Steve Oliff
Encyclopedia
Steve Oliff is an American
comic book artist
who has worked as a colorist
in the comics industry since 1978.
. Preiss gave Oliff his first major coloring job (on a Shadowjack story in The Illustrated Roger Zelazny
). More work with Preiss's publications followed, including a job on a Howard Chaykin
graphic novel, which in turn led to Oliff getting his first Marvel Comics' job, coloring Bill Sienkiewicz
's first Moon Knight
story in The Hulk!
magazine. From there Oliff went on to color hundreds of titles in a variety of coloring formats.
, was one of the first to use computers to do color separation. Although other companies at the time were experimenting with computers, Oliff and his crew were the first to blend the color guide artist with the separator
In 1987, the Japanese manga
Akira
was in preparation to be translated and published by Marvel Comics
's Epic Comics
line. Oliff was chosen as the colorist, and he convinced Marvel that it was time to try computer color. After the publication of Akira in 1988, computer coloring became increasingly prevalent in the comics industry.
. From 2003 to the present, Armature has been a weekly comic strip in Oliff's local newspaper, the Independent Coast Observer.
In 2005, Oliff collaborated with Cheri Carlstedt on a history of his hometown, Point Arena, California
. The Early Days of Point Arena: A Pictorial History of the City and Township was published by Olyoptics. He also edits the Mendocino County Historical Society newsletter.
in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the "Best Colorist" Harvey Award
in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995.
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 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...
who has worked as a colorist
Colorist
In comics, a colorist is responsible for adding color to black-and-white line art. For most of the 20th century this was done using brushes and dyes which were then used as guides to produce the printing plates...
in the comics industry since 1978.
Biography
Oliff broke into professional comics by attending comic book conventions and meeting people. At one convention he met publisher Byron PreissByron Preiss
Byron Preiss was an American writer, editor, and publisher. He founded and served as president of Byron Preiss Visual Publications, and later of iBooks.-Early life and career:...
. Preiss gave Oliff his first major coloring job (on a Shadowjack story in The Illustrated Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
). More work with Preiss's publications followed, including a job on a Howard Chaykin
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material...
graphic novel, which in turn led to Oliff getting his first Marvel Comics' job, coloring Bill Sienkiewicz
Bill Sienkiewicz
Boleslav Felix Robert "Bill" Sienkiewicz [pronounced sin-KEV-itch] is an Eisner Award-winning American artist and writer best known for his comic book work, primarily for Marvel Comics' The New Mutants and Elektra: Assassin...
's first Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
story in The Hulk!
Rampaging Hulk
The Rampaging Hulk is a black-and-white magazine published by Curtis Magazines from 1977–1978. With issue #10, it changed its format to color, and title to The Hulk!, and ran another 17 issues before it folded in 1981...
magazine. From there Oliff went on to color hundreds of titles in a variety of coloring formats.
Olyoptics and Akira
His company, OlyopticsOlyoptics
Olyoptics is a quality full color service bureau for the comic book industry. Founded by Steve Oliff, it has employed many colorists and color separators throughout its history including Ruben Rude, Gloria Vasquez, Abel Mouton, Kiko Taganashi, Kirk Mobert, Marie Saint Clare, Quinn Supplee, Nathan...
, was one of the first to use computers to do color separation. Although other companies at the time were experimenting with computers, Oliff and his crew were the first to blend the color guide artist with the separator
In 1987, the Japanese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
Akira
Akira (manga)
is a manga series by Katsuhiro Otomo. Set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, the work uses conventions of the cyberpunk genre to detail a saga of turmoil. Initially serialized in the pages of Young Magazine from 1982 until 1990, the work was collected in six volumes by Japanese publisher Kodansha...
was in preparation to be translated and published by 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...
's Epic Comics
Epic Comics
Epic Comics was a creator-owned imprint of Marvel Comics started in 1982, lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.- Origins :...
line. Oliff was chosen as the colorist, and he convinced Marvel that it was time to try computer color. After the publication of Akira in 1988, computer coloring became increasingly prevalent in the comics industry.
Writing
In addition to coloring thousands of comic pages for all sorts of companies, Oliff has written two comic books, Armature and Armature: Darkpark and Lightworld, and is currently writing the third in his series. The Armature character first appeared in ads in Spawn and Youngblood comics, and in a back-up story in issue 14 of The MaxxThe Maxx
The Maxx is an American comic book series created by Sam Kieth and published originally monthly by Image Comics and now collected in trade paperback collections from DC Comic's Wildstorm imprint. The comic book, which stars a character of the same name, spawned an animated series that aired on the...
. From 2003 to the present, Armature has been a weekly comic strip in Oliff's local newspaper, the Independent Coast Observer.
In 2005, Oliff collaborated with Cheri Carlstedt on a history of his hometown, Point Arena, California
Point Arena, California
Point Arena is a small coastal city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Point Arena is located west of Hopland, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 449 at the 2010 census, down from 474 at the 2000 census, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state...
. The Early Days of Point Arena: A Pictorial History of the City and Township was published by Olyoptics. He also edits the Mendocino County Historical Society newsletter.
Personal life
Oliff is a former mayor of his hometown of Point Arena, and remains active in community organizations and events.Awards
Oliff won the "Best Colorist" Eisner AwardEisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the "Best Colorist" Harvey Award
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995.