Editing Sam Kieth

{{short description|American comics artist and writer (born 1963)}}
{{Distinguish|Sam Keith}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image         = 
| image_size    = 
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1963|01|11}}
| birth_place   = [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| nationality   = [[Americans|American]]
| relatives     = [[David Feiss]] (cousin)
| area          = 
| write         = y
| pencil        = y
| ink           = y
| art           = y
| alias         = 
| signature     = 
| notable works = ''[[The Maxx]]''<br />''[[Zero Girl]]''
| awards        = [[Inkpot Award]] 2013
| website       = http://samkieth.blogspot.com
}}
'''Sam Kieth''' (born January 11, 1963)<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|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays|archive-date= February 18, 2011|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> is an American [[comics artist]] and writer, best known as the creator of ''[[The Maxx]]'' and ''[[Zero Girl]]''.

==Career==
===Comics===
Kieth's first published work was "a story in the back of a [[Comico: The Comic Company|Comico]] comic" when he was "about seventeen"; it was "about a killer rabbit named Max the Hare".<ref name=WizardNo2>''[[Wizard: The Guide to Comics]]'' #2, October 1991; "Future Stars"; p. 121</ref> He came to prominence in 1984 as the [[inker]] of [[Matt Wagner]]'s ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kieth_sam.htm|title= Sam Kieth|date= December 21, 2006|publisher= [[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140328150806/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kieth_sam.htm|archive-date= March 28, 2014|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> and a year later as the inker of ''[[Fish Police]]''.<ref name="GCD">{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Sam+Kieth|title= Sam Kieth}}</ref> In 1989, he penciled the first five issues (the "[[The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes|Preludes & Nocturnes]]" story arc)<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|website= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140410022316/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/07/comics-you-should-own-sandman/|archive-date= April 10, 2014|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> of writer [[Neil Gaiman]]'s celebrated series ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]''<ref>{{cite book|last = Bender|first = Hy|title = The Sandman Companion|publisher = DC Comics|year = 1999|location= New York, New York
|page = 37|isbn = 978-1563894657}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Manning|first= Matthew K.|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah, ed.|chapter= 1980s|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= 238|quote = ''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.}}</ref> and collaborated with [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]] on a [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]] story in ''[[Secret Origins]] Special'' #1.<ref>{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|last2=Dougall|first2=Alastair, ed.|chapter= 1980s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 179|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Writer Alan Grant and artist Sam Kieth tackled the Penguin's origin.}}</ref> He illustrated two volumes of writer [[William Messner-Loebs]]' ''[[Epicurus the Sage]]'', drew an ''[[Aliens (Dark Horse Comics publications)|Aliens]]'' [[miniseries]] for [[Dark Horse Comics]], and drew ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (vol. 2) #368,<ref name="GCD" /> which led to drawing numerous covers for ''[[Marvel Comics Presents]]''.

In 1993, Kieth left Marvel to create the original series ''[[The Maxx]]'' for fledgling publisher [[Image Comics]]. ''The Maxx'' ran 35 issues, all of which were plotted and illustrated by Kieth. William Messner-Loebs scripted #1–15 and [[Alan Moore]] wrote #21.<ref name="GCD" /> In 1995, ''The Maxx'' was adapted as part of [[MTV]]'s short-lived animation series ''[[MTV's Oddities]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Erickson |first=Hal |date=2005 |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |edition=2nd |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |page=568 |isbn=978-1476665993}}</ref>

After taking a break from comics to pursue other interests, Kieth created the series ''[[Zero Girl]]'' for [[DC Comics]]' [[Wildstorm]] imprint in 2001.<ref>Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 299: "Writer and artist Sam Kieth's tale of teenage alienation was both surreal and touching."</ref> He followed that with the drama ''[[Four Women (comics)|Four Women]]'' later that year<ref>Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 301: "Writer/artist Sam Kieth's work had always been slightly edgier than most...This was especially true on ''Four Women''."</ref> and ''Zero Girl: Full Circle'' in 2003.<ref>Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 308: "The follow-up to writer and artist Sam Kieth's cult classic was set fifteen years after the events of the 2001 series."</ref> In August 2004, he launched the ''Scratch'' series featuring a teenage werewolf.<ref>Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 313: "Writer and artist Sam Kieth presented a new hero for the DC Universe in the form of Scratch, a misunderstood teenage werewolf."</ref>

