MICHAEL TURNER (ARTIST)

'Michael Turner' (born April 21 1971) is a comic book artist born in Crossville, Tennessee and primarily known for his work on ''Witchblade'' and ''Fathom''. Michael is also the president of his own entertainment company Aspen MLT.

Contents

Biography

Published comic-book interiors

Published comic-book covers for Marvel and DC

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

References

External links

Biography

Michael Turner was discovered by Marc Silvestri at a convention, and hired by Silvestri's Top Cow Productions as an artist. He initially did background illustrations for Top Cow titles before co-creating ''Witchblade''. In the summer of 1998 he debuted the creator-owned ''Fathom''. He is currently working on his new series ''Soulfire''.
As well as an artist, Turner is an award-winning water skier, holds an instructor level red sash in martial arts, and is an avid video game player.
In March 2000, Turner was diagnosed with cancer, specifically chondrosarcoma in the right pelvis. He was treated at UCLA Medical Center with surgery in which he lost his entire hip, 40% of his pelvis, and three pounds of bone. The surgery was followed by nine months of radiation therapy.
Turner departed Top Cow in late 2002 to found his own comic book publishing company, Aspen MLT Inc. (where MLT stands for Michael Layne Turner), located in Santa Monica, with a studio in Marina del Rey, California. The release of comics from Aspen was delayed by a year-long lawsuit with Top Cow Productions over the rights to ''Fathom'', and over the rights to the unreleased titles ''Soulfire'' (initially called ''Dragonfly'') and ''Ekos'', both of which Turner had begun development on before leaving Top Cow and before his diagnosis of cancer. Aspen and Top Cow settled the lawsuit out of court in 2003.
In 2004 Turner contributed covers to various DC Comics titles, including ''The Flash'' and ''Identity Crisis''. He also provided cover art and co-wrote the "Godfall" story arc that ran in the three main ''Superman'' titles in early 2004. He also illustrated the six-issue "''Supergirl from Krypton''" story arc in ''Superman/Batman.'' His creator-owned title ''Soulfire'' also began publication in 2004, and ''Fathom'' resumed publication in that year as well, though this time with Aspen MLT rather than Top Cow.
On August 6 2005, Marvel Comics announced the signing of Michael Turner to a work-for-hire deal for a 6-issue project and covers. This would turn out to be at least the variant covers for the miniseries ''Civil War'' and the new Wolverine ongoing series ''.
In addition Turner has been announced as the artist on Jeph Loeb's Ultimate Wolverine.

Published comic-book interiors

★ Codename: Stryke Force - #14 (Image 8/1995)

★ Ballistic #1-3 (Top Cow). 3-issue solo miniseries of the female character of the ''Cyberforce'' series.

★ Witchblade #1-8, 10-22 & 25 (Top Cow)

★ Tomb Raider / Witchblade and Witchblade / Tomb Raider (Top Cow)

★ Fathom (vol. 1) #0, 1/2, 1-14 (Top Cow)

★ Superman / Batman #8-13 (DC Comics, 2004)

★ Soulfire (Aspen Comics, 2004-)

Published comic-book covers for Marvel and DC

DC Comics

★ ''Teen Titans'' #1 variant cover (DC Comics, July/2003). Two covers were published for this issue in a 50/50 split. The Turner cover was also later used for the first trade paperback of the series, and was the more sought after cover of the issue upon release. This is reflected at ComicsPriceGuide.com, where the Turner cover is worth $5 more than the Mike McKone cover. [1]

★ ''Action Comics'' #812-813, ''Adventures of Superman'' #625-626 & ''Superman'' #202-203 (DC Comics, January-February/2004). 6-part story arc "Godfall" running for two months in the three main series of Superman, with covers and script (co-written with Joe Kelly) of Turner. The art (pencils, inks and colors) of the six issues were handled by other artists of Aspen MLT.

★ ''Superman'' #205 (DC Comics, 2004). Variant cover for the second issue of the '' story arc in this series. Jim Lee, the story's artist, also drew one variant cover for an issue of the Turner story arc in ''Superman/Batman''.

★ ''Identity Crisis'' #1-7 (DC Comics, 2004). Turner drew all covers for this series.

★ ''The Flash'' #207-211 (DC Comics, 2004). Turner drew five covers for this series written by Geoff Johns, who also works in a creator-owned project with him, the series ''Ekos''.

★ ''Wildstorm Winter Special'' (DC/Wildstorm, November/2004). Cover with the characters Zealot, Apollo, Midnighter, Jack Hawksmoor and Deathblow.

★ ''Supergirl'' (DC Comics, 2005). Turner drew variant covers for the first issue of this new series, featuring the Kara Zor-El Supergirl's return to continuity in his ''Superman/Batman'' story arc.

★ ''Justice League of America'' #0-12 (DC Comics, 2006-2007). Turner drew various covers, shifting between regular and variants, for the entire series (as of Summer 2007).

★ ''Superman/Batman'' #8-13,26 (DC Comics, 2004/2006). Turner drew a first and second print for #8 as well as a variant for #8. He drew one of two covers for #10, the other being drawn by Jim Lee. He drew two covers for #13. He drew both covers for #26, the issue dedicated to the passing of Jeph Loeb's son Sam.

Marvel Comics

'' #1, by Turner.]]

★ ''Wolverine: Origins'' #1 variant cover (Marvel Comics, 2006). The "regular" cover of this issue was done by Joe Quesada.

★ ''Civil War'' #1-7 (Marvel Comics, 2006-2007). Each issue of the miniseries has three covers, one "regular cover" by series penciller Steve McNiven, one "variant cover" by Turner, and one "sketch variant cover" by Turner.

★ ''Civil War'' #1 "Aspen Comics exclusive variant cover" (Marvel Comics 2006). Turner also did another cover featuring Iron Man, Captain America, and Wolverine printed as an Aspen Exclusive Variant, much like ''Civil War: X-Men'' #1.

★ ''Black Panther'' #18, & ''Ms. Marvel'' #1 (Marvel, 2006). Turner drew variant covers for these two comic-books, that had both regular covers drawn by Frank Cho.

★ ''Ultimate X-Men'' #75 (Marvel Comics, 2006) To introducc ''Ultimate Cable'' in 2006, Marvel commissioned Turner to to the cover for the first book of the story line.

★ ''Incredible Hulk'' #100 (Marvel Comics, 2006) Turner drew a "green hulk" variant as well as a "gray hulk" variant for this issue.

★ ''Onslaught Reborn'' #1 (Marvel Comics, 2006) Turner drew a "B" cover with Rob Liefeld drawing the "A" cover for this issue.

★ ''Black Panther'' #23 (Marvel Comics, 2006) Currently Turner is working on covers for the ''Black Panther'' tie in to the Civil War, starting with #23

★ '' #1-5 (Marvel Comics, 2007) Turner drew the variant covers for this entire series in a 50/50 split with the various artists of the individual issues.

★ ''Ultimate Wolverine'' Tuner will Pencil the covers and Interior art for this series, written by Jehp Loeb

References

★ Jim McLauchlin, "Up From the Depths," ''Wizard Magazine'' #112

★ "Playin' It Cool," interview with Michael Turner, ''Wizard Magazine'' #115

★ FAQ and Bio at Aspen MLT Inc. official site

External links

★ Aspen MLT Inc., official Site

★ [2], YahooGroup

★ [3], GoogleGroup

★ [4], MSN Group

★ ABCovers fansite

★ The Bastet, fansite

★ Chimera Comic Books, site selling Turner's work