John Arcudi is an American
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...
writer, best known for his work on ''
The Mask'' and ''
B.P.R.D.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola, founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, charged with researching the occult, paranormal ...
'', and his series ''
Major Bummer''.
Early life
Arcudi grew up in
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...
. He attended
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manha ...
as an English major and developed an appreciation for the works of
Edgar Rice Burroughs and
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner (; September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer known for his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, based on Lafayette County, Mississippi, where Faulkner spent most ...
.
Career
Arcudi worked for
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Malibu Graphics) was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. Notable titles published by Malibu included ...
upon its founding in 1986, working on its Eternity line. That same year he started writing for comics, making his first sales to ''
Savage Tales
''Savage Tales'' is the title of three American comics series. Two were black-and-white comics- magazine anthologies published by Marvel Comics, and the other a color comic book anthology published by Dynamite Entertainment.
Publication history ...
'' and ''
Savage Sword of Conan
''The Savage Sword of Conan'' was a black-and-white magazine-format comic book series published beginning in 1974 by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of American company Marvel Comics, and then later by Marvel itself. ''Savage Sword of Conan'' starre ...
'' for
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in 19 ...
, and becoming a regular contributor to the humor magazine ''
Cracked
Cracked may refer to: Television
* ''Cracked'' (British TV series), a 2008 British comedy-drama television series that aired on STV
* ''Cracked'' (Canadian TV series), a 2013 Canadian crime drama series that aired on CBC
* "Cracked", a Season 8 ( ...
''.
Arcudi worked on a number of
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...
s based on films, including ''
RoboCop
''RoboCop'' is a 1987 American Science fiction film, science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. The film stars Peter Weller, Nancy Allen (actress), Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Dan ...
'', ''
Terminator
Terminator may refer to:
Science and technology
Genetics
* Terminator (genetics), the end of a gene for transcription
* Terminator technology, proposed methods for restricting the use of genetically modified plants by causing second generation s ...
'', ''
Predator
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill ...
'', ''
Alien'', and ''
The Thing''. Two of these graphic works were subsequently adapted as full-length novels published by
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by parent company Random House, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. ...
. Arcudi’s series ''
Barb Wire'', featuring bounty hunter and bartendress Barbara Kopetski, was adapted into a
film of the same name starring
Pamela Anderson.
Arcudi also scripted several stories for ''
Dark Horse Presents
''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by American company Dark Horse Comics from 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, ...
'', such as the series "The Creep", and the police procedural "Homicide". Arcudi's comics crime fiction also includes several scripts for ''
Batman: The Dark Knight'' and ''
Batman: Black and White''.
For
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...
, Arcudi worked on developing the second incarnation of the character ''
The Mask'' first in ''Mayhem'' #1–4, and then in a series of books illustrated by
Doug Mahnke
Douglas Mahnke () is an American comic book artist, known for his work and penciling books including '' The Mask'', '' JLA'', ''Batman'', ''Final Crisis'', and ''Green Lantern''.
Career
Mahnke's first prominent work was for '' The Mask'', and he ...
. Arcudi's work formed the basis of the
1994 feature film starring
Jim Carrey
James Eugene Carrey (; born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian and artist. Known for his energetic slapstick performances, Carrey first gained recognition in 1990, after landing a role in the American sketch comedy t ...
. He later also worked on the spin-off television series. Arcudi and later Mahnke teamed up for several projects following ''The Mask'', including the
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...
series ''
Major Bummer'', which focused on a group of ineffectual superheroes.
Arcudi also served as writer on the
Wildstorm Productions series ''
Gen13'', illustrated by
Gary Frank and
Cam Smith, and during a run on DC's ''
Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has ...
'', illustrated by
Tan Eng Huat.
Arcudi invented the character Captain Daimio for the series ''
B.P.R.D.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola, founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, charged with researching the occult, paranormal ...
'', which he writes with
Mike Mignola
Mike Mignola (; born September 16, 1960) is an American comics artist and writer best known for creating ''Hellboy'' for Dark Horse Comics, part of a shared universe of titles including ''B.P.R.D.'', '' Abe Sapien'', '' Lobster Johnson'', '' Wi ...
. Arcudi had contributed a "B.P.R.D." story to the
Hellboy
Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries
A miniseries or mini-series is a t ...
comic issued in conjunction with the film as a premium from
Wizard Entertainment
Wizard Entertainment Inc., formerly known as GoEnergy and Wizard World, is a producer of multi-genre fan conventions across North America. The company started as the holding company for Strato Malmas' interests in the energy business.
Gareb Sh ...
. Arcudi later wrote a number of separate ''B.P.R.D.'' series.
Arcudi contributed the
Superman story to ''
Wednesday Comics''. He also created a graphic novel called ''
A God Somewhere
''A God Somewhere'' is a 2010 graphic novel created by writer John Arcudi, artist Peter Snejbjerg, and colorist Bjarne Hansen. The novel was first published in one paperback volume by DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint. It tells the story of Eri ...
