Michael T. Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Michael Terry Gilbert is an American
comic book
artist and writer
who has worked for both mainstream and underground
comic book companies.
. He graduated from SUNY at New Paltz
in 1973, and had his first comic stories printed that same year (in his self-published underground, New Paltz Comix.) He began drawing for several Star Reach
and Kitchen Sink titles; a mix of underground comix (Slow Death, Bizarre Sex, American Splendor
by Harvey Pekar
) and ground-level comics such as Star*Reach and Quack!. He also did script and artwork on Aardvark's Strange Brew, Tiny Terror Tales and Wraith (a parody of the famous Will Eisner
character The Spirit
.
He worked on the celebrated Elric series with P. Craig Russell
, and is best known as the creator of Mr. Monster, which has been published by Pacific Comics
, Eclipse Comics
and Dark Horse Comics
since 1984. The character, Doc Stern was originally created by the Canadian illustrator Fred Kelly for a "Canadian white" comic book in 1947. Gilbert saw an old copy of this comic as a child and never forgot it. The now defunct publisher had left the character in the public domain, and Gilbert revamped it considerably into a new, wilder character, Mr. Monster, a monster fighter, with exciting graphics and storylines that treaded a fine line between horror and humour. On June 19th.2004, Gilbert drove himself up to Toronto, Ontario for a comic convention where the Joe Shuster Awards (given each year to Canadian comic book artists and cartoonists), was honouring surviving artists of the Canadian Whites. Gilbert met Fred Kelly for the first and only time that day, and presented him with a royalty cheque for the use of his creation, though legally, no such monies were due or expected by Kelly. Fred Kelly had left comics and become a real estate salesman at least 50 years earlier. By then in a wheelchair, the octagenarian Kelly was very grateful and appreciative of the gesture. He died only a year or so after that.
Gilbert has also worked on Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor, Heavy Metal, Legends of the Dark Knight, Marvel Double-Shot (featuring Dr. Strange
) and in 2000 wrote and illustrated a Superman graphic novel, Mann & Superman. In recent years he has written or drawn characters as diverse as Superman
, Batman
, Donald Duck
and Mickey Mouse
. He has been a scriptwriter for Disney comics since 1990, as has his wife Janet Gilbert. He has written and drawn Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
, which reflects, in a very creative way, on sixty years of Batman adventures.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
comic book
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 and writer
Comic book creator
A comic book creator is someone who creates a comic book or graphic novel.The production of a comic book by one of the major comic book companies in the U.S...
who has worked for both mainstream and underground
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
comic book companies.
Biography
Michael T. Gilbert was born on May 7, 1951 and attended the State University of New YorkState University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
. He graduated from SUNY at New Paltz
New Paltz, New York
New Paltz is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston, New York. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz...
in 1973, and had his first comic stories printed that same year (in his self-published underground, New Paltz Comix.) He began drawing for several Star Reach
Star Reach
Star Reach was an influential, American science fiction and fantasy comics anthology published from 1974 to 1979 by Mike Friedrich...
and Kitchen Sink titles; a mix of underground comix (Slow Death, Bizarre Sex, American Splendor
American Splendor
American Splendor is a series of autobiographical comic books written by the late Harvey Pekar and drawn by a variety of artists. The first issue was published in 1976 and the most recent in September 2008, with publication occurring at irregular intervals...
by Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
) and ground-level comics such as Star*Reach and Quack!. He also did script and artwork on Aardvark's Strange Brew, Tiny Terror Tales and Wraith (a parody of the famous Will Eisner
Will Eisner
William Erwin "Will" Eisner was an American comics writer, artist and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the most important contributors to the development of the medium and is known for the cartooning studio he founded; for his highly influential series The Spirit; for his use of comics as an...
character The Spirit
The Spirit
The Spirit is a crime-fighting fictional character created by writer-artist Will Eisner. He first appeared June 2, 1940 in "The Spirit Section", the colloquial name given to a 16-page Sunday supplement, distributed to 20 newspapers by the Register and Tribune Syndicate and reaching five million...
.
He worked on the celebrated Elric series with P. Craig Russell
P. Craig Russell
Philip Craig Russell , also known as P. Craig Russell, is an American comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards...
, and is best known as the creator of Mr. Monster, which has been published by 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...
, Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
and Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
since 1984. The character, Doc Stern was originally created by the Canadian illustrator Fred Kelly for a "Canadian white" comic book in 1947. Gilbert saw an old copy of this comic as a child and never forgot it. The now defunct publisher had left the character in the public domain, and Gilbert revamped it considerably into a new, wilder character, Mr. Monster, a monster fighter, with exciting graphics and storylines that treaded a fine line between horror and humour. On June 19th.2004, Gilbert drove himself up to Toronto, Ontario for a comic convention where the Joe Shuster Awards (given each year to Canadian comic book artists and cartoonists), was honouring surviving artists of the Canadian Whites. Gilbert met Fred Kelly for the first and only time that day, and presented him with a royalty cheque for the use of his creation, though legally, no such monies were due or expected by Kelly. Fred Kelly had left comics and become a real estate salesman at least 50 years earlier. By then in a wheelchair, the octagenarian Kelly was very grateful and appreciative of the gesture. He died only a year or so after that.
Gilbert has also worked on Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor, Heavy Metal, Legends of the Dark Knight, Marvel Double-Shot (featuring Dr. Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
) and in 2000 wrote and illustrated a Superman graphic novel, Mann & Superman. In recent years he has written or drawn characters as diverse as Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
and Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
. He has been a scriptwriter for Disney comics since 1990, as has his wife Janet Gilbert. He has written and drawn Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
Legends of the Dark Knight
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, commonly referred to as simply Legends of the Dark Knight is a DC comic book featuring Batman. It was launched in 1989 with the popularity of the Batman movie, following on from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One...
, which reflects, in a very creative way, on sixty years of Batman adventures.
Interviews
- Douresseau, LJ (2004). Interview with Michael T. Gilbert