Editing Matt Wagner

{{short description|American comics artist and writer (born 1961)}}
{{For|the baseball player|Matt Wagner (baseball)}}
{{Infobox comics creator
<!-- | name          = * -->
| image         = Matt Wagner in 2007 01 (cropped).jpg
| caption       = Wagner in 2007
| alt           = Wagner seated at a table
| birth_name    = 
| birth_place   = [[Front Royal, Virginia]],{{cn|date= April 2025}} US
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| cartoonist    = 
| write         = y
| art           = 
| pencil        = y
| ink           = y
| edit          = 
| publish       = 
| letter        = y
| color         = y
| alias         = 
| signature     = <!-- very optional -->
| signature_alt = 
| notable works = ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]''<br />''[[Grendel (comics)|Grendel]]''
| awards        = [[Inkpot Award]] 1988
| website       = 
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1961|10|9}}
}}
'''Matt Wagner''' (born October 9, 1961)<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson |authorlink=John Jackson Miller |url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |title=Comics Industry Birthdays |work=[[Comics Buyer's Guide]] |date=June 10, 2005 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archivedate=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> is an American [[comics artist]] and writer who is best known as the creator of the series ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]'' and ''[[Grendel (comics)|Grendel]]''.

==Early life, family and education==
Matt Wagner's childhood was spent in central [[Pennsylvania]]<ref name= CVprofile>{{cite web| title= Matt Wagner| website= comicvine.gamespot.com |url= https://comicvine.gamespot.com/matt-wagner/4040-8310/ | publisher= | date= | access-date= April 15, 2025}}</ref> (near [[State College, Pennsylvania]])<ref name= Rabinoff>{{cite web| title= 'If They Know What To Expect, Then I’m Just A Can Of Campbell’s Soup': Matt Wagner Reflects on Finishing Mage, Returning to Grendel, and What Comes Next| first= Matt| last= Wagner| interviewer= Zach Rabinoff | date= October 2, 2023 | website= [[The Comics Journal]]; TCJ.com| publisher= | url= https://www.tcj.com/if-they-know-what-to-expect-then-im-just-a-can-of-campbells-soup-matt-wagner-reflects-on-finishing-mage-returning-to-grendel-and-what-comes-next/ | access-date= April 15, 2025}}</ref> and in [[Front Royal, Virginia]].<ref name= FacebookMW>{{cite web| title= Matt Wagner| url= https://www.facebook.com/matt.wagner.3158652/| publisher= Matt Wagner| quote= Studied at Philadelphia College of Art. Went to Warren County High School. Lives in West Linn, Oregon. From Front Royal, Virginia.| website= Facebook.com| date= | access-date= April 15, 2025}}</ref> His mother was an English teacher, and his father (a World War II veteran) worked for a "synthetic fibers corporation".<ref name= Rabinoff />

Even during his grade school years, Wagner knew he wanted to create comic books.<ref name= Rabinoff /> He was in the Class of 1979<ref>{{cite web| url= https://old-friends.co/school.php?s=23335| website= old-friends.co| publisher= | title= Warren County High School, Front Royal, VA| date= | access-date= April 15, 2025}}</ref> at [[Warren County High School (Virginia)|Warren County High School]] in Front Royal, Virginia.<ref name= FacebookMW />  For two years he attended college in Virginia at [[James Madison University]], but he transferred to [[art school]]<ref name= CVprofile /> at [[Philadelphia College of Art]].<ref name= Rabinoff /><ref name= FacebookMW />

