Robert Kirkman
Kirkman at the 2011 New York Comic Con
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer, Editor, Letterer
Notable works	The Walking Dead Invincible Marvel Zombies

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead and Invincible for Image Comics, and Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt.^[1] He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of its co-founders.^[2]

Career[link]

Robert Kirkman's first comic book work was the 2000 superhero parody Battle Pope,^[1] which he co-created with artist Tony Moore, and self-published under the Funk-O-Tron label. Later, while pitching a new series, Science Dog, Kirkman and artist Cory Walker were hired to do a SuperPatriot miniseries for Image Comics. While working on that book, Kirkman and E. J. Su created the 2002 Image series Tech Jacket, which ran six issues.

In 2003, Kirkman and Walker created Invincible for Image's new superhero line. The story surrounded the adolescent son of the world's most powerful superhero, who develops powers and starts his own superhero career. Walker later failed to meet the monthly title's deadlines and was replaced by Ryan Ottley.^[3] In 2005, Paramount Pictures announced it had bought the rights to produce an Invincible feature film, and hired Kirkman to write the screenplay.^[4]

Shortly after the launch of Invincible, Kirkman and Moore began The Walking Dead (2003). Moore, himself struggling to keep deadlines, was replaced by Charlie Adlard, beginning with issue #7.^[5] Moore continued to draw covers until issue 24 as well as the first four volumes of the trade paperbacks for the series.

Kirkman was first hired by Marvel Comics to pen a revival of the 1990s Sleepwalker series,^[6] but it was canceled before being published; the contents of its first issue were included in Epic Anthology No. 1 (2004). He soon became a mainstay at Marvel, writing the "Avengers Disassembled" issues of Captain America vol. 4, 2004's Marvel Knights 2099 one-shots event, Jubilee #1–6 and Fantastic Four: Foes #1–6, a two-year run on Ultimate X-Men and the entire Marvel Team-Up vol. 3 and Irredeemable Ant-Man ongoing series.

At Image, Kirkman and artist Jason Howard created the ongoing series The Astounding Wolf-Man, launching it on May 5, 2007, as part of Free Comic Book Day. Kirkman edited the monthly series Brit, based on the character he created for the series of one-shots, illustrated by Moore and Cliff Rathburn. It ran 12 issues.

Kirkman announced in 2007 that he and artist Rob Liefeld would team on a revival of Killraven for Marvel Comics.^[7] Kirkman that year also said he and Todd McFarlane would collaborate on Haunt for Image Comics.^[8]

In late July 2008, Kirkman was made a partner at Image Comics, thereby ending his freelance association with Marvel.^[9][10] Nonetheless, later in 2009, he and Walker produced the five-issue miniseries The Destroyer vol. 4^[11] for Marvel's MAX imprint

In 2010, he also began producing the television adaption of his comic book series The Walking Dead,^[12] the pilot of which is directed by Frank Darabont.^[13] Kirkman wrote the fourth episode, "Vatos".

In 2009 Kirkman and Marc Silvestri took over the 2009–2010 Pilot Season for Top Cow Comics. The 2009/2010 Pilot Season contains a series of five one-shot pilot comics that readers will be able to vote on which becomes an ongoing series. Each series is co-created by Silvestri who also provides cover art.^[14]

In July 2010, Kirkman announced he would launch and run a new Image Comics imprint called Skybound.^[15]

On February 9, 2012, Tony Moore filed a lawsuit alleging that Kirkman, in 2005, had deceitfully engineered him into surrendering his rights to The Walking Dead comic book and eventual TV series in exchange for payments that never materialized. Kirkman said in a statement the following day that he and Moore "each had legal representation seven years ago and now he is violating the same contract he initiated and approved and he wants to misrepresent the fees he was paid and continues to be paid for the work he was hired to do."^[16]

Personal life[link]

Kirkman lives in Kentucky.^[17] He named his son Peter Parker Kirkman after Spider-Man's civilian identity, Peter Parker.^[18][19]

Bibliography[link]

Early work[link]

Titles published by Funk-O-Tron, Kirkman's own publishing company, include:

• Battle Pope #1–13 (with Tony Moore, Matt Roberts, Jonboy Meyers, Cory Walker and E. J. Su, 2000–2002)
• Battle Pope Presents: Saint Michael #1–3 (with Terry Stevens, 2001)

Image Comics[link]

Titles published by Image include:

