Tony Harris (cartoonist)
Encyclopedia
Tony Harris is an American
comic book artist
, known for his work as series such as Starman, Iron Man
, and Ex Machina. He has been nominated for five Eisner Awards for his work.
and rose to prominence in 1994
with the publication of DC comics’ Starman
. Co-created with James Robinson
, Starman led the two to critical acclaim and eventually a Eisner Award
for the "Sand and Stars" story arc.
After four and a half years on Starman, Harris left to pursue other projects but remained as cover artist on Starman for another year and a half. During this time he was also one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios
.
Current projects include Ex Machina with Brian K. Vaughan
, published by Wildstorm
and War Heroes
with Mark Millar
, published by Image Comics
. In April 2010, Following the completion of Ex Machina, Harris announced that he and B. Clay Moore
would produce a series called The Further Adventures of the Whistling Skull.
In the late 1990s he moved on to form Jolly Roger Studio, in Macon, Georgia
.
Other works include key frame animation and story boards for Chevrolet
commercial, illustration for Cartoon Network
, product design and illustration for Universal’s The Mummy
.
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...
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic 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...
, known for his work as series such as Starman, Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, and Ex Machina. He has been nominated for five Eisner Awards for his work.
Career
Harris began his comics career in 19891989 in comics
-Year overall:* "Inferno" company-wide Marvel Comics crossover continues, involving the mutant titles The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, The New Mutants, and Excalibur, as well as the X-Terminators limited series and various other Marvel titles...
and rose to prominence in 1994
1994 in comics
-Year overall:* Huge changes in the marketplace force many retailers and small publishers out of business...
with the publication of DC comics’ Starman
Starman (Jack Knight)
Starman is fictional character, a comic book superhero in the , and a member of the Justice Society of America. He is the son of the original Starman, Ted Knight...
. Co-created with James Robinson
James Dale Robinson
James Dale Robinson is a British writer of comic books and screenplays who is also known for his interest in vintage collectibles and memorabilia. His style is described as smart and energetic, built upon his vast knowledge of obscure continuity from the period known to fans and historians as the...
, Starman led the two to critical acclaim and eventually a 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...
for the "Sand and Stars" story arc.
After four and a half years on Starman, Harris left to pursue other projects but remained as cover artist on Starman for another year and a half. During this time he was also one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios
Gaijin Studios
Gaijin Studios was a group of American comic book artists formed in Atlanta, Georgia. It was one of the longest-running collectives of freelance comic book artists in the United States, having been in continuous operation for nineteen years, from 1991 to 2010...
.
Current projects include Ex Machina with Brian K. Vaughan
Brian K. Vaughan
Brian Keller Vaughan is an American comic book and television writer. He is best known for the comic book series Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, and Pride of Baghdad, and was one of the principal writers of the television series Lost, during seasons three through five...
, published by Wildstorm
Wildstorm
WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm, published American comic books. Originally an independent company established by Jim Lee and further expanded upon in subsequent years by other creators, WildStorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1999...
and War Heroes
War Heroes (comics)
War Heroes is a six-issue limited series from Image Comics, written by Mark Millar, with art by Tony Harris.Millar has said "War Heroes is everything I've been leading up to with Civil War, Ultimates, The Authority, Kick-Ass and Wanted" and "This is what my Ultimates 3 would have been if Bryan...
with Mark Millar
Mark Millar
Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on books such as The Authority, The Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Civil War, Wanted, and Kick-Ass, the latter two of which have been adapted into feature films...
, published by 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...
. In April 2010, Following the completion of Ex Machina, Harris announced that he and B. Clay Moore
B. Clay Moore
B. Clay Moore is an American comic book writer, best known for the series Hawaiian Dick.-Career:Moore first achieved notoriety as the writer and co-creator of Hawaiian Dick, first published in 2002 by Image Comics...
would produce a series called The Further Adventures of the Whistling Skull.
In the late 1990s he moved on to form Jolly Roger Studio, in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
.
