COMING SOON:
COMICULTURE
VOL.2, BOOK ONE FIRST LOOK updated 3/4/04
COMICULTURE
IN THE NEWS
Here's what people said about Issue #2 of Comiculture ...
"(Comiculture is) a gorgeous production that fills a niche no one else is tackling in comics...."
--Randy Lander TheFourthRail.com
"...a great mix of mainstream styles and storytelling and more oddball, indy-spirit comic art as well. There's a remarkable balance in the material here, and it means that any reader...will find something about Comiculture to really enjoy."
--Don MacPherson TheFourthRail.com
"5 (out of 5) Bullets...This magazine deserves your attention...(the) second issue of Comiculture is actually better than the first"
--Ray Tate SilverBulletComics.com
Based in Los Angeles, MAD SCIENCE MEDIA is a collective of comics professionals who have been working together in a studio setting since 1997. Each individual "Scientist," as we call ourselves, has been working in and around the comics industry for much longer than that. We originally all met while working on staff in Marvel Comics' Editorial and Production departments in the late '80's and early '90's.
Until now, we at MAD SCIENCE MEDIA have acted as service providers, lending our talents to projects published by most of the major comics publishers (Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, etc), as well as non-comics related clients (Disney, Mattel, Warner Bros., Sony Animation, FoxKids.com, Nickelodeon, and United Media). Today, we have joined with other comics pros to develop our own creator-owned properties in a format that aims to appeal to die-hard comics fans and potential comics fans alike.
To pull this off, we are drawing upon years and years of collective experience in all aspects of comics production, pre-press, printing, marketing and web-site management.
Below are biographies of the main contributors to Comiculture #1:
STEVE BUCCELLATO
President: Mad Science Media, Inc.
Publisher, Editor-in-Chief: Comiculture
Steve began his professional career in 1985 as an intern at MARVEL COMICS. In the years since, he has worked in nearly every aspect of comic book production. After assisting Art Director JOHN ROMITA in MARVEL'S Production department, Steve joined the editorial staff at EPIC COMICS from 1986-1989 under ARCHIE GOODWIN. As an EPIC editor, he worked on diverse books such as Akira, Elektra: Assassin, Groo The Wanderer, The Shadowline Saga Books and The Moebius Graphic Novels.
Since 1989, Steve has been a freelance artist and award-winning colorist on books such as Uncanny X-Men, Hulk, Wolverine, Batman, Classic Star Wars and too many others to name. In 1993, he partnered with MARC SIRY, another former MARVEL employee, to start the now defunct coloring company ELECTRIC CRAYON. E.C., which shared offices with COMICRAFT, literally changed the way MARVEL produced comics. They utilized modern desktop publishing tools to bring the publishing giant into the "digital" age.
In 1999, Steve used his myriad skills to write, draw, color and prepare for printing Weasel Guy (his own creation), published by HYPERWERKS & IMAGE COMICS. He still colors for MARVEL and DC when he's not working to make COMICULTURE a reality!
MARC SIRY
Executive Vice President: Mad Science Media, Inc. Contributing Editor: Comiculture
Since his first job with MARVEL COMICS in 1985, Marc has worked at a wide range of creative endeavors in multiple media. An early master of computer graphics technology, Marc co-founded ELECTRIC CRAYON, a company that pioneered digital comics production. That venture later morphed into interactive studio MAD SCIENCE MEDIA, where Marc formed part of a team servicing media giants such as TIME WARNER, DISNEY and UNITED MEDIA in the early days of the internet boom. That experience propelled Marc into the corporate world, starting with a stint as a designer of futuristic toys at MATTEL.
Currently a Creative Director at AOL, Marc is happy to be returning to his storytelling roots with COMICULTURE.
ROB TOKAR
Vice President of Product Development: Mad Science Media, Inc.
Executive Editor: Comiculture
In 1989, Rob got his start in professional comics as a college intern for MARVEL'S editorial department. Over the course of several years, Rob was promoted to Editor, working on scores of titles such as Transformers, Robocop, Alpha Flight, New Warriors, What If...?, and Spectacular Spider-Man, to name a few. In 1994, Rob jumped at the opportunity to establish a new MARVEL COMICS publishing office on the West Coast with none other than MARVEL'S founder STAN LEE.
In 1996, Rob began a freelance career that has expanded to include illustration, writing, storyboard art, animation and more. His clients include DISNEY, WARNER BROS. and HBO. Rob relishes the opportunity to add some new life (and old experience) to the comics industry.
DON HUDSON
Vice President, Old Media: Mad Science Media, Inc.
Managing Editor: Comiculture
Don Hudson has been involved in the creation of comic books for over fifteen years, beginning as a MARVEL COMICS production intern. His experience includes working with JIM SHOOTER at VALIANT COMICS and years of inking books like XO Manowar, Spider-Man, Captain America, SHIELD and Daredevil.
His career altered direction with a move to Los Angeles and the television animation industry. Don provided art for many shows, including Men In Black, Extreme Ghostbusters and Dragon Tales.
In 1999 Don wrote, penciled and inked his own original comic book series Forever Amber, published by IMAGE COMICS. Don is excited to put a fresh spin on many classic genres in COMICULTURE, starting with a six-part western series. (In the works are a pirate story, a werewolf story and more!)
KLAUS JANSON
Contributing Editor: Comiculture
Klaus Janson really needs no biography here. His work on Daredevil and Batman has made him a legend in the comics industry. Besides his involvement with COMICULTURE, Klaus is currently working on a Batman series with writer GREG RUCKA and teaching at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His teaching skills are being further put to use in a series of "How To" books available from DC Comics.
MARIE JAVINS
Vice President of New Media: Mad Science Media, Inc.
Contributing Editor: Comiculture
Well known for her world travels, editorial prowess and consummate coloring skills, Marie is currently editing her manuscript, which details her adventures and mishaps while travelling the globe during the whole of 2001. In addition to coloring a story in COMICULTURE'S first issue, Marie is developing story concepts for future issues.
Another comic book legend, Walter is best known for his innovative run on Thor, though he has been a steady fan-favorite since the 1980s and rightfully so!
COMICRAFT
Design / Lettering
Richard Starkings' COMICRAFT is well-known and respected throughout the comic book world as purveyors of unique design and fine lettering for dozens of comics and special projects every month. Some of their most popular work has been eye-catching book packaging for GRAFFITI DESIGNS.
JESSICA WOLK-STANLEY
Contributor: Comiculture
An Oregon native, Jessica has lived in the New York City area since her 1988 graduation from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She has worked as a lithographer, animator, movie producer and scriptwriter, bus-girl and door-to-door fundraiser. Not to mention an infamous 2-week stint at MTV’s Beavis and Butthead (she was asked not to come back). The dozen books she has illustrated include The Big Book of Life's Instructions (Harper Collins), Can It Really Rain Frogs? (Wiley), and How to Really Fool Yourself (Wiley).