• SuperPatriot:
  • SuperPatriot: America's Fighting Force #1–4 (with Cory Walker, 2002)
  • SuperPatriot: War on Terror #1–4 (with E. J. Su, 2004–2007)
• Tech Jacket #1–6 (with E. J. Su, 2002–2003)
• Invincible (with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, 2003–...)
• Masters of the Universe #1–3
• Capes #1–3 (with Mark Englert, 2003)
• Tales of the Realm #1–5 (with Matt Tyree, MVCreations, 2003–2004)
• The Walking Dead (with Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, 2003–...) collected as:
• Noble Causes #2: "Rite of Passage" (with Cory Walker, 2004)
• Youngblood: Imperial (with Marat Mychaels, Arcade, one-shot, 2004)
• Savage Dragon: God War #1–4 (with Mark Englert, 2004–2005)
• Four Letter Worlds: "Blam" (with Matt Roberts, graphic novel, tpb, 144 pages, 2005, ISBN 1-58240-439-9)
• Image Holiday Special '05: "The Walking Dead" (with Charlie Adlard, one-shot, 2005)
• Suprema: Supreme Sacrifice (with Jon Malin, Arcade, one-shot, 2006)
• The Astounding Wolf-Man (with Jason Howard, 2007–2010)
• Image United
• Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark: "The Origin of the Bear, and the Origin of the Shark" (with Jason Howard and Ryan Ottley, 2010)
• Guardians of the Globe #1–6 (with Benito J. Cereno III, Ransom Getty and Kris Anka, 2010–2011)
• Spawn #200: "Prologue" (script and art, 2011)
• Outlaw Territory: "Man on a Horse: A Dawson Brothers Tale" (with Shaun O'Neil, anthology graphic novel, tpb, 240 pages, 2011, ISBN 1-60706-321-2)
• Super Dinosaur #1-ongoing (with Jason Howard, 2011–...)
• The Infinite #1-ongoing (with Rob Liefeld, 2011–...)
• Thief of Thieves #1-ongoing (co-writer, 2012–...)

Marvel Comics[link]

Titles published by Marvel include:

• Epic Anthology: "Sleepwalker: New Beginnings" (with Khary Randolph, Epic, 2004)
• X-Men Unlimited #2: "All the Rage" (with Takeshi Miyazawa, 2004)
• Spider-Man Unlimited #4: "Love Withdrawal" (with Cory Walker, 2004)
• Captain America #29–32: "Super Patriot" (with Scot Eaton, 2004)
• Jubilee #1–6 (with Derec Donovan, 2004)
• Marvel Team-Up (with Scott Kolins, Jeff Johnson, Paco Medina, Cory Walker, Andy Kuhn and Roger Cruz, 2005–2007)
• Fantastic Four: Foes #1–6 (with Cliff Rathburn, 2005)
• Amazing Fantasy #15: "Monstro" (with Khary Randolph, 2006)
• What If?.. featuring Thor (with Michael Avon Oeming, one-shot, 2006)
• Marvel Zombies:
• Ultimate X-Men #66–93, Annual No. 2
• New Avengers: America Supports You: "Time Trouble" (with Alex Chung and Scott Hepburn, one-shot, 2006)
• The Irredeemable Ant-Man (with Phil Hester and Cory Walker, 2006–2007)
• Destroyer #1–5 (with Cory Walker, 2009)
• X-Force Annual No. 1 (with Jason Pearson, 2010)

Other publishers[link]

Titles published by various American publishers include:

• 9-11 vol.1: "Untitled" (with Tony Moore, anthology graphic novel, tpb, 196 pages, Dark Horse, 2002, ISBN 1-56389-881-0)
• Top Cow:
• Tales of Army of Darkness: "Weekend Off" (with Ryan Ottley, Dynamite, one-shot, 2006)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Robert Kirkman

• Official website
• The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
• Buy My Books, a column by Robert Kirkman.
• Robert Kirkman on the State of the Comic Book Industry – Video and Transcript
• Robert Kirkman at the Comic Book DB

Interviews[link]

• 2010 Interview on the Geek's Guide to the Galaxy podcast
• An Excerpt of George Khoury's Kirkman interview from IMAGE COMICS: THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE at PopImage
• Podcast interview at comiXology
• An Interview with Robert Kirkman about Pilot Season with the Legion of Dudes.
• Nerdist Podcast #93: Robert Kirkman May 2011 podcast, recorded live at NerdMelt

v t e The Walking Dead Comic book Creators Robert Kirkman • Tony Moore • Charlie Adlard Television series Episodes Season 1 "Days Gone Bye" • "Guts" • "Tell It to the Frogs" • "Vatos" • "Wildfire" • "TS-19" Season 2 "What Lies Ahead" • "Bloodletting" • "Save the Last One" • "Cherokee Rose" • "Chupacabra" • "Secrets" • "Pretty Much Dead Already" • "Nebraska" • "Triggerfinger" • "18 Miles Out" • "Judge, Jury, Executioner" • "Better Angels" • "Beside the Dying Fire" Season 3   Developer Frank Darabont Characters: (comics/TV) Grimes family Rick Grimes • Lori Grimes • Carl Grimes Survivors' group Andrea • Glenn • Daryl Dixon • Carol Peletier • Hershel Greene • Maggie Greene • Dale Horvath • Michonne Antagonists Shane Walsh • The Governor Novels The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor Other Video game • Talking Dead • The Walking Dead: Torn Apart

Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker at the 2010 Comic Con
Born	(1955-04-06) April 6, 1955 (age 57) Jasper, Alabama United States
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1986-present

Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor. He currently stars as Merle Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead based on the comic book series of the same name.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.^[1][2][3]

Movie career[link]

He made his film debut in 1986 playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, a film based on the confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.^[4] He has since appeared in numerous films over the years including Mississippi Burning, Sea of Love, Days of Thunder, JFK, Cliffhanger,^[5] Tombstone,^[6] Mallrats, Rosewood, The 6th Day and Jumper.^[7] He has also guest starred in the TV series Stargate SG-1 and Crime Story.

In 2010, he starred in James Felix McKenney's horror film Hypothermia,^[8] which was co-produced by Larry Fessenden and set in New York.^[9] In June 2010 he revealed via Twitter that he was to appear in the AMC television series The Walking Dead.^[10] In the series, he portrays Merle Dixon, one of the survivors of a zombie apocalypse.^[11]

Filmography[link]

Film[link]

Television[link]

Video Games[link]

• The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004) (voice only)
• Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006) (voice only)
• Days of Thunder (2011) (voice only)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops (as a playable character in the zombie map "Call of the Dead") (2011)
• Lollipop Chainsaw (2012) ) (voice only)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Michael Rooker Official Website
• Michael Rooker at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Rooker interview on 'Cell 213'
• Michael Rooker Interview by Susan Karlin

Todd McFarlane
McFarlane at the 2011 New York Comic Con.
Born	(1961-03-16) March 16, 1961 (age 51) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Area(s)	Writer, Penciller, Inker, Publisher
Notable works	The Amazing Spider-Man Infinity, Inc Spawn Spider-Man
Awards	Inkpot Award, 1992 National Cartoonists Society Award, 1992 National Football League Artist of the Year, 2005
Official website

Todd McFarlane (born March 16, 1961) is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books, such as the fantasy series Spawn.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, McFarlane became a comic book superstar due to his work on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man franchise. In 1992, he helped form Image Comics, pulling the occult anti-hero character Spawn from his high school portfolio and updating him for the 1990s. Spawn was a popular hero in the 1990s and encouraged a trend in creator-owned comic book properties.

Since leaving inking duties on Spawn with issue #70 (February 1998), McFarlane has illustrated comic books less often, focusing on entrepreneurial efforts, such as McFarlane Toys and Todd McFarlane Entertainment, a film and animation studio. In September, 2006, it was announced that McFarlane will be the Art Director of the newly formed 38 Studios, formerly Green Monster Games, founded by major league baseball pitcher Curt Schilling.^[1] McFarlane used to be a co-owner of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers but sold his shares to Daryl Katz.^[2] He is also a high-profile collector of history-making baseballs.

Early life and education[link]

McFarlane was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from William Aberhart High School. As a 17-year-old teenager, he discovered comic books^[3] and was a fan of stars such as fellow Canadian John Byrne^[3] and Americans Jack Kirby, Frank Miller and George Pérez^[3] (as well as the writing of Alan Moore),^[3] but was especially drawn to the more atypical art of Michael Golden and Katsuhiro Ōtomo, creator of the manga Akira. Gil Kane was also a major influence on McFarlane.^{[citation needed]}

In the early-1980s, McFarlane attended Eastern Washington University on a baseball scholarship, and studied graphic art. He sought to play baseball professionally after graduation but suffered a career-ending ankle injury in his junior year.^[4] During his time at EWU, McFarlane worked at a comic book shop in Spokane, Washington. Drawings he did of Marvel and DC superheros were sold at local shops. McFarlane also attended the Alberta College of Art and Design.

Career[link]

Early work and Marvel[link]

McFarlane's first published work was a 1984 backup story in Epic Comics' Coyote. He soon began drawing for both DC Comics and Marvel, with his first major body of work being a two-year run (1985–1987) on DC's Infinity, Inc. In 1987, McFarlane also illustrated several issues of Detective Comics' "Batman: Year Two" storyline.^[5] From there, he moved to Marvel's Incredible Hulk, which he drew from 1987–1988.