Aspen MLT
Encyclopedia
Aspen MLT is a California
entertainment company founded by artist Michael Turner. It has locations in Santa Monica
and Marina Del Rey. Launched in January 2003, the company is best known for producing comic books and figurine
s.
, with "MLT" standing for Michael Layne Turner. Aspen MLT released the fantasy adventure Soulfire
in 2004, its first ongoing maxi-series. 2005 marked the return of Fathom (originally published by Image Comics
) with comic artist Koi Turnbull
taking over the illustration of the title. Ekos, a collaboration between Turner and Geoff Johns
was scheduled to follow shortly after Soulfire, but was still unreleased prior to Turner's death in 2008.
Aspen plans to expand its media operations outside the comics field. A live-action Fathom feature film is currently being developed by James Cameron
's Lightstorm Entertainment
, while several additional live-action and animated projects are in negotiation. With the addition of possible video games, increased mass market licensing, and a growing in-house design department, Aspen's ambitions are continuing to expand.
and Marvel Comics
on major cross-company collaborations. The most well-known are DC's Superman: Godfall and Superman/Batman: Supergirl, where creators of Aspen MLT worked together with DC to create art and story for these comics. Following this, both DC and Marvel contracted Michael Turner to produce covers for their series.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
entertainment company founded by artist Michael Turner. It has locations in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
and Marina Del Rey. Launched in January 2003, the company is best known for producing comic books and figurine
Figurine
A figurine is a statuette that represents a human, deity or animal. Figurines may be realistic or iconic, depending on the skill and intention of the creator. The earliest were made of stone or clay...
s.
History
The company was created by comic book artist Michael Turner in January 2003. The name "Aspen" comes from the main character in Turner's comic series, FathomFathom (comics)
Fathom is a comic book created by Michael Turner and originally published by Top Cow Productions. It debuted in 1998 and was Michael Turner's first creator-owned comic book series. Fathom is currently published by Turner's own company, Aspen MLT....
, with "MLT" standing for Michael Layne Turner. Aspen MLT released the fantasy adventure Soulfire
Soulfire
Soulfire is a comic book produced by Aspen MLT that is one in a line of titles created by Michael Turner. The original characters were created between 2000 and 2002 with Soulfire set to be produced under the Top Cow although that never came to be...
in 2004, its first ongoing maxi-series. 2005 marked the return of Fathom (originally published by Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
) with comic artist Koi Turnbull
Koi Turnbull
Koi Turnbull is an American comic book artist, known for his work with DC Comics, Marvel, Aspen MLT's Fathom.-Early life:...
taking over the illustration of the title. Ekos, a collaboration between Turner and Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
was scheduled to follow shortly after Soulfire, but was still unreleased prior to Turner's death in 2008.
Aspen plans to expand its media operations outside the comics field. A live-action Fathom feature film is currently being developed by James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
's Lightstorm Entertainment
Lightstorm Entertainment
Lightstorm Entertainment is an American film production company. The company was founded by Canadian filmmaker James Cameron and film producer Larry Kasanoff in 1990 and is best known for producing the films Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Titanic and Cameron's latest film Avatar...
, while several additional live-action and animated projects are in negotiation. With the addition of possible video games, increased mass market licensing, and a growing in-house design department, Aspen's ambitions are continuing to expand.
Key people
- Founder - Michael TurnerMichael Turner (artist)Michael Layne Turner was an American comic book artist known for his work on Witchblade, Fathom, Superman/Batman, Soulfire, and various covers for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He was also the president of the entertainment company Aspen MLT.- Early life :Michael Turner was born in Crossville,...
- Co-Owner - Peter SteigerwaldPeter SteigerwaldPeter Steigerwald is an American comic book artist primarily known for his work as a colorist and his work at Aspen Comics. He has also worked in inking, writing, and graphic design.-Career:...
- Co-Owner - Frank Mastromauro
- Editor in Chief - Vince Hernandez
- Director of Design and Production - Mark Roslan
Titles
- AspenAspen MatthewsAspen Matthews is the main character of Fathom, a comic book series created by Michael Turner.-Introduction:Aspen Matthews is caught between two worlds. During her early adolescence, she could remember nothing from her early childhood. In her earliest memories she is on the cruise ship Paradise,...
- Aspen Swimsuit: Splash
- Charismagic
- Dellec
- Ekos
- Executive Assistant Iris
- FathomFathom (comics)Fathom is a comic book created by Michael Turner and originally published by Top Cow Productions. It debuted in 1998 and was Michael Turner's first creator-owned comic book series. Fathom is currently published by Turner's own company, Aspen MLT....
- Heroes
- Iron and the MaidenIron and the MaidenThe Iron Saint, originally known as Iron and the Maiden, is Aspen Comics' first creator-owned comic book. It was created by Jason Rubin, co-founder of Naughty Dog, the key creative force behind Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter. The series was released in September, 2007. A one-shot titled Brutes,...
