Dean Haspiel
Dean Edmund Haspiel (born May 31, 1967[1] in New York City) is an American comic book artist, writer, and playwright. He is known for creating Billy Dogma, The Red Hook, and for his collaborations with writer Harvey Pekar on his American Splendor series as well as the graphic novel The Quitter, and for his collaborations with Jonathan Ames on The Alcoholic and HBO's Bored to Death. He has been nominated for numerous Eisner Awards, and won a 2010 Emmy Award for TV design work.
Dean Haspiel | |
---|---|
Born | Dean Edmund Haspiel May 31, 1967 New York City, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Area(s) | Cartoonist, Writer, Illustrator, Playwright |
Pseudonym(s) | Dino |
Notable works | Billy Dogma The Red Hook The Quitter Keyhole |
Awards | Emmy Award, 2010 Ringo Award, 2017 |
http://www.DeanHaspiel.com |
Early life
Haspiel grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side and attended The High School of Music & Art/Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School,[2] graduating in 1985.[2]
In the mid-1980s, Haspiel worked at Upstart Associates (a shared studio space on West 29th Street in New York City)[3] as an assistant for Howard Chaykin on American Flagg! and for Walter Simonson on Thor; he also worked (at a different studio) as an assistant for Bill Sienkiewicz on New Mutants and Elektra: Assassin.[2] Later, Haspiel attended the State University of New York at Purchase, first majoring in illustration and eventually switching to film.[2]
Career
In 1987, while still an undergraduate, Haspiel inaugurated his professional comics career when he co-created The Verdict with Martin Powell.[4] Haspiel went on to co-create the two-man comics anthology Keyhole with cartoonist Josh Neufeld (a fellow graduate of LaGuardia High School).[2]
Haspiel's "last romantic anti-hero" Billy Dogma made his comic book debut in Keyhole,[5] and has appeared in a number of comics and graphic novels since then, published by Top Shelf Productions and Alternative Comics. Recent works starring Billy Dogma include Brawl, a "creature romance double feature" mini-series with Michel Fiffe for Image Comics; and "Sex Planet," a Billy Dogma interlude for Popgun volume 2 (also published by Image).
Haspiel was a long-time collaborator with Harvey Pekar on American Splendor. The culmination of their work together was the 104-page nonfiction graphic novel The Quitter, published by Vertigo in 2005.[6]
In 2006 Haspiel spearheaded the foundation of ACT-I-VATE, a webcomics collective which featured the works of founding members Haspiel, Dan Goldman, Nick Bertozzi, Michel Fiffe, Leland Purvis, Nikki Cook, Tim Hamilton, and Josh Neufeld. (In 2009, IDW Publishing published the ACT-I-VATE Primer, which featured an original Haspiel story as well as work by other members of the collective.)[7]
In fall 2008, Vertigo released the original graphic novel The Alcoholic, written by Jonathan Ames and drawn by Haspiel. Also in 2008, Françoise Mouly's Toon Books published Mo and Jo: Fighting Together Forever, written by Jay Lynch and drawn by Haspiel. In 2008, Haspiel serialized Street Code, a webcomic for Zuda Comics, after editing the webcomics anthology Next-Door Neighbor for SMITH Magazine.[8][9]
In 2010, IDW/Graphic NYC Presents published the monograph Dean Haspiel: The Early Years, by writer Christopher Irving. That same year, Haspiel illustrated Inverna Lockpez's Cuba: My Revolution, published by Vertigo. The book was covered by, among others, NPR's Tell Me More,[10] the New York Post,[11] and Graphic Novel Reporter.[12] Also in 2010, Haspiel won an Emmy Award for outstanding main title design for the HBO show Bored to Death.[13][14]
In 2011, Haspiel helped spearhead the creation of Trip City, "a Brooklyn-filtered, multimedia, literary arts salon featuring free regular exclusive content created by a fellowship of 21st Century auteurs."[15] For a period, it was the online home of new Haspiel comics and postings.[16]
Since 2016, Haspiel has been writing and drawing the serialized webcomic The Red Hook, about a master thief living in the "New Brooklyn Universe," for Webtoon.[17]
In 2019, Haspiel and long-time collaborator Josh Neufeld launched a weekly podcast, Scene by Scene with Josh & Dean, that focused on Harvey Pekar and the American Splendor movie.[18]
Bibliography
Creator series/graphic novels
- The Verdict, 4-issue miniseries co-created with writer Martin Powell (Eternity Comics, 1987)
- Keyhole, shared with Josh Neufeld (1996–1998)
- #1–4 (Millennium Publications, 1996–1997)
- #5–6 (Top Shelf Productions, 1998)
- Billy Dogma #1–3 (Millennium Publications, 1997)
- SLC Punk! written by James Merendino (Straight Edge Productions/Lulu Publishing, 1999)
- Daydream Lullabies (Top Shelf Productions, 1999)
- Opposable Thumbs (Alternative Comics, 2001)
- Boy In My Pocket (Top Shelf Productions, 2003)
- The Thing: Night Falls on Yancy Street, 4-issue miniseries with writer Evan Dorkin (Marvel Comics, 2003)
- Aim To Dazzle (Alternative Comics, 2004)
- The Quitter with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2005)
- Immortal webcomic (Act-i-vate, 2006)
- Brawl, 3-issue miniseries shared with Michel Fiffe (Image Comics, 2007)
- Fear, My Dear webcomic (Act-i-vate, 2007)
- The Alcoholic with writer Jonathan Ames (Vertigo, 2008)
- Mo and Jo: Fighting Together Forever with writer Jay Lynch (Toon Books, 2008)
- Street Code webcomic (Zuda Comics, 2008)
- Next-Door Neighbor webcomics anthology, editor (Smith Magazine, 2008)
- Cuba: My Revolution with writer Inverna Lockpez (Vertigo, 2010)
- The Last Mortician webcomic with writer Tim Hall (Tor.com, 2011)
- The Fox: Freak Magnet with writers Mark Waid and J. M. DeMatteis (Archie Comics, 2014)
- Beef with Tomato (Alternative Comics, 2015)
- The Fox: Fox Hunt with writer Mark Waid (Archie Comics, 2018)
- The Red Hook Volume 1: New Brooklyn (Image Comics, 2018)
- The Red Hook Volume 2: War Cry (Image Comics, 2019)
Stories/comics elsewhere
- Detective Comics #589, 14-page story titled "Bonus Book #5: For the Love of Ivy" with writers Lewis Klahr & Steve Piersall (DC Comics, 1988)
- Justice League International #24, 14-page story titled "Bonus Book #13: Maxwell Lord" with writer David Levin (DC Comics, 1989)
- Caliber Presents #s 16–21, story titled "The Verdict: The Acolyte" with writer Martin Powell (Caliber Comics, 1990)
- Negative Burn #27, 1-page story titled "Lionel's Lament" (Caliber Comics, 1995)
- Negative Burn #28, 1-page story titled "Lionel's Lament" with cartoonist Josh Neufeld (Caliber Comics, 1995)
- Negative Burn #32, 1-page story titled "You're Lying To Me" (Caliber Comics, 1996)
- Negative Burn #33, 2-page story titled "American Dilemma" starring Harvey Pekar (Caliber Comics, 1995)
- SPX '97 anthology, "Lucky Love Limbo" with Jessica Abel (CBLDF, 1997)
- Minimum Wage #10 anthology, 6-page story titled "Open" (Fantagraphics, 1999)
- SPX '99 anthology, 2-page story titled "Buster Browns" (CBLDF, 1999)
- Day of Judgment: Secret Files, "Dr. Fate" pin-up (DC Comics, 1999)
- American Splendor: Terminal anthology, 1-page story titled "Violation" with writer Harvey Pekar (Dark Horse Comics, 1999)
- American Splendor: Bedtime Stories anthology, 1-page story titled "The Good Times Are Gone" with writer Harvey Pekar (Dark Horse Comics, 2000)
- American Splendor: Portrait of the Author In His Declining Years anthology, 5-page story titled "Payback" with writer Harvey Pekar (Dark Horse Comics, 2001)
- Expo 2001 anthology, 4-page story titled "The Big To Do" (CBLDF, 2001)
- Bizarro Comics anthology, 7-page story titled "Captain Marvel and the Sham Shazam" with writer Sam Henderson (DC Comics, 2001)
- 9–11: Emergency Relief anthology, 6-page story titled "91101" (Alternative Comics, 2002)
- Captain America: Red, White & Blue with writer Karl Bollers (Marvel Comics, 2002)
- Muties #3 with writer Karl Bollers (Marvel Comics, 2002)
- writer for Johnny Bravo in Cartoon Cartoons #12 (DC Comics, 2002)
- JLA-Z, Despero pin-up (DC Comics, 2003)
- X-Men Unlimited #40 anthology 12-page story titled "Slam" with writer Nick Bertozzi (Marvel Comics, 2003)
- Spider-Man's Tangled Web #20 with writer Zeb Wells (Marvel Comics, 2003)
- Alternative Comics #1, anthology, 4-page story titled "Aim to Dazzle" (Alternative Comics, 2003)
- The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist #3 with writer Kevin McCarthy (Dark Horse Comics, 2003)
- Batman Adventures #9 (reprinted in Batman Adventures: Shadows & Masks) with writers Gabe Soria and Vito Delsante (DC Comics, 2004)
- Justice League Adventures #32 with writer Keith Giffen (DC Comics, 2004)
- Alternative Comics #2, anthology, 1-page story titled "Identity Crisis" with writer Harvey Pekar (Alternative Comics, 2004)
- The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist #8 titled "Escape From the Hospital" with writer Harvey Pekar (Dark Horse Comics, 2005)
- Project: Superior anthology, co-edited with Scott Morse and Chris Pitzer (AdHouse Books, 2005)
- Alternative Comics #3, anthology, 1-page story titled "Funny You Should Ask!" (Alternative Comics, 2005)
- Bizarro World anthology, 5-page story titled "Bizarro Shmizarro" with writer Harvey Pekar (DC Comics, 2005)
- SPIN, 2-page story titled "Rock, Roll 'n' Randle" written by Harvey Pekar (2005)
- Playboy, 2-page story titled "The Real Harvey" written by Harvey Pekar (2005)
- SPIN, 1-page story titled "The Black Eyed Peas Storm Sting's Castle" written by will.i.am and Kyle Anderson (2005)
- writer of Cartoon Network Block Party! #16 (DC Comics, 2006)
- Beowulf #7 (Fallout, Pt. 1) with writer Vito Delsante (Speakeasy Comics, 2006)
- American Splendor #1 anthology, 20-page story titled "The Day's Highlights" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2006)
- American Splendor #2 anthology, 7-page story titled "Today I am a Man" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2006)
- American Splendor #3 anthology, 4-page story titled "The Battle of the Vacant Lot" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2006)
- American Splendor #4 anthology, 8-page story titled "New York City Signing" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2007)
- Goosebumps Graphix #3: Scary Summer, story titled "The Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes" adapted from writer R. L. Stine (GRAPHIX, 2007)
- Vampirella #8 with writer Brian Wood (Harris Comics, 2008)
- Popgun vol 2. anthology, story titled "Sex Planet" (Image Comics, 2008)
- American Splendor: Season Two anthology #1, 1-page story titled "Hollywood Bob's Observation" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2008)
- American Splendor: Season Two anthology #2, 2-page story titled "Brought Up Short" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2008)
- American Splendor: Season Two anthology #3, 9-page story titled "Bop Philosophy" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2008)
- American Splendor: Season Two anthology #4, 5-page story titled "Cleopatra" with writer Harvey Pekar (Vertigo, 2008)
- ACT-I-VATE Primer anthology, story titled "Bring Me the Heart of Billy Dogma" (IDW Publishing, 2009)
- Cyclops #1, 36-page story titled "The Bicycle Thief or: How Cyclops Got His Groove Back" with writer Lee Black (Marvel Comics, 2011)
- X-Men: First Class — Class Portraits anthology, story (Marvel Comics, 2011)
- Strange Tales II #2 anthology, story featuring Woodgod (Marvel Comics, 2011)
- The Amazing Spider-Man #692, 8-page story titled "Spider-Man For A Night" (Marvel Comics, 2012)
Illustrations
Dean Haspiel has contributed illustrations to the following projects:
- Video King, Mummy Monster Sign and The Scuzzbournes and various others for Nickelodeon Magazine
- Thor's Day for Shuttle Sheet magazine
- Pot Monkeys for High Times magazine
- various illustrations and covers for New York Press
- various illustrations and covers for The Austin Statesman American's XLent
- various illustrations and covers for Washington City Paper
- CD single cover for Cowboy Johnny Christ
- CD album cover for Yummy
- pin-up for David Yurkovich's Less Than Heroes graphic novel
- CD cover and 8pp comix foldout for comedian Mitch Fatel's Super Retardo
Film
- Assistant director for Rockville Pictures' Burnzy's Last Call
- Actor in McCann & Co. Films' Desolation Angels
- Comics for Good Machine's Happiness
- Production assistant for Good Machine's The Ice Storm
- Actor in Next In Line Productions' Moby Presents: Alien Sex Party
- Illustration for Good Machine's American Splendor
- Comics for Red Mountain Film's Jail Bait
- Illustrations for the HBO series Bored to Death
Theater
- Playwright for Switch to Kill (2014)
- Playwright for Harakiri Kane (aka Die! Die, Again!) (2017)— features Stoya[19]
- Playwright for The Last Bar at the End of the World (2018) — features Stoya,[20] Seth Gilliam[21]
Awards
- Ignatz Award nomination for Outstanding Comic (Keyhole) (1997)
- Eisner Award nomination for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition (2002)
- Ignatz Award nomination for Outstanding Artist (2003)
- Eisner Award nomination for Best Webcomic (2008)
- Emmy Award outstanding main title design for Bored to Death (2010)
- Ringo Award best webcomic for The Red Hook (2017)
References
- Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- "An Exclusive Interview with Dean 'Dino' Hapiel, Rock Star in Cartoonist's Clothing" Archived October 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Walrus Comix (2008).
- Nolen-Weathington, Eric (2006). Modern Masters, Volume 8: Walter Simonson. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 1-893905-64-0. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- Smith, Zack. "The Life and Times of Illustrator DEAN HASPIEL," Newsarama (July 27, 2010).
- Keyhole #1 (Millennium Publications, June 1996).
- Itzkoff, Dave. "Street Fighting Man: 'The Quitter,' by Harvey Pekar," New York Times (Dec. 25, 2005).
- Manning, Shaun. "Dean Haspiel on the ACT-I-VATE Primer," Comic Book Resources (Aug. 12th, 2009).
- Boucher, Geoff. "‘Next-Door Neighbor,’ nonfiction comics that peek past the curtains," Los Angeles Times website (June 10, 2009).
- Arrant, Chris. "Dean Haspiel on the Next Door Neighbor Anthology," Newsarama (June 6, 2008).
- Keyes, Alison. "Graphic Novel Tells Grim Story Of Cuban Revolution," NPR website (Nov. 24, 2010).
- Deliso, Meredith. "Haspiel takes on Castro in Lockpez's bittersweet revolution memoir," Archived 2010-11-26 at the Wayback Machine New York Post (Sept. 29, 2010).
- Hogan, John. "Inverna Lockpez's Cuba: Remembering a Revolution," Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine Graphic Novel Reporter. Accessed June 13, 2013.
- 2010 CREATIVE ARTS EMMY(R) WINNERS The Futon Critic; August 21, 2010
- Hauman, Glenn. "Dean Haspiel wins Emmy for 'Bored To Death' titles" ComicMix; August 23, 2010
- "Curators," Archived 2013-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Trip City. Accessed June 13, 2013.
- Means-Shannon, Hannah. "TRIP CITY at One Year: Around the Digital Campfire with Dean Haspiel," Comics Beat (Nov. 14, 2012).
- Jusino, Teresa. "Interview: Dean Haspiel Talks The Red Hook and WEBTOON’s New Brooklyn Universe," The Mary Sue (Apr. 20, 2016).
- Maveal, Chloe. "Podcast Spotlight: Scene By Scene with Josh and Dean: The minute-by-minute comics history breakdown you didn't know you needed," The Beat (Aug. 8, 2019).
- Staff (September 12, 2017). "Fall Season Announced at The Brick!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- Staff (April 15, 2018). "The Last Bar at the End of the World at Urban Stages". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- MacDonald, Heidi. "Roundtable: Stoya, Seth Gilliam, Phillip Cruise and Dean Haspiel talk The Last Bar at the End of The World," The Beat (04/09/2018).