{{Short description|American comic artist (born 1961)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use American English|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox comics creator | name = Mike Manley | image = 4.17.16MikeManleyByLuigiNovi1.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Manley in April 2016 | birth_name = Michael Manley | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|10|19}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | cartoonist = | write = | art = | pencil = y | ink = y | edit = | publish = | letter = | color = | alias = | signature = | notable works = ''Darkhawk'', ''The Phantom'' and ''Judge Parker'' | awards = | website = {{official|https://drawman.blogspot.com/}} }}
'''Michael Manley''' (born October 19, 1961)<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson|authorlink=John Jackson Miller|url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |title=Comics Industry Birthdays |work=Comics Buyer's Guide |date=June 10, 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archivedate=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> is an American artist, most notable as a comic strip cartoonist and comic book inker and penciller. Manley currently draws two syndicated comic strips, ''Judge Parker'' and ''The Phantom''. He is also known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Darkhawk.<ref>{{cite book|last = Manning|first = Matthew K.|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1990s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|date= 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 253|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= Darkhawk was created by editor Tom DeFalco and artist Mike Manley with scripts by Danny Fingeroth.}}</ref>
==Personal life== Manley was born in Detroit, Michigan.<ref name="Lambiek">{{cite web|url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/manley_mike.htm|title= Mike Manley|date= September 4, 2009|publisher= Lambiek Comiclopedia|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150128173157/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/manley_mike.htm|archivedate= January 28, 2015|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Manley's grandfather was a commercial artist,{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} and Manley was therefore aware as a child that one could make a living at drawing. He became a comic book collector and reader, and the time he was a teenager had decided to become a comic book artist, an animator or an illustrator.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}
A commercial art class in high school in Ann Arbor enabled Manley to assemble a portfolio, which led to his start in commercial printing at age fifteen. He attended Washtenaw Community College, but found the art education he was receiving there to be unsatisfying. At age twenty-one, Manley began working for the ''Detroit Metro Times'' as art director. Two years after, he had his first comic book art assignment at DC Comics.
He cites other artists in addition to Frazetta as inspiration: Alex Raymond, Stan Drake, Leonard Starr, John Prentice, and Al Williamson. In his late twenties, Manley would have the opportunity to work for a brief but intensely formative time alongside Williamson, in that artist's Honesdale, Pennsylvania studio.<ref name="Cavna">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Cavna |work=Comic Riffs |publisher=The Washington Post|title=Artist Mike Manley makes his 'Judge Parker' debut today |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/03/the_riffs_interview_artist_mik.html |date=March 15, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160731220331/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/03/the_riffs_interview_artist_mik.html|archive-date= July 31, 2016|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all|access-date=March 15, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Remembering Al Williamson|url=https://drawman.blogspot.com/2011/06/remebering-al-williamson.html|first= Mike|last= Manley |date= June 14, 2011|website=Draw!|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012201208/http://drawman.blogspot.com/2011/06/remebering-al-williamson.html|archivedate= October 12, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|accessdate=June 16, 2016}}</ref>
Manley lives in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://drawmanley.artstation.com/resume|title= Mike Manley|first= Mike|last= Manley|date= n.d.|publisher= Drawmanley.artstation.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124116/https://drawmanley.artstation.com/resume|archivedate= December 9, 2018|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref>
==Career== ===Comic book artist=== Mike Manley has worked as an artist for major publishers such as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Dark Horse Comics. Manley, with writers Danny Fingeroth and Tom DeFalco, co-created in 1991 the ''Darkhawk'' series, which he drew for the first half of its run.<ref name="GCD">{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Mike+Manley|title= Mike Manley}}</ref> He has also contributed to other comic book titles such as ''Batman'', ''Quasar'', ''Captain America'', ''Marvel Universe'',<ref name="GCD" /> and ''The Power of Shazam!''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah|chapter= 1990s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 269 |quote = Writer Jerry Ordway chronicled the further adventures of Billy Batson, the World's Mightiest Mortal, in the new ongoing effort ''The Power of Shazam!'', alongside artists Mike Manley and Peter Krause.}}</ref> His comics work includes a number of short runs and fill-in issues on a wide variety of titles.
