Matt Wagner Explained

Write:y
Pencil:y
Ink:y
Letter:y
Color:y
Notable Works:Mage
Grendel
Awards:Inkpot Award, 1988
Birth Date:9 October 1961

Matt Wagner (born October 9, 1961)[1] 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[2] (near State College, Pennsylvania)[3] and in Front Royal, Virginia.[4] His mother was an English teacher, and his father, a World War II veteran, worked for a "synthetic fibers corporation".

Even during his grade school years, Wagner knew he wanted to create comic books. He was in the Class of 1979[5] at Warren County High School in Front Royal, Virginia. For two years he attended college in Virginia at James Madison University, but he transferred to art school at Philadelphia College of Art.

Career

Matt Wagner's first published comic book work was Comico Primer #2 (1982), which was the first appearance of Grendel.[6] In addition to his creator-owned series Mage and Grendel,[7] he has worked on comics featuring the Demon and Batman as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre.[8] In 1991, he illustrated part of the "Season of Mists" story arc in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series.[9] [10] He wrote and drew a limited series featuring DC's three major heroes in 2003.[11] He followed it with Batman and the Monster Men[12] and Batman and the Mad Monk[13] in 2006.[14]

His other projects include Madame Xanadu for Vertigo, with artist Amy Reeder Hadley.[15] [16] He has produced numerous comics covers, including painted ones for Green Arrow and has written several Green Hornet limited series for Dynamite Entertainment.[17]

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.[18] [19] Wagner produced a new Grendel story featuring Hunter Rose for the anthology.[19]

Wagner prefers to use Faber-Castell's Pitt Artist Pens.

Personal life

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

Awards and nominations

Bibliography

Atomeka Press

Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund

Comico

Dark Horse Comics

DC Comics

Vertigo

Dynamite Entertainment

Image Comics

Legendary Comics

Marvel Comics

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Miller . John Jackson . John Jackson Miller . Comics Industry Birthdays . . June 10, 2005 . Iola, Wisconsin . https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays . February 18, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .
  2. Web site: Matt Wagner. comicvine.gamespot.com . April 15, 2025.
  3. Web site: 'If They Know What To Expect, Then I'm Just A Can Of Campbell's Soup': Matt Wagner Reflects on Finishing Mage, Returning to Grendel, and What Comes Next. Matt. Wagner. Zach Rabinoff . October 2, 2023 . The Comics Journal. Fantagraphics. https://web.archive.org/web/20250603074256/https://www.tcj.com/if-they-know-what-to-expect-then-im-just-a-can-of-campbells-soup-matt-wagner-reflects-on-finishing-mage-returning-to-grendel-and-what-comes-next/. June 3, 2025. live. mdy-all.
  4. Web site: Matt Wagner. Matt Wagner. Studied at Philadelphia College of Art. Went to Warren County High School. Lives in West Linn, Oregon. From Front Royal, Virginia.. Facebook. n.d.. https://archive.today/20250720070554/https://web.facebook.com/matt.wagner.3158652/?_rdc=1&_rdr. July 20, 2025. live. mdy-all. April 15, 2025.
  5. Web site: Warren County High School, Front Royal, VA. old-friends.co. n.d.. https://archive.today/20250720070902/https://old-friends.co/school.php?s=23335. July 20, 2025. live. mdy-all. April 15, 2025.
  6. Eury. Michael. Michael Eury. Wagner and Schutz: Creator Relations. Back Issue!. 2. 29. TwoMorrows Publishing. February 2004. Raleigh, North Carolina.
  7. Web site: Matt Wagner. 2015. lambiek.net . Lambiek Comiclopedia. https://web.archive.org/web/20150922213445/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wagner_matt.htm. September 22, 2015. live. mdy-all.
  8. News: August 1997 . Sandman Mystery Theatre: It's No Mystery Why this Book's a Must-Read . Wizard. 72. 109.
  9. Book: Bender, Hy. The Sandman Companion. DC Comics. 1999. New York, New York. 266. 978-1563894657.
  10. Web site: Comics You Should Own – Sandman . Greg . Burgas. Comics Should Be Good @ CBR . January 7, 2013. Comic Book Resources. https://web.archive.org/web/20140410022316/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/07/comics-you-should-own-sandman/. April 10, 2014. live. mdy-all.
  11. Book: Manning, Matthew K.. Dougall. Alastair . 2000s. Batman: A Visual History . Dorling Kindersley. 2014. London . 268. 978-1465424563. Matt Wagner headed to DC Comics to write and illustrate this three-issue prestige-format series that retold the original meeting between Batman and Superman and heroine Wonder Woman..
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Web site: Interview: Matt Wagner. William E.. Ramey. September 30, 2006. batman-on-film.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234156/http://www.batman-on-film.com/interview_mattwagner_jett_2006.html. March 3, 2016. dead. mdy-all. October 25, 2006.
  15. Book: Cowsill, Alan . Dolan. Hannah . 2000s. DC Comics Year by Year: a Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley . 2010. London, United Kingdom. 978-0-7566-6742-9 . 334 . Madame Xanadu was a relatively minor player in the DC Universe, but [Matt] Wagner, assisted by stunning art by Amy Hadley, crafted a first-class tale..
  16. Web site: Wagner Saws Madame Xanadu in Half with Vertigo. Jeffrey . Renaud. Comic Book Resources. April 11, 2008 . Comic Book Resources. https://web.archive.org/web/20150908004710/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15960. September 8, 2015. live. mdy-all.
  17. Web site: Wagner Brings Green Hornet: Year One to a Close. Steve. Sunu. Comic Book Resources. January 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110514042153/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30543. May 14, 2011. live. mdy-all.
  18. Web site: ZOOP launches benefit anthology Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds. Kaplan. Rebecca O.. The Beat. comicsbeat.com . en-US. live. April 18, 2022. April 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220418170150/https://www.comicsbeat.com/zoop-launches-benefit-anthology-comics-for-ukraine-sunflower-seeds/ . April 26, 2022.
  19. Web site: 'Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds' to benefit Ukrainian refugees. aiptcomics.com. AIPT . Brooke . David . en-US. live. April 18, 2022. April 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220426153140/https://aiptcomics.com/2022/04/18/comics-for-ukraine-sunflower-seeds/ . April 26, 2022.
  20. Web site: 1988 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees . hahnlibrary.net . Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac . https://web.archive.org/web/20151018014520/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner88.php . October 18, 2015. live.
  21. Web site: Inkpot Award Winners . hahnlibrary.net . Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php. July 9, 2012. live. mdy-all.
  22. Web site: 1993 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners . hahnlibrary.net . Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. https://web.archive.org/web/20151107023828/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner93.php. November 7, 2015. live.
  23. Web site: 1995 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners . hahnlibrary.net . Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107161228/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner95.php. January 7, 2016. live.
  24. Web site: 1999 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners . hahnlibrary.net . Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307150504/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner99.php. March 7, 2016. live.

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