{{short description|American comics artist and writer (born 1960)}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox comics creator | image = 6.28.12DavidMazzuchelliByLuigiNovi1.jpg | caption = Mazzucchelli at a June 28, 2012 book signing at Midtown Comics in Manhattan | birth_name = David John Mazzucchelli | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|9|21}} | birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | cartoonist = y | write = y | pencil = y | ink = y | letter = | color = | alias = | notable works = ''Asterios Polyp''<br />''Daredevil''<br />''Batman: Year One''<br />''Rubber Blanket''<br />''City of Glass: The Graphic Novel'' | awards = Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon<br>New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship<br>Japan/U.S. Friendship Commission Creative Artists Fellowship<br>''Los Angeles Times'' Book Prize | website = | nonUS = }} '''David John Mazzucchelli'''<ref name="Homines">{{cite web |url= http://www.homines.com/comic/david_mazzucchelli/index.htm|title= David Mazzucchelli: El Naturalismo expresionista|first= Luis Miguel|last= Lus Arana|date= February 7, 2008|publisher= Homines.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120302151050/http://www.homines.com/comic/david_mazzucchelli/index.htm|archive-date= March 2, 2012|url-status= live|df=mdy-all|language= es}} [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homines.com%2Fcomic%2Fdavid_mazzucchelli%2Findex.htm English language translation]</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|æ|z|uː|ˈ|k|ɛ|l|i}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz3q8XQV7lU&t=66s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/oz3q8XQV7lU |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title='Storytelling for Comics' by David Mazzucchelli - FanFaire NYC 2020|publisher=NerdNewsToday|via=YouTube|date=February 8, 2020|accessdate=April 13, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> born September 21, 1960)<ref name="Lambiek">{{cite web |url=http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mazzuchelli.htm |title=David Mazzucchelli |date=January 25, 2013 |publisher=Lambiek Comiclopedia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822005309/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mazzuchelli.htm |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> is an American comics artist and writer, known for his work on seminal superhero comic book storylines ''Daredevil: Born Again'' and ''Batman: Year One'', as well as for graphic novels in other genres, such as ''Asterios Polyp'' and ''City of Glass: The Graphic Novel''. He is also an instructor who teaches comic book storytelling at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.
==Career== Mazzucchelli received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design,<ref name=SVA>{{cite web |url= http://www.sva.edu/faculty/david-mazzucchelli|title= Our Faculty: David Mazzuchelli|publisher= School of Visual Arts|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121023131205/http://www.sva.edu/faculty/david-mazzucchelli|archive-date= October 23, 2012|url-status= live|df=mdy-all|access-date= July 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wittyworld.com/whoswho/whoswho-M.html|title= Mazzuchelli, David|publisher= International Who is Who in Cartooning|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120204164557/http://www.wittyworld.com/whoswho/whoswho-M.html|archive-date= February 4, 2012|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> and started working in comics in the early 1980s, first at Marvel Comics where, after a few fill-in jobs, he became the regular artist on ''Daredevil''.<ref>{{gcdb|type=credit|search= David+Mazzucchelli|title= David Mazzucchelli}}</ref> He worked with writer Denny O'Neil and culminated his work on this title with the ''Daredevil: Born Again'' (Feb.–Aug. 1986) story arc, written by Frank Miller.<ref>{{cite book|last1 = DeFalco|first1 = Tom|author-link = Tom DeFalco|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1980s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|year= 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 226|isbn= 978-0756641238|quote= 'Born Again' was a seven-issue story arc that appeared in ''Daredevil'' from issue #227 to #233 (Feb.–Aug. 1986) by writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli.}}</ref>
