Nathan Massengill
Encyclopedia
Nathan Massengill is an American comic book artist, most known for his work as a brush inker
. His work includes Marvel Comics
' Deadpool and DC Comics
' the Justice Society of America. He is best known for inking Ed McGuinness
, penciler on the Deadpool series. He is also known for his inking work over pencilers Mike Wieringo
(Image Comics' Tellos), Dale Eaglesham
(DC Comics JSA), Steve Scott (Marvel Adventures Hulk), and Sanford Greene (Marvel Adventures Spider-Man).
. Also during this time, he worked for Neal Adams
at Continuity as a blue-line colorist. Between 1993-4, he concentrated primarily on watercolor painting heavily influenced by the techniques and work of Burton Silverman
. He contributed painted covers and a series of painted graphic novels for Raven Publications. He painted a short story in the first issue of Negative Burn
, a series to which he has often contributed, which has become one of the longest-running independent anthology comics. In 1993, Massengill's painted work was nominated for a Chesley Award. In 1995, he returned to inking over new penciler Ed McGuinness, working on five issues of Vampirella
for Harris Publications. After leaving Harris, the pair moved to Marvel Comics. After working together on the 1996 Wolverine
Annual, Ed and Nathan started work on the Deadpool ongoing series, launching the title from #1 (with writer Joe Kelly
and inker Norman Lee). Massengill worked on the series until issue #13. Issue #12, penciled by Pete Woods
, was nominated for an 1998 Harvey Award
for Best Single Issue. After leaving Deadpool, McGuinness and Massengill worked on varying titles included Marvel's The Hulk, Cable, and Awesome Entertainment's The Fighting American. In 1998, Massengill worked on Image Comics' Tellos
over the late Mike Wieringo. More recently, Massengill reunited with penciler Pete Woods on a short run in Detective Comics
. After that series arc, he continued with Detective to work on the twelve-issue arc entitled "The City of Crime" written by David Lapham
. Following this, Massengill has worked with penciler Steve Scott, contributing limited-animation art to Smallville
Season 6 and the DVD extras for that season. He also worked with Scott on Marvel Adventures Hulk and a promotional comics for the movie Batman: The Dark Knight
. He has also worked with penciler Sanford Greene on many projects, including DC Comics' Wonder Girl
mini-series. Massengill worked with penciler Dale Eaglesham
on five issues of DC Comics' The Justice Society of America. This series included writing and painted art by Geoff Johns
and Alex Ross
, and used characters from Ross' best-selling graphic novel "Kingdom Come
".
, a style of inking noted for the predominate use of brush rather than pen-based linework. He has written an article on the inking process which includes proposed new terminology related to the field of inking. He is a committee member of the Inkwell Awards
, an organization devoted to promoting the craft of inking and awarding excellence in that field.
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
. His work includes 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...
' Deadpool and 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...
' the Justice Society of America. He is best known for inking Ed McGuinness
Ed McGuinness
Edward "Ed" McGuinness is an American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on books such as Superman, Superman/Batman, Deadpool, and Hulk...
, penciler on the Deadpool series. He is also known for his inking work over pencilers Mike Wieringo
Mike Wieringo
Michael Lance "Mike" Wieringo , who sometimes signed his work under the name Ringo, was an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' The Flash and Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four....
(Image Comics' Tellos), Dale Eaglesham
Dale Eaglesham
Dale Eaglesham is a comic book illustrator who has been working in the industry since 1986. He is best known for his work on titles like Conan, Punisher, Green Lantern, Villains United, Justice Society of America and Fantastic Four...
(DC Comics JSA), Steve Scott (Marvel Adventures Hulk), and Sanford Greene (Marvel Adventures Spider-Man).
Biography
Nathan was born in 1970 in Hickory, North Carolina. He says, "I was always drawing. I have comic book pages with panels and superhero characters that I was working on in Kindergarten." His only formal education comes from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Arts, which he attended for two years ('89-90). Of the school, he says, "[It] was, and remains, a fantastic school."Career
He started his professional career in the early 1990s, producing the book "Poets Prosper" for Tome Press, an imprint of Caliber Press. Shortly thereafter, in 1992-3 came his first work for DC Comics, inking an issue of The Jaguar and penciling an issue of Wonder WomanWonder 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....
