Mike Allred

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Michael Dalton "Mike" Allred is an American comic book artist and writer.

Mike Allred began his career as a TV reporter in Europe, and started drawing comics in 1989 with the 104-page OGN Dead Air (Slave Labor Graphics. Following this up with his similarly-titled works Grafique Musique (SLG, 1990) and Grafik Muzik (Caliber Comics 1990/91), he set out the style that he was to become known for with his most famous character: Madman.^[1]

The first Madman miniseries debuted from Tundra Publishing in March 1992, and gained higher recognition with its move to Dark Horse Comics in April 1994. Relaunched as Madman Comics, it went on to be nominated for several Harvey Awards. Allred himself gained further mainstream attention with the science-fiction/rock-and-roll comic Red Rocket 7 and his art for writer Peter Milligan's series X-Force, which he began drawing in July 2001, and subsequently became X-Statix after X-Force #128.

His most recent work includes The Golden Plates, an adaptation of The Book of Mormon.^[2] Other projects are inking X-Statix Presents: Deadgirl, Nick Dragotta drew the mini-series, and work on a new 'Madman' series. His wife, Laura, frequently works as his colorist. Allred's illustration style is heavily influenced by pop art and the commercial and comic book art of the 1950s and 1960s.

Allred is a Latter-day Saint. Much of his work is colored by his wife Laura.^[3]

Contents 1 Work outside of Comics 1.1 Filmography 1.1.1 As Artist 1.1.2 As Writer 1.1.3 As Musician 2 Guest appearances 3 Other notes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Work outside of Comics

[edit] Filmography

[edit] As Artist

• Mallrats (1995) (title logo)
• Chasing Amy (1997) (Bluntman and Chronic artwork)
• The Faculty (1998) (logo for The Hornets football team)

[edit] As Writer

• Astroesque (1996)
• G-Men from Hell (2000)

[edit] As Musician

• The Gear - Son of Red Rocket Seven (1998)

[edit] Guest appearances

• Allred appeared as himself in the movie Chasing Amy as part of the opening scene at a comic book convention, signing copies of his comic Madman. He also provides the artwork for the fictional comic book Bluntman and Chronic.

[edit] Other notes

• The short-lived animated television show Freakazoid! bore similarities to Madman. Although Allred remained silent on the matter during the run of the show, in 2003 he spoke on the subject through his website's messageboard. (See External Links.)

• Since 1998, Robert Rodriguez has owned the film rights to Madman. Rodriguez has publicly stated that he intends for Allred to co-direct the film the same way Frank Miller co-directed Sin City. (It was Allred who connected Rodriguez with Miller's attorney, thus making Sin City possible.) At the 2006 WonderCon in San Francisco, Allred announced that Madman the Movie was in pre-production, and he hoped to begin filming before the end of the year.

• He has a son with Laura Allred named Han, who has followed in his mothers footsteps and become a comic book colorist.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The official Mike Allred site
• Mike Allred interview podcast at ComiXology (11/2007)
• Official Mike Allred Message Board
• Interview with Mike Allred (from Dark Horse Comics site)
• Official message board entry in which he discusses the similarities between Madman and the short-lived show Freakazoid!
• Mike Allred's work on marvel.com
• Mike Allred Image Gallery at Comic Art Community