Frazetta’s Death Dealer comes to Image Comics

By Patrick Luce Jan 31, 2006, 8:54 GMT

Considered by many to be the greatest fantasy painter in the history of the medium, Frank Frazetta has had a long and successful career painting a wide range of fantastic creatures and characters.

Arguably, none more enduring than his creation, Death Dealer, which sprang to life in six individual paintings by the master. Now, Image Comics is proud to present a six-part Death Dealer mini-series, written by Steve (Bad Planet, 30 Days of Night) Niles.

"I've been a fan of Frazetta my whole life," said Niles in an Image press release. "I had his posters on my wall and I used to sit there as a kid and make up stories about them. Death Dealer always had a staring role."

To bring Niles' vision of the Death Dealer to life, the responsibility fell on the shoulders of Nat Jones. Nat, who has collaborated with Niles on many occasions, is thrilled with the project.

"Like so many artists working today, I have been greatly affected by Frazetta's work - this is an amazing opportunity and I can say that Steve, Jay and I, along with Image Comics, are all extremely excited!" enthused Jones. "Frank's Death Dealer paintings are iconic and we're really working hard to try and bring some of that magic and mood to this book. We're pushing our limits creatively, too, experimenting with different techniques and in the end, I think that's really going to show."

This foray in to a new art process largely involves Jay Fotos (Spawn), who is handling the color duties on all six issues.

"Nat and I are taking this project personal - we are huge Frazetta fans, and dealing with an Icon, we want to give it its due respect,” said Fotos. "We are experimenting with different styles/techniques and collaborate on a daily basis. Our intentions are doing this right, that's why we don't have a set shelf date. Along the way we will keep the fans updated with new art and any happenings."

With the full approval of the Frazetta family on this project, this is the most ambitious and detailed Death Dealer project to ever hit the printed page. Death Dealer is an otherworldly figure who was once human and made death personified in a pact with dark gods.

"Frazetta's Death Dealer series has a lot of power and has lived in people's imaginations for decades. I hope the series will bring his to life in an epic way, in a way that people have never seen before in a sword and sorcery story," concluded Niles.

Each cover of the six-issue Death Dealer mini-series will feature one Frazetta's famous Death Dealer paintings and the comic is set to launch in late 2006 from Image Comics.

Visit Image Comics for more information on this and other available titles.