In his run on the ''Batman'' series, Manley was one of the artists of ''Batman'' #500 in which the character Azrael replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 260: "By ''Batman'' #500, the last chapter of the 'Knightfall' saga by writer Doug Moench and artist Jim Aparo and Mike Manley, Azrael was truly his own [version of] Batman."</ref> He drew the series during the "KnightsEnd" storyline<ref>{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair|chapter= 1990s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|date= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 208|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= [Bruce] Wayne finally reclaimed his Batman costume and defeated Azrael in a climactic battle in the Batcave, ending this saga by writers Doug Moench, Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Jo Duffy, and Dennis O'Neil and artists Mike Manley, Bret Blevins, Graham Nolan, Ron Wagner, Tom Grummett, Jim Balent, Ray Kryssing, and Barry Kitson.}}</ref> and the ''Zero Hour: Crisis in Time'' crossover.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 208: "In this issue [#0] by writer Doug Moench and Mike Manley, Bruce's life was recalled."</ref>
In 1995, Manley formed Action Planet Inc. as a home to publish his own comics and ideas, starting with the anthology ''Action Planet Comics'', featuring his character Monsterman.<ref name="Lambiek" /> In early 1996 he founded ActionPlanet.com, which has grown to include his award-winning{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} online web comic, ''G.I.R.L. Patrol''.
In 2007, while primarily working as an art teacher, Manley illustrated a new ''Secret Agent Corrigan'' story for the Swedish publisher Egmont Publishing.
===Book illustrator=== Concurrently with some of his time at Marvel Comics, between 1985 and 1990, Manley illustrated children's books utilizing licensed characters. For Macmillan Publishing, he illustrated books in their Raggedy Ann and Andy series. For Golden Books and Western Publishing he worked on several children's fun and activity books, with Barbie, He-Man, Captain Power, Tiny Toons, Ghost Busters and the Muppets as some of the characters featured.
In 1989 Manley worked for West End Games on role-playing game books in the Star Wars line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Manley's Homepage|url=http://www.hollywoodcomics.com/manley.html|first= Mike|last= Manley|date= 2000|website=Hollywood Comics|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20170121191250/http://www.hollywoodcomics.com/manley.html|archivedate= January 21, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|accessdate=June 12, 2016}}</ref>
===Animation artist=== In 1996 Manley moved into the animation field, first working as a storyboard artist on ''Superman: The Animated Series'' for Kids' WB. The first of the seven episodes that included his work featured Lobo, and was titled "The Main Man, Part 2". Manley also worked on the storyboards team for three episodes of ''The New Batman Adventures'' between 1997 and 1998.
Throughout the 2000s, Manley created storyboards as a freelance artist on TV cartoons such as: ''Samurai Jack'' (on which series he also received two writing credits); ''Kim Possible''; ''The Fairly OddParents''; ''The Venture Brothers''; ''Growing Up Creepie''; and ''The Secret Saturdays''. Other projects in this period included: ''Spy Groove'' for MTV;<ref name="Lambiek" /> ''Todd McFarlane's Spawn'' for HBO; ABC's ''One Saturday Morning''; ''Clerks: The Animated Series'', based on the Kevin Smith movie; and ''Justice League: The New Frontier''.
Between 1998 and 2001, Manley was a background key designer for ''Superman: The Animated Series'' (nine episodes, following his time as a storyboard artist on that series), and background key designer then background designer on ''Batman Beyond'' (thirty-three episodes overall).
He is also credited as character designer on eight episodes of ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' between 2008 and 2009.<ref>{{IMDb name|nm0542595}}</ref>
===Art teacher=== While working in both comics and animation, Manley created and edited ''Draw! Magazine'', a twice Eisner-nominated "how-to" magazine published by TwoMorrows Publishing. The magazine features step-by-step demos and articles on artists working in comics, cartooning, and animation. Manley also co-produced a how-to DVD along with Danny Fingeroth, ''How to Create Comics from Script to Print'', also distributed by TwoMorrows.
In 2000, Manley started a new career as an art teacher. He taught in the animation department at the Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) until 2009 and became a senior lecturer at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Manley then enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, finishing his certificate in painting on his way toward completing his master's degree.
