David Lapham is an American comic book writer, artist, and
cartoonist
A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the litera ...
, best known for his work on the
independent comic book ''
Stray Bullets''.
Career
David Lapham started his career in 1990 as a
penciller
A penciller (or penciler) is an artist who works on the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms, with a focus on the initial pencil illustrations.
In the American comic book industry, the penciller is the first step ...
at
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is an American comic books, comic book publisher, the first incarnation of which was founded in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter along with lawyer and businessman Steven Massarsky. In 1994, the company was ...
. He went on to work under editor
Jim Shooter
James Shooter (born September 27, 1951) is an American writer, editor, and publisher in the comics industry. Beginning his career writing for DC Comics at the age of 14, he had a successful but controversial run as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comic ...
at
Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics was a comic book publishing imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners, LP. Defiant was established in 1993 by former Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.
Publication history
Defiant was founded in t ...
, where they co-created ''
Warriors of Plasm'' in 1993.
He set up his own publishing company, El Capitan Books, in 1995, to self-publish ''
Stray Bullets'' which he wrote, drew and lettered himself. He then took a sabbatical from ''Stray Bullets'' in 2000, to produce his nine-issue period murder mystery ''Murder Me Dead'', also from El Capitan Books.
Lapham began working on more mainstream comics work from 2005 onwards, writing a story arc for
Top Cow Comics
Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, an imprint of Image Comics. It was founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992. The company is known for publishing titles such as '' Cyberforce'', '' The Darkness'', ''Sunstone, Wanted,'' and ''Witchbl ...
' ''
The Darkness'' ("Hell House", vol. 2, #17–20), a 12-part
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
storyline in ''
Detective Comics
''Detective Comics'' (later retitled as ''Batman Detective Comics'') is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is ...
'' ("
City of Crime" #801–808 and 811–814) for
DC Comics
DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...
and writing and pencilling the six-part ''
Daredevil Vs.
Punisher
The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher ma ...
: Means And Ends'' limited series for
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
. In late 2006, Marvel released ''Giant-Size
Wolverine
The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...
'' #1, with a 34-page Lapham story illustrated by
David Aja
David Aja (born April 16, 1977) is a Spanish comic book artist, best known for his work on ''The Immortal Iron Fist'' and ''Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Hawkeye''.
Career
Aja obtained a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Salamanca and served as ...
, and DC began releasing ''
Tales of the Unexpected'' with an eight-issue arc starring the
Spectre
Spectre, specter or the spectre may refer to:
Religion and spirituality
* Vision (spirituality)
* Apparitional experience
* Ghost
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Spectre'' (1977 film), a made-for-television film produced and writt ...
, which was also written by Lapham.
Vertigo
Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...
published the original
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...
''Silverfish'' in July 2007, and he drew ''
Terror, Inc.'' for the
Marvel MAX line. He then wrote the Vertigo series ''
Young Liars
''Young Liars'' is the first major release by the New York City band TV on the Radio. Released in 2003 on Touch & Go Records, the EP helped establish the band's distinctive blending of electronica, doo wop, post-rock, and avant-garde styles. T ...
'' and took over from
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis (born 16 January 1970) is a Northern Irish-American comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series ''Preacher'' with artist Steve Dillon, his nine-year run on Marvel Comics' ''Punisher'' franchise, and '' The Boys'' with artist Dar ...
as writer on ''
Crossed''.
Publication of ''Stray Bullets'' ceased after its fortieth issue, along with Lapham's self-published futuristic science-fiction
miniseries
In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...
, ''The Parallax Man''. ''The Parallax Man'' had been announced to debut in 2005 but was never officially solicited. In 2007, Lapham expressed interest in completing both projects. 2009 saw the release of ''Dark Horse: Noir'', which included a ''Stray Bullets'' story that took place within the still incomplete arc. In March 2010, it was reported that Lapham was working on a
Predator
Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common List of feeding behaviours, feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation ...
series for
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...
