Michael Zulli

Michael Zulli
Born(1952-12-20)December 20, 1952
DiedJuly 8, 2024(2024-07-08) (aged 71)
AreaWriter, Penciller, Artist, Inker
Notable works
The Puma Blues, The Sandman, The Fracture of the Universal Boy, Swamp Thing

Michael Zulli (December 20, 1952 – July 8, 2024)[1] was an American artist lauded for his work as an animal and wildlife illustrator. He is also known as a comic book artist and sometime writer on such series as The Puma Blues, Swamp Thing, The Sandman, as well as many well-regarded adaptations of the work of Neil Gaiman.

Career

Michael Zulli's earliest published work in comics was the October 1986 release The Puma Blues,[2] on which he collaborated with writer Stephen Murphy.[1][3] The monthly title was published by Dave Sim's Aardvark One International and later by Mirage Studios. Zulli's detailed, realistic depictions of wildlife and landscape in a near-future, polluted, post-industrial world was a metanarrative of conservation.[4] The series was published for 23 issues, with a mini-comic half issue published in 1989.[1]

In 1990 and 1991, Zulli wrote, drew, and painted the covers for three issues of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: #31 ("Soul's Winter") #35 ("Soul's Withering"), and #36 ("Soul's End"). His dark interpretation entitled the "Soul's Trilogy" polarized fans of the series.[5] Over time, his work came to be considered a classic contribution to the TMNT mythos, and was reissued by IDW Publishing as the graphic novel Soul's Winter.[6]

Zulli's attention to detail and fidelity to nature garnered the admiration of many writers, editors and artists in the comics industry.

In 1993, he illustrated an issue of of DC Comics' Swamp Thing in which the title character meets Jesus Christ.[7][8] Thirty-six years after shelving the controversial "Jesus Christ" storyline in Swamp Thing, DC Comics announced they would be publishing the work through its adult Black Label imprint.[9]

In the 1990s another unfinished and unpublished story, Sweeney Todd, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Zulli for Stephen R. Bissette's publication Taboo was discontinued when the anthology ceased publication.[10]

In 1990 he guest penciled issue #13 of DC Comics' nascent Vertigo series The Sandman written by Gaiman. This story introduced the Hob Gadling character.[11][12]

Zulli illustrated seven Sandman issues[13] including the final Sandman story arc "The Wake".

Zulli and Gaiman collaborated on a comic book adaptation of Alice Cooper's The Last Temptation in 1994. It was later remastered and collected at Dynamite Comics.[14]

After the end of The Sandman series, his work was featured in the gallery show called "Visions of the Wake" in New York City. Zulli also exhibited regularly at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California,[15] and was a part of the "Endless Reflections, 20 Years of Sandman" exhibit.[16]

Zulli illustrated several other Vertigo imprint titles including Winter's Edge, Witchcraft: La Terreur and Sandman Presents: Love Street.[3]

He was featured artist on the Shade limited series which spun off from the popular Starman title.[17]

In 2021, he self published The Fracture of the Universal Boy, an autobiographical, symbolist graphic novel "...that, sadly, went largely unnoticed by the audience that had so readily embraced Zulli’s mainstream comic book work."[18]

When speaking of Zulli's struggles with corporate publishing, fellow artist and writer Steve Bissette said, "Michael dramatized such issues, metaphorically but vividly, in his single solo graphic novel, The Fracture of the Universal Boy. That was entirely Michael's baby, an enigmatic and powerfully rendered masterpiece, but it was a crowdfunded venture, rarely seen since its launch."[19]

Personal life

Zulli married his long-time partner Karen Pratt-Smith Zulli in August 2019.

Zulli pulled away from comic book work in the mid-2000's in hopes of establishing a career in fine art. He lived and worked with his wife in a home and studio which they created in a 19th century hotel in Browns Valley, Minnesota.[20]

Zulli was diagnosed with cancer over ten years prior to his death. He was treated successfully. The cancer recurred and was diagnosed the day before he passed on July 8, 2024, at the age of 71.[1][21]

Comics bibliography

Awards and nominations

  • Eisner Award
    • 1996 Nominated for Best Serialized Story (with Neil Gaiman for "The Wake", in The Sandman #70–72)[23]
    • 1996 Nominated for Best Best Penciller/Inker (for "The Wake")[23]
    • 1996 Nominated for Best Comics-Related Item (for Sandman: The Wake poster)[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Farago, Andrew (July 29, 2024). "Michael Zulli, 1952-2024". The Comics Journal. Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics. Archived from the original on July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Michael Zulli". Lambiek Comiclopedia. 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Michael Zulli at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ^ Dueben, Alex (July 26, 2016). "The Michael Zulli Interview". The Comics Journal. Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "Michael Zulli's Ninja Turtles!". Mars Will Send No More. August 28, 2011. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Legends: Soul's Winter by Michael Zulli". IDW Publishing. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "Rick Veitch Quits Swamp Thing". The Comics Journal (129). Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics: 7–11. May 1989.
  8. ^ "Swamp Thing Cancellation Begets Protest, Media Attention". The Comics Journal (130). Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics: 28–29. July 1989.
  9. ^ https://www.ign.com/articles/36-years-later-dc-will-finally-publish-a-controversial-canceled-comic-where-swamp-thing-meets-jesus-christ-nycc-2025
  10. ^ Johnston, Rich (June 5, 2012). "Get Your Free Neil Gaiman And Michael Zulli Sweeney Todd Comic Here". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  11. ^ Bender, Hy (1999). The Sandman Companion. New York, New York: DC Comics. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-1563894657.
  12. ^ Burgas, Greg (January 7, 2013). "Comics You Should Own – Sandman". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014.
  13. ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The Sandman saw a variety of artists grace its pages. Sam Kieth drew the first few issues, followed by Mike Dringenberg, Chris Bachalo, Michael Zulli, Kelley Jones, Charles Vess, Colleen Doran, and Shawn McManus, among others.
  14. ^ "SDCC Announcement – Neil Gaiman, Alice Cooper and Michael Zulli Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Last Temptation with Fully Remastered Deluxe Edition from Dynamite". Westfield Comics. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  15. ^ https://www.gallerynucleus.com/artists/michael_zulli
  16. ^ https://www.gallerynucleus.com/events/150
  17. ^ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 281: "The Shade...nabbed his first miniseries in April [1997], courtesy of writer James Robinson and artist Gene Ha, J. H. Williams III, Bret Blevins, and Michael Zulli."
  18. ^ www.tcj.com/michael-zulli-1952-2024/
  19. ^ https://www.tcj.com/michael-zulli-1952-2024/
  20. ^ https://www.tcj.com/michael-zulli-1952-2024/
  21. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 10, 2024). "Michael Zulli of Puma Blues, Swamp Thing and Sandman Has Died Aged 71". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Murphy, Stephen; Zulli, Michael (2015). The Puma Blues: The Complete Saga in One Volume. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications. p. 576. ISBN 978-0486798134.
  23. ^ a b c "1996 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Zulli.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.