Mary Wilshire (born 1953) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

comics artist A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comic book illustrators in that they produce both the literary a ...

best known for her work on ''

Red Sonja Red Sonja is a fictional sword and sorcery comic-book superheroine created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith for Marvel Comics in 1973, partially inspired by Robert E. Howard's character Red Sonya of Rogatino. Marvel Comics p ...

'' and '' Firestar'' for

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, 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 Co ...

Early life

Mary Wilshire graduated from the Pratt Institute with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting.

Career

Mary Wilshire began her career in the comics industry drawing

underground comix Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books that are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, ...

. Her earliest credited work was "Those Beautiful Babes in their Bain de Soleil", a four-page story in ''Wet Satin'' #2 (April 1978) published by

Last Gasp Last Gasp or The Last Gasp may refer to * Last Gasp (publisher) * ''Last Gasp'' (''Inside No. 9''), a TV episode * '' The Last Gasp'', a 2007 album by Impaled * ''The Last Gasp'' (novel) * "Last Gasp" (song) {{dab ...

. In 1980, she was hired by editor

Larry Hama Larry Hama (; born June 7, 1949) is an American comic-book writer, artist, actor, and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s. During the 1970s, he was seen in minor roles on the TV shows ''M*A*S*H'' ...

to work on '' Crazy Magazine'' for

. She became the artist of the ''

'' series in 1983 and drew the comics adaptation of the character's 1985 film. Wilshire and writer

Louise Simonson Louise Simonson (née Mary Louise Alexander; born September 26, 1946) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as ''Conan the Barbarian'', '' Power Pack'', ''X-Factor'', ''New Mutants'', ...

co-created

Alistair Smythe Alistair Alphonso Smythe () is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of the superhero Spider-Man, and the son of Spencer Smythe. After his father dedicated his lif ...

, an enemy of Spider-Man, in ''

The Amazing Spider-Man ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its main protagonist. Being in the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a bimonthly per ...

Annual'' #19 (1985). After a brief stint as the artist of the ''

New Mutants The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, subs ...

'', Wilshire collaborated with

Tom DeFalco Tom DeFalco (born June 26, 1950) is an American comic book writer and editor well known for his association with Marvel Comics, with long runs on ''Amazing Spider-Man'', ''Thor'', and ''Fantastic Four''. Career While in college, DeFalco "wrote fo ...

on the '' Firestar'' limited series. She then drew a

Power Girl Power Girl, also known as Kara Zor-L and Karen Starr, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books by DC Comics, making her first appearance in ''All Star Comics'' #58 (January/February 1976). Power Girl is the cousin of the superhero Supe ...

story for '' Secret Origins'' vol. 2 #11 (Feb. 1987). Wilshire drew "The Amazing Travel Bureau" feature in ''

National Geographic World ''National Geographic Kids'' (often nicknamed to ''Nat Geo Kids'') is a children's magazine published by the National Geographic Society. Its first issue was printed in September 1975 under the original title ''National Geographic World'' (whic ...

'' for several years. In 2006, she illustrated the ''Fat Free: The Amazing All-True Adventures of Supersize Woman!'' graphic novel published by Penguin/Tarcher. ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' noted in their review of the book, "Wilshire's limpid-eyed charcoal sketches are sensitive and touching, and give a sophisticated sense of person and place. If anything saves the day, it's Wilshire's gorgeous art, not the message."

Bibliography

DC Comics

* '' The Big Book Of Freaks'' (1996) * ''

History of the DC Universe ''History of the DC Universe'' is a two-issue comic book limited series created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez which was published by DC Comics following the end of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Publication history ''History o ...

'' HC (1988) * '' The Outsiders'' #14 (1986) * '' Secret Origins'' vol. 2 #11 (

) (1987) * '' Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #7 (

Duo Damsel Triplicate Girl (Luornu Durgo) is a fictional character, a superhero in the 30th and 31st centuries of the and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. She has also had the aliases Duo Damsel, Triad, Una, Duplicate Damsel and Duplicate Girl. P ...

entry) (1985) * ''Who's Who: Update '87'' #4 (Power Girl entry) (1987) * ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...