.
In March 2014, the long-awaited forty-first and final issue of the initial ''Stray Bullets'' arc and series as whole was released after the Laphams made a deal with Image Comics. On the same day, an omnibus edition of all forty-one issues was released, as well as the first issue of a new series titled ''Stray Bullets: Killers''. At Image, Lapham has continued ''Stray Bullets'' as a series of story arcs separated into their own miniseries: ''Stray Bullets: Killers'' ran for eight issues, followed after a brief hiatus by a second arc: ''Stray Bullets: Sunshine & Roses'' ran for forty-two issues.
Awards
*
Eisner Awards
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...
** 1996 – Best Writer/Artist (for ''Stray Bullets'').
** 1997 – Best Graphic Album: Reprint (for ''Stray Bullets: Innocence of Nihilism'')
*
Inkpot Award
The Inkpot Award is an honor bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International. It is given to professionals in the fields of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, and related areas of popular culture, at Comic-Con Internati ...
(2005)
Inkpot Award
/ref>
Bibliography
As an artist on all unless otherwise noted; additionally writer, where noted:
Valiant Comics
Titles published by Valiant include:
*'' WWF Battlemania'' #1 (1991)
*'' Magnus Robot Fighter'' #5–8 (1991–1992)
*'' Harbinger'' #1–13 (1992–1993, #0 (1993); also writer #10–13
*'' Shadowman'' #1–2, 4–5 (1992)
*''Rai
(), commercially styled as since 2000 and known until 1954 as (RAI), is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many terrestrial and subscription television channels a ...
'' #0 (1992)
*'' H.A.R.D. Corps'' #1 (1992)
Defiant Comics
Titles published by Defiant include:
*'' Warriors of Plasm'' #1–11, 13 (1993–1994), #0 (1993); also writer #5–11, 13
*'' Splatterball'' ( one-shot, 1993); also writer
*'' Defiant: Genesis'' (one-shot, 1993)
DC Comics
Titles published by DC Comics
DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...
include:
*''Superman
Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...
Annual'' #5 (1993)
*''Detective Comics
''Detective Comics'' (later retitled as ''Batman Detective Comics'') is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is ...
'' #800–808, 811–814 (2005–2006); also writer
*'' Tales of the Unexpected'' #1–8 (2006–2007)
*'' The Spirit'' #5 (2010); writer only
*''Dial H
''Dial H'' is a DC Comics superhero title launched in 2012 as part of the second wave of The New 52. It is a contemporary, frequently humorous take on the Silver Age title ''Dial H for Hero''. It was written by novelist China Miéville, featuring a ...
'' #6–7 (2012); artist only
Vertigo
Titles published by DC Comics' Vertigo
Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...
imprint include:
*''Fables
Fable is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse (poetry), verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphized, and that ...
'' #59 (2007), #92–93 (2010)
*''Silverfish
The silverfish (''Lepisma saccharinum'') is a species of small, primitive, wingless insect in the order Zygentoma (formerly Thysanura). Its common name derives from the insect's silvery light grey colour, combined with the fish-like appearanc ...
'' (graphic novel, 2007); also writer
*''Young Liars
''Young Liars'' is the first major release by the New York City band TV on the Radio. Released in 2003 on Touch & Go Records, the EP helped establish the band's distinctive blending of electronica, doo wop, post-rock, and avant-garde styles. T ...
'' #1–18 (2008–2009); also writer
*''American Splendor
''American Splendor'' is a series of autobiographical comic books written by Harvey Pekar and drawn by a variety of artists. The first issue was published in 1976 and the last one in September 2008, with publication occurring at irregular interv ...
'' vol. 2, #1–2 (2008)
*''DMZ
A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between states, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or boundary ...
'' #59 (2011)
*''House of Mystery
''The House of Mystery'' is the name of several horror comics, horror, fantasy comics, fantasy, and mystery fiction, mystery comics anthology, comics anthologies published by DC Comics. It had a companion series, ''The House of Secrets (DC Comi ...