Miller and Mazzucchelli collaborated again on the graphic novel ''Batman: Year One'', serialized in issues #404–407 (Feb.–May 1987) of DC Comics' monthly ''Batman'' title, and published in a single volume shortly afterwards. ''Batman: Year One'' is considered one of the best Batman stories ever produced.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Manning|first1= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah|chapter= 1980s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|year=2010 |location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 227 |quote = Melding Miller's noir sensibilities, realistic characterization, and gritty action with Mazzucchelli's brilliant iconic imagery, "Year One" thrilled readers and critics alike...as well as being one of the influences for the 2005 film ''Batman Begins''.}}</ref> Mazzucchelli had previously drawn Batman in a five-page backup story in ''World's Finest Comics'' #302 (April 1984).<ref>{{cite book|last1= Manning|first1= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair|chapter= 1980s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 150|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= A rare early example of Mazzucchelli's Batman before his ground-breaking 'Batman: Year One' story in February 1987, this tale featured Superman and Batman doing something quite out of the ordinary for the duo: having a drink at a local bar.}}</ref>
After ''Batman: Year One'', Mazzucchelli drew an Angel story in ''Marvel Fanfare'' #40 (Oct. 1988).<ref>{{cite journal|last= Trumbull|first= John|title= '''Marvel Fanfare'' #40: Fallen Angels and Stormy Weather|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 96|pages= 64–65|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= June 2017|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> He then moved on to focus on more personal projects.<ref>{{cite journal|last = Young|first = Frank |title = Comics Used to be about Telling Stories: David Mazzucchelli Discusses his Transition from Mainstream to Independence|journal = The Comics Journal|issue = 152|pages = 114–199|publisher = Fantagraphics|date = August 1992|location= Seattle, Washington}}</ref> He published three issues of his own independent anthology, ''Rubber Blanket'', co-edited by his wife, painter Richmond Lewis, in which he began finding his voice as a writer in addition to exploring new avenues of visual expression. His evocative and haunting stories in ''Rubber Blanket'', notably "Near Miss," "Dead Dog," "Discovering America," and "Big Man," set the stage for his work to come. Mazzucchelli's work in ''Rubber Blanket'', and especially his use of two-color printing to create his artwork, influenced a number of young indie-comics artists through the 1990s and 2000s, including Darwyn Cooke, Frank Santoro, and Dash Shaw.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bookforum.com/print/1603/mazzucchelli-s-graphic-novel-marks-the-quintessence-of-his-formal-explorations-4303|last = Nadel|first = Dan |work=Bookforum |title = Space Odyssey|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20230627043557/https://www.bookforum.com/print/1603/mazzucchelli-s-graphic-novel-marks-the-quintessence-of-his-formal-explorations-4303|archivedate= June 27, 2023|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|quote = Mazzucchelli's use of two colors and his employment of color as a tool for emotional layering would influence countless cartoonists throughout the ’90s and 2000s, including Darwyn Cooke, Frank Santoro, and Dash Shaw.}}</ref> With writer/artist Paul Karasik, he co-wrote and illustrated an adaptation of Paul Auster's ''City of Glass'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.indyworld.com/indy/spring_2004/mazzucchelli_interview/|title= Three Questions for David Mazzucchelli|first= Bill|last= Kartalopoulos|date= Spring 2004|publisher= Indy Magazine|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130614172447/http://www.indyworld.com/indy/spring_2004/mazzucchelli_interview/|archive-date= June 14, 2013|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> published first by Avon Books in 1994, then by Picador in 2004 as ''City of Glass: The Graphic Novel''. Auster's later book ''The Brooklyn Follies'' features a character with the name Nancy Mazzucchelli, an homage to David. He continued to write and draw short comics for various publishers until 2000. Mazzucchelli was one of the artists on the ''Superman and Batman: World's Funnest'' one-shot written by Evan Dorkin.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6999|title= Evan Dorkin Debuts ''World's Funnest''|first= Beau|last= Yarbrough|date= March 18, 1999|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150905230641/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6999|archive-date= September 5, 2015|url-status= dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
In 2009, Pantheon Books published Mazzucchelli's graphic novel, ''Asterios Polyp''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wolk |date=July 23, 2009 |title=Shades of Meaning |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/books/review/Wolk-t.html |work=The New York Times |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120904223249/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/books/review/Wolk-t.html?_r=1|archivedate= September 4, 2012|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> The book was named a ''New York Times'' Notable Book for that year,<ref>{{cite news |url = https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gift-guide/holiday-2009/100-notable-books-of-2009-gift-guide/list.html? |work=The New York Times |title = 100 Notable Books of 2009|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20250829141218/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gift-guide/holiday-2009/100-notable-books-of-2009-gift-guide/list.html|archivedate= August 29, 2025|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> and won the 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for graphic novels.