Matthew Southworth
Encyclopedia
Matthew Southworth is a comic artist living in Seattle, Washington
. His most notable work is Stumptown
, a modern noir series written by Greg Rucka
and published by Oni Press
; he has also worked on Spider-Man: The Grim Hunt (Marvel Comics) and illustrated a Killer Croc story for DC Comics. Southworth has also worked as an inker on several projects, including Ares
for Marvel Comics and Infinity Inc.
for DC Comics.
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Southworth worked in the literary department at the celebrated Actors Theatre of Louisville
. He attended the graduate drama program at Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, studying playwriting and directing; his plays include Big Wide Empty, Sugar, and Damages to Tony. After graduation, he worked at Paramount Pictures for Tom Cruise's company Cruise/Wagner, then moved on to freelance development work for many companies including Warner Bros., Touchstone, MGM, Paramount, Broder-Kurland-Webb-Uffner, and others. As a screenwriter, he was an uncredited writer on the film Suspect Zero
and wrote and directed an independent feature film called Big Wide Empty, based on his play.
After leaving Los Angeles for Seattle, Southworth formed a band, the Capillaries, in which he sang lead vocals and played guitar. The Capillaries released one album, "Overnight Lows and Daylight Savings", and achieved modest success and steady local airplay in Seattle. A second album, "Love Conquers Some", was recorded but remains unreleased; the Capillaries have not performed since early 2009. The Capillaries included many Seattle musicians from various bands at one time or another, including Aaron Huffman and Rob Knop of Harvey Danger
, Eric Corson of the Long Winters
, and Jon Auer of the Posies
.
Southworth also briefly played second guitar in Harvey Danger
and performed as the guitarist in Harvey Danger singer Sean Nelson
's band Sean Nelson and His Mortal Enemies. Southworth also appears on albums by Jon Auer
("The Year of Our Demise") and Ian Moore
("Luminaria").
Southworth's first published comics work was a short piece in Erik Larsen
's Savage Dragon
, followed by three issues of Infinity Inc. Those issues, which he inked, also contained short backup pieces penciled by Southworth and inked by Stefano Gaudiano, who Southworth has occasionally assisted on projects like Daredevil
and Sensational Spider-Man.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. His most notable work is Stumptown
Stumptown (comics)
Stumptown is an American comic book series, written by Greg Rucka with art by Matthew Southworth, launched by Oni Press on November 4, 2009....
, a modern noir series written by Greg Rucka
Greg Rucka
Gregory "Greg" Rucka is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.-Career:Rucka's writing career...
and published by Oni Press
Oni Press
Oni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
; he has also worked on Spider-Man: The Grim Hunt (Marvel Comics) and illustrated a Killer Croc story for DC Comics. Southworth has also worked as an inker on several projects, including Ares
Ares (Marvel Comics)
Ares is a fictional character, a deity in the Marvel Comics Universe based on the Greek god of the same name. He first appears in Thor #129 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
for Marvel Comics and Infinity Inc.
Infinity Inc.
Infinity, Inc. is a team of superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The team is mostly composed of the children and heirs of the Justice Society of America, making them the Society's analogue to the Teen Titans, which is composed of sidekicks of Justice League members...
for DC Comics.
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Southworth worked in the literary department at the celebrated Actors Theatre of Louisville
Actors Theatre of Louisville
Actors Theatre of Louisville is a performing arts theater located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1964 by Louisville native Ewel Cornett, local producer Richard Block and actor Ken Jenkins of Scrubs fame, and was designated the "State Theater of Kentucky" in 1974. It is run as a...
. He attended the graduate drama program at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, studying playwriting and directing; his plays include Big Wide Empty, Sugar, and Damages to Tony. After graduation, he worked at Paramount Pictures for Tom Cruise's company Cruise/Wagner, then moved on to freelance development work for many companies including Warner Bros., Touchstone, MGM, Paramount, Broder-Kurland-Webb-Uffner, and others. As a screenwriter, he was an uncredited writer on the film Suspect Zero
Suspect Zero
Suspect Zero is a 2004 thriller film directed by E. Elias Merhige. It opened to decidedly mixed reviews, and failed to earn back half of its estimated $27 million production costs at the box office.-Plot:...
and wrote and directed an independent feature film called Big Wide Empty, based on his play.
After leaving Los Angeles for Seattle, Southworth formed a band, the Capillaries, in which he sang lead vocals and played guitar. The Capillaries released one album, "Overnight Lows and Daylight Savings", and achieved modest success and steady local airplay in Seattle. A second album, "Love Conquers Some", was recorded but remains unreleased; the Capillaries have not performed since early 2009. The Capillaries included many Seattle musicians from various bands at one time or another, including Aaron Huffman and Rob Knop of Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
, Eric Corson of the Long Winters
The Long Winters
The Long Winters is an American indie rock band based in Seattle, Washington.-Early history:Singer-songwriter John Roderick was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He later returned to Seattle, formed the Bun Family Players and the The Western State Hurricanes...
, and Jon Auer of the Posies
The Posies
The Posies are an alternative rock/power pop group. The band was formed in 1987 in Bellingham, Washington by primary songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. They are best known for their radio hits "Golden Blunders" , as well as "Dream All Day", "Solar Sister" and "Flavor of the Month"...
.
Southworth also briefly played second guitar in Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
and performed as the guitarist in Harvey Danger singer Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson is an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, notable as the frontman for the alternative rock group Harvey Danger.- Career :...
's band Sean Nelson and His Mortal Enemies. Southworth also appears on albums by Jon Auer
Jon Auer
Jonathan P. "Jon" Auer is an American musician who co-founded the power pop band The Posies, along with Ken Stringfellow. Auer and Stringfellow have also been a part of the rejuvenated Big Star....
("The Year of Our Demise") and Ian Moore
Ian Moore
Ian Thomas-Moore is a retired English professional footballer He mostly played as a centre-forward but also played on the right wing. He is the son of former Rotherham United manager Ronnie Moore...
("Luminaria").
Southworth's first published comics work was a short piece in Erik Larsen
Erik Larsen
Erik J. Larsen is an American comic book writer, artist and publisher. He is best known for his work on Savage Dragon, as one of the founders of Image Comics, and for his work on Spider-Man for Marvel Comics.-Early life:...
's Savage Dragon
Savage Dragon
Savage Dragon is an ongoing American comic book series created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic features the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon...
, followed by three issues of Infinity Inc. Those issues, which he inked, also contained short backup pieces penciled by Southworth and inked by Stefano Gaudiano, who Southworth has occasionally assisted on projects like Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
and Sensational Spider-Man.
External links
Interview with Matthew Southworth:http://www.hypergeek.ca/2009/11/stumptown-interrogations-an-interview-with-artist-matthew-southworth.html- An Interview with Matthew Southworth at The Wright Opinion, from August 19, 2010