'' #38 (2011)
*'' The Unexpected'' (one-shot, 2011)
Wildstorm
Titles published by DC Comics' Wildstorm
Wildstorm Productions (stylized as WildStorm) is an American comic book imprint. Originally founded as an independent company established by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi to publish through Image Comics, Wildstorm became a publishing imprint of DC C ...
imprint include:
*'' Driver: Crossing the Line'' #0 (2010); writer only
*'' Modern Warfare 2: Ghost'' #1–6 (2010); writer only
*'' Sparta USA'' #1–6 (2010); writer only
*'' Fringe: Tales from the Fringe'' #2 2010)
El Capitan Books
Titles published by El Capitan
El Capitan (; ) is a vertical Rock formations in the United States, rock formation in Yosemite National Park, on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The El Capitan Granite, granite monolith is about from base to summit alo ...
, Lapham's own publishing company, include:
*'' Stray Bullets'' #1–40 (1995–2005); also writer
*'' Amy Racecar Color Special'' #1–2 (1997 & 1999); also writer
*'' Murder Me Dead'' #1–9 (2000–2001); also writer
Dark Horse Comics
Titles published by Dark Horse
A dark horse is a previously lesser-known person, team or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, that is unlikely to succeed but has a fighting chance, unlike the underdog who is exp ...
include:
*'' Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor'' #4 (1995)
*'' Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics'' (anthology graphic novel, 2009); also writer (this is a Stray Bullets story)
*''Predators
Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill ...
'' #1–4 (2010); writer only
*''Preserve the Game'' (anthology one-shot, 2010); also writer
*''Kull
KULL (100.7 FM) is a classic hits radio station located in and serving the area around Abilene, Texas. It is under ownership of Townsquare Media.
History
On April 9, 2012 KFGL changed their format from oldies (as "True Oldies") to classic hit ...
'' #1–4 (2010–2011); writer only
*''Kull: The Cat and the Skull'' #1–4 (2011–2012)
*''Creepy
Creepiness is the state of being creepy, or causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease to someone and/or something. Certain traits or hobbies may make people seem creepy to others; interest in horror or the macabre might come across as 'c ...
'' #5 (2011); also writer
*'' Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword'' #3–4 (2011–2012); writer only
*'' Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain'' #1–11 (2011–2013); writer only
*'' Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain: The Fall'' #1–9 (2013–2014); writer only
*'' Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain: The Night Eternal'' #1–12 (2014–2015); writer only
*'' Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain: Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter'' #1–5 (2016–2017); writer only
Marvel Comics
Titles published by Marvel
Marvel may refer to:
Business
* Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company
** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment
** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe
** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics ...
include:
*'' Daredevil vs. Punisher
The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher ma ...
: Means and Ends'' #1–6 (2005–2006); also writer
*''Giant-Size Wolverine'': "House of Blood and Sorrow" (2006); writer only
*''Wolverine: The Amazing Immortal Man and Other Bloody Tales'' (one-shot, 2008)
*''Wolverine: Debt of Death'' (with David Aja, one-shot, 2011)
*'' Terror, Inc.'' #1–5 (2007–2008); also writer
*''Terror, Inc.: Apocalypse Soon'' #1–4 (2009)
*'' Spider-Man: With Great Power...'' #1–5 (2008); writer only
*''The Immortal Iron Fist
''The Immortal Iron Fist'' was a Comic book, comic book series published by Marvel Comics and starring the superhero Iron Fist (character), Iron Fist.
Publication history
The series was written jointly by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction from issues ...
'' #27 (2009)
*'' Mystic Comics 70th Anniversary Special'' (2009); also writer
*''Immortal Weapons
The Immortal Weapons are fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are each a champion of one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven in the Marvel Universe. The Immortal Weapons first appear in ''The I ...
