Chuck Austen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Chuck Austen
Austen at the 2023 WonderCon
BornChuck Beckum
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer, Artist
Children3

Chuck Austen (born Chuck Beckum)

writer and artist, television writer and producer. In the comics industry, he is known for his work on U.S. War Machine, The Avengers, JLA, Action Comics and the X-Men franchise. In television, he is known for co-creating the animated TV series Tripping the Rift,[2] producing the first season of Steven Universe, and acting as a co-showrunner on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.[3]

Early life

Chuck Austen was born Chuck Beckum.

housing project.[5] At the start of his career Austen used his birthname; he later abandoned out of a desire to disassociate from his father's family name.[1] After marrying he and his wife picked a new name, inspired by Jane Austen.[6]

Career

Austen began his career as an artist in the 1980s. Due to not knowing many comics fans he developed a habit of

San Diego Comic Con, where he was also announced as the new artist on the title. As the series initially reprinted material from the British anthology Warrior he worked on the main strip until Miracleman #6, cover dated February 1986. Austen's run on the title was short-lived - after contributing a framing sequence to Miracleman #8 he left, something he blamed on Eclipse editor-in-chief Catherine Yronwode making an angry telephone call to his grandmother.[6]

Subsequently he drew the first five issues for the short-lived series

Disney offered and the chance to work with Peter David.[6][1] He subsequently took a hiatus from the comics industry, instead working on the television show King of the Hill.[6]

Austen returned to comics in 2001, feeling burnt out after finding little success in the film and television industry. He began looking at comics again and sent samples of his art to

The Eternal with artist Kev Walker, a reimagining of Jack Kirby's Eternals.[8]

In 2002, Austen took over

UGO Entertainment, fans disliked the romantic pairing of Angel and Husk; Jensen cites that storyline as emblematic of critical reception to Austen's run on X-Men.[29]

In 2003, Austen wrote a brief run on

The Call of Duty, a project consisting of several mini-series conceived in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks that were written primarily by Austen (with one series written by Bruce Jones) and featured firefighters and emergency service workers dealing with paranormal phenomena in the Marvel Universe,[35][36] as well as Eden's Trail with artist Steve Uy, a series in "Marvelscope" (landscape) format created to capitalize on the burgeoning manga market which resulted in controversy when Uy publicly disowned the project, calling it a "bad dream".[37]

Also in 2003, Austen returned to

Silver Age feud between Lois Lane and Lana Lang over the love of Superman, with Lana in particular divorcing her longtime husband Pete Ross in the process.[5] Austen left the title after ten issues,[39] and the following two issues were scripted by a writer named "J.D. Finn". While readers suspected Finn to be Austen, he speculated that Finn was actually then–Action Comics editor Eddie Berganza and denied using the pseudonym.[5][11]

In 2004, Austen began self-publishing

WorldWatch, a superhero series which he described as similar to Warren Ellis's The Authority with more explicit depictions of sex, violence and realpolitik.[40] The last page of Worldwatch #2 featured an announcement from the publisher stating that Austen had been fired, and that he would be replaced by a writer named Sam Clemens (which is the real name of American writer Mark Twain). In a subsequent interview, Austen revealed that this was intended as a joke (since he himself was the publisher and thus could not be fired from the book) and expressed disappointment in the fact that most readers had not understood it.[5]

In 2006, Austen wrote

TokyoPop.[2] Copies of the first volume were pulled from a number of bookstores in May that year due to its graphic content.[39] Publishers Weekly named Boys of Summer one of the Top Ten manga/manhwa of 2006, calling it both "a titillating and edgy reading experience."[41] Subsequent news reports indicated that the series had been cancelled even though the other two volumes were completed and both creators had been paid for the work.[39]

Austen spent most of the 2010s working in various capacities in animation on such shows as The Cleveland Show, Steven Universe, Dawn of the Croods and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Most recently, he served as the co-showrunner on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.[3]

In 2007, Austen released his first prose novel, Like Warm Sun on Nekkid Bottoms.[42] In 2011, writing as Charles Olen Austen, he released the three-book series Pride and Nakedness, followed by Something Old, Something New in 2013.[43]

In 2020, Austen returned to comics with

Comixology.[44]

Reception

During his stint at the Big Two, Austen used the expression "Seven Deadly

newsgroups to attack him on a professional and personal level.[45] Austen has stated that he received death threats from fans and had certain comic book store owners refuse to stock any comics written by him.[5] He also admitted to taking online criticism of his work personally, and made a decision to stop doing interviews in August 2003.[46] In a 2004 interview, Austen explained that decision as a result of a "bad day".[45]

Influences

Austen has expressed admiration towards such comic book creators as

Techniques

Austen creates his art

Personal life

Austen is divorced.[6] He has two daughters[4] and a son.[3]

He identifies himself as humanitarian and anti-racist.[5] In Austen's view, the Republican Party discriminates against women, and he especially disliked the Bush administration.[4]

Bibliography

Early work

Pin-ups

Covers

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Other publishers

Filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Chuck Austen (USA). Kees Kousemaker's Lambiek Comiclopedia. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Singh, Arune (February 15, 2006). "IN DEPTH WITH CHUCK AUSTEN (PART 2)". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on February 17, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c White, Cody (March 2, 2020). "A Dream of a Job: An Interview with Chuck Austen". ComicWatch. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Giles, Keith (September 6, 2001). "Austen in the Machine: Chuck Austen Interview". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 20, 2001.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Singh, Arune (February 14, 2006). "IN DEPTH WITH CHUCK AUSTEN (PART ONE)". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on February 20, 2006.
  6. ^ .
  7. ^ "Bush: 'Leave Iraq within 48 hours'". CNN. March 17, 2003. Archived from the original on March 20, 2003.
  8. ^ a b Singh, Arune (March 21, 2003). "MAX Muscle: Austen talks 'War Machine 2.0' & 'The Eternal' & 'World Watch'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 2, 2003.
  9. ^ Singh, Arune (October 22, 2002). "WELCOME TO 'UNCANNY X-MEN' CHUCK AUSTEN, HOPE YOU SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 10, 2002.
  10. ^ Constantine, Percival (April 16, 2013). "X-Men: 5 Best and 5 Worst Writers". WhatCulture!. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Sims, Chris (January 13, 2012). "Ask Chris #89: The Rise and Fall of Chuck Austen". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Dunman, Jacob (June 14, 2010). "Top 5: Chuck Austen X-Men Moments". Comicdom Wrecks. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "'Graphic' Novels: 10 Shocking Superhero Hookups". Newsarama. September 21, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011.
  14. ^ Cornwell, Jason (June 11, 2003). "Uncanny X-Men #424". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on June 27, 2003.
  15. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #414. Marvel Comics (New York)
  16. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #417. Marvel Comics (New York)
  17. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #412. Marvel Comics (New York).
  18. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #415. Marvel Comics (New York)
  19. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #412. Marvel Comics (New York).
  20. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #410. Marvel Comics (New York).
  21. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #416. Marvel Comics (New York)
  22. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Uncanny X-Men #427. Marvel Comics (New York)
  23. ^ Brice, Jason (July 2, 2004). "Chuck Austen Leaves Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on August 13, 2004.
  24. ^ Moreels, Eric (July 9, 2004). "Post MARVEL-OUS X-IT: THE CHUCK AUSTEN INTERVIEW". ComiX-Fan Forums. Archived from the original on November 19, 2004.
  25. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). New X-Men #155-156. Marvel Comics (New York)
  26. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). X-Men #157. Marvel Comics (New York)
  27. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). X-Men #160-163. Marvel Comics (New York)
  28. ^ Aronson, Michael (November 15, 2006). "Uncanny X-Men v1: Hope". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on November 30, 2006.
  29. UGO Entertainment. Archived from the original
    on November 14, 2010.
  30. ^ Brady, Matt (December 19, 2002). "RIEBER OFF CAP, AUSTEN ON". Newsarama. Archived from the original on February 23, 2003.
  31. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). The Avengers #78. Marvel Comics (New York)
  32. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). The Avengers #83-85. Marvel Comics (New York).
  33. ^ Austen, Chuck (w). Invaders #0. Marvel Comics (New York).
  34. ^ Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin (March 28, 2004). "WATCHING AUSTEN'S WORLD". Newsarama. Archived from the original on April 2, 2004.
  35. ^ Singh, Arune (May 2, 2002). "A 'CALL' TO ARMS: BRUCE JONES DISCUSSES 'THE PRECINCT'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 12, 2002.
  36. ^ Singh, Arune (November 15, 2002). "KEEPING IT 'REAL:' CHUCK AUSTEN, ANDI WATSON & TERRY MOORE TALK ABOUT 'NON-SPANDEX' COMICS". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 30, 2003.
  37. ^ De Blieck, Augie (July 30, 2013). "Pipeline: Revisiting Steve Uy's "Eden's Trail" and "Feather"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013.
  38. ^ Yarbrough, Beau (October 4, 2002). "CITY LIFE: CHUCK AUSTEN INVESTIGATES THE SECRET LIFE OF CITIES IN 'SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 21, 2002.
  39. ^ a b c Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin (July 10, 2008). "Whatever Happened to Austen's Boys of Summer?". Newsarama. Archived from the original on August 30, 2008.
  40. ^ Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin (June 21, 2004). "WATCHING AUSTEN'S WORLD". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 22, 2004.
  41. ^ Cha, Kai-Ming (December 19, 2006). "Top Ten Manga and Manhwa for 2006". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on January 14, 2007.
  42. ^ Stout, Tim (April 6, 2011). "Q&A with Chuck Austen – Wild and Wooly Press". Archived from the original on February 1, 2012.
  43. ^ Austen, Chuck (22 March 2013). "My Books - Charles Olen Austen". Archived from the original on August 10, 2021.
  44. ^ Averdon, Jon (September 10, 2020). "Edgeworld: Chuck Austen and Patrick Olliffe Team Up for Sci-Fi Western comiXology Original". CBR.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021.
  45. ^ a b Naso, Markisan; O'Shea, Tim (April 8, 2004). "Chuck Austen: Lionheart". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on May 8, 2004.
  46. ^ a b Contino, Jennifer (August 17, 2003). "CHUCK AUSTEN, THE LAST INTERVIEW". COMICON.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006.

External links

Preceded by Uncanny X-Men writer
2002–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Exiles writer
2003–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by The Avengers writer
2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by
X-Men
writer

2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Action Comics writer
2004–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Byrne
Chris Claremont
JLA writer
2004
Succeeded by