Ian Akin
Encyclopedia
Ian Akin is a comic book
artist, known primarily for inking
. Along with his inking partner, Brian Garvey
, Akin worked on many superhero
comics (mostly for Marvel Comics
) from 1982–1988.
's New Funny Book in 1978.
on ROM Spaceknight #34 (Sept. 1982), over Sal Buscema
's pencils. Akin & Garvey became the regular ROM inkers for almost two years, until 1984. During that time, they also provided the inks for the 1982 Marvel mini-series Vision and the Scarlet Witch. In 1984, the pair inked the four-issue mini-series Starriors
and issue four of the mini-series The Transformers
for Marvel. The pair inked issues #190–209 of Iron Man
, as well as three years working on The Transformers
.
In the mid 1980s, the pair branched out, producing work for DC Comics
, where they worked on comics including Firestorm
(for five consecutive issues) and The Warlord; Pacific Comics
; and Savage Graphics, while continuing to produce covers and interior art for Marvel. Akin & Garvey worked for Continuity Comics between 1986 and 1992, on titles including Megalith, Ms. Mystic
and Samuree.
In the early 1990s, Akin (and Garvey) produced work for Disney Comics
, on titles featuring Jessica Rabbit
and The Little Mermaid
, and others. The inking duo disbanded in 1992 to pursue separate projects.
reprints, including for Darkwing Duck
. He continued to produce work steadily for Marvel through the 1990s, notably as the regular inker on Marvel's Darkhawk
from 1993–1995, and Professor Xavier and the X-Men from 1995–1997. He was a regular inker on the 1990s incarnation of What If...
, but since the mid 1990s, Akin has no significant published credits.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
artist, known primarily for inking
Inking
Inking is the process of using a liquid known as ink, which contains natural or man-made pigment.* Inking is work done by a Inker, one kind of commercial artistIn biology:...
. Along with his inking partner, Brian Garvey
Brian Garvey
Brian Garvey is a comic book artist, known primarily for inking. Along with his inking partner, Ian Akin, Garvey worked on many superhero comics from 1982–1988.-Biography:...
, Akin worked on many superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
comics (mostly for Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
) from 1982–1988.
Biography
Akin's first professional job was producing artwork for Larry FullerLarry Fuller (comics)
Larry Fuller is an African American underground comix writer, publisher, and promoter. Along with other such notables as Richard "Grass" Green, Guy Colwell, and Fuller's long-time partner and friend, Raye Horne, Fuller made sure that the voices of black comic book creators were heard in a time when...
's New Funny Book in 1978.
Akin & Garvey
In 1982, Akin began his ten-year partnership with Brian Garvey inking for Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
on ROM Spaceknight #34 (Sept. 1982), over Sal Buscema
Sal Buscema
Silvio "Sal" Buscema is an American comic book artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of The Incredible Hulk...
's pencils. Akin & Garvey became the regular ROM inkers for almost two years, until 1984. During that time, they also provided the inks for the 1982 Marvel mini-series Vision and the Scarlet Witch. In 1984, the pair inked the four-issue mini-series Starriors
Starriors
Starriors was a robot toyline created by Tomy in association with Marvel Comics in 1984. They were based on Zoids, but had a new storyline that U.S. Zoids had not had at all...
and issue four of the mini-series The Transformers
The Transformers (Marvel Comics)
The Transformers was an 80-issue American comic book series published by Marvel Comics telling the story of the Transformers. Originally scheduled as a four issue mini-series, it spawned a mythology that would inform other versions of the saga...
for Marvel. The pair inked issues #190–209 of Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, as well as three years working on The Transformers
The Transformers (Marvel Comics)
The Transformers was an 80-issue American comic book series published by Marvel Comics telling the story of the Transformers. Originally scheduled as a four issue mini-series, it spawned a mythology that would inform other versions of the saga...
.
In the mid 1980s, the pair branched out, producing work for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, where they worked on comics including Firestorm
Firestorm (comics)
Firestorm is the name of several comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, the first Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Martin Stein, by himself as Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear...
(for five consecutive issues) and The Warlord; Pacific Comics
Pacific Comics
Pacific Comics was an independent comic book publisher that flourished from 1981-1984. It was also a chain of comics shops and a distributor. It began out of a San Diego, California, comic book shop owned by brothers Bill and Steve Schanes...
; and Savage Graphics, while continuing to produce covers and interior art for Marvel. Akin & Garvey worked for Continuity Comics between 1986 and 1992, on titles including Megalith, Ms. Mystic
Ms. Mystic
Ms. Mystic is a fictional comic book superheroine created by popular illustrator Neal Adams. The comic published nine issues between 1982-1994. Her first full appearance was in Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #3 , published by Pacific Comics...
and Samuree.
In the early 1990s, Akin (and Garvey) produced work for Disney Comics
Disney Comics
Disney Comics was a comic book publishing company operated by The Walt Disney Company which ran from 1990 to 1993. In the USA, Disney only licensed their comic books to other publishers prior to 1990...
, on titles featuring Jessica Rabbit
Jessica Rabbit
Jessica Rabbit is a fictional character from the Roger Rabbit film-and-novel franchise.Jessica Rabbit may also refer to:* Jessica Rabbit vibrator, a sex toy* Melyssa Ford , Canadian model-See also:...
and The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" is a popular fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince...
, and others. The inking duo disbanded in 1992 to pursue separate projects.
Solo work
Between 1994 and 1995, Akin produced covers for Disney DigestDigest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately 5½ x 8¼ inches, but can also be 5⅜ x 8⅜ inches and 5½ x 7½ inches. These sizes have evolved from the printing press operation end...
reprints, including for Darkwing Duck
Darkwing Duck
DarkWing Duck is an American animated television series produced by The Walt Disney Company that ran from 1991–1992 on both the syndicated programming block The Disney Afternoon and Saturday mornings on ABC. It featured the eponymous anthropomorphic duck superhero whose alter ego is mild-mannered...
. He continued to produce work steadily for Marvel through the 1990s, notably as the regular inker on Marvel's Darkhawk
Darkhawk
Darkhawk is a fictional comic book superhero who first appeared in his own self-titled series, Darkhawk #1...
from 1993–1995, and Professor Xavier and the X-Men from 1995–1997. He was a regular inker on the 1990s incarnation of What If...
What If (comics)
What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
, but since the mid 1990s, Akin has no significant published credits.
Akin & Garvey
- ROM #34, 36–50 (Marvel)
- Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1–4 (Marvel)
- Starriors #1-4 (Marvel)
- Firestorm #38–42 (DC)
- Iron Man #190–209 (Marvel)
- Transformers: Headmasters #1–4 (Marvel)
- The Transformers #19–30, 32, 35–37 (Marvel)
Solo
- Darkhawk #28–50 (Marvel)
- Professor Xavier and the X-Men #2, 5, 7, 8, 10–13, 15–18 (Marvel)