Matt Wagner (born October 9, 1961) is an American

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 and g ...

and writer who is best known as the creator of the series ''

Mage Mage most commonly refers to: * Mage (paranormal) or magician, a practitioner of magic derived from supernatural or occult sources * Mage (fantasy) or magician, a type of character in mythology, folklore, and fiction *Mage, a character class in s ...

'' and ''

Grendel Grendel is a character in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem '' Beowulf'' (700–1000). He is one of the poem's three antagonists (along with his mother and the dragon), all aligned in opposition against the protagonist Beowulf. Grendel is feared by a ...

''.

Career

Matt Wagner's first published comic book work was '' Comico Primer'' #2 (1982), which was the first appearance of

. In addition to his creator-owned series ''

'' and ''Grendel'', he has worked on comics featuring the

Demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, ani ...

and

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

as well as such titles as ''

Sandman Mystery Theatre ''Sandman Mystery Theatre'' was an ongoing comic book series published by Vertigo Comics, the mature-readers imprint of DC Comics. It ran for 70 issues and 1 annual between 1993 and 1999 and retells the adventures of the Sandman, a vigilante ...

''. In 1991, he illustrated part of the "

Season of Mists ''Season of Mists'' is a 1990-1991 American eight-part comic and the fourth trade paperback (comics), collection of issues in the DC Comics' ''The Sandman (DC Comics/Vertigo), The Sandman'' series. It collects issues #21–28. It was written by N ...

" story arc in

Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon GaimanBorn as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to Amanda Palmer. ; ( Neil Richard Gaiman; born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, gr ...

's ''

The Sandman The Sandman is a mythical character in European folklore who puts people to sleep and encourages and inspires beautiful dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto their eyes. Representation in traditional folklore The Sandman is a traditional charact ...

'' series. He wrote and drew '' Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity'' a

limited series Limited series may refer to: *Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series *Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered *Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number of ...

featuring DC's three major heroes in 2003. He followed it with ''

Batman and the Monster Men ''Batman and the Monster Men'' is an American comic book limited series written and drawn by Matt Wagner with colors by Dave Stewart, published by DC Comics in 2006 and starring the superhero Batman. It, along with its sequel ''Batman and the Mad ...

'' and ''

Batman and the Mad Monk ''Batman and the Mad Monk'' is an American comic book limited series, featuring the DC Comics superhero Batman published in 2006–2007. It is set during the '' Batman: Year One'' continuity, but after the events of ''Batman and the Monster M ...

'' in 2006. His other projects include ''

Madame Xanadu Madame Xanadu is a comic book mysticism, mystic published by DC Comics. The character is identified with Lady of the Lake, Nimue, the magician (fantasy), sorceress from Arthurian mythology made popular by Thomas Malory, Sir Thomas Malory's ''Le Mo ...

'' for

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...

, with artist

Amy Reeder Hadley Amy Reeder (born August 25, 1980), formerly known as Amy Reeder Hadley, is an American comic book artist and writer known for her work on titles such as ''Fool's Gold'', ''Madame Xanadu'', ''Batwoman'', and '' Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur''. Ea ...

. He has produced numerous comics covers, including painted ones for ''

Green Arrow Green Arrow is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and designed by George Papp, he first appeared in ''More Fun Comics'' #73 in November 1941. His secret identity, real name is Olive ...

'' and has written several ''

Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media ...

'' limited series for

Dynamite Entertainment Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book publisher founded by Nick Barrucci in 2004 at Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It is best known as the owners of '' The Boys'' franchise across several IP medias. Dynamite primarily publishes adaptation ...

. Outside comics, Wagner provided art for the 1984 ''

Villains & Vigilantes ''Villains and Vigilantes'' (abbreviated as ''V&V'') is a superhero-themed role-playing game which competed primarily with ''Champions'' and ''Superworld'' in the early to mid-1980s. Origin ''Villains and Vigilantes'' was the first role-playi ...

