''The Matrix Comics'' is a set of
comics and
short stories
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...
based on
''The Matrix'' film series and written and illustrated by figures from the comics industry. One of the comics was written by the Wachowskis and illustrated by the films'
concept artist
Concept art is a form of visual art used to convey an idea for use in films, video games, animation, comic books, or other media before it is put into the final product. Concept art usually refers to world-building artwork used to inspire the d ...
Geof Darrow
Geofrey "Geof" Darrow (born October 21, 1955) is an American comic book artist, best known for his work on comic series '' Shaolin Cowboy'', '' Hard Boiled'' and ''The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot'', which was adapted into an animated televis ...
. The comics and stories were originally presented for free on the ''Matrix'' series' website between 1999 and 2003.
One of them was printed in 1999 to be given away at theaters as a promotional item for ''The Matrix'', but Warner Bros. recalled it due to its mature content. Most of them were later republished by the Wachowskis'
Burlyman Entertainment, along with some new stories and updates with color to some of the existing ones, in two printed
trade paperback volumes in 2003 and 2004 and a deluxe hardcover twentieth anniversary edition in 2019.
By September 2004, the first printed volume had sold over 60,000 copies.
Contents
Based on the 20th anniversary edition, the following comics were published:
* Bits and Pieces of Information by
Lana & Lilly Wachowski and
Geof Darrow
Geofrey "Geof" Darrow (born October 21, 1955) is an American comic book artist, best known for his work on comic series '' Shaolin Cowboy'', '' Hard Boiled'' and ''The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot'', which was adapted into an animated televis ...
* Sweating the Small Stuff by
Bill Sienkiewicz
Boleslav William Felix Robert Sienkiewicz ( ; born May 3, 1958) is an American artist known for his work in comic books—particularly for Marvel Comics' ''New Mutants'', ''Moon Knight,'' and ''Elektra: Assassin''. Sienkiewicz's work in the 1980s ...
* A Life Less Empty by
* Goliath by Neil Gaiman, Bill Sienkiewicz, Gregory Ruth
* Burning Hope by John Van Fleet
* Butterfly by
Dave Gibbons
David Chester Gibbons (born 14 April 1949) is an English comics artist, writer and sometimes letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries '' Watchmen'' and the Superman story " For th ...
* A Sword of a Different Color by
Troy Nixey
* Get It? by
Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge (pronounced , as in ''bag''; born December 11, 1957) is an People of the United States, American cartoonist whose best-known work includes the comics ''Hate (comics), Hate'' and ''Neat Stuff''. His stories often use black humor and exa ...
* There Are No Flowers in the Real World by
David Lapham
David Lapham is an American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on the independent comic book '' Stray Bullets''.
Career
David Lapham started his career in 1990 as a penciller at Valiant Comics. He went on to wor ...
* The Miller's Tale by
Paul Chadwick
Paul Chadwick (born 1957) is an American comic book creator best known for his series ''Concrete'' about a normal man trapped in a stone body.
Biography
Born in Seattle, Chadwick grew up in its suburb Medina, where his father, Stephen F. Chadw ...
* Artistic Freedom by
Ryder Windham
Ryder Windham is an American science fiction author who has written more than 60 ''Star Wars'' books, including novels, comics, and reference books. He has also written junior novelizations for ''Indiana Jones'' films. Since 1993, he has been w ...
and Kilian Plunkett
* Hunters and Collectors by Gregory Ruth
* An Easy One by
Tommy Lee Edwards
Tommy Lee Edwards is an American illustrator. Edwards' varied portfolio includes works created in the realm of comics, video games, books, advertising, film, and animation.
Career
As well as comic-related work he has also worked on film projects ...
* Farewell Performance by
Jim Krueger
Jim Krueger () is an American comic book writer, novelist, and filmmaker.
Early life
Jim Krueger and his brother grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He developed an interest in comic books and storytelling in his youth, and has described a fateful ...
,
Tim Sale
* Déjà Vu by Paul Chadwick
* System Freeze by
Poppy Z. Brite,
Dave Dorman
Dave Dorman (born 1958 in Michigan) is a science fiction, horror and fantasy illustrator best known for his ''Star Wars'' artwork.
Early life
Dorman's parents are Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jack N. Dorman and Phyllis Dorman. Both parents are ...
,
Michael Kaluta
Michael William Kaluta, sometimes credited as Mike Kaluta or Michael Wm. Kaluta (born August 25, 1947), is an American comics artist and writer best known for his acclaimed 1970s adaptation of the pulp magazine hero ''The Shadow'' with writer De ...
* The King of Never Return by
* An Asset to the System by Troy Nixey
* A Path Among Stones by Gregory Ruth
* Run, Saga, Run by
Keron Grant
Keron Grant (born August 23, 1976, in Montego Bay) is a Jamaican-American comic book artist, who has worked mostly for Marvel Comics.
His first published work was a pinup in the back of one of the final issues of Dale Keown's ''Pitt''. His fi ...
, Rob Stull
* Wrong Number by Vince Evans
* Broadcast Depth by Bill Sienkiewicz
* Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days? by Peter Bagge
* Saviors by Spencer Lamm,
Michael Oeming
Michael Avon Oeming is an American comic book creator, both as an artist and writer.
Career
Oeming is a fan of ancient mythology, having written or drawn several projects centering on the Norse gods. He frequently collaborates with long-time fr ...
* I Kant by
Kaare Andrews
Kaare Andrews is a comic book writer, artist and filmmaker from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His work includes ''Spider-Man'', '' Iron Fist'', ''Renato Jones'', and '' Incredible Hulk''. Andrews has a diverse drawing style, which ranges from hyper ...
* Day In... Day Out by Ted McKeever, Keron Grant
* Return of the Prodigal Son by Gregory Ruth
* Let It All Fall Down by Paul Chadwick
Collected editions
* ''The Matrix Comics, Vol. 1'' by various (Burlyman Entertainment, 2003)
* ''The Matrix Comics, Vol. 2'' by various (Burlyman Entertainment, 2004)
* ''The Matrix Comics: 20th Anniversary Edition'' by various (Burlyman Entertainment, 2019)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matrix, The (franchise)
The Matrix (franchise) mass media
American comics titles
Comics based on films