<ref name=SVA/><ref name="Garrison">{{cite web |first=Jessica |last=Garrison |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0424-bookprize-20100424,0,1170338.story |title=Rafael Yglesias' ''A Happy Marriage'' wins Times Book Prize for fiction |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108184903/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/23/local/la-me-0424-bookprize-20100424 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=April 24, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Mazzucchelli has done illustrations for various publications, including interior pieces and covers for ''The New Yorker''<ref name="Lambiek" /> In 2011, an animated adaptation of ''Batman: Year One'' was released by Warner Home Video.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942 |title= ''Batman: Year One'' Lines Up Voice Cast, Sets Comic-Con Premiere|last= Kit|first= Borys|date= April 20, 2011|magazine= The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 18, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721213402/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942|archive-date= July 21, 2011|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Mazzucchelli has taught a cartooning course for BFA students at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.<ref name=SVA/>
==Awards== *2009 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Graphic Novel Award<ref name=SVA/><ref name="Garrison"/> *2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Best Graphic Album—New; Best Writer/Artist; Best Lettering (for ''Asterios Polyp'')<ref>{{cite web |work=CBR.com |last=Melrose |first=Kevin |title=SDCC '10 Winners announced for 22nd annual Eisner Awards |date= July 24, 2010|url= https://www.cbr.com/sdcc-10-winners-announced-for-22nd-annual-eisner-awards/|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20241127124331/https://www.cbr.com/sdcc-10-winners-announced-for-22nd-annual-eisner-awards/|archivedate= November 27, 2024|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> *2010 Harvey Awards, Best Original Graphic Album; Best Single Issue or Story; Best Letterer (for ''Asterios Polyp'')<ref>{{cite web |first=Heidi |last=MacDonald |title=2010 Harvey Award winners |url= https://www.comicsbeat.com/2010-harvey-award-winners/ |work=The Beat |date=August 30, 2010|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20241127113946/https://www.comicsbeat.com/2010-harvey-award-winners/|archivedate= November 27, 2024|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> *Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Creative Artist Fellowship<ref name=SVA/> *Morning Manga Fellowship<ref name=SVA/> *New Jersey State Council on the Arts<ref name=SVA/> *Erwin Swann Award, Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon<ref name=SVA/> *2012 HQ Mix Award for Foreign Artist (for ''Asterios Polyp'')<ref name="universohq">{{cite web|author=Naliato, Samir|url=http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2012/n19062012_07.cfm |title=Divulgados os vencedores do prêmio HQ Mix 2012 |publisher=Universo HQ |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804210131/http://www.universohq.com/quadrinhos/2012/n19062012_07.cfm |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |language=pt}}</ref> *2012 HQ Mix Award for Foreign Writer (for ''Asterios Polyp'')<ref name="universohq"/>
==Bibliography== [[File:Mazzucchelli3.jpg|right|thumb|A page from ''Asterios Polyp'' (2009)]] *''Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu'' #121: "Passing Strangers!" (with Steven Grant, Marvel, 1983) *''The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones'' #14: "Demons" (with David Michelinie, Marvel, 1984) *''World's Finest Comics'' #302: "No Rest for Heroes!" (with David Anthony Kraft, DC Comics, 1984) *''Daredevil'' (Marvel): ** "Every Good and Perfect Gift..." (with Dennis O'Neil, in #206, 1984) ** "The Deadliest Night of My Life!" (with Harlan Ellison and Arthur Byron Cover, in #208, 1984) ** "Blast from the Past" (with Arthur Byron Cover, in #209, 1984) ** "The War on Micah Synn" (with Dennis O'Neil, in #210–214, 1984–1985) ** "Prophecy" (with Dennis O'Neil, in #215, 1985) ** "The Second Secret" (with Dennis O'Neil, in #216–217, 1985) ** "Fog" (with Dennis O'Neil, in #220–221, 1985) ** "Fear in a Handful of Dust..." (with Dennis O'Neil, in #222, 1985) ** "The Price" (with Dennis O'Neil and Jim Shooter, in #223, 1985) ** "...And Then You Die!" (with Dennis O'Neil, in #225, 1985) ** "Warriors" (with Dennis O'Neil and Frank Miller, in #226, 1986) ** "Born Again" (with Frank Miller, in #227–233, 1986) *''Star Wars'' #84: "Seoul Searching" (with Roy Richardson, Marvel, 1984) *''Marvel Team-Up Annual'' #7: "No Place