'' adventure '' Battle Above the Earth'' written by Steven Crow. In April 2022, Wagner was reported among the more than three dozen comics creators who contributed to

Operation USA Operation USA (also known as OpUSA, Operation California, or OpCal) is a non profit humanitarian organization supporting health, education and relief programs at home and abroad in order to help children and families recover and thrive in the wak ...

's benefit anthology book, ''Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds'', a project spearheaded by

IDW Publishing IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), itself formed in 1999, and is regularly recog ...

Special Projects Editor

Scott Dunbier Scott Dunbier is an American comic book editor, best known as the Special Projects Editor at IDW Publishing. Career Dunbier rose to prominence in the comic book industry as executive editor of the Wildstorm comic book line. After several years a ...

, whose profits would be donated to relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees resulting from the February

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...

. Wagner produced a new

story featuring Hunter Rose for the anthology.

Personal life

As of 2000, Wagner resides in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...

with his wife Barbara Schutz (

Diana Schutz Diana Schutz (born February 1, 1955) is a Canadian-born comic book editor, serving as editor in chief of Comico during its peak years, followed by a 25-year tenure at Dark Horse Comics. Some of the best-known works she has edited are Frank Miller ...

's sister). Wagner is an atheist.

Awards and nominations

* 1988: ** Nominated for "Best Writer"

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

, for ''

'' ** Won an

Inkpot Award The Inkpot Award is an honor bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International. It is given to professionals in the fields of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, and related areas of popular culture, at CCI's annual c ...

* 1993: ** Won "Best Finite Series/Limited Series" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: War Child'' ** Nominated for "Best Writer/Artist" Eisner Award, for '' Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'': "Faces" ** Nominated for "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award, for ''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'': "Faces" ** Nominated for "Best Inker" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: War Child'' * 1995: Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for ''

'' * 1999: ** Won "Best Anthology" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red'' ** Won "Best Short Story" Eisner Award, for "Devil's Advocate" in ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red'' #1 ** Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red''

Bibliography

Atomeka Press

* '' A1'' #2 (1989) (story in anthology)

Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund

* ''The True North'' #1 (1988) * ''The True North II'' #1 (1991)

Comico

* ''

'' #1–3 (1983–1984) * ''Grendel'' vol. 2 #1–40 (1986–1990) * ''

'' #1–15 (1984–1986) * ''Magebook'' #1–2 (1985) * ''Primer'' #2, 5 (1982–1983) * ''Silverback'' #1–3 (1989)

Dark Horse Comics

* ''

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, r ...

'' #40, 45 (1990) (stories in anthology title) * ''Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special'' #1 (1991) (story in anthology title) * ''Grendel Tales: Devil's Choices'' #1 (1995) * ''Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths'' #1 (1994) * ''Grendel Tales: Homecoming'' #1–3 (1994–1995) * ''Grendel Tales: The Devil's Hammer'' #1–2 (1994) * ''Grendel: Behold the Devil'' #0, #1–8 (2007–2008) * ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red'' #1–4 (1998–1999) * ''Grendel: Devil's Legacy'' #1–5 (2000) * ''Grendel: War Child'' #1–10 (1992–1993) * '' The Terminator: One Shot'' (1991)

DC Comics

* ''

'' vol. 3 #54 (2018) * ''

The Batman Adventures ''The Batman Adventures'' is a DC Comics comic book series featuring Batman. It is different from other ''Batman'' titles because it is set in the continuity (and style) of '' Batman: The Animated Series'', as opposed to the regular DC Universe. ...

Annual'' #1 (1994) * ''

'' #1–6 (2006–2007) * ''

'' #1–6 (2006) * ''

Batman Black and White ''Batman Black and White'' refers to the comic book limited series published by DC Comics featuring 8-page black and white Batman stories. Volumes 1, 4 and 5 of the series feature all-new stories (published in 1996, 2013–14, and 2020–21, respe ...

'' #3 (1996) * ''Batman/Grendel'' #1–2 (1993) * ''Batman/Grendel'' vol. 2 #1–2 (1996) * '' Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' #28–30 (1992) * ''Batman/

Riddler The Riddler (Edward Nigma, later Edward Nygma or Edward Nashton) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, and debuted in ''Detective Comics'' #140 in Oc ...

