Marc Silvestri
Encyclopedia
Marc Silvestri is an American
comic book artist
, creator and publisher. He currently acts as the CEO for Top Cow Productions
.
.
and First Comics
, but rose as a star at Marvel Comics
, and is best known as one penciller
of Uncanny X-Men
between 1987 and 1990. He then spent two years pencilling its spin-off title Wolverine
.
In 1992, Silvestri became one of the original seven artists — along with Jim Lee
, Whilce Portacio
, Rob Liefeld
, Erik Larsen
, Todd McFarlane
and Jim Valentino
— to form the breakaway comics company Image Comics
. Silvestri's stable of titles was published under the imprint Top Cow with the first title released being Cyberforce
. The demands of publishing meant Silvestri's time to spend on his own artwork steadily diminished. Many of Silvestri's stories were scripted by his brother, Eric Silvestri.
Disputes among the Image partners led to Silvestri briefly leaving the publisher in 1996, but he soon returned after Liefeld severed his own ties with Image.
Top Cow's successes include the titles Witchblade
, The Darkness
, Inferno Hellbound (publication of which was interrupted for unknown reasons) and Fathom
.
In 2004 Silvestri made a brief return to Marvel to pencil several issues of X-Men
, collaborating with writer Grant Morrison
. Later in the year, he launched a new Top Cow title, Hunter-Killer
with writer Mark Waid
. He provided covers for the Marvel Comics mini-series, X-Men: Deadly Genesis
by Ed Brubaker
and Trevor Hairsine
.
In June 2006 Top Cow released a Cyberforce
#0 featuring the art talents of Silvestri.
In late 2007 (cover date December), he pencilled the X-Men: Messiah Complex
one-shot, as well as many covers in the crossover of the same name that followed.
Silvestri executive produced the anime
adaptation of Witchblade
.
He continued his work on X-Men penciling the first installment, in the form of a One-shot Uncanny X-Men
/Dark Avengers
crossover Utopia
in 2009.
He also contributed to Image United
, penciling all the characters he created during his run at Image that feature in the story.
Besides his art, Silvestri was also scripter (and co-plotter) on the Top Cow title Codename: Stryke Force.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
, creator and publisher. He currently acts as the CEO for Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, a partner studio of Image Comics founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992.-History:...
.
Early life
Marc Silvestri was born in Palm Beach, FloridaPalm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
.
Career
Silvestri began his career drawing issues for 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 First Comics
First Comics
First Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
, but rose as a star at 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...
, and is best known as one penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
of Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
between 1987 and 1990. He then spent two years pencilling its spin-off title Wolverine
Wolverine (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...
.
In 1992, Silvestri became one of the original seven artists — along with Jim Lee
Jim Lee
Jim Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, writer, editor and publisher. He first broke into the industry in 1987 as an artist for Marvel Comics, illustrating titles such as Alpha Flight and Punisher War Journal, before gaining a great deal of popularity on The Uncanny X-Men...
, Whilce Portacio
Whilce Portacio
William "Whilce" Portacio is a Filipino-American comic book writer and artist. Noted for his work on such titles as The Punisher, X-Factor, and the Uncanny X-Men. Portacio was also one of the seven co-founders of Image Comics, though he did not become a partner in the company.-Early life:Portacio...
, Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is an American comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher. A prominent artist in the 1990s, he has since become a controversial figure in the medium....
, 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:...
, Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books, such as the fantasy series Spawn....
and Jim Valentino
Jim Valentino
Jim Valentino is an American writer, penciler, editor and publisher of comic books.-1970s - 1992:Valentino began his career in the late 1970s creating small press and mostly autobiographical comics. The early-mid 1980s saw normalman which first appeared as a back-up story in Aardvark-Vanaheim's...
— to form the breakaway comics company 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...
. Silvestri's stable of titles was published under the imprint Top Cow with the first title released being Cyberforce
Cyberforce
Cyberforce is an Image Comics super-hero team created by artist Marc Silvestri and writer Eric Silvestri in 1992. Silvestri would begin performing both the plotting and pencilling chores, but the series was subsequently drawn by other artists, including David Finch...
. The demands of publishing meant Silvestri's time to spend on his own artwork steadily diminished. Many of Silvestri's stories were scripted by his brother, Eric Silvestri.
Disputes among the Image partners led to Silvestri briefly leaving the publisher in 1996, but he soon returned after Liefeld severed his own ties with Image.
Top Cow's successes include the titles Witchblade
Witchblade
Witchblade is an American comic book series published by Top Cow Productions, an imprint of Image Comics, from 1995 until present. The series was created by Top Cow editors Marc Silvestri and David Wohl, writers Brian Haberlin and Christina Z, and artist Michael Turner.The series follows Sara...
, The Darkness
The Darkness (comics)
The Darkness is a series of ongoing American comic books created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis, and David Wohl and produced by Top Cow Productions. The comic first appeared in 1996 and enjoyed an initial period of relative success during the Top Cow/Image Comics boom of the late 1990s. However,...
, Inferno Hellbound (publication of which was interrupted for unknown reasons) and Fathom
Fathom (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....
.
In 2004 Silvestri made a brief return to Marvel to pencil several issues of X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
, collaborating with writer Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
. Later in the year, he launched a new Top Cow title, Hunter-Killer
Hunter-Killer (comics)
Hunter-Killer is a comic book series from Top Cow Productions, Created by Mark Waid and Marc Silvestri. Silvestri provided the art for the first story arc while Eric Basaldua and Kenneth Rocafort drew the remaining issues. The series started in March 2005.The protagonist of the story is a young...
with writer Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
. He provided covers for the Marvel Comics mini-series, X-Men: Deadly Genesis
X-Men: Deadly Genesis
X-Men: Deadly Genesis is a comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in late 2005 and early 2006. The series was written by Ed Brubaker with interior art by Trevor Hairsine and covers by Marc Silvestri. Starring the X-Men, this series celebrates the 30th anniversary of Giant-Size X-Men #1...
by Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
and Trevor Hairsine
Trevor Hairsine
Trevor Hairsine is a British comics artist, whose detailed style has been compared to that of Bryan Hitch.In August 2005 Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada named him as one of Marvel Comics's "Young Guns", a group of artists who have the qualities that make "a future superstar...
.
In June 2006 Top Cow released a Cyberforce
Cyberforce
Cyberforce is an Image Comics super-hero team created by artist Marc Silvestri and writer Eric Silvestri in 1992. Silvestri would begin performing both the plotting and pencilling chores, but the series was subsequently drawn by other artists, including David Finch...
#0 featuring the art talents of Silvestri.
In late 2007 (cover date December), he pencilled the X-Men: Messiah Complex
X-Men: Messiah Complex
"Messiah Complex" is a comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics from October 2007 to January 2008, which ran through the various X-Men books....
one-shot, as well as many covers in the crossover of the same name that followed.
Silvestri executive produced the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation of Witchblade
Witchblade (anime)
is an anime series based on the American comic book by the same name. Instead of an adaptation of the original story, the producers decided to create an entire new setup, with all new characters. This co-production between Japanese studio Gonzo and American publisher Top Cow, who owns the rights...
.
He continued his work on X-Men penciling the first installment, in the form of a One-shot Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
/Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is part of a series of titles that have featured various iterations of the superhero team the Avengers...
crossover Utopia
Utopia (comics)
"Utopia" is a 2009 comic book crossover story arc written by Matt Fraction and published by Marvel Comics, starring the X-Men and the Dark Avengers...
in 2009.
He also contributed to Image United
Image United
Image United is a 2009 six-issue comic book limited series published by Image Comics. Art for the series is done by six of the seven Image co-founders Whilce Portacio, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, Rob Liefeld, Erik Larsen and Todd McFarlane, with each artist drawing the characters he created...
, penciling all the characters he created during his run at Image that feature in the story.
DC
- Batman Black and White #3 (1996)
- GhostsGhosts (DC Comics)Ghosts is a comic book series published by DC Comics for 112 issues from September-October 1971 to May 1982. Its tagline was "True Tales of the Weird and Supernatural" , changed to "New Tales of the Weird and Supernatural," as of #75 , and dropped after #104...
#104 (1981) - House of MysteryHouse of MysteryThe House of Mystery is the name of several horror-mystery-suspense anthology comic book series. It had a companion series, House of Secrets.-Genesis:...
#292 (1981) - The UnexpectedThe UnexpectedThe Unexpected was a DC Comics horror comic book, a continuation of Tales of the Unexpected. It ran 117 issues, #105-222, from 1968 to 1982.-Publication history:...
#222 (1982) - Weird War TalesWeird War TalesWeird War Tales was a war comic book title with supernatural overtones published by DC Comics which ran from September 1971 to June 1983.-Background:...
#113 (1982)
Image/TopCow
- 21 #3 (along with Billy TanBilly TanBilly Tan Mung Khoy, commonly known as Billy Tan, is a Malaysian comic book artist.-Early ife:Billy Tan grew up in Malaysia and moved to the United States in 1989 to study business at the University of Kentucky. He began working as a penciler for Image Comics in the 1990s.-Career:Tan became the...
) (1996) - CyberforceCyberforceCyberforce is an Image Comics super-hero team created by artist Marc Silvestri and writer Eric Silvestri in 1992. Silvestri would begin performing both the plotting and pencilling chores, but the series was subsequently drawn by other artists, including David Finch...
#1-4 (miniseries, also referred as vol. 1) (1992) - Cyberforce, regular series, #1-7, 9-13 (1993–95)
- Cyberforce Ashcan, one-shot
- CybladeCybladeCyblade is the name of a fictional character from Top Cow Productions. She is a member of Cyberforce.-Publication history:After her initial appearances in other comics, Cyblade was one of two properties to win the first Pilot Season in 2007, meaning Cyblade would appear in her own eponymous...
/ShiShi (comics)Shi is a fictional comic book character created by writer/illustrator William Tucci. She first appeared in Razor Annual #1 , and has since appeared in books by a variety of publishers, most notably, Tucci's company, Crusade Comics...
: The Battle for Independents #1 (1995) - DarknessThe Darkness (comics)The Darkness is a series of ongoing American comic books created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis, and David Wohl and produced by Top Cow Productions. The comic first appeared in 1996 and enjoyed an initial period of relative success during the Top Cow/Image Comics boom of the late 1990s. However,...
#1-7 (1996–97); #75 (2009) - Hunter-KillerHunter-Killer (comics)Hunter-Killer is a comic book series from Top Cow Productions, Created by Mark Waid and Marc Silvestri. Silvestri provided the art for the first story arc while Eric Basaldua and Kenneth Rocafort drew the remaining issues. The series started in March 2005.The protagonist of the story is a young...
#0-6 (2005–06)
Marvel
- Civil War: The InitiativeCivil War: The Initiative"Civil War: The Initiative" is the name of a comics crossover storyline as well as a one-shot comic book starting this event, published by Marvel Comics...
, one-shot (2007) - Cloak and DaggerCloak and Dagger (comics)Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
#7 (1986) - King ConanConan (Marvel Comics)Conan is a fictional character based on Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian. He was introduced to the comic book world in 1970 with Conan the Barbarian, written by Roy Thomas, illustrated by Barry Smith and published by Marvel Comics....
#13-16, 19-29 - Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-MenUtopia (comics)"Utopia" is a 2009 comic book crossover story arc written by Matt Fraction and published by Marvel Comics, starring the X-Men and the Dark Avengers...
: Utopia #1, one-shot (2009) - Incredible 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 ....
, vol. 3, #1- (2011) - Marvel Graphic NovelMarvel Graphic NovelMarvel Graphic Novel was a series of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by Marvel Comics. The books were published in oversized format, 8.5" x 11", similar to French albums...
(AvengersAvengers (comics)The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
) #17 (1985) - Master of Kung FuShang-ChiShang-Chi is a Marvel Comics character, often called the "Master of Kung Fu". He was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin....
#119 (1982) - Star Trek/X-MenX-MenThe X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
, one-shot (among other artists) (1996) - New X-Men #151-154 (2004)
- Uncanny X-MenUncanny X-MenUncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#218, 220-222, 224-227, 229, 230, 232-234, 236, 238-244, 246, 247, 249-251, 253-255, 259-261 (1987–90) - 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...
(Sub-Mariner) #41 (1983) - Web of Spider-ManWeb of Spider-ManWeb of Spider-Man is the name of two different monthly comic book series starring Spider-Man that have been published by Marvel Comics since 1985, the first volume of which ran for 129 issues between 1985 and 1995, and the second of which ran for 12 issues between 2009 and 2010.-Volume 1:The first...
#16-20, 22 (1986–87) - 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...
#31-43, 45, 46, 48-50, 52, 53, 55-57 (1990–92) - X-FactorX-Factor (comics)X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
#8, 12, 54 (1986–90) - X-Men: Messiah ComplexX-Men: Messiah Complex"Messiah Complex" is a comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics from October 2007 to January 2008, which ran through the various X-Men books....
, one-shot (2007)
Other publishers
- Warp Special #2 (First Comics, 1984)
Besides his art, Silvestri was also scripter (and co-plotter) on the Top Cow title Codename: Stryke Force.
External links
- Marc Silvestri at ComicBookDB.com