==Career==
Matt Wagner's first published comic book work was ''[[Comico Primer]]'' #2 (1982), which was the first appearance of [[Grendel (comics)|Grendel]].<ref>{{cite journal|last = Eury|first = Michael|authorlink = Michael Eury|title = Wagner and Schutz: Creator Relations|journal = [[Back Issue!]]|issue = 2|page= 29|publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date = February 2004|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> In addition to his creator-owned series ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]'' and ''Grendel'',<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wagner_matt.htm|title= Matt Wagner|date= 2015| website= lambiek.net |publisher=  [[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]]| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150922213445/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wagner_matt.htm|archivedate= September 22, 2015|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> he has worked on comics featuring the [[Etrigan the Demon|Demon]] and [[Batman]] as well as such titles as ''[[Sandman Mystery Theatre]]''.<ref name="GCD">{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Matt+Wagner|title=Matt Wagner}}</ref> In 1991, he illustrated part of the "[[The Sandman: Season of Mists|Season of Mists]]" story arc in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'' series.<ref>{{cite book|last = Bender|first = Hy|title = The Sandman Companion|publisher = DC Comics|year = 1999|location= New York, New York|page = 266|isbn = 978-1563894657}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/07/comics-you-should-own-sandman/|title= Comics You Should Own – ''Sandman'' |first= Greg |last= Burgas| date= January 7, 2013|publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140410022316/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/07/comics-you-should-own-sandman/|archivedate= April 10, 2014| url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He wrote and drew ''[[Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity]]'' a [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]] featuring DC's three major heroes in 2003.<ref name= "Batman Visual 268">{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair |chapter= 2000s|title= Batman: A Visual History |publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London |page= 268|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Matt Wagner headed to DC Comics to write and illustrate this three-issue prestige-format series that retold the original meeting between Batman and Superman and heroine Wonder Woman.}}</ref> He followed it with ''[[Batman and the Monster Men]]''<ref name= "Batman Visual 286">{{cite book |last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair |chapter= 2000s|title= Batman: A Visual History |publisher= Dorling Kindersley |year= 2014|location= London |page= 286|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Writer/artist Matt Wagner utilized the Monster Men from [''Batman'' #1] as well as their creator, Dr. Hugo Strange.}}</ref> and ''[[Batman and the Mad Monk]]''<ref name= "Batman Visual 291">{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair |chapter= 2000s|title= Batman: A Visual History |publisher= Dorling Kindersley|year= 2014|location= London |page= 291|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= The second in his 'Dark Moon Rising' series, writer/artist Matt Wagner dug up another Golden Age gem in the person of the Mad Monk in this six-issue follow-up to ''Batman and the Monster Men''.}}{</ref> in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.batman-on-film.com/interview_mattwagner_jett_2006.html|title= Interview: Matt Wagner|first= William E.|last= Ramey|date= September 30, 2006|publisher= | website= batman-on-film.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234156/http://www.batman-on-film.com/interview_mattwagner_jett_2006.html|archivedate= March 3, 2016|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all|access-date= October 25, 2006}}</ref>