Other works include key frame animation and story boards for Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
commercial, illustration for Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
, product design and illustration for Universal’s The Mummy
The Mummy (1999 film)
The Mummy is a 1999 American adventure film written and directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah and Kevin J. O'Connor, with Arnold Vosloo in the title role as the reanimated mummy. The film features substantial dialogue in ancient Egyptian language, spoken...
.
Technique
Harris makes extensive use of models and photo reference in his work, and composes panels featuring multiple characters with models he uses to represent specific characters. Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days, the first collected trade paperback of that series, featured a "Cast of Characters" page showing the 12 models that starred as the characters in that storyline, followed by a gallery showing how several excerpted pages from that story progressed from photo to pencil art to inks to colors.DC
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #169-171 (2003)
- Ex MachinaEx MachinaEx Machina is a portion of the phrase deus ex machina. It is used as the title of several works:*Ex Machina , a theatre company founded by director Robert Lepage in Quebec City, Canada...
#1-50 (2004–10) - Green Lantern CorpsGreen Lantern CorpsThe Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
Quarterly #7 (1993) - HourmanHourmanHourman is the name of three different fictional DC Comics superheroes, the first of whom was created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily in Adventure Comics #48 , during the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Rex Tyler:Scientist Rex Tyler, raised in upstate...
#22 (2001) - JSAJustice Society of AmericaThe Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
: All-Stars, miniseries, #4 (2003) - JSA: Liberty File, miniseries, #1-2 (2000)
- JSA: Unholy Three, miniseries, #1-2 (2000)
- LegionLegion of Super-HeroesThe Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
: Secret Files 3003 (among other artists) (2004) - The Legion #25 (among other artists) (2003)
- StarmanStarman (comics)Starman is a name used by several different fictional DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, the original Starman, Ted Knight, first appeared in Adventure Comics #61...
, vol. 2, #0-33, 35, 37, 39-40, 43, 45 (1994–98) - SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
: LexLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
2000 (among other artists) (2001)
Marvel
- DarkholdDarkholdThe Darkhold, also known as The Book of Sins, is a fictional book in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:The Darkhold was co-created by Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog. The Darkhold was first mentioned in Marvel Spotlight #3 but first shown in Marvel Spotlight #4...
: Pages from the Book of Sins #3 (1992) - Dr. StrangeDr. StrangeDoctor Strange is a Marvel Comics character and Sorceror.Doctor Strange or Dr. Strange may also refer to:*Doc Strange, a Nedor Comics character named Doctor Thomas Hugo Strange*Hugo Strange, a DC Comics character and recurring Batman villain...
, vol. 2, #1-2 (1999) - Iron ManIron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, vol. 3, #86-88 (2004) - Punisher Summer Special #3 (1993)
- Spider-ManSpider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
: with Great Power..., miniseries, #1-4 (2008)
Other publishers
- Blade #1 (Buccaneer, 1989)
- Down #1 (Image, 2005)
- Frank FrazettaFrank FrazettaFrank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media...
Fantasy Illustrated #2 (Quantumm, 1999) - NightbreedNightbreedNightbreed is a 1990 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his 1988 novella Cabal. The film features Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby and David Cronenberg. The story centers in a community of mutant outcasts that hides from humanity, known as the...
#18-20 (Epic, 1992) - Nightmare on Elm Street (Innovation Publishing, 1991)
- Obergeist: Ragnarok Highway #1-6 (Image, 2001)
Award nominations
- 1995 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...
for Best Cover Artist (for StarmanStarman (comics)Starman is a name used by several different fictional DC Comics superheroes, most prominently Ted Knight and his sons David and Jack.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Jack Burnley, the original Starman, Ted Knight, first appeared in Adventure Comics #61...
) - 1997 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist (for Starman)
- 1997 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist (for Starman)
- 1997 Eisner Award for Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team (with Wade Von GrawbadgerWade Von GrawbadgerWade von Grawbadger is a comic book artist who is known mostly for his inking work for Marvel and DC comics.-DC Comics:* Alpha Centurion Special #1* Birds of Prey: Manhunt #1, 3, 4* Showcase '95 #1, 2...
, for Starman) - 2006 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist (for Ex Machina)