===Comic strip artist=== Manley was hired to draw the serial newspaper comic strip ''Judge Parker'' for four weeks beginning March 15, 2010, filling in for regular artist Eduardo Barreto during an illness.<ref name="mikem1">{{cite web|first= Mike|last= Manley|work= Draw!|title= Work Break |url= https://drawman.blogspot.com/2010/02/work-break.html|date= February 21, 2010|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120229092938/http://drawman.blogspot.com/2010/02/work-break.html|archivedate= February 29, 2012|url-status= live|df=mdy-all|accessdate =February 23, 2010}}</ref> The syndicate essentially held a "two-man tryout" for Barreto's replacement, with Manley's audition following John Heebink's; Manley was offered the full-time job after he turned in his second week of art for the strip. Manley and Heebink had known each other since high school.<ref name="Cavna" /> Manley draws the strip for all seven days of the week.
In late March 2016, it was announced that Manley would succeed Paul Ryan, who had died unexpectedly, as artist on ''The Phantom'' daily strips (the Sundays would continue to be drawn by the incumbent, Terry Beatty). Manley's tenure began with the strip dated May 30, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title= Mike Manley To Take Over The Phantom Comic Strips|url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/03/21/mike-manley-to-take-over-the-phantom-comic-strips/|first= Dan|date= March 21, 2016|last= Wickline|publisher= Bleeding Cool|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160409001339/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/03/21/mike-manley-to-take-over-the-phantom-comic-strips/|archivedate= April 9, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref> Manley noted that he and Paul Ryan are numbered among a small and notable group of artists who have professionally drawn the adventures of both Batman and The Phantom. The others have been Jim Aparo, Terry Beatty, Don Newton, Carmine Infantino (as a ghost for Sy Barry), Joe Giella (ghosting for Bob Kane) and Graham Nolan.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Day In The Skull Cave|url=https://drawman.blogspot.com/2016/05/first-day-in-skull-cave.html|first= Mike|last= Manley|date= May 30, 2016|website=Draw!|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012150525/http://drawman.blogspot.com/2016/05/first-day-in-skull-cave.html|archivedate= October 12, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|accessdate=June 9, 2016}}</ref>
The choice of Manley to take on the Phantom received an endorsement from ''Comic Strip of the Day.com'': "He's one of the few who has found a way to maintain some detail in an ever-shrinking print medium that has driven most artists to a simplified style that works better in shrinky-dink mode than when the comics are read on line, at least on a real computer with a real monitor."<ref>{{cite web|title=Time and change|url=http://www.weeklystorybook.com/comic_strip_of_the_daycom/2016/03/time-and-change.html|date= March 21, 2016|website=Comic Strip of the Day.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161017193444/http://www.weeklystorybook.com/comic_strip_of_the_daycom/2016/03/time-and-change.html|archivedate= October 17, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|accessdate=July 10, 2016}}</ref>
==Bibliography== ===Dark Horse Comics=== * ''Aliens Vs. Predator: War'' #1 (1995)
