MOTTER Dean

MOTTER Dean

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE OF PERSON\M\MOTTER Dean, Comics Interview, 39, 1986, 77.jpg                          Comics Interview, 39, 1986: 77.

Born 1953 in Cleveland Ohio U.S.A.

He moved to Toronto. He was editor of Andromeda volume 2 published by Andromeda Publications Ltd. from September 1977 through to November 1979. It was at this time that he wrote “The Scared and the Profane” which Ken Steacy illustrated. It first appeared in Star Reach issue 9, June 1977 and finished in issue 13, August 1978. In Star Reach issue 14, August 1978 there was a short story of another mission. The book version appeared in 1987.

In 1982 he worked for a book publisher and taught at the Ontario College of Art.

He became art director for CBS Records Canada then founded Diagram Studios and later Modern Imageworks. He achieved a reputation for cover design and promotional graphics for acts like Liona Boyd, The Diodes, The Irish Rovers, Loverboy, The Nylons, Jane Siberry and Triumph. In 1983 he won a Juno Best Album Graphics Award for his record album cover design on the Anvil album Metal on Metal. . He had had two previous nominations: one being in 1982. The following year he won this award again along with Jeff Jackson and Deborah Samuel for his work on the Nylons album Seamless. In 1985, he won a CASBY Award for his cover design for Jane Siberry’s album No Borders Here, and the Toronto Art Director Club award for Best of the 80’s  Album Cover Honeymoon Sweet.

His conception for “Mister X” and “Radiant City.” first appeared in1984 on the cover of the Visions of Our Future album by The Tenants. The cover was nominated for a Juno Award. It is likely that by that time Dean’s concept had already been picked up by Vortex Comics Inc. and here the story becomes a bit murky. It appears that the initial serial was written by Dean and illustrated by Paul Rivoche. However it seems that Bill Marks owner of Vortex worried that the periodical wouldn’t sell unless it had big name authors and so he scrapped the original work and hired the Hernandez brothers to put their talents and their reputation to the project. The first four issues which do not look much different from Love and Rockets were done by them. Then Dean regained control of the writing and worked with a variety of collaborators including Gregory Gallant (Seth). Dean’s involvement with Vortex ended with Mister X, v.1, number 12, January 1988, although he continued to develop the concept on his own the results appearing in several books.

In 1988, he co-wrote and illustrated Shattered Visage for DC Comics based on Patrick McGoohan’s 1960s British television series The Prisoner. The following year he created the logo and basic cover design for DC’s Piranha Press imprint.

He moved to New York City in 1990.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC:

Content novel & Cover book front:

Mister X: Condemned. Illus. assist & Col., Hamid Bahrami. Dark Horse Books, Nov. 2009.

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content story & Cover book front:

Mister X: Eviction & Other Stories. Dark Horse Books, Nov. 2013.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Andromeda, 2-1, Sept.1977: “The Escape and Pursuit of Jeanne d’Arc.”.

ILLUSTRATOR:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Content story:

Andromeda, 2-2, June 1978: “Process.” Writ., A.E. Van Vogt . Andromeda Publications. Black & white.

Cover front:

Mister X,… Vortex Comics.
1-4, May 1985.

1-5, Aug.1985.

1-6, Dec.1985.

1-8, Oct.1986.

1-12, Jan.1988.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Cover back:

Andromeda, 2-2, June 1978. Andromeda Publications.

WRITER:

BOOK GRAPHIC:

Content novel:

The Sacred & The Profane, Illus., Ken Steacy. Eclipse Books, 1987. A collection of Star Reach issues 9-14.

CREATOR & sometime WRITER

BOOK GRAPHIC:

Content novel & Cover dust jacket front:

The Return of Mr. X. Writ., Gerald & Mario Hernandez & Dean Motter. Illus., Jaime Hernandez. Col., Paul Rivoche & Klaus Schönefeld. Graphitti Designs 1986. This book limited to 1500 copies collects Mister X issues 1-4. plus preparatory sketches. Includes a separate print signed by Dean Motter.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Content serial:

Mister X,…:“Mister. X.” Creator, Dean Motter.
1-1, June 1984. Car., Jamie & Gilbert Hernandez. Col., & Let., Paul Rivoche: 3-25.

2, Aug. 1984. Car., J., G. & Mario Hernandez. Col., Klaus Schönefeld. Let., P. Rivoche: 1-20

3, Dec.1984. “…Car., J., G. & M. Hernandez. Col., K. Schönefeld. Let., Ty Templeton: 1-18.

4, May 1985. Car., J., G. & M. Hernandez. Col., K. Schönefeld. Let., T. Templeton: 2-22.

Mister X,…: “Mister. X…” Creator, & Writ. Dean Motter.
5, Aug.1985: “…The Bizarre Death of Walter Eichmann.” Illus. & Col., K. Schönefeld. Co-script. In. & Let., T. Templeton..

6, Dec. 1985: “…: The Revenge of Zamora.” Pen., Seth. In., William Diamond. Col., K. Schönefeld. Let., Deborah Glencross..

Feb.1986: “…The Secret, Pts 1& 2.” Pen., Seth. In., W. Diamond. Col., K. Schönefeld. Let’, D. Glencross. 7.

Oct.1986: “…The Secret Pt 3.” Pen., Seth. In., W. Diamond. Col., P. Rivoche. Let., Deborah Marks (Glencross). 8,

9, Dec.1986: “… The Secret Pts 4 & 5.” Illus., Seth. Col. & Let., D. Marks.

 

Mister X,…: “Mister. X: Nightclubs and Daydreams, ….” Creat. & Writ., D. Motter. Illus., Seth. Col. & Let., D. Marks.
10, Aug.1987: “… Pts 1 & 2.” 11, Nov.1987: “…Pt 3.” 12, Jan.1988: “…Pts, 4 & 5.”

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content serial:

Star Reach 9, June 1977 to 14 August 1 “The Sacred and the Profane.” Illus., Ken Steacy: 978.

CO-ILLUSTRATOR:

DISC AUDIO 33 RPM:

Art work:

Jane Siberry: No Borders Here. Jane Siberry. Duke Street Records, 1984, DSR31006.

The Nylons: One Size Fits All. The Nylons. Attic Records Ltd., 1982, LAT1152.

The Nylons: Seamless. The Nylons. Attic Records Ltd., 1984, LAT1190.

Q107, Homegrown, v.3. Various artists. Attic Records Ltd., 1981. ATT1225: Co-illus., Paul Rivoche.

 

SOURCE:

Periodical text:

Comics Interview, 39, 1986: “Dean Motter.” Interviewer, Marty Herzog. 60-77.

Comics Interview,77, 1989: “Dean Motter & Mark Askwith.” Interviewer, Marty Herzog. 4-20.

Newspaper:

Toronto Sun, 11 January 1987: “Fab Funnies.” Writ., Dan Proudfoot: C8.

Toronto Star, 27 February 1987:                                                                                                                                     “Here’s your guide to superheroes of Canadian comics.” D6.                                            “Mister X marks the spot in comics.” Writ., Rob Salem. D3.

Internet:

“Dean Motter.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Motter. Accessed 2 April 2021.