Trevor Von Eeden
Encyclopedia
Trevor Von Eeden is a comic book writer/artist who, known for his work on such DC Comics
books as Black Lightning
, Batman
, and Green Arrow
, as well as Marvel Comics
books such as Power Man and Iron Fist
, and the biographical series The Original Johnson
.
. A few years into his career, at about the age of 20, Von Eeden began to suspect that he had only gotten that job because of his skin color, which displeased him deeply, and motivated him to hone his craft so that it would distinguish itself on the basis of its quality, without any regard for his ethnicity. As Von Eeden recalls, "I sat down and wrote a five-page "mission statement" (now lost)--writing out for myself in detail exactly what I wanted to create--the kind of style I thought would express myself most effectively, while also telling a story in the most dramatic way possible. I wrote everything down that I could think of--the details, form, and purpose of the style of art that I'd wanted to create."
In the 1980s, he worked on books like Thriller an action-adventure story that allowed him room to experiment.
Other comic book titles on which Von Eeden worked during the 1980s included Black Canary
and Batman for DC Comics, and Power Man and Iron Fist
for Marvel Comics
. In 1984 Von Eeden illustrated the first eight issues of the DC miniseries Thriller. He also provided pencil art for a well regarded four-issue Green Arrow
mini-series that was inked by Dick Giordano
.
During much of the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s Von Eeden worked as a storyboard artist for various New York advertising agencies.
In 2001 Von Eeden returned to Batman comics, providing pencil art for the five-issue storyline "Grimm" that appeared issues #149-153 of the DC Comics
series, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight. For this storyline, Von Eeden's pencils were inked by José Luis García-López
. Trevor Von Eeden has also illustrated a series of short stories, "Joe In The Future
", which have been published in Heavy Metal
magazine since 2001.
In 2007 Von Eeden began writing and drawing The Original Johnson, an epic biography of the boxer Jack Johnson
. The 242-page graphic novel project was serialized in weekly online installments at ComicMix, and was completed in 2009. Editor Mike Gold of ComicMix says of Von Eeden's attraction to projects that stir him emotionally, "You’re dealing with a guy who wasn’t necessarily interested in just the high visibility and high-money projects. In any medium, you’re going to get a much better story if you have heart. And the story of Jack Johnson is one of heart." Print rights to the book were acquired by IDW Publishing
, who issued the series as a two volume set. The first volume appeared in 2010 and the second in 2011.
In 2009 Von Eeden provided illustrations for the text story, "The Holo-Marketeer", for Heavy Metal magazine.
In 2011 Von Eeden designed and illustrated superhero comics produced for The National Hockey League
by Stan Lee
.
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...
books as Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, and Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, as well as 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...
books such as Power Man and Iron Fist
Power Man and Iron Fist
Power Man and Iron Fist was a Marvel comic book featuring the superheroes Power Man and Iron Fist.-Hero For Hire/Power Man:...
, and the biographical series The Original Johnson
Jack Johnson (boxer)
John Arthur Johnson , nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” was an American boxer. At the height of the Jim Crow era, Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion...
.
Early life
According to Von Eeden, he remembers drawing in his early teens in order to alleviate the boredom of junior high school, beginning with anatomical studies of faces and hands, which he says are the most difficult things to draw accurately, in the margins of his notebooks. He was introduced to comics through the collection of his best friend, who encouraged him to submit sample artwork to DC Comics.Career
Von Eeden's comic book career began at age 16, when DC Comics hired him to design and draw their first ever black superhero to have his own title, Black LightningBlack Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
. A few years into his career, at about the age of 20, Von Eeden began to suspect that he had only gotten that job because of his skin color, which displeased him deeply, and motivated him to hone his craft so that it would distinguish itself on the basis of its quality, without any regard for his ethnicity. As Von Eeden recalls, "I sat down and wrote a five-page "mission statement" (now lost)--writing out for myself in detail exactly what I wanted to create--the kind of style I thought would express myself most effectively, while also telling a story in the most dramatic way possible. I wrote everything down that I could think of--the details, form, and purpose of the style of art that I'd wanted to create."
In the 1980s, he worked on books like Thriller an action-adventure story that allowed him room to experiment.
Other comic book titles on which Von Eeden worked during the 1980s included Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
and Batman for DC Comics, and Power Man and Iron Fist
Power Man and Iron Fist
Power Man and Iron Fist was a Marvel comic book featuring the superheroes Power Man and Iron Fist.-Hero For Hire/Power Man:...
for 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...
. In 1984 Von Eeden illustrated the first eight issues of the DC miniseries Thriller. He also provided pencil art for a well regarded four-issue Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
mini-series that was inked by Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
.
During much of the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s Von Eeden worked as a storyboard artist for various New York advertising agencies.
In 2001 Von Eeden returned to Batman comics, providing pencil art for the five-issue storyline "Grimm" that appeared issues #149-153 of the 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...
series, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight. For this storyline, Von Eeden's pencils were inked by José Luis García-López
José Luis García-López
José Luis García-López is a Spanish comic book artist who works in the United States of America, mostly for DC Comics. He has most recently penciled an arc in Batman Confidential, the Metal Men storyline in the 2009 Wednesday Comics weekly anthology, and, in 2011, one of the stories in The Spirit...
. Trevor Von Eeden has also illustrated a series of short stories, "Joe In The Future
Joe In The Future
Joe In The Future is an ongoing short story comic strip that appears in Heavy Metal. The strip is co-written by Horatio Weisfeld and Peter Koch....
", which have been published in Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (magazine)
Heavy Metal is an American science fiction and fantasy comics magazine, known primarily for its blend of dark fantasy/science fiction and erotica. In the mid-1970s, while publisher Leonard Mogel was in Paris to jump-start the French edition of National Lampoon, he discovered the French...
magazine since 2001.
In 2007 Von Eeden began writing and drawing The Original Johnson, an epic biography of the boxer Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson may refer to :*Jack Johnson , one of Wyatt Earp's possemen during his "vendetta ride"*Jack Johnson , first African-American heavyweight boxing world champion...
. The 242-page graphic novel project was serialized in weekly online installments at ComicMix, and was completed in 2009. Editor Mike Gold of ComicMix says of Von Eeden's attraction to projects that stir him emotionally, "You’re dealing with a guy who wasn’t necessarily interested in just the high visibility and high-money projects. In any medium, you’re going to get a much better story if you have heart. And the story of Jack Johnson is one of heart." Print rights to the book were acquired by IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
, who issued the series as a two volume set. The first volume appeared in 2010 and the second in 2011.
In 2009 Von Eeden provided illustrations for the text story, "The Holo-Marketeer", for Heavy Metal magazine.
In 2011 Von Eeden designed and illustrated superhero comics produced for The National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
.