Kieth then wrote and drew the five-issue series ''Batman: Secrets'', featuring the [[Joker (character)|Joker]], and ''Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious'', a two-issue [[miniseries]] starting in August 2007. This was followed by 2009's ''Lobo: Highway to Hell'', written by [[Scott Ian]] of the band [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]], and the painted story "Ghosts", which appeared in ''[[Batman Confidential]]'' #40–43. In 2010, Kieth wrote and illustrated the original hardcover graphic novel ''Arkham Asylum: Madness'', which spent two weeks on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]], reaching number five in the category of "Hardcover Graphic Books".<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2010-07-18/hardcover-graphic-books/list.html|title= Best Sellers - Hardcover Graphic Books|date= July 18, 2010|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130412031945/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2010-07-18/hardcover-graphic-books/list.html|archive-date= April 12, 2013|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

''Ojo'' comprises the first, and ''My Inner Bimbo'' the second, in a cycle of original limited series or graphic novels published by [[Oni Press]], which he dubbed "The Trout-a-Verse". The cycle concerned the intertwined lives of Annie (''Ojo''),<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2004/08/19/ojo-1/|title= ''Ojo'' #1|date= August 19, 2004 |publisher= Readaboutcomics.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130719115650/http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2004/08/19/ojo-1/|archive-date= July 19, 2013|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Lo (''My Inner Bimbo''),<ref name="GCD" /> Dana, Nola, Otto, and others all connected by an encounter with an urban legend known as the Magic Trout.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicattack.net/aotm9/ |title=Artist of the Month: Sam Kieth Part 1 |date=June 5, 2011 |website=ComicAttack.net |access-date=May 11, 2014}}</ref>

In the UK, he has contributed to ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'''s ''[[Judge Dredd]]'' and provided several covers for the ''[[Nemesis the Warlock]]'' reprint title. In 2011, Kieth began drawing [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[30 Days of Night]]'' series.<ref name="GCD" /> IDW released the 48-page ''The Sam Kieth Sketchbooks: Vol. 1'', followed by a second volume in August 2010.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kieth |first=Sam |date=2010 |title=The Sam Kieth Sketchbooks |volume=2 |location=San Diego, California |publisher=[[IDW Publishing]] |isbn=978-1600106811}}</ref>

===Other media===
In addition to co-producing ''The Maxx'' animated series for MTV, Kieth co-wrote "No Smoking", the pilot to ''[[Cow and Chicken]]'' (created by his cousin, [[David Feiss]]),{{sfn|Erickson|2005|p=218}} and directed the film ''Take It to the Limit'' (2000) for [[Roger Corman]]'s [[New Concorde|Concorde-New Horizons]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=13452|title= Comics2film|first= Rob|last= Worley|date= September 13, 2000|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140511191841/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=13452|archive-date= May 11, 2014|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|quote= First up is a movie called ''Take it to the Limit''. Kieth directed this rock-climbing movie for Roger Corman's Concorde company.}}</ref>

==Awards==
Sam Kieth received an [[Inkpot Award]] at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-internationals-newest-inkpot-award-winners |title=Comic-Con International's Newest Inkpot Award Winners! |year=2013 |publisher=[[San Diego Comic-Con International]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508040502/http://comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-internationals-newest-inkpot-award-winners |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |url-status=live|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
===AfterShock Comics===
* ''[[Eleanor & the Egret]]'' (2017)

===Comico Comics===
* ''[[Primer (comics)|Primer]]'' #5 (writer/artist) (first published art) (1983)
* ''[[Justice Machine]]'' #11 (inker) (1987)
* ''[[Mage (comics)|Mage]]'' #10–15 (inker) (1985–1986)

