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Rafael Kayanan

{{short description|American comic book artist}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox comics creator

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| birth_date = 1962

| birth_place = Manila, Philippines

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| notable works = The Fury of Firestorm
Chiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci

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| website = http://rafaelkayanan.blogspot.com

| subcat = American

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Rafael Kayanan (born 1962) is a Filipino-born naturalized American comics artist and Filipino martial arts master in the Sayoc Kali system.

Biography

=Comics=

Rafael Kayanan stated in a 2007 interview that he "grew up with Filipino Komiks masters like Alcala, Coching, and Redondo mixed in with Kirby, Sy Barry's The Phantom, Kubert's Tarzan, and Hal Foster's Prince Valiant. From there I discovered Barry Windsor-Smith, Starlin, Adams, Wrightson, and Gulacy in the 70's {{sic}}. I copied and then drew my own stories on the backs of old xeroxes my mom would bring home from work."{{cite web|url= http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=498|title= Bringing Conan to Life|first= Lee|last= Atchison|date= April 1, 2007|publisher= Sequart Organization|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160603071132/http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=498|archivedate= June 3, 2016|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}

He has illustrated for every major comic book publisher. His most notable work has been on Marvel Comics' Conan the Adventurer, Acclaim Comics' Turok, and DC Comics' Firestorm and America vs. the Justice Society.{{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= 212 |quote = In this limited series by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Rafael Kayanan, the JSA was taken to trial following a modern-day witchhunt.}} He also inked the Eisner Award-nominated series Chiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci for Vertigo.

Kayanan has illustrated concept designs for comic book, film and game companies.{{cite web|url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kayanan_rafael.htm|title= Rafael Kayanan|date= December 17, 2006|publisher= Lambiek Comiclopedia|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073828/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kayanan_rafael.htm|archivedate= March 5, 2016|url-status= live|quote= He illustrated for all the major US comics companies and produced development art, storyboards and character designs for computer games, TV, film and toylines.}} During the late 1990s, he was the creator and art director for Cross Plains Comics featuring the pulp magazine characters created by Robert E. Howard. Kayanan developed concept designs for Nintendo's Turok: Dinosaur Hunter II video game. He currently continues to do work for Topps Cards on licenses such as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.

Other titles he has worked on include The Amazing Spider-Man, Star Wars, Magic: The Gathering, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Rafael+Kayanan|title= Rafael Kayanan}}{{cite web |first= Craig|last= Zablo|url= http://www.stallonezone.com/raf_firstblood.htm|title= First Blood |publisher= Stallonezone|date= October 17, 2004|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160325005821/http://stallonezone.com/raf_firstblood.htm|archivedate= March 25, 2016|url-status= live |accessdate= March 28, 2006}}

Kayanan's art is known for its rapid tempo, storytelling pace and layered depth. Much thought is evident in the choreography of dynamic action on every page. His slick and precise usage of shadows to define anatomy and emotion is as proficient as any of the longtime masters of the craft.{{cite web|url= http://www.albertmoy.com/ArtistGalleryRoom.asp?ArtistId=492|title= Rafael Kayanan|first= Albert|last= Moy|date= n.d.|publisher= Albertmoy.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160306132236/http://www.albertmoy.com/artistgalleryroom.asp?artistid=492|archivedate= March 6, 2016|url-status= live|accessdate= March 28, 2006}}

Additional comic book work can be found in Dark Horse Comics' Conan #39, Annihilation,{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11634|title= Annihilation Makes Things Civil: Hine talks What If? Annihilation|first= Dave|last= Richards|date= October 5, 2007|website= Comic Book Resources|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195355/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11634|archivedate= March 3, 2016|url-status= live}} and fantasy novelist R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt, Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons from Devil's Due Publishing.

During his collaboration with writer Gerry Conway on DC's The Fury of Firestorm series in 1984,{{cite journal|last= Disharoon|first= Cecil|title= The Firestorm Interviews|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 112|pages= 20–22|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= June 2019|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} Kayanan co-created three characters which have appeared in live-action media. The supporting character Felicity Smoak on The CW television series Arrow debuted in The Fury of Firestorm #23 (May 1984).{{cite news|url= http://comicsalliance.com/tags/felicity-smoak/|title= Gerry Conway Starts Blog Aimed At Fair Compensation For DC Character Creators|first= Matt D.|last= Wilson|date= July 1, 2013|work= ComicsAlliance|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906085511/http://comicsalliance.com/gerry-conway-blog-dc-comics-character-fair-compensation-fans/|archivedate= September 6, 2015|url-status= dead|quote= Gerry Conway, the writer who co-created the character with artist Rafael Kayanan in a 1984 issue of Firestorm.}} The supervillain Slipknot first appeared in The Fury of Firestorm #28 (October 1984)and appeared in the Suicide Squad film in 2016.{{cite magazine|url= http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/suicidesquad/|title= From Slipknot To Captain Boomering (And Back Again): Meet The Suicide Squad|first= James|last= White|date= October 28, 2015|magazine= Empire }}

The supervillain Weasel first appeared in The Fury of Firestorm #35 (August 7, 1985) and appeared in The Suicide Squad film in 2021.{{cite magazine|url= https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2571272/weasel-the-dc-comics-origins-of-sean-gunns-the-suicide-squad-character-explained |title= Weasel: The DC Comics Origins Of Sean Gunn's The Suicide Squad Character Explained |first= Jason|last= Weise|date= August 7, 2021 |magazine= Cinema Blend}} Rafael co-created the third character to be called Spider-Woman named Mattie Franklin published by Marvel Comics first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man” #441 (1998)

=Film and television=

Kayanan is a Master-level edged weapons (knife, sword, tomahawk) expert and instructor in Sayoc Kali. This rare combination of a visual and martial artist, has led to projects which utilize both skills to illustrate fight storyboards for film and TV. Kayanan choreographed and trained the actors, in William Friedkin's The Hunted starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones.{{cite journal|last= Drape|first= Steven|title= The Hunted|journal= Black Belt|pages= 61–65|publisher= