Steven S. Crompton is a Canadian-born artist, author and designer who has worked in the role-playing and comic genres since 1981. In the gaming industry he is best known as the artist for the

Grimtooth's Traps ''Grimtooth's Traps'' is a 1981 role-playing game supplement edited by Paul Ryan O'Connor, illustrated by Steve Crompton and published by Flying Buffalo. Contents ''Grimtooth's Traps'' is a collection of traps selected from contributors. Recepti ...

books as well as other ''

Catalyst Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...

'' role-playing game supplements, ''

Tunnels & Trolls ''Tunnels & Trolls'' (abbreviated ''T&T'') is a fantasy role-playing game designed by Ken St. Andre and first published in 1975 by Flying Buffalo. The second modern role-playing game published, it was written by Ken St. Andre to be a more accessib ...

'' and the ''

Nuclear War Nuclear warfare, also known as atomic warfare, is a theoretical military conflict or prepared political strategy that deploys nuclear weaponry. Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction; in contrast to conventional warfare, nuclear w ...

'' card game.

Education

Steven Crompton went to

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...

art college for two years, the

Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale Community College is a public community college in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is on the eastern boundary of the city on 160 acres (650,000 m2) of land belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The lease was taken out i ...

, and the Vo-Tech Commercial Art School.

Career

Starting in 1981, Steve Crompton worked as staff illustrator for Flying Buffalo Inc., and did the art and designed some of the traps in ''Grimtooth's Traps''. He also did maps and Illustrations for numerous other RPG books and games published by the company from 1981-1985. during that period he did freelance work for

Steve Jackson Games Steve Jackson Games (SJGames) is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and (until 2019) the gaming magazine ''Pyramid''. History Founded in 1980, six years after the cr ...

Game Designers Workshop Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) was a wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers. History Game Designers' Workshop was originally established June 22, 1973. The founding m ...

Fantasy Games Unlimited Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) is a publishing house for tabletop and role-playing games. The company has no in-house design teams and relies on submitted material from outside talent. History Founded in the summer of 1975 in Jericho, New York b ...

, and others. His first widely distributed comic was ''Elves of Lejentia #1 - 3'', in 1987. In 1991, he was hired by

Todd Loren Todd or Todds may refer to: Places ;Australia: * Todd River, an ephemeral river ;United States: * Todd Valley, California, also known as Todd, an unincorporated community * Todd, Missouri, a ghost town * Todd, North Carolina, an unincorporate ...

to work on ''Psychoman'' and his own creation,

Demi the Demoness Demi the Demoness is a fictional, humorous, erotic comics character whose fantasy adventures have been published since 1992. Demi was created by SS Crompton. Demi has appeared in numerous comics crossovers with other characters, including ''Shaun ...

. The Demi comics have been in continuous publication since 1992. Demi was adapted into a live-action movie and released on dvd in 2008 and new Demi comics continue to be published. He developed the art and marketing for the '' City of the Gods: Forgotten'' novel and related books, games and comics. Since 2005 he has managed entire projects, contributing to all aspects of a publishing endeavor including marketing, working directly with other creators, design, writing, art, maps, pre-press, printing liaison and final delivery to the end users. Recent examples include Deluxe ''

'' RPG, 50th Anniversary ''

Nuclear War (card game) ''Nuclear War'' is a collectible common-deck card game designed by Douglas Malewicki and originally published in 1965 that is a satirical simulation of an end-of-the-world scenario fought mostly with nuclear weapons. It is currently (as of 2012 ...

'', ''

Ace of Aces (picture book game) ''Ace of Aces'' is a two-player combat picture book game designed by Alfred Leonardi and first published in 1980 by Nova Game Designs. Gameplay Each set includes a pair of small books, one for each player (generally marked 'German' and 'Allie ...

'' limited edition reprint, ''the Grimtooth's Ultimate Traps Collection'' an updated edition of the ''Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes'' RPG, and a 2nd edition of the Monsters! Monsters! RPG. In August 2019, after the death of Flying Buffalo publisher "

Rick Loomis Rick Loomis (August 24, 1946 – August 23, 2019) was an American game designer, most notable as the founder of game publisher Flying Buffalo, which he managed until his death. Career Early years Richard F. Loomis was born and raised in Scotts ...

", Steven was named the Managing Director of Flying Buffalo. He oversaw the continuation of Flying Buffalo's intellectual properties and ongoing publishing ventures. In August of 2021, Flying Buffalo's assets were sold, and a new company (WebbedSphere) took over the ownership of Flying Buffalo. Steve Crompton is currently the Art Director for Trollhalla Press Unlimited and is co-creating and working on RPG projects with "

Ken St. Andre Kenneth Eugene St. Andre (born April 28, 1947) is an American fantasy author and game designer, best known for his work with ''Tunnels & Trolls'' and ''Wasteland (video game), Wasteland''. He was born in Ogden, Utah, and has been an active member ...

