Matt Wagner

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Infobox comics creator Matt Wagner (born October 9, 1961)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an American comics artist and writer who is best known as the creator of the series Mage and Grendel.

Early life, family and education

Matt Wagner's childhood was spent in central Pennsylvania<ref name= CVprofile>Template:Cite web</ref> (near State College, Pennsylvania)<ref name= Rabinoff>Template:Cite web</ref> and in Front Royal, Virginia.<ref name= FacebookMW>Template:Cite web</ref> His mother was an English teacher, and his father, a World War II veteran, worked for a "synthetic fibers corporation".<ref name= Rabinoff />

Even during his grade school years, Wagner knew he wanted to create comic books.<ref name= Rabinoff /> He was in the Class of 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at Warren County High School in Front Royal, Virginia.<ref name= FacebookMW /> For two years he attended college in Virginia at James Madison University, but he transferred to art school<ref name= CVprofile /> at Philadelphia College of Art.<ref name= Rabinoff /><ref name= FacebookMW />

Career

Matt Wagner's first published comic book work was Comico Primer #2 (1982), which was the first appearance of Grendel.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In addition to his creator-owned series Mage and Grendel,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he has worked on comics featuring the Demon and Batman<ref name="GCD">Template:Gcdb</ref> as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1991, he illustrated part of the "Season of Mists" story arc in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He wrote and drew Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity a limited series featuring DC's three major heroes in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He followed it with Batman and the Monster Men<ref>Manning "2010s" in Dougall, p. 286 "Writer/artist Matt Wagner utilized the Monster Men from [Batman #1] as well as their creator, Dr. Hugo Strange.</ref> and Batman and the Mad Monk<ref>Manning "2010s" in Dougall, p. 291 "The second in his 'Dark Moon Rising' series, writer/artist Matt Wagner dug up another Golden Age gem in the person of the Mad Monk in this six-issue follow-up to Batman and the Monster Men.</ref> in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

His other projects include Madame Xanadu for Vertigo, with artist Amy Reeder Hadley.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has produced numerous comics covers, including painted ones for Green Arrow<ref name="GCD" /> and has written several Green Hornet limited series for Dynamite Entertainment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Outside comics, Wagner provided art for the 1984 Villains & Vigilantes adventure Battle Above the Earth written by Steven Crow.

In April 2022, Wagner contributed to Operation USA's benefit anthology book, Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, a project spearheaded by IDW Publishing Special Projects Editor Scott Dunbier. Its profits were donated to relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees resulting from the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= AIPT>Template:Cite web</ref> Wagner produced a new Grendel story featuring Hunter Rose for the anthology.<ref name=AIPT/>

Wagner prefers to use Faber-Castell's Pitt Artist Pens.<ref name= Rabinoff />

Personal life

Wagner is married to Barbara Schutz, the sister of his editor, Diana Schutz.<ref name= Rabinoff /> They have resided in the Portland, Oregon metro area,<ref name= CVprofile /> including in West Linn, Oregon.<ref name= FacebookMW /> Barbara Wagner has worked as an English teacher, like Matt Wagner's mother was.<ref name= Rabinoff /> He has mentioned that he has a son.<ref name= Rabinoff />

Awards and nominations

  • 1988:
  • 1993:
    • Won "Best Finite Series/Limited Series" Eisner Award, for Grendel: War Child<ref name="Eisner1993">Template:Cite web</ref>
    • Nominated for "Best Writer/Artist" Eisner Award, for Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight: "Faces"<ref name="Eisner1993" />
    • Nominated for "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award, for Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight: "Faces"<ref name="Eisner1993" />
    • Nominated for "Best Inker" Eisner Award, for Grendel: War Child<ref name="Eisner1993" />
  • 1995: Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for Sandman Mystery Theatre<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 1999:
    • Won "Best Anthology" Eisner Award, for Grendel: Black, White, and Red<ref name="1999Eisner">Template:Cite web</ref>
    • Won "Best Short Story" Eisner Award, for "Devil's Advocate" in Grendel: Black, White, and Red #1<ref name="1999Eisner" />
    • Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for Grendel: Black, White, and Red<ref name="1999Eisner" />

Bibliography

File:Mage - the Hero Defined (no. 1, cover art).jpg
Mage: The Hero Defined, cover by Matt Wagner

Atomeka Press

  • A1 #2 (1989) (story in anthology)
  • The True North #1 (1988)
  • The True North II #1 (1991)

Comico

  • Grendel #1–3 (1983–1984)
  • Grendel vol. 2 #1–40 (1986–1990)
  • Mage #1–15 (1984–1986)
  • Magebook #1–2 (1985)
  • Primer #2, 5 (1982–1983)
  • Silverback #1–3 (1989)

Dark Horse Comics

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  • Dark Horse Presents #40, 45 (1990) (stories in anthology title)
  • Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special #1 (1991) (story in anthology title)
  • Grendel Tales: Devil's Choices #1 (1995)
  • Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths #1 (1994)
  • Grendel Tales: Homecoming #1–3 (1994–1995)
  • Grendel Tales: The Devil's Hammer #1–2 (1994)
  • Grendel: Behold the Devil #0, #1–8 (2007–2008)
  • Grendel: Black, White, and Red #1–4 (1998–1999)
  • Grendel: Devil's Legacy #1–5 (2000)
  • Grendel: War Child #1–10 (1992–1993)
  • The Terminator: One Shot (1991)

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DC Comics

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Vertigo

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Dynamite Entertainment

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  • Django/Zorro #1–7 (2014–2015)
  • Green Hornet: Year One #1–12 (2010–2011)
  • Grendel vs. The Shadow (2014)
  • The Shadow #100 (2015) (eight page story)
  • The Shadow: The Death of Margo Lane (2016)
  • The Shadow: Year One #1–10 (2013–2014)
  • The Spirit #1–13 (2015–2016)
  • Zorro #1–20 (2008–2010)
  • Zorro Rides Again #1–12 (2011–2012)

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Image Comics

  • Mage: The Hero Defined #0–15 (1997–1999)
  • Mage: The Hero Denied #0–15 (2017–2019)

Legendary Comics

  • The Tower Chronicles: Dreadstalker #1–10 (2014–2015)
  • The Tower Chronicles: Geisthawk #1–4 (2012–2013)

Marvel Comics

References

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