'' with
Peter Snejbjerg providing the art.
Aside from working in the comic media, Arcudi has also worked briefly in animation. He has written two episodes of ''
The Mask: Animated Series'', and one episode of the
motion comic
A motion comic (or animated comic) is a form of animation combining elements of print comic books and animation. Individual panels are expanded into a full shot while sound effects, voice acting, and animation are added to the original artwork. T ...
s based on the comic ''
Batman Black and White''.
Bibliography
Comics
* ''
Abe Sapien
Abraham Sapien, born Langdon Everett Caul, is a fictional character introduced in the comic book series '' Hellboy'', created by Mike Mignola. He takes his name from "''Ichthyo sapien''", the fanciful species designation chosen for him by hi ...
'' (with Mike Mignola)
** ''The Haunted Boy''
** ''The Abyssal Plain'' #1–2
** ''The Devil Does Not Jest'' #1–2
** ''The New Race of Man'' #1–2
** "Subconscious" published in ''Dark Horse Presents'' (2014) #11
* ''
Aliens
Alien primarily refers to:
* Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country
** Enemy alien, the above in times of war
* Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth
** Specifically, intelligent extrat ...
'': Alchemy #1–3
* ''Aliens: Genocide'' #1–4
* ''Aliens: Stronghold'' #1–4
* ''
Aquaman
Aquaman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in ''More Fun Comics'' #73 (November 1941). The character is a pastiche of Namor. Initially a b ...
'' #25–29, 32–39
* ''
Batman Black and White'' vol. 5 #6 (with James Harren)
* ''Batman: Gotham Nights'' #4, 7
* ''
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' #162-63
* ''
B.P.R.D.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola, founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, charged with researching the occult, paranormal ...
'' (with Mike Mignola)
** "Born Again" published in ''
Hellboy
Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries
A miniseries or mini-series is a t ...
: Premiere Edition''
** ''The Dead'' #1–5
** ''The Black Flame'' #1–6
** ''The Universal Machine'' #1–5
** ''Garden of Souls'' #1–5
** ''Killing Ground'' #1–5
** "Revival" published in ''MySpace Dark Horse Presents'' #8–9
** ''War on Frogs'' #1–4
** ''The Ectoplasmic Man''
** "Out of Reach" published in ''Free Comic Book Day: Hellboy'' (2008)
** ''The Warning'' #1–5
** ''The Black Goddess'' #1–5
** ''King of Fear'' #1–5
** ''Casualties''
** ''1948'' #1–5
* ''
B.P.R.D.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola, founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, charged with researching the occult, paranormal ...
: Hell on Earth'' (with Mike Mignola)
** ''New World'' #1–5
** ''Seattle''
** ''Gods'' #1–3
** ''Monsters'' #1–2
** ''Russia'' #1–5
** "An Unmarked Grave" published in ''Dark Horse Presents'' (2011) #8
** ''The Long Death'' #1–3
** ''The Devil's Engine'' #1–3
** ''The Return of the Master'' #1–5
** ''A Cold Day in Hell'' #1–2
** ''Wasteland'' #1–3
** ''Lake of Fire'' #1–5
** ''The Reign of the Black Flame'' #1–5
** ''The Devil's Wings'' #1–2
** ''The Broken Equation'' #1–2
** ''Grind''
** ''Flesh and Stone'' #1–5
** ''Nowhere, Nothing, Never'' #1–3
** ''Modern Prometheus'' #1–2
** ''End of Days'' #1–5
** ''Cometh the Hour'' #1–5
* ''
Barb Wire'' #1–8
* ''Baseball Greats #1: The Jimmy Piersall Story''
* ''Brass'' #1–6
* ''The Creep'' #0–4
* ''Dark Horse Comics'' #1–7, 17–19
* ''
Dark Horse Presents
''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by American company Dark Horse Comics from 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, ...
'' (1986) #23–29, 46, 48–49, 53–58, 60–61, 63–64, 115, 122–23, 146–49
* ''
Dark Horse Presents
''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by American company Dark Horse Comics from 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, ...
'' (2011) #8, 11–13
* ''
Dark Horse Presents
''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by American company Dark Horse Comics from 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, ...
'' (2014) #11, 19–21, 26
* ''Dark Horse Presents Annual'' 1997
* ''Dark Horse Presents: Aliens'' #1
* ''
Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has ...
'', vol. 3, #1–22
* ''
Excalibur
Excalibur () is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes also attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. It was associated with the Arthurian legend very early on. Excalibur and the Sword in t ...
'' #104, 105
* ''
Flinch'' #12
* ''
Gen 13
Gen may refer to:
* ''Gen'' (film), 2006 Turkish horror film directed by Togan Gökbakar
* Gen (Street Fighter), a video game character from the ''Street Fighter'' series
* Gen Fu, a video game character from the ''Dead or Alive'' series
* Ge ...
