Cyberspace Comics

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Grant Morrison has written important and critically acclaimed runs on Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, the X-Men as well as many others. He’s had notable creator-owned works including the Invisibles, WE3 and Zenith.

And, even though he’s well-known for his American comics work, his first published work was in the British anthology mag, Near Myths, in 1978. It also featured Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright and work by Brian Lumley. Morrison’s contributions for this anthology include: Time Is A Four Lettered Word, Gideon Stargrave and Checkmate Man. It should be noted that not only is Morrison the writer for these features but, he’s also the artist!

On Ebay: Grant Morrison
On AtomicAvenue: Near Myths

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Stuart Immonen is a comic book artist best known for his work on Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, Adventures of Superman, and his collaboration with Warren Ellis on Nextwave. But, before breaking into mainstream comics, he self-published an independent anthology entitled Headcheese. He called the publisher One Horse Leadworks and it featured work by him, Kathryn Kuder (who he later married) and others. I’ve never seen issue #1 or #3 but I have recently come across issue #2. It was published in 1988 and limited to a print run of only 250!

On Ebay: Stuart Immonen
On AtomicAvenue: Headcheese

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Whether or not you’re a fan of his enormous, flowing cape design you’ve got to admit that Kelley Jones has created one of the most memorable Batman looks the character has seen in sixty years. His work on the news-making Knightfall storyline propelled him to comic stardom but, a decade earlier he was cutting his teeth on lower-tier Marvel titles like Micronauts: the New Voyages (1984) and even indy titles like Hot Comics’ Chrome (1986).

Chrome was released during the black and white indy glut of comics hoping to replicate the success of Eastman & Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The unfinished series focused on a mystery trying to discover the true identity of an astronaut sealed within an experimental space-suit.

On Ebay: Kelley Jones

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Jim Steranko‘s unique art style made him one of the first comic book super-star artists. Over four decades ago, he created covers for Captain America and Nick Fury that are still paid homage to by today’s artists.

His first comic art was published in September 1966 and two months later, his first Marvel work was published in Strange Tales #151. Not only did he provided the cover alongside Jack Kirby but, he also worked on the interior art of the Nick Fury story, as well. A few short months later and Jim Steranko was drawing and writing the Nick Fury feature. Not too bad for his first year in comics.

On Ebay: Jim Steranko

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Grant Morrison has written important and critically acclaimed runs on Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, the X-Men as well as many others. He’s had notable creator-owned works including the Invisibles, WE3 and Zenith.

According to his Wikipedia entry, his first published work was for Near Myths in 1978 but, he didn’t break into mainstream American comics until the late 1980s.

Prior to his ground-breaking runs on pre-Vertigo DC titles, he was published in Harrier Comics‘ Sunrise from 1987. But, he didn’t write the main feature, Sunrise. No. He wrote the back-up story entitled, Abraxas, teamed with artist, Tony O’Donnell. The series only lasted two issues.

On Ebay: Grant Morrison

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Mike Wieringo‘s unique style is well-known in the comics industry. Before passing away in 2007, he worked on plenty of high-profile comic titles including the Sensational Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, the Flash, and Robin. He also launched a great, creator-owned titled called Tellos, alongside Todd Dezago.

Prior to his big break into DC Comics with his run on the Flash, he pencilled Millennium’s Doc Savage: Doom Dynasty, a two issue mini-series from 1991.

On Ebay: Mike Wieringo | Doc Savage

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Eric Powell has gained prominence in the comic industry mostly due to his creator-owned work, the Goon. The Goon began publication in 1999 from Avatar Press and then later moved to Dark Horse Comics, where it’s still published today. But, years before the first issue came out, Eric Powell (at the age of 20) debuted a Goon prototype called Monster Boy in the anthology book, Best Cellars, which was published by Out of the Cellar Comics in 1995.

On Ebay: Eric Powell | Goon

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Ed Brubaker won the Eisner Award for Best Writer two years in a row (2007 and 2008). His work on Captain America and Daredevil strongly encouraged sales and hype on those titles and his creator-owned work, Criminal & Incognito, have found large audiences, as well.

But, back in 1987, Brubaker launched an ongoing title that never even made it to the second issue. It’s hard to imagine that happening today but, at the age of 21, this was Brubaker’s first published comics work. He provided both the story and the art for the Pajama Chronicles, which was published by Blackthorne in 1987.

On Ebay: Ed Brubaker

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

Evan Dorkin, the creator of those dairy products gone bad, Milk & Cheese, is a comics writer and artist known for his quirky, indy work. He was the creative force behind Marvel Comics‘ Bill & Ted ongoing series from the early 1990s and was one of the writers on the TV show Space Ghost: Coast to Coast! But in 1982, at the age of 17, Marvel Comics published his first work in the letters page of Rom #37 (cover date – December 1982). Evan had crafted some fan art sending well-wishes to Avalanche, who had recently broken both his arms in an encounter with the Hulk.

On Ebay: Evan Dorkin | Milk & Cheese | Rom | Hulk

Not every comic writer or artist starts at the top, working on books like Batman or X-Men. In fact, most don’t even start at Marvel or DC. Here’s a look at some work by comic book creators … before they were stars.

In recent years, Mark Millar has gained prominence in the comics industry. His credits include launching the Ultimates and Ultimate X-Men for Marvel Comics as well as writing one of the best-selling comics of the decade, Civil War. His creator-owned title, Wanted, was turned into a big-screen movie starring Angelina Jolie and his next comic-turned-movie, Kick-Ass, hits theaters this Friday.

Years prior to this, before he even turned 21, he wrote a series called Saviour which was published by Trident Comics and lasted for six issues. As is common with his creator-owned work, it’s a curious mix of religion, politics and superheroics. As an interesting note, even as a young writer, it appears his work was something to watch for since Saviour was the longest-lasting, non-anthology title that Trident published.

On Ebay: Mark Millar