- Lady Mechanika
- Mindfield
- ShruggedShruggedShrugged is an upcoming comic series being published by Aspen MLT, publishers of Soulfire and Fathom. It is written by Aspen founder Michael Turner and vice president Frank Mastromauro and drawn by Aspen artist Micah Gunnell....
- SoulfireSoulfireSoulfire is a comic book produced by Aspen MLT that is one in a line of titles created by Michael Turner. The original characters were created between 2000 and 2002 with Soulfire set to be produced under the Top Cow although that never came to be...
Collaborations
Aspen MLT has worked together with both DC ComicsDC 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...
and 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...
on major cross-company collaborations. The most well-known are DC's Superman: Godfall and Superman/Batman: Supergirl, where creators of Aspen MLT worked together with DC to create art and story for these comics. Following this, both DC and Marvel contracted Michael Turner to produce covers for their series.
Aspen/DC works
- FlashFlash (comics)The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
(covers) - Identity Crisis (covers)
- SupergirlSupergirlSupergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
(variant covers - #1-5, interior colors #1-4) - Superman: Godfall (covers and interior art)
- Superman/Batman: Supergirl (covers and interior art - #8-13)
- Superman/BatmanSuperman/BatmanSuperman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
#26 (covers) - Teen Titans (variant cover - #1)
- Justice League of AmericaJustice LeagueThe Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
(covers)
Aspen/Marvel works
- Black PantherBlack Panther (comics)The Black Panther is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciller-co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #52...
(#23-25 - covers (Turner) and interiors (Turnbull)) - Civil WarCivil War (comics)Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
(variant covers - #1-7) - Incredible Hulk (variant cover - #100)
- HulkHulk (comics)The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
(variant covers 1, 6 & 7) - Ms. Marvel (variant cover - #1)
- Onslaught: RebornOnslaught (comics)Onslaught is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Man #15 , and was co-created by writers Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid, and artist Andy Kubert....
(variant cover - #1) - Ultimate WolverineUltimate WolverineUltimate Wolverine is an alternative version of Wolverine who appears in comics containing stories set in the Ultimate Marvel universe. He first appears in Ultimate X-Men #1 and was created by Mark Millar and Adam Kubert.-Early years:...
(promo art, series never completed) - Ultimate X-MenUltimate X-MenUltimate X-Men is a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2001 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running X-Men comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
(variant cover - #75) - Wolverine: OriginsWolverine (comics)Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
(variant cover - #1) - WolverineWolverine (comics)Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
Wolverine #66 Old Man Logan
Noteworthy creators
- Talent CaldwellTalent CaldwellTalent Caldwell is a comic book artist best known for his work on the Top Cow Productions character Fathom. He has also drawn for DC Comics' Superman and Marvel Comics' Spider-Man characters.-Biography:...
- Jason Gorder
- Micah GunnellMicah GunnellMicah Gunnell is a comic book artist who currently works for Aspen Comics in the United States. He has illustrated 23 of the Heroes graphic novels, and is the artist of 'Dellec', a brand new series from Aspen Comics debuting in May 2009....
- Vince Hernandez
- Don Ho
- Geoff JohnsGeoff JohnsGeoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
- J. T. KrulJ. T. KrulJ. T. Krul is a comic book writer, best known for his work on Aspen MLT's Fathom comic series.-Early life:J.T. Krul was born and raised in Michigan...
- Jeph LoebJeph LoebJoseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, writer for the films Commando and Teen Wolf and was a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the NBC TV show Heroes from its...
- Frank Mastromauro
- David MoránDavid MoranDavid Moran is an Irish Gaelic footballer with Kerry GAA at under-21 and Senior levels. Moran is the son of the famous former Kerry player and manager Denis 'Ogie' Moran.-Playing career:...
- Mark Roslan
- Beth Sotelo
- Peter SteigerwaldPeter SteigerwaldPeter Steigerwald is an American comic book artist primarily known for his work as a colorist and his work at Aspen Comics. He has also worked in inking, writing, and graphic design.-Career:...
- Christina StrainChristina StrainChristina Strain is an American comic book colorist currently working with Marvel Comics, notable for being the colorist of the award-winning series, Runaways.-Career:Strain got her start in comics working for Crossgen in 2003...
- Marcus ToMarcus ToMarcus To is a Canadian comic book artist who currently works for DC Comics as the monthly artist for Red Robin.-Bibliography:*Aspen Seasons Spring 2005*Aspen Seasons Fall 2005*Fathom: Cannon Hawke #1-5*Fathom vol...
- Koi TurnbullKoi TurnbullKoi Turnbull is an American comic book artist, known for his work with DC Comics, Marvel, Aspen MLT's Fathom.-Early life:...
- Michael TurnerMichael Turner (artist)Michael Layne Turner was an American comic book artist known for his work on Witchblade, Fathom, Superman/Batman, Soulfire, and various covers for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He was also the president of the entertainment company Aspen MLT.- Early life :Michael Turner was born in Crossville,...