to Run" (with Bob DeNatale, co-feature, Marvel, 1984) *''Batman'' #404–407: "Year One" (with Frank Miller, DC Comics, 1987) *''X-Factor'' #16: "Playing with Fire!" (with Louise Simonson, Marvel, 1987) *''Marvel Fanfare'' #40: "Chiaroscuro" (with Ann Nocenti, anthology, Marvel, 1988) *''Rubber Blanket'' #1–3 (script and art, self-published anthology, 1991–1993) *''Nozone'' #3, 5–6 (script and art, anthology, 1991–1995) *''Drawn & Quarterly'' (script and art, anthology): ** "It's a Beautiful Day in the Epsilon-Neighborhood" (in vol. 1 #9, 1992) ** "Rates of Exchange" (in vol. 2 #2, 1994) *''Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book'' #2 (with Stephen DeStefano – inks on Evan Dorkin, Marvel, 1992) *''Snake Eyes'' #3: "Phobia" (script and art, anthology, Fantagraphics, 1993) *''Paul Auster's City of Glass'' (with Paul Karasik, graphic novel, Avon Books, 1994) *''Zero Zero'' #2, 11, 27 (script and art, anthology, Fantagraphics, 1995–2000) *''Jingle Belle'' #1: "Miserable on 34th Street" (inks on Stephen DeStefano, written by Paul Dini, Oni Press, 1999) *''Superman and Batman: World's Funnest'': "Last Imp Standing!" (with Evan Dorkin, among other artists, one-shot, DC Comics, 2000) *''Little Lit: Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies'': "The Fisherman and the Sea Princess" (script and art, anthology graphic novel, HarperCollins, 2000) *''The Comics Journal Special'' #1: "The Boy Who Loved Comics" (script and art, co-feature, Fantagraphics, 2001) *''Asterios Polyp'' (script and art, graphic novel, Pantheon Books, 2009) *''Fairy Tale Comics'': "Give Me the Shudders" (script and art, anthology graphic novel, First Second, 2013)
===Covers only=== *''Rom Spaceknight'' #61 (Marvel, 1984) *''Marvel Age'' #36 (Marvel, 1986) *''Amazing Heroes'' #102 (Fantagraphics, 1986) *''Snake Eyes'' #1–2 (Fantagraphics, 1990–1992) *''Cheval Noir'' #40 (Dark Horse, 1993) *''The Comics Journal'' #188, 194 (Fantagraphics, 1996–1997)
===Interviews and other work=== *''Marvel Age'' #36: "Miller and Mazzucchelli on ''Daredevil''" (interview, Marvel, 1986) *''Amazing Heroes'' #102: "David Mazzucchelli on ''Daredevil'', ''Batman: Year One''" (interview, Fantagraphics, 1986) *''Detective Comics'' #598, 600: "Tribute: People of Note Pay Homage to the Batman" (pin-ups, DC Comics, 1989) *''The Comics Journal'' #152, 194, 300<ref>{{cite journal |first=Dash |last=Shaw |url=http://classic.tcj.com/tcj-300/tcj-300-conversations-david-mazzucchelli-dash-shaw/ |title=TCJ 300 Conversations: David Mazzucchelli & Dash Shaw |journal=The Comics Journal |date=December 16, 2009 |publisher=Fantagraphics|location=Seattle, Washington |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021193211/http://classic.tcj.com/tcj-300/tcj-300-conversations-david-mazzucchelli-dash-shaw/ |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> (interviews, Fantagraphics, 1992–2009) *''Negative Burn'' (anthology, Caliber Comics): ** "Spotlight: Rubber Blanket" (in #10, 1994) ** "Sketchbook" (in #17, 1994) *''Comic Culture'' vol. 2 #4: "Rubber Blanket: Voices from the Small Press" (interview, 1995) *''Panel Discussions: Design in Sequential Art Storytelling'' (interview, TwoMorrows, 2002) *''Comic Book Artist'' vol. 2 #6: "Paying Homage: Tribute to the Great Will Eisner" (Top Shelf, 2005)
====Newspapers and magazines==== * "Castles in the Sand" (cover of ''The New Yorker'', July 26, 1993) * "The Fine Art of Hanging Ryman" (in ''The New Yorker'', October 4, 1993) * "May Day" (cover of ''The New Yorker'', May 2, 1994) * "Post Mort on Columbus Circle" (in ''The New Yorker'', May 16, 1994) * "Monday in the Park with Marlon" (in ''The New Yorker'', September 19, 1994) * "Fall" (cover of ''The New Yorker'', October 24, 1994) * "New String" (in ''The Village Voice'', 1994)
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=736|title=David Mazzucchelli}} * [https://www.mikesamazingworld.com/main/features/creator.php?creatorid=588 David Mazzucchelli] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics * [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namm29.htm#N443 David Mazzucchelli] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creatore
{{s-start}} {{succession box|title=''Daredevil'' artist|before=William Johnson|after=Steve Ditko|years=1984–1986}} {{succession box|title=''Batman'' artist|before=Denys Cowan|after=Chris Warner |years=1987}} {{end}}
{{David Mazzucchelli|state=collapsed}} {{Eisner Award for Best Lettering}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mazzucchelli, David}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American artists Category:21st-century American artists Category:Alternative cartoonists Category:20th-century American art educators Category:American comics artists Category:American comics writers Category:American writers of Italian descent Category:DC Comics people Category:Eisner Award winners for Best Letterer/Lettering Category:Marvel Comics people Category:Rhode Island School of Design alumni Category:School of Visual Arts Category:21st-century American art educators