===Dark Horse Comics===
* ''[[Aliens (Dark Horse Comics line)|Aliens: Earth War]]'' #1–4 (1990)

===DC Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''Arkham Asylum: Madness'' HC (writer/artist) (2010)
* ''[[Batman Confidential]]'' #40–43 (writer/artist) (2010)
* ''Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious'' #1–2 (writer/artist) (2007)
* ''Batman: Secrets'' #1–5 (writer/artist) (2006)
* ''Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams'' #1 (2018)
* ''Batman: Through the Looking Glass'' HC (2012)
* ''[[Harley Quinn (comic book)|Harley Quinn]]'' (vol. 2) #0 (2014)
* ''[[House of Mystery (Vertigo)|House of Mystery]]'' (vol. 2) #23 (2010)
* ''[[Infinity, Inc.]]'' #49 (inker) (1988)
* ''[[Lobo (DC Comics)|Lobo: Highway to Hell]]'' #1–2 (2010)
* ''[[Manhunter (comics)|Manhunter]]'' #1–3, 12 (inker) (1988–1989)
* ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'' (vol. 2) #1–5 (1989)
* ''Scratch'' #1–5 (writer/artist) (2004)
* ''[[Secret Origins]] Special'' #1 (1989)
* ''[[T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents]]'' (vol. 2) #4 (2012)

====Piranha Press====
* ''[[Epicurus the Sage]]'' #1–2 (1989–1991)
* ''Fast Forward'' #3 (1993)

====WildStorm====
* ''Epicurus the Sage'' TPB (2003)
* ''[[Four Women (comics)|Four Women]]'' #1–5 (writer/artist) (2001–2002)
* ''[[Zero Girl]]'' #1–5 (writer/artist) (2001)
* ''Zero Girl: Full Circle'' #1–5 (writer/artist) (2003)
{{div col end}}

===Eclipse Comics===
* ''[[Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters]]'' #6–8 (1987)

===Fantagraphics Books===
* ''[[Critters (comics)|Critters]]'' #7, 11–12, 23 (writer/artist) (1986–1987), #21 (cover art) (1988)

===Fishwrap Productions===
* ''[[Fish Police]]'' #1 (inker and pin-up) (1985)

===Image Comics===
* ''[[Darker Image]]'' #1 (plotter/artist) (1993)
* ''Friends of Maxx'' #1–3 (1996–1997)
* ''[[The Maxx]]'' #1–35 (plotter/artist) (1993–1998)
* ''Sam Stories: Legs'' (writer/artist) (1999)

===Marvel Comics===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[Clive Barker]]'s [[Hellraiser (franchise)|Hellraiser]]'' #12 (1992)
* ''[[Freddy Krueger]]'s [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (comics)|A Nightmare On Elm Street]]'' #2 (back cover pin-up) (1989)
* ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (vol. 2) #368 (artist) (1990)
* ''[[Marvel Age]]'' #105 (cover art and interview with reprinted art) (1991)
* ''[[Marvel Comics Presents]]'' #85–92, 100, 117–122 (cover and art); #94–99 and 101–111 (cover only) (1991–1993)
* ''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man]]'' (vol. 2) #56–57 (2003)
* ''The Savage Hulk'' #1 (1996)
* ''Wolverine/Hulk'' #1–4 (writer/artist) (2002)
* ''[[X-Men Unlimited]]'' (vol. 2) #9 (2005)
{{div col end}}

===Oni Press===
* ''Ojo'' #1–5 (2004–2005)
* ''My Inner Bimbo'' #1–5 (2006–2008)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id= 852|title= Sam Kieth}}
* {{IMDb name|id= 0452663|name= Sam Kieth}}
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=94 Sam Kieth] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namk10.htm#N638 Sam Kieth] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

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{{Succession box|title= ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'' penciller|before= n/a|after= [[Mike Dringenberg]]|years= 1989}}
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{{Inkpot Award 2010s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kieth, Sam}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American artists]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:American comics writers]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics people]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]