Annual'' #2 (1989)

Fantagraphics Books

* ''The Complete

Wimmen's Comix ''Wimmen's Comix'', later titled ''Wimmin's Comix'', is an influential all-female underground comics anthology published from 1972 to 1992. Though it covered a wide range of genres and subject matters, ''Wimmen's Comix'' focused more than other ...

'' #1–2 (2016)

Friends of Lulu

* ''

Friends of Lulu Friends of Lulu was a non-profit, national charitable organization in the United States, which operated from 1994–2011 to promote readership of comic books by women and the participation of women in the comic book industry. Membership was op ...

: Storytime'' #1 (2000)

Hassle Free Press

* ''The Best of

'' (1979)

HM Communications, Inc.

* '' Heavy Metal'' #v5#12, #v6#8, #v6#12, #v7#6 (1982–1983)

Last Gasp

* ''After/Shock: Bulletins from Ground Zero'' (1981) * '' Strip AIDS U.S.A.'' (1988) * ''Wet Satin'' #2 (1978) * ''

'' #8–9 (1983–1984) * '' Young Lust'' #6 (1980)

Marvel Comics

* ''

Annual'' #19 (1985) * ''

Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched on March 9, 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. ...

'' #1, 6, 11, 20, 23–24, 40, 46, 52, 59 (1991–1995) * ''Barbie Fashion'' #13, 16, 25, 39, 41–42, 50–51 (1992–1995) * '' Crazy Magazine'' #65–66, 68–69, 71–72, 74–75, 77–92 (1980–1982) * ''

Disney's the Little Mermaid ''The Little Mermaid'' is a Disney media franchise. The success of the 1989 American animated feature film ''The Little Mermaid'' led to a direct-to-video sequel, a prequel film, a spin-off television series, a musical, several video games, the ...

'' #1 (1994) * '' Droids'' #5 (1986) * '' Firestar'' #1–4 (1986) * '' Ka-Zar the Savage'' #30, 32 (1984) * ''Life of Christ: The Christmas Story'' #1 (1993) * ''Life of Christ: The Easter Story'' #1 (1993) * '' Marvel Saga'' #22 (1987) * ''

Marvel Super Special ''Marvel Comics Super Special'' was a 41-issue series of one-shot comic-magazines published by Marvel Comics from 1977 to 1986. They were cover-priced $1.50 to $2.50, while regular color comics were priced 30 cents to 60 cents, Beginning with issue ...

'' #38 (''

'' movie adaptation) (1985) * ''

'' #35–37 (1986) * ''

Official Handbook of the Conan Universe The ''Official Handbook of the Conan Universe'' is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Conan publications of Marvel Comics. The one-shot issue was published in comic book format in 1986, followed by reprints in ...

'' #1 (1986) * ''

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe The ''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications. The original 15-volume series was published in comic book format in 1982, followed by sporadic ...

'' #14 ( Miss America entry) (1984) * ''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition'' #2–3, 7, 18 (1986–1987) * ''

Power Pack Power Pack is a superhero team consisting of four young siblings appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist June Brigman, they first appeared in their own series in 1984, which last ...

'' #5 (1984) * ''

'' vol. 3 #2–4, 8–13 (1983–1986) * '' Savage Sword of Conan'' #83, 89 (1982–1983) * ''

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 Ma ...

'' vol. 2 #3 (1986) * '' Spider-Man and Power Pack'' #1 (1984)

NBM Publishing

* ''Skin Tight Orbit'' #1 (1995)

Penguin/Tarcher

* ''Fat Free: The Amazing All-True Adventures of Supersize Woman!'' (2006)

Renegade Press

* ''Renegade Romance'' #1 (1987)

Trans-High Corporation

* ''

High Times ''High Times'' is an American monthly magazine (and cannabis brand) that advocates the legalization of cannabis as well as other counterculture ideas. The magazine was founded in 1974 by Tom Forcade.Danko, Danny"Norml Founder Retires – Exha ...

'' #49 (1979)

References

External links

*
Mary Wilshire
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
Dare2Draw interview with Mary Wilshire
on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilshire, Mary 1953 births 20th-century American artists 21st-century American artists American female comics artists American graphic novelists American magazine illustrators Living people Marvel Comics people Pratt Institute alumni Underground cartoonists