: The Riddle Factory'' #1 (1995) * '' Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity'' #1–3 (2003) * '' The Demon'' vol. 2 #1–4 (1987) * ''The Demon'' vol. 3 #22 (1992) * ''

Doctor Mid-Nite Doctor Mid-Nite or Doctor Midnight is the name of multiple fictional superheroes in DC Comics. The figure has been represented in the comics by three different individuals, Charles McNider, Beth Chapel, and Pieter Anton Cross. Dr. Mid-Nite was o ...

'' #1–3 (1999) * ''

'' #25 (1991) * ''

Secret Origins ''Secret Origins'' is the title of several comic book series published by DC Comics which featured the origin stories of the publisher's various characters. Publication history ''Secret Origins'' was first published as a one-shot in 1961 and c ...

Special'' #1 (Riddler story) (1989) * ''

Who's Who in the DC Universe ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' (1985–87), usually referred to simply as ''Who's Who'', is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional cha ...

'' #4–6, 8, 16 (1990–1992) * ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe '' #6 (1985)

Vertigo

* ''

House of Mystery ''The House of Mystery'' is the name of several horror, fantasy, and mystery Comics anthologies published by DC Comics. It had a companion series, ''The House of Secrets''. It is also the name of the titular setting of the series. First serie ...

Halloween Annual'' #1–2 (2009–2010) * ''

'' #1–29 (2008–2011) * ''

Sandman Midnight Theatre ''Sandman Midnight Theatre'' is the title of a one-shot comic book in which two DC comics characters called the Sandman — Dream and Wesley Dodds — encounter each other. ''Sandman Midnight Theatre'' was co-written by '' Sandman Mystery Theat ...

'' #1 (1995) * ''

'' #1–60, ''Annual'' #1 (1993–1998) * ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #1 (1998)

Dynamite Entertainment

* '' Django/

Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...

'' #1–7 (2014–2015) * '' Green Hornet: Year One'' #1–12 (2010–2011) * ''Grendel vs. The Shadow'' (2014) * ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...

'' #100 (2015) (eight page story) * ''The Shadow: The Death of Margo Lane'' (2016) * ''The Shadow: Year One'' #1–10 (2013–2014) * ''

The Spirit The Spirit is a fictional masked crimefighter created by cartoonist Will Eisner. He first appeared June 2, 1940, as the main feature of a 16-page, tabloid (paper size), tabloid-sized, newsprint comic book insert distributed in the Sunday editio ...

'' #1–13 (2015–2016) * ''

'' #1–20 (2008–2010) * ''Zorro Rides Again'' #1–12 (2011–2012)

Image Comics

* ''Mage: The Hero Defined'' #0–15 (1997–1999) * ''Mage: The Hero Denied'' #0–15 (2017–2019)

Legendary Comics

* ''The Tower Chronicles: Dreadstalker'' #1–10 (2014–2015) * ''The Tower Chronicles: Geisthawk'' #1–4 (2012–2013)

Marvel Comics

* '' Savage Hulk'' #1 (1996) * ''

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up ''Ultimate Marvel Team-Up'' is a comic book series, published by Marvel Comics which ran for 16 issues, including a concluding ''Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special''. It is set in one of Marvel's shared universes, the Ultimate Universe and is base ...

'' #1 (2001) * ''

Wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for "gluttony, glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is ...

'' vol. 2 #9 (one page) (1989)

References

External links

*
Matt Wagner
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics

at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
Matt and Brennan Wagner
on the Super Hero Speak podcast from NYCC. {{DEFAULTSORT:Wagner, Matt 1961 births 20th-century American artists 21st-century American artists 20th-century atheists 21st-century atheists American atheists American comics artists American comics writers Artists from Portland, Oregon Comic book letterers Comics colorists Comics inkers DC Comics people Inkpot Award winners Living people Role-playing game artists Writers from Portland, Oregon