His other projects include ''[[Madame Xanadu]]'' for [[Vertigo (DC Comics)|Vertigo]], with artist [[Amy Reeder|Amy Reeder Hadley]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Cowsill |first= Alan |editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah |chapter= 2000s|title = DC Comics Year by Year: a Visual Chronicle| publisher= Dorling Kindersley |year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 334 |quote = Madame Xanadu was a relatively minor player in the DC Universe, but [Matt] Wagner, assisted by stunning art by Amy Hadley, crafted a first-class tale.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=15960&page=article |title= Wagner Saws Madame Xanadu in Half with Vertigo|first= Jeffrey |last= Renaud| date= April 11, 2008 |publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150908004710/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15960|archivedate= September 8, 2015|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He has produced numerous comics covers, including painted ones for ''[[Green Arrow]]''<ref name="GCD" /> and has written several ''[[Green Hornet]]'' limited series for [[Dynamite Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30543|title= Wagner Brings ''Green Hornet: Year One'' to a Close|first= Steve|last= Sunu|date= January 27, 2011| publisher= Comic Book Resources|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514042153/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30543|archivedate= May 14, 2011|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Outside comics, Wagner provided art for the 1984 ''[[Villains & Vigilantes]]'' 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]]'s benefit anthology book, ''Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds'', a project spearheaded by [[IDW Publishing]] Special Projects Editor [[Scott Dunbier]]. Its profits were donated to relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees resulting from the February [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.comicsbeat.com/zoop-launches-benefit-anthology-comics-for-ukraine-sunflower-seeds/ |last= Kaplan| first= Rebecca O.|title=ZOOP launches benefit anthology COMICS FOR UKRAINE: SUNFLOWER SEEDS |publisher=The Beat| website= comicsbeat.com |language=en-US|url-status=live|date=April 18, 2022| archivedate= April 18, 2022 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20220418170150/https://www.comicsbeat.com/zoop-launches-benefit-anthology-comics-for-ukraine-sunflower-seeds/ |access-date= April 26, 2022}}</ref><ref name= AIPT>{{cite web |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2022/04/18/comics-for-ukraine-sunflower-seeds/ | website= aiptcomics.com| publisher= AIPT |title='Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds' to benefit Ukrainian refugees|last= Brooke |first= David |language=en-US| url-status= live| date= April 18, 2022| archivedate=April 26, 2022| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20220426153140/https://aiptcomics.com/2022/04/18/comics-for-ukraine-sunflower-seeds/ |accessdate= April 26, 2022}}</ref> Wagner produced a new Grendel story featuring [[Hunter Rose]] for the anthology.<ref name=AIPT/>

Wagner prefers to use [[Faber-Castell]]'s [[Pitt Artist Pens]].<ref name= Rabinoff />

==Personal life==
Wagner is married to Barbara Schutz, the sister of his editor, Diana Schutz.<ref name= Rabinoff /> They have resided in the [[Portland, Oregon]] metro area,<ref name= CVprofile /> including in [[West Linn, Oregon]].<ref name= FacebookMW /> Barbara Wagner has worked as an English teacher, like Matt Wagner's mother was.<ref name= Rabinoff /> He has mentioned that he has a son.<ref name= Rabinoff />

==Awards and nominations==
* 1988: 
** Nominated for "Best Writer" [[Eisner Award]], for ''[[Grendel (comics)|Grendel]]''<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner88.php |title= 1988 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees |website= hahnlibrary.net |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20151018014520/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner88.php |archivedate= October 18, 2015|url-status= live}}</ref>
** Won an [[Inkpot Award]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php |title= Inkpot Award Winners |website= hahnlibrary.net |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|archivedate= July 9, 2012|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* 1993:
** Won "Best Finite Series/Limited Series" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: War Child''<ref name="Eisner1993">{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner93.php|title= 1993 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners |website= hahnlibrary.net |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20151107023828/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner93.php|archivedate= November 7, 2015|url-status= live}}</ref>
** Nominated for "Best Writer/Artist" Eisner Award, for ''[[Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight]]'': "Faces"<ref name="Eisner1993" />
** Nominated for "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award, for ''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'': "Faces"<ref name="Eisner1993" />
** Nominated for "Best Inker" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: War Child''<ref name="Eisner1993" />
* 1995: Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for ''[[Sandman Mystery Theatre]]''<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner95.php|title= 1995 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners |website= hahnlibrary.net |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160107161228/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner95.php|archivedate= January 7, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 1999:
** Won "Best Anthology" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red''<ref name="1999Eisner">{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner99.php|title= 1999 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners |website= hahnlibrary.net |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160307150504/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner99.php|archivedate= March 7, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref>
** Won "Best Short Story" Eisner Award, for "Devil's Advocate" in ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red'' #1<ref name="1999Eisner" />
** Nominated for "Best Writer" Eisner Award, for ''Grendel: Black, White, and Red''<ref name="1999Eisner" />

==Bibliography==
[[File:Mage - the Hero Defined (no. 1, cover art).jpg|thumb|150px|''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]: The Hero Defined'', cover by Matt Wagner]]