===DC Comics=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * ''Adventures in the DC Universe Annual'' #1 (1997) * ''Adventures of Superman'' #519 (1995) * ''Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis'' #49 (2007) * ''Batman'' #500–506, 508–511, #0, ''Annual'' #19 (1993–1995) * ''Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat'' #1 (1995) * ''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual'' #3 (1993) * ''Batman: Shadow of the Bat'' #16 (1993) * ''Birds of Prey'' #66 (2004) * ''Cartoon Network Action Pack'' #29–30, 32, 34, 36, 39–40 (2008–2009) * ''Catwoman'' vol. 3 #14 (2003) * ''Catwoman Secret Files and Origins'' #1 (2002) * ''Convergence Justice League International'' #1–2 (2015) * ''Dexter's Laboratory'' #7, 12, 24, 33 (2000–2003) * ''Green Arrow'' vol. 2 #46 (1991) * ''Guardians of Metropolis'' #1–4 (1994–1995) * ''Hardware'' #4, 6–7 (1993) * ''Jaguar'' #7 (1992) * ''Power of Shazam'' #1–27, 37, ''Annual'' #1 (1995–1998) * ''Powerpuff Girls'' #7 (2000) * ''The Question Quarterly'' #4–5 (1991–1992) * ''Robotech Defenders'' #2 (1985) * ''Samurai Jack Special'' #1 (2002) * ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' #18 (1991) * ''Superboy'' vol. 3 #68 (1999) * ''Supergirl Plus'' #1 (1997) * ''Superman'' #660 (2007) * ''Superman'' vol. 2 #95 (1994) * ''Superman Adventures'' #9, 25, 28, 34, 41, ''Special'' #1 (1997–2000) * ''Young Heroes in Love'' #4 (1997) {{div col end}}
===Egmont=== * ''Agent X9'' #9/2007, 9/2009
===First Comics=== * ''Jon Sable, Freelance'' #44, 46–49 (1987)
===Image Comics=== * ''Action Planet Comics'' #3 (1997) * ''Deathmate Yellow'' #1 (1993)
===Marvel Comics=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * ''Alpha Flight'' #71, 73–82, 84–91, 93–96 (1989–1991) * ''Black Panther'' vol. 4 #9–10 (1999) * ''Captain America'' #447, ''Annual'' #10 (1991–1996) * ''Clive Barker's Night Breed'' #7–8 (1991) * ''Daredevil'' #264 (1989) * ''Darkhawk'' #1–25, ''Annual'' #1 (1991–1993) * ''Deathlok'' vol. 2 #1–7, 9–15, ''Annual'' #1 (1991–1992) * ''The Destroyer'' #2 (1989) * ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'' #9–10 (2006) * ''Ghost Rider'' vol. 3 #38 (1993) * ''Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance'' #14–15 (1993) * ''Marvel Double-Shot'' #3 (2003) * ''Marvel Holiday Special'' #4 (1994) * ''Marvel Universe'' #4–7 (1998) * ''Moon Knight: Divided We Fall'' #1 (1992) * ''New Mutants'' #73 (1989) * ''Powerline'' #8 (1989) * ''Power Pack'' #50, 52 (1989) * ''The Punisher War Zone'' #7–11 (1992–1993) * ''Quasar'' #7–17 (1990) * ''A Shadowline Saga: Critical Mass'' #2, 4–5, 7 (1990) * ''Sleepwalker'' #8–10, 13–14, 17 (1992) * ''The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #10 (1990) * ''Spider-Man'' #55 (1995) * ''Spider-Man Holiday Special '95'' #1 (1996) * ''The Transformers'' #9 (1985) * ''Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham'' #1 (2007) * ''Weaveworld'' #1–3 (1991–1992) * ''Web of Spider-Man'' #66 (1990) * ''West Coast Avengers Annual'' #4 (1989) {{div col end}}
===Valiant Comics=== * ''Destroyer'' #0 (1995) * ''Ninjak'' #18–21 (1995) * ''Solar, Man of the Atom'' #57–58 (1996) * ''Timewalker'' #0 (1996) * ''X-O Manowar'' #4 (1992)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Mike Manley}} *{{official|https://drawman.blogspot.com/}} *{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=741|title=Mike Manley}}
{{S-start}} {{Succession box|title= ''Alpha Flight'' inker|before= Hilary Barta|after= Chris Ivy|years= 1989–1991}} {{Succession box|title= ''Quasar'' penciller|before= Paul Ryan|after= Greg Capullo|years= 1990}} {{Succession box|title= ''Darkhawk'' penciller|before= n/a|after= Tod Smith|years= 1991–1993}} {{Succession box|title= ''Deathlok'' inker|before= n/a|after= Jimmy Palmiotti|years= 1991–1992}} {{Succession box|title= ''Batman'' penciller|before= Jim Aparo|after= Mike Gustovich|years= 1993–1994}} {{Succession box|title= ''Power of Shazam'' inker|before= n/a|after= Dick Giordano|years= 1995–1997}} {{S-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manley, Mike}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:American animators Category:American children's book illustrators Category:American comics artists Category:American educators Category:American storyboard artists Category:Background artists Category:DC Comics people Category:Marvel Comics people Category:Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts alumni Category:Role-playing game artists Category:Washtenaw Community College alumni