Art for games

Besides Grimtooth's Traps and Nuclear War, other notable games his work has appeared include ''

'', '' Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes'', '' Traveller'', ''DCC RPG'', ''Immortal'', ''

GURPS The ''Generic Universal RolePlaying System'', or ''GURPS'', is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting. It was created by Steve Jackson Games and first published in 1986 at a time when most such systems w ...

'', ''

Space Opera Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, it features technological and soci ...

'', '' Space: 1889'', ''Lejentia Campaigns'', ''Grid Iron'', '' Lost Worlds'', the ''Powerz Card Game'', and many others. Several of the games he has worked on have won the HG Wells "

Origins Award The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so (for example) the 1979 aw ...

", including ''Citybook'', '' Stormhaven'', '' Nuclear Escalation'' & ''

Nuclear Proliferation Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations not recognized as " Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Wea ...

'' card Games. ''Nuclear War'' won the "Hall of Fame Award" as one of the best card games of all time.

Selected game bibliography

Along with art, he also contributed to the design and writing of some of these products. *

- 1981 (

Flying Buffalo Flying Buffalo Inc. (FBI) is a game company with a line of role playing games, card games, and other gaming materials. The company's founder, Rick Loomis, began game publishing with ''Nuclear Destruction'', a play-by-mail game which started the pr ...

) * Catacombs of the Bear Cult - 1981 (Flying Buffalo) *

Grimtooth's Traps Too ''Grimtooth's Traps Too'' is a 1982 role-playing game supplement published by Flying Buffalo's Blade division. Contents ''Grimtooth's Traps Too'' is a compilation that presents 101 more traps intended to be used in any role-playing game system. ...

- 1982 (Flying Buffalo) * Citybook I: Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker - 1982 (Flying Buffalo) * Nuclear Escalation - 1983 (Flying Buffalo) * Traveller Adventure, The - 1983 (

Game Designers' Workshop Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) was a wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers. History Game Designers' Workshop was originally established June 22, 1973. The founding m ...

) * Alderson Yards Shipbook - 1985

* Grimtooth's Traps Fore - 1986 (Flying Buffalo) * Lejentia Campaigns Book 1 - 1988 (Flying Buffalo) * Lejentia Campaigns Book 2 - 1989 (Flying Buffalo) * Grimtooth's Traps Ate - 1989 (Flying Buffalo) * Grimtooth's Traps Lite - 1991 (Flying Buffalo) * Case of the Pacific Clipper - Mugshots 1 - 1991 (Flying Buffalo) * Lost World: Flaming Cherry - 1992 (Flying Buffalo) * Lost World: Gargoyle w/ Spear - 1992 (Flying Buffalo) * Nuclear War Booster Cards - 1993 (Flying Buffalo) * Grimtooth's Dungeon of Doom - 1993 (Flying Buffalo) * Maps 1 - Cities - 1993 (Flying Buffalo) * Maps 2 - Places of Legend - 1994 (Flying Buffalo) * Grimtooth's Traps Bazaar - 1995 (Flying Buffalo) * Citybook VII - King's River Bridge - 1997 (Flying Buffalo) * Nuclear Proliferation &.2nd ed - 1990, 2003 (Flying Buffalo) * Nuclear War Card Game 2nd ed - 2001 (Flying Buffalo) * Wurst of Grimtooth’s Traps - 2005 (

Necromancer Games Necromancer Games was an American publisher of role-playing games. With offices in Seattle, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the company specialized in material for the d20 System. Most of its products were released under the Open Game Lic ...

) * Weapons of Mass Destruction - 2005 (Flying Buffalo) * Origins Poker Decks — 2007-2011 (Flying Buffalo/

Game Manufacturers Association The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is a non-profit trade association based in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to the advancement of the non-electronic social games Industry (economics), industry – Board/Tabletop Games, Miniatures Games, Card G ...

) (GAMA) * City of the Gods Map Pack - 2013 (Flying Buffalo) * Adventurers Compendium - 2014 (Flying Buffalo) * Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls - 2015 (Flying Buffalo) * Grimtooth's Ultimate TRAPS Collection - 2015 (Goodman Games) * Agent of Death - 2016 (Flying Buffalo) * T&T Adventures Japan - 2017 (Flying Buffalo) * Vaults of K'Horror - 2018 (Flying Buffalo) * Grimtooth's Trapsylvania - 2019 (Goodman Games) * Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes - 2019 (Flying Buffalo) * Alice in Weirdworld T&T solo - 2020 (Flying Buffalo) * Monsters! Monsters! 2nd Ed. RPG - 2020 (Trollhalla Press Ultd.) * Monsterary of Zimrala rpg book - 2022 (Trollhalla Press Ultd.)

Art for comics

Crompton is best known for his creation

and his work as editor and designer of the

Carnal Comics Carnal Comics is an adults-only comic book imprint created in 1992 which has so far been published by three companies: Revolutionary Comics, Re-Visionary Press, and Opus Graphics. Carnal Comics' flagship title is ''Carnal Comics: True Stories Of ...

line since 2001, with over 35 books including

Frank Brunner Frank Brunner (born February 21, 1949) is an American comics artist and illustrator best known for his work at Marvel Comics in the 1970s. Early life Brunner attended Manhattan's High School of Art and Design. He was in the same graduating class ...