. Also during this time, he worked for Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
at Continuity as a blue-line colorist. Between 1993-4, he concentrated primarily on watercolor painting heavily influenced by the techniques and work of Burton Silverman
Burton Silverman
Burton Silverman is an American painter.A 1949 graduate of Columbia University, Silverman's work has concentrated on, as he put it, "the landscape of the human face." As a portrait artist, he has completed commissions for hundreds of noteworthy patrons...
. He contributed painted covers and a series of painted graphic novels for Raven Publications. He painted a short story in the first issue of Negative Burn
Negative Burn
Negative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
, a series to which he has often contributed, which has become one of the longest-running independent anthology comics. In 1993, Massengill's painted work was nominated for a Chesley Award. In 1995, he returned to inking over new penciler Ed McGuinness, working on five issues of Vampirella
Vampirella
Vampirella is a fictional character, a comic book vampire heroine created by Forrest J Ackerman and costume designer Trina Robbins in Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampirella #1 . Writer-editor Archie Goodwin later developed the character from horror-story hostess, in...
for Harris Publications. After leaving Harris, the pair moved to Marvel Comics. After working together on the 1996 Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
Annual, Ed and Nathan started work on the Deadpool ongoing series, launching the title from #1 (with writer Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly may refer to:*Joe Kelly *Joe Kelly , comic book and animation writer*Joe Kelly , Formula One driver*Joe Kelly , jazz musician...
and inker Norman Lee). Massengill worked on the series until issue #13. Issue #12, penciled by Pete Woods
Pete Woods
Peter "Pete" Woods is a comic book artist, illustrator and penciller. He is best known for his work on titles such as Backlash, Deadpool, Robin, Catwoman, Amazons Attack and Action Comics.-Biography:...
, was nominated for an 1998 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...
for Best Single Issue. After leaving Deadpool, McGuinness and Massengill worked on varying titles included Marvel's The Hulk, Cable, and Awesome Entertainment's The Fighting American. In 1998, Massengill worked on Image Comics' Tellos
Tellos
Tellos is a comic-book fantasy series created by Todd DeZago and Mike Wieringo and published by Image Comics. Three issues at the end of the initial run were printed through Gorilla Comics, which was co-founded by Wieringo). After that company folded, the book returned to Image as a series of...
over the late Mike Wieringo. More recently, Massengill reunited with penciler Pete Woods on a short run in Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
. After that series arc, he continued with Detective to work on the twelve-issue arc entitled "The City of Crime" written by David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
. Following this, Massengill has worked with penciler Steve Scott, contributing limited-animation art to Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
Season 6 and the DVD extras for that season. He also worked with Scott on Marvel Adventures Hulk and a promotional comics for the movie Batman: The Dark Knight
Batman: The Dark Knight
Batman: The Dark Knight is an American comic book ongoing series, written and penciled by David Finch and featuring Batman. One of two new ongoing titles to feature Bruce Wayne after the "Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne" storyline, The Dark Knight will depict Bruce Wayne's life in Gotham City...
. He has also worked with penciler Sanford Greene on many projects, including DC Comics' Wonder Girl
Wonder Girl
Wonder Girl is the name of three fictional characters featured as superheroes in comic books and other media produced by DC Comics. The original was a younger version of Wonder Woman...
mini-series. Massengill worked with penciler Dale Eaglesham
Dale Eaglesham
Dale Eaglesham is a comic book illustrator who has been working in the industry since 1986. He is best known for his work on titles like Conan, Punisher, Green Lantern, Villains United, Justice Society of America and Fantastic Four...
on five issues of DC Comics' The Justice Society of America. This series included writing and painted art by Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
and Alex Ross
Alex Ross
Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an...
, and used characters from Ross' best-selling graphic novel "Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come (comics)
Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book mini-series published in 1996 by DC Comics. It was written by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea...
".
Techniques
Massengill is known as a "brush" inkerInker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
, a style of inking noted for the predominate use of brush rather than pen-based linework. He has written an article on the inking process which includes proposed new terminology related to the field of inking. He is a committee member of the Inkwell Awards
Inkwell Awards
The Inkwell Award, sometimes shortened to the Inkwells, is a trophy given in the field of inking in American comic books. The awards were partially named after the Yahoo group whose members include many in the inking community, and after the personal website name of organization founder Bob Almond...
, an organization devoted to promoting the craft of inking and awarding excellence in that field.
External links
- Nathan Massengill at Nathan Massengill - Personal Site
- Original Art at Comic Art Fans
- Nathan Massengill at the Inkwell Awards (Committee member)