Dean Motteris an illustrator, designer and writer who has worked for many years in Canada (Toronto) and the United States (New York CityandAtlanta). He is best known for hisalbum coverdesigns, two of which wonJuno Awards.He is also the creator and designer ofMister X,one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s.[1]
| Dean Motter | |
|---|---|
 Motter in 2008 | |
| Nationality | Canadian-American |
| Area(s) | Writer,Penciller,Inker,Editor,Letterer,Colorist |
Notable works | Mister X,Terminal City,The Prisoner: Shattered Visage |
| Awards | 1983 Juno Award / Album Graphics: Anvil: Metal on Metal
1984 Juno Award / Album Graphics: The Nylons: Seamless 1985 Casby Award / Album Cover: Jane Siberry: No Borders Here 1985 Toronto Art Directors Club, Best of the 80's / Album Cover: Honeymoon Suite |
| http://deanmotter.com | |
Early career
editDean Motter showed interest in drawing from an early age, and his parents, both artists themselves, encouraged his endeavors.[2]He initially attended college forfine arts,but lost interest and segued into music.[2]In the late 1970s, Motter edited and art directedAndromeda,a Canadian comic book series which adapted the works of major science–fiction authors such asArthur C. ClarkeandA. E. van Vogt.During that time Motter and collaboratorKen SteacycreatedThe Sacred & The Profane(published inStar Reach), whichArchie Goodwinreferred to as "the first true graphic novel" in the contemporary comics medium.[3]He also collaborated on the design forMarshall McLuhan's posthumous bookLaws of Mediaand illustrated several educationalchildren's books.[2]
Motter achieved recognition for his album cover design during his tenure as art director for CBS Records Canada, and later with his own studios, Diagram Studios and (following the closure of Diagram)Modern Imageworks.[2]His record jackets and promotional graphics (for acts such asThe Nylons,Triumph,Loverboy,Honeymoon Suite,The Diodes,Liona Boyd,The Irish Rovers[4]andJane Siberry) have won several awards. Motter has been nominated for aJuno Awardsix times, and won twice. He won aJuno Awardin 1983 for "Best Album Graphics"for his work on theAnvilalbumMetal on Metal.The following year, he again won the "Best Album Graphics" award for his work on theSeamlessalbum byThe Nylons,along with Jeff Jackson and Deborah Samuel.
In 1988, he co-wrote and illustratedShattered VisageforDC Comicsbased on Patrick McGoohan's 1960s British television seriesThe Prisoner.The following year he created the logo and basic cover design for DC'sPiranha Pressimprint.
Later years
edit
Dean relocated in New York City in 1990 where he served as art director and senior designer for Byron Preiss Visual Publications (for whom he also edited a line ofPhilip Marlowegraphic novels.) In 1993, he joined the staff atDC Comicswhere he oversaw the corporate and licensing designs for many of their characters. He returned to the freelance community in 1997, retaining his previous employers among his most active clients.
Motter's acclaimed Vertigo mini-seriesTerminal Cityand its sequelTerminal City: Aerial Graffiti(both illustrated byMichael Lark) were nominated for a number ofEisnerandHarvey Awardsduring their 1996–1998 run.
His artwork has been featured in many comic book publications, notably theClassics Illustratedadaptation ofThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner,Batman: Black & White,Grendel: Red, White and Black,John Constantine:Hellblazerand9-11: Artists Respondas well as theSuperman's First Flightchildren's book for Scholastic. He has written stories forSuperman Adventures,Star Wars Tales,Will Eisner's The Spirit,andWolverine.
In 2001 Dean re-united with Michael Lark to create the award-winningBatman: Nine Livesgraphic novel forDC Comics.During that time he also wrote and illustratedElectropolisforImage Comics.[5]
Motter has compiled and designed the retrospectives,Echoes: The Drawings ofMichael Wm. KalutaandThe Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schombergfor Vanguard Productions, as well asMister X: The Archives(including Motter's reminiscences and newly illustrated finale) and Mister X: The Modern Age (collecting Motter's post-millennial Radiant City stories) for Dark Horse Books. He continues to write and illustrate Mister X comics for Dark Horse Comics as well as documentary comic book works for the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, the Karski Institute for Holocaust Education and theSpyscapemuseum in NYC.
Personal life
editBorn in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, Dean Motter was raised in a family of devoutProtestants.Though anagnostichimself, he regards religion as a positive institution, commenting that "it has value and it has enriched people's lives."[2]He studied underTom Lodge,Eric McLuhanand artistMichael Haydenin his college years. He has been married three times, including to authorJudith Dupréand the late Heather Brown. Having lived in Toronto and Manhattan, he currently makes his home outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Notes
edit- ^Mister XArchived2005-10-28 at theWayback Machine
- ^abcdeHerzog, Marty (October 1986). "Dean Motter".Comics Interview.No. 39.Fictioneer Books.pp. 60–77.
- ^Introduction to The Scared & The Profane collected edition. Eclipse Books 1986
- ^"No More Bread and Butter: The Irish Rovers at theBalladeers".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-02.Retrieved2014-06-10.
- ^"Electopolis".
References
edit- Dean Motterat theGrand Comics Database
- Dean Motterat the Comic Book DB (archived fromthe original)
External links
editInterviews
editThis section includes a list ofgeneral references,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(April 2009) |
- Cooke, Jon B.. Mister X-Man Motter,Comic Book Artist,No. 15 November 2001
- Klaehn, Jeffery.Mister X: Still Sleepless After All These Years,Publishers Weekly,November 24, 2008
- Episode 74: Dean Motter,comiXology, December 29, 2008
- Klaehn, Jeffery.Mister M: A Career Retrospective with Dean Motter,Graphic Novel Reporter, February 2009