Patrick Spaziante, or "Spaz" as he is commonly known, is an American

comic book artist 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 literary ...

known for his work for

Archie Comics Archie Comic Publications, Inc. (often referred to simply as Archie Comics) is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the village of Pelham, New York. The company's many titles feature the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Jug ...

, in particular his interior pencil and cover work for ''

Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese developers Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara for Sega. The franchise follows Sonic the Hedgehog (character), Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battle ...

'', ''

Sonic X is a Japanese anime television series based on Sega's ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' video game series. Produced by TMS Entertainment under partnership with Sega and Sonic Team, and directed by Hajime Kamegaki, ''Sonic X'' initially ran for 52 ep ...

'' and ''

Sonic Universe ''Sonic Universe'' is an American comic book series that was published by Archie Comics in association with Sega, based on the latter's ''Sonic the Hedgehog''. It is a spin-off (media), spin-off of the comic book series of the Sonic the Hedgehog ...

''. He is also known for his work on

Dreamwave Productions Dreamwave Productions was a Canadian art design studio and comic book publisher founded in 1996. Best known for its comic book adaptations of ''Transformers (toy line), Transformers'', the company shut down on January 4, 2005. History Brothers ...

' ''

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...

'', Nickelodeon Comics' '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'' and

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 ...

' '' Muties'', as well as his

illustration An illustration is a decoration, interpretation, or visual explanation of a text, concept, or process, designed for integration in print and digitally published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, vi ...

work for

Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster LLC (, ) is an American publishing house owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts since 2023. It was founded in New York City in 1924, by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. Along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group US ...

's children books.

Career

Spaziante was a member of a group along with

Ken Penders Kenneth W. Penders, II (born September 28, 1958) is an American comics artist and writer. Penders is known for his work on the Archie Comics series ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and its ''Knuckles the Echidna'' spin-off, which he contributed to from ...

and

Steven Butler Steven Butler is an American comic book artist. He is known both for penciling the Archie Comics series ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' as well as creating new designs for Archie characters in 2007. Career Butler's work ranges from inking and providi ...

known collectively as "Team Sonic" (not to be confused with "

Sonic Team , doing business as , is a Japanese video game developer owned by Sega. Sonic Team is best known for its ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series and games such as '' Nights into Dreams'' and '' Phantasy Star Online''. The initial team, formed in 1990, c ...

", the original creators of the SEGA franchise), because of their extensive work on the series. The trio interviewed with Offenberger as they approached the 150th edition of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. In the interview, Spaz talked about the early years he spent as an up-and-coming comic book artist with Archie Comics and what it was like to work his way up. The first comic he is credited for designing the cover art for was ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #21 (April 1995). Spaziante also worked on ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #25 (August 1995), which was adapted directly from

Sonic CD is a 1993 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega CD. As Sonic the Hedgehog, the player attempts to protect an extraterrestrial body, Little Planet, from Doctor Robotnik. Like other '' Sonic'' games, Sonic runs through the ...

, released two years prior to the release of that comic. Spaziante's other works include ''

Mega Man ''Mega Man'' (known as in Japan) is a video game franchise developed and published by Capcom, featuring the Mega Man (character), protagonist of the same name. The Mega Man (1987 video game), original game was released for the Nintendo Enter ...

'' and ''

Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two Extraterrestrials in fiction, alien robot fac ...

'' for

' ''

'', the miniseries '' Muties'' for

, and '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'' for Nickelodeon Comics, which was based on the television series of the same name. Spaziante has also worked on children's books for

, in particular the ''Olivia'' series and the ''Avatar'' book ''Journeys Through the Earth Kingdom''.

Critical reception

Rafael Gaitan, reviewing ''Mega Man'' #2 for

Comics Bulletin Comics Bulletin is a daily website covering the comic-book industry. History Silver Bullet Comicbooks In January 2000, New Zealand-based publisher/editor Jason Brice founded then named Silver Bullet Comicbooks. During this period, the site ...

, found Spaziante's pencils to be "clean and tight", lauding them for accurately capturing the video game's look, and manga-inspired action style. Comics Bulletin's Penny Kenny, reviewing ''Mega Man Volume 1: Let the Games Begin'' trade paperback, called that book's artwork "dynamic and expressive", praising the clarity of its sequences.Kenny, Penny
"Echidnas, Marriages and More"
"For Kids & Tweens". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved February 5, 2012.

Bibliography

* '' Mega Man (Archie)'' #1-4, 34-35 * ''Mega Man (Dreamwave Productions)'' #4 * ''Nights into Dreams'' #1, 3-6 * ''Sonic & Knuckles: Mecha Madness Special'' * ''Sonic Super Special'' #6, 11, 15 * '' Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie)'' #21-22, 25, 30, 39-41, 43, 50, 59, 82, 98, 110, 115, 161, 171, 226-227 * '' Sonic X (Archie)'' #16-17, 23, 25-27, 30-32, 34-35, 37-40 * ''What If? Fallen Son'' (What if the Runaways Became the Young Avengers? story) * ''What If? House of M'' (What if the Runaways Became the Young Avengers? story) * ''What If? Newer Fantastic Four'' (What if the Runaways Became the Young Avengers? story) * ''What If? Secret Wars'' (What if the Runaways Became the Young Avengers? story) * ''What If? - Spider-Man: Back in Black'' (What if the Runaways Became the Young Avengers? story) * ''What If? World War Hulk''

References

External links

Official Publisher Page

.
Patrick Spaziante
at ComicVine {{DEFAULTSORT:Spaziante, Patrick Spaz Living people American comics artists Year of birth missing (living people)