'', #25–40
* ''Gen 13: Carny Folk'' #1
* ''
The Goon: Noir'' #2
* ''
Hellboy
Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries
A miniseries or mini-series is a t ...
and the
B.P.R.D.
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) is a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola, founded by the United States and United Kingdom governments, charged with researching the occult, paranormal ...
: 1952'' #1–5
* ''
Hellboy: Weird Tales'' #4—"Abe Sapien: Star of the B.P.R.D."
* ''Homicide'' #1
* ''Image+'' (2017) #2
* ''
Justice League of America
The Justice League (also known as The Justice League of America) are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in '' The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). The team was conceive ...
: Destiny'' #1–4
* ''Justice League of America: Superpower'' #1
* ''Lobo/Mask'' #1–2 (with Alan Grant)
* ''
Lobster Johnson'' (with Mike Mignola)
** ''The Burning Hand'' #1–5
** ''The Prayer of Neferu''
** ''Caput Mortuum''
** ''Satan Smells a Rat''
** ''A Scent of a Lotus'' #1–2
** ''Get the Lobster'' #1–5
** ''A Chain Forged in Life''
** ''The Glass Mantis''
** ''The Forgotten Man''
** ''Metal Monsters of Midtown'' #1–3
** ''Garden of Bones''
** ''The Pirate's Ghost'' #1–3
** ''Mangekyō''
* ''The Machine'' #1–4
* ''
Major Bummer'' #1–15
* ''
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and designed by artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in the story "The Manhunter from Mars" ...
'', vol. 2 #5
* ''Mayhem'' #1–4
* ''
The Mask'' #0–4
* ''The Mask Returns'' #1–4
* ''The Mask Strikes Back'' #1–5
* ''Motorhead'' #1
* ''MySpace Dark Horse Presents'' #6, 8–9, 12, 26
* ''
Predator
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill ...
: Big Game'' #1–4
* ''RoboCop: Prime Suspect'' #1–4
* ''RoboCop: Roulette'' #1–4
* ''Rumble'' (2014) #1–15
* ''Rumble'' (2017) #1–present
* ''
Savage Sword of Conan
''The Savage Sword of Conan'' was a black-and-white magazine-format comic book series published beginning in 1974 by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of American company Marvel Comics, and then later by Marvel itself. ''Savage Sword of Conan'' starre ...
'' #150-52, 158, 165, 182
* ''
Savage Tales
''Savage Tales'' is the title of three American comics series. Two were black-and-white comics- magazine anthologies published by Marvel Comics, and the other a color comic book anthology published by Dynamite Entertainment.
Publication history ...
'', second series, #5, 7–8
* ''
Silver Sable
Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...
'' #26
* ''Sledgehammer 44'' (with Mike Mignola)
** ''Sledgehammer 44'' #1–2
** ''Lightning War'' #1–3
* ''
Solo
Solo or SOLO may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Comics
* ''Solo'' (DC Comics), a DC comics series
* Solo, a 1996 mini-series from Dark Horse Comics
Characters
* Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character
* Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ' ...
'' #2, 6
* ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' #38 (cover image only)
* ''Terminator'' #1–4
* ''
The Thing from Another World: Climate of Fear'' #1–4
* ''
Thunderbolts
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
'' #76–81
* ''Total Carnage'' #1–4, 6–10
* ''Walter: Campaign of Terror'' #1–4
* ''
Warlock and the Infinity Watch'' #34–35, 37–40, 42
* ''
What if...?'' Vol. 2, #50
* ''
Wednesday Comics'' #1–12 –
Superman (writer), with art by
Lee Bermejo. (2009)
* ''Sir Edward Grey, Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever'' #1–5 (with Mike Mignola)
Graphic novels
* ''
A God Somewhere
''A God Somewhere'' is a 2010 graphic novel created by writer John Arcudi, artist Peter Snejbjerg, and colorist Bjarne Hansen. The novel was first published in one paperback volume by DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint. It tells the story of Eri ...
'' with
Peter Snejbjerg, published by
WildStorm
Wildstorm Productions, (stylized as WildStorm), is an American comic book imprint. Originally founded as an independent company established by Jim Lee under the name "Aegis Entertainment" and expanded in subsequent years by other creators, Wilds ...
, June 2010, 200 pages, / (New edition)
Collections
Magazines
* ''
Cracked
Cracked may refer to: Television
* ''Cracked'' (British TV series), a 2008 British comedy-drama television series that aired on STV
* ''Cracked'' (Canadian TV series), a 2013 Canadian crime drama series that aired on CBC
* "Cracked", a Season 8 ( ...
'' (1987)
* ''Monsters Attack!'' (1989)
* ''
The Comics Journal
''The Comics Journal'', often abbreviated ''TCJ'', is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels. Known for its lengthy interviews with comic creators, pointed editorials and scathing r ...
'' (Winter 2003 Special Edition)
Notes
References
*
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arcudi, John
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
American comics writers
Columbia College (New York) alumni
American writers of Italian descent
Writers from Buffalo, New York