Michael Turner (comics)

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Michael Turner
Turner at his drawing board, as seen in the posthumous Soulfire #8 (April 2009)
BornMichael Layne Turner
(1971-04-21)April 21, 1971
Crossville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJune 27, 2008(2008-06-27) (aged 37)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Area(s)Writer, Penciller, Inker, Publisher
Notable works
Fathom
Soulfire
Superman/Batman
Witchblade

Michael Layne Turner

comics artist known for his work on Witchblade, Fathom, Superman/Batman, Soulfire, and various covers for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He was also the president of the entertainment company Aspen MLT.[3]

Early life

Michael Turner was born in Crossville, Tennessee on April 21, 1971.[4] He was a student at the University of Tennessee, and graduated from the International Performing Arts Academy after which he moved to San Diego, California, where he developed an interest in comics.[5]

Career

Turner was discovered by

creator-owned Fathom, having also worked on his new series Soulfire
.

As well as an artist, Turner was an award-winning water skier, held an instructor-level red sash in martial arts, and was an avid video game player. In March 2000, Turner was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a form of cancer, in the right pelvis. He was treated at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with surgery in which he lost a 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,

Ekos
, both of which Turner had begun developing 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 provided cover art and co-wrote the "Godfall" story arc that ran in the three main Superman titles in early 2004 and illustrated the six-issue Supergirl story arc in Superman/Batman.[5][6] His creator-owned title Soulfire 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,

Ultimate Wolverine
.

Turner created online comic adaptations for the NBC television series Heroes.[1]

Death and tribute

Turner died June 27, 2008, at the

bone cancer.[7] He is survived by his mother Grace Crick, his brother Jake Turner, and his fiancée Kelly Carmichael.[1] Fathom vol. 3 #1, which was published on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, featured a tribute to Turner in the form of a stylized blue ribbon in the upper right-hand corner of its cover, and its first page was a memorial to him.[8] AspenMLT also published a trade paperback collection of writings from people who knew Turner, titled A Tribute to Michael Turner, which features a cover painted by Alex Ross. Volume #21 of The Boys included a page dedicated to Michael Turner as well.[9]

Bibliography

Interior art

Aspen MLT

DC Comics

Image Comics/Top Cow Productions

  • Ballistic
    #1–3 (1995)
  • Codename: Strykeforce #14 (among other artists) (1995)
  • Fathom #0–14 (1998–2002)
  • Tomb Raider #25 (2002)
  • Tomb Raider/Witchblade, one-shot, (with Brian Ching) #1 (1997)
  • Witchblade #1–8, 10–23, 25 (1995–1998)
  • Witchblade/Tomb Raider Special #1 (with Keu Cha)(1998)
  • Wolverine/Witchblade #1 (1997)
  • Witchblade/Elektra #1 (1997)

Covers

Justice League of America
#12 (October 2007)

Aspen MLT

  • Fathom vol. 2, Beginnings, Prelude #0, 1–4, 7–8, 10–11 (2005–2006)
  • Shrugged #0, 1–6 (2006–2007)
  • Soulfire Preview, #0, 1–10 (2004–2009)

DC Comics

Image Comics / Top Cow Productions

  • Darkness
    #7, 11 (1997–1998)
  • Tomb Raider #1, 9, 25, 46 (1999–2004)
  • Witchblade
    #1–25, 27, 50, 86, 100, 103 (1995–2007)

Image Comics / Hurricane Ent.

Marvel Comics

References

  1. ^ a b c Nelson, Valerie J. (July 4, 2008). "Michael Turner, 1971-2008 Comic-book artist known for his highly stylized covers". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
  2. ^ Gustines, George Gene (July 6, 2008). "Michael Turner, 37, Creator of Superheroines, Is Dead". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Comic book artist Michael Turner dies at 37". Associated Press via Today. July 6, 2008. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Michael Turner". Lambiek Comiclopedia. 2012. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Nelson, Valerie J. (July 4, 2008). "Michael Turner: 1971-2008 'Popular and influential' comic book artist; Published the best-selling Fathom". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013.
  6. . [Jeph] Loeb began the second major story arc on this title in this issue [#8], drawn by superstar Michael Turner.
  7. ^ Weiland, Jonah (June 28, 2008). "Michael Turner Passes Away at 37". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  8. ^ Fathom vol. #1 (Sept. 2008)
  9. ^ The Boys vol. #21 (Sept. 2008)

Further reading

  • Jim McLauchlin, "Up from the Depths", Wizard #112
  • "Playin' It Cool", interview with Michael Turner, Wizard #115

External links

Preceded by
n/a
Witchblade penciller
1995–1998
Succeeded by
Randy Green
Preceded by Superman/Batman penciller
2004
Succeeded by