===Atomeka Press===
* ''[[A1 (comics)|A1]]'' #2 (1989) (story in anthology)

===Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund===
* ''The True North'' #1 (1988)
* ''The True North II'' #1 (1991)

===Comico===
* ''[[Grendel (comics)|Grendel]]'' #1–3 (1983–1984)
* ''Grendel'' vol. 2 #1–40 (1986–1990)
* ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]'' #1–15 (1984–1986)
* ''Magebook'' #1–2 (1985)
* ''Primer'' #2, 5 (1982–1983)
* ''Silverback'' #1–3 (1989)

===Dark Horse Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[Dark Horse Presents]]'' #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)
* ''[[Terminator (franchise)#Comics|The Terminator: One Shot]]'' (1991)
{{div col end}}

===DC Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' vol. 3 #54 (2018)
* ''[[The Batman Adventures]] Annual'' #1 (1994)
* ''[[Batman and the Mad Monk]]'' #1–6 (2006–2007)
* ''[[Batman and the Monster Men]]'' #1–6 (2006)
* ''[[Batman Black and White]]'' #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 Riddle Factory'' #1 (1995)
* ''[[Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity]]'' #1–3 (2003)
* ''[[Etrigan the Demon|The Demon]]'' vol. 2 #1–4 (1987)
* ''The Demon'' vol. 3 #22 (1992)
* ''[[Doctor Mid-Nite]]'' #1–3 (1999)
* ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'' #25 (1991)<!--Wagner's one issue of this series was published before the series was moved to the Vertigo line-->
* ''[[Secret Origins]] Special'' #1 (Riddler story) (1989)
* ''[[Who's Who in the DC Universe]]'' #4–6, 8, 16 (1990–1992)
* ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe '' #6 (1985)

====Vertigo====
* ''[[House of Mystery]] Halloween Annual'' #1–2  (2009–2010)
* ''[[Madame Xanadu]]'' #1–29 (2008–2011)
* ''[[Sandman Midnight Theatre]]'' #1 (1995)
* ''[[Sandman Mystery Theatre]]'' #1–60, ''Annual'' #1 (1993–1998)
* ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #1 (1998)
{{div col end}}

===Dynamite Entertainment===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[Django Unchained|Django]]/[[Zorro#Comics|Zorro]]'' #1–7 (2014–2015)
* ''[[Green Hornet#Dynamite Entertainment|Green Hornet: Year One]]'' #1–12 (2010–2011)
* ''Grendel vs. The Shadow'' (2014)
* ''[[The Shadow]]'' #100 (2015) (eight page story)
* ''The Shadow: The Death of Margo Lane'' (2016)
* ''The Shadow: Year One'' #1–10 (2013–2014)
* ''[[Spirit (comics character)|The Spirit]]'' #1–13 (2015–2016)
* ''[[Zorro#Comics|Zorro]]'' #1–20 (2008–2010)
* ''Zorro Rides Again'' #1–12 (2011–2012)
{{div col end}}

===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===
* ''[[Hulk|Savage Hulk]]'' #1 (1996)
* ''[[Ultimate Marvel Team-Up]]'' #1 (2001)
* ''[[Wolverine (comic book)|Wolverine]]'' vol. 2 #9 (one page) (1989)

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=91|title=Matt Wagner}}
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=193 Matt Wagner] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namw2.htm#N2623 Matt Wagner] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
* [https://superherospeak.com/wp/328-a-joker-in-crisis/ Matt and Brennan Wagner] on the ''Super Hero Speak'' podcast from [[New York Comic Con]] (NYCC)

{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wagner, Matt}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American artists]]
[[Category:20th-century atheists]]
[[Category:21st-century atheists]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:American comics writers]]
[[Category:Artists from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Comic book letterers]]
[[Category:Comics colorists]]
[[Category:Comics inkers]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American role-playing game artists]]
[[Category:Writers from Portland, Oregon]]