strips in addition to comic books, and is best known for his Warren and Marvel Comics work...
referred to as "the first true graphic novel" in the contemporary comics medium.
Motter achieved recognition for his album cover design during his tenure as art director for CBS Records Canada, and later with his own studio, Modern Imageworks. His record jackets and promotional graphics (for acts such as The Nylons
The Nylons
The Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Best known for their covers of The Turtles' "Happy Together", Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' version of the traditional "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"....
, Triumph
Triumph (band)
Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
, Loverboy, The Diodes
The Diodes
The Diodes are a Canadian punk/new wave band formed in 1976. They released five albums: Diodes , Released , Action-Reaction , Survivors , and Time/Damage Live 1978...
, Liona Boyd
Liona Boyd
Liona Maria Carolynne Boyd, LLD, D.Mus, CM, O.Ont, is a Canadian classical guitarist, composer, songwriter and singer. Boyd was born in London, England on July 11, 1949, moved to Canada with her parents when she was eight years old and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1975...
and Jane Siberry) have won several awards. Motter has been nominated for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
six times, and won twice. He won a Juno Award
Juno Awards of 1983
The Juno Awards of 1983, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 5 April 1983 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by Burton Cummings and Alan Thicke at the Harbour Castle Hilton Metropolitan Ballroom....
in 1983 for "Best Album Graphics
Juno Award for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year
The Juno Award for "CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best album art for a music recording in Canada...
" for his work on the Anvil
Anvil (band)
Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band comprising Steve "Lips" Kudlow , Robb Reiner , and Glenn Five...
album Metal on Metal
Metal on Metal
Metal on Metal is the second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Anvil.- Track listing :All songs written and arranged by AnvilThe title song was featured on the November 14th, 2010 episode of The Simpsons titled "Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life."-Personnel:*Lips - vocals, guitar*Dave...
. The following year, he again won the "Best Album Graphics" award for his work on the Seamless album by The Nylons
The Nylons
The Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Best known for their covers of The Turtles' "Happy Together", Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' version of the traditional "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"....
, along with Jeff Jackson and Deborah Samuel.
In 1988, he co-wrote and illustrated Shattered Visage
Shattered Visage (The Prisoner)
The Prisoner: Shattered Visage is a four-issue comic book mini-series based on The Prisoner, the 1967 television series starring Patrick McGoohan. The name is a reference to Percy Shelley's famous poem Ozymandias, which forms part of the introduction.The series was illustrated by Mister X creator...
for 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...
based on Patrick McGoohan's 1960s British television series The Prisoner
The Prisoner
The Prisoner is a 17-episode British television series first broadcast in the UK from 29 September 1967 to 1 February 1968. Starring and co-created by Patrick McGoohan, it combined spy fiction with elements of science fiction, allegory and psychological drama.The series follows a British former...
. The following year he created the logo and basic cover design for DC's Piranha Press
Piranha Press
Piranha Press, an imprint of DC Comics from 1989 to 1994, was a response by DC to the growing interest in alternative comics. The imprint was edited by Mark Nevelow, who instead of developing comics with the established names in the alternative comics field, chose to introduce several unknown...
imprint.
Later years
Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler in a series of novels including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep published in 1939...
graphic novels.) In 1993, he joined the staff at 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...
where he oversaw the corporate and licensing designs for many of their characters. He returned to the freelance community in 1997, retaining his previous employers among his most active clients.
Motter’s acclaimed Vertigo mini-series Terminal City
Terminal City
Terminal City is the name for two comic book limited series published by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint in 1996 and 1997, with, respectively nine and five issues. Dean Motter was the writer and Michael Lark was the artist for the series....
and its sequel Terminal City: Aerial Graffiti (both illustrated by Michael Lark
Michael Lark
Michael Lark is an American comics artist.Lark has provided pencils for DC Comics' Batman, Terminal City, Gotham Central and Legend of the Hawkman. His work for Marvel Comics includes The Pulse and Captain America...
) were nominated for a number of Eisner and 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...
s during their 1996–1998 run.
His artwork has been featured in many comic book publications, notably the Classics Illustrated
Classics Illustrated
Classics Illustrated is a comic book series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as Moby Dick, Hamlet, and The Iliad. Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication in 1941 and finished its first run in 1971, producing 169 issues. Following the series' demise, various companies...
adaptation of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Batman: Gotham Knights, Grendel: Red, White and Black, John Constantine: Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
and 9-11: Artists Respond as well as the Superman's First Flight children's book for Scholastic. He has written stories for Superman Adventures, Star Wars Tales, Will Eisner's The Spirit, and Wolverine.
In 2001 Dean re-united with Michael Lark to create the award-winning Batman: Nine Lives graphic novel for 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...
. During that time he also wrote and illustrated Electropolis for 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...
.
Motter has compiled and designed the retrospectives, Echoes: The Drawings of Michael Wm. Kaluta and The Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schomberg for Vanguard Productions, as well as Mister X: The Archives (including Motter’s reminiscences and newly illustrated finale) for Dark Horse Books.
Interviews
- Herzog, Martin. Dean Motter , Comics Interview , No. 39 1986.
- Cooke, Jon B.. Mister X-Man Motter, Comic Book ArtistComic Book ArtistComic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
, No. 15 November 2001 - Klaehn, Jeffery. Mister X: Still Sleepless After All These Years, Publishers WeeklyPublishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
, November 24, 2008 - Episode 74: Dean Motter, comiXology, December 29, 2008
- Klaehn, Jeffery. Mister M: A Career Retrospective with Dean Motter, Graphic Novel Reporter, February 2009