's Carnal Delights and Carnal Comics: the Inside Story. He has worked for

Rip Off Press Rip Off Press Corporation, Inc. is a comic book mail order retailer and Distribution (business), distributor, better known as the former publisher of adult-themed series like ''The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers'' and ''Rip Off Comix'', as well as ...

, Hippy Comix,

Kitchen Sink Press Kitchen Sink Press was a comic book publishing company founded by Denis Kitchen in 1970. Kitchen Sink Press was a pioneering publisher of underground comics, and was also responsible for numerous republications of classic comic strips in hardcov ...

, Cry for Dawn Productions,

Revolutionary Comics Revolutionary Comics was an American comic book publisher specializing in unauthorized profiles of entertainers and professional athletes, as well as a line of erotic comics. Its flagship series was ''Rock 'N' Roll Comics''. Founded by Todd Lore ...

and many others. He also created 100 comic-style art cards for the

Topps The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures chewing gum, candy, and collectibles. Formerly based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of American Football Card, American football, Baseball card, baseb ...

''Mars Attacks Invasion'' trading card series.

Selected comics bibliography

Demi the Demoness

* ''Demi the Demoness'' #1 - 7. 1992 - 2003,

* ''Demi Adventure Special'' #1. 1995,

* ''Tracey Adams/Demi'' #1. 1995, Revisionary Press * ''Demi the Demoness'' color strip. 1996/98, '' Oui'' magazine * ''Demi meets Cassiopeia'' #1. 1997,

* ''Demi & Capt. Fortune'' #1. 1997

* ''Demi & Shaundra'' #1. 1998,

* ''Demi Art Card Set''. 1998, Opus Graphics * ''Demi's Wild Kingdom'' #1. 2000, Carnal/

MU Press MU Press (officially Miscellanea Unlimited Press) was an independent comic book publisher based in Seattle, Washington, which operated 1990 – c. 2006. MU Press was one of the industry's most prolific " furry" comic publishers, while its mid-199 ...

* ''Demi's Strange Bedfellows'' #1 - 5. 2001-2015,

* ''Demi Demoness Graphic Novel''. 2006,

* ''Demi & Vampirooni'' #1. 2006,

* ''Demi the Demoness Movie''. 2008,

/MSD Productions * ''Crimson Gash Meets Demi'' #1. 2009,

* ''Demi & the Sex Squad'' #1. 2010,

* ''Demi vs the Monsters of the Third Reich''. 2014, Carnal Comics * ''CthulhuCrisis! #1''. 2019, Raven Press

Other titles

* ''Lejentia Stanza'' #1 - 3. 1987, Opus Graphics * ''Psychoman'' #1. 1992,

* ''Contemporary Bios: Ross Perot''. 1992,

* ''Rock & Roll #59: Eric Clapton''. 1993,

* ''Heavy Metal Monsters 3D.'' 1993 * ''Ray 3D Zone; Cherry’s Jubilee'' #4. 1994,

* ''NOIR'' #1 & 2, 1995, CryForDawn * ''Pantheon'' #1 - 2. 1996, Archer Books and Games * ''Letha Weapons'' #1. 1997 Revisionary Press * ''Wild Kingdom'' #12. 2001 (artist, letterer),

* ''Felecia Adult Star Stories'' #1. 2002, Hippy Comix * ''Sex Squad'' #1 & 2. 2003,

* ''Jenna Jameson Collection''. 2004,

* ''Carnal Comics: Inside Story''. 2004,

* ''Djustine - Twisted West'' #1. 2004,

* ''Sex Squad'' #2. 2004,

* ''Wild!'' #13/''Minkenstein'' #1. 2005,

* ''Aurora Snow Bio Comic'' # 1. 2009,

* ''Girl Meets Tentacle'' #1. 2010,

* ''Underground Comix Price Guide Supplement''. 2010, Hippy Comix * '' City of the Gods: Forgotten''. 2011, Raven Press * ''The Last Goddess''. 2011, Raven Press * ''Mythic Tales: City of the Gods''. 2011, Raven Press * ''One Day in Hell'' #1. 2012, 3nd N Press * ''Pantheon of the Gods''. 2012, Raven Press * ''Lost Comics of SS Crompton''. 2013, Opus Graphics * ''This Conquered Earth''. 2013, Opus Graphics * ''Fogel's Underground Comix Price Guide''. 2015, Hippy Comix * ''Twisted Tales of the West'' #1. 2020,

Pen name

Crompton has written a series of novels and short stories under the pen name ''M. Scott Verne''. Currently these works are all related to the City of the Gods: Forgotten novels and other related books/games.

References

External links

*
Official Steve Crompton website

City of the Gods Universe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crompton, Steve 1962 births Arizona State University alumni Canadian comics artists Canadian comics writers Living people