'' #5 (2009); writer only
*''Deadpool
Deadpool is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''New Mutants'' #98 (December 1990). In his comic book appearances, Deadpool is ...
'' #1000 (2010); also writer
*'' DeadpoolMAX'' #1–12 (2010–2012); also writer
*'' PunisherMAX: Tiny Ugly World'' ( one-shot, 2010); writer only
*'' Point One'': "Age of Apocalypse: The Myth of Man" (one-shot, 2011); writer only
*''Age of Apocalypse
"Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 comic book crossover storyline mostly published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The ''Age of Apocalypse'' briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616 and had ramifications in the main Marvel Comic ...
'' #1–14 (2012–2013); writer only
Avatar Press
Titles published by Avatar
Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...
include:
*''Crossed 3D: Volume 1'' (graphic novel, 2011)
*''Crossed Psychopath'' #1–7 (2011–2012)
*''Crossed Badlands'' #10–13, 21–24, 33–36 (2012–2013)
*''Caligula
Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Augustus' granddaughter Ag ...
'' #1–6 (2011–2012); writer only
*''Caligula Heart of Rome'' #1–6 (2012–2013); writer only
*'' Ferals'' #1–18 (2011–2013); writer only
*'' Dan the Unharmable'' #1–12 (2012–2013); writer only
Image Comics
Titles published by Image
An image or picture is a visual representation. An image can be Two-dimensional space, two-dimensional, such as a drawing, painting, or photograph, or Three-dimensional space, three-dimensional, such as a carving or sculpture. Images may be di ...
include:
*'' Stray Bullets'' #41 (2014); also writer
*'' Stray Bullets: Killers'' #1–8 (2014); also writer
*'' Stray Bullets: Sunshine & Roses'' #1–42 (2015-2020); also writer
Other publishers
Titles published by various American publishers include:
*'' The Darkness vol. 2,'' #17–20 (Top Cow Comics
Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, an imprint of Image Comics. It was founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992. The company is known for publishing titles such as '' Cyberforce'', '' The Darkness'', ''Sunstone, Wanted,'' and ''Witchbl ...
, 2004–2005); writer only
*'' 30 Days of Night: 30 Days 'till Death'' #1–4 (IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW) and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic ...
, 2009–2009); also writer
*'' G.I. Joe: Origins'' #20–23 (2010–2011); writer only
*'' Damaged'' #1–6 (2011–2012); writer only
Covers only
*''Amazing Heroes
''Amazing Heroes'' was a magazine about the comic book medium published by American company Fantagraphics Books from 1981 to 1992. Unlike its companion title, '' The Comics Journal'', ''Amazing Heroes'' was a hobbyist magazine rather than an anal ...
'' #199 (Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...
, 1992)
*''Rai
(), commercially styled as since 2000 and known until 1954 as (RAI), is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many terrestrial and subscription television channels a ...
'' #1 (Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is an American comic books, comic book publisher, the first incarnation of which was founded in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter along with lawyer and businessman Steven Massarsky. In 1994, the company was ...
, 1992)
*''X-O Manowar
X-O Manowar (Aric of Dacia) is a fictional superhero co-created by writers Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart, and artists Bob Layton and Barry Windsor-Smith.
The eponymous comic book series published by Valiant Comics has sold more than 8 million c ...
'' #3 (Valiant, 1992)
*'' Shadowman'' #3 (Valiant Comics, 1992)
*'' Harbinger'' #14 (Valiant Comics, 1993)
*'' Warriors of Plasm'' #12 (Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics was a comic book publishing imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners, LP. Defiant was established in 1993 by former Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.
Publication history
Defiant was founded in t ...
, 1994)
References
External links
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapham, David
American comics writers
American comics artists
1970 births
Living people
Eisner Award winners for Best Writer/Artist
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American artists
21st-century American male writers
21st-century American artists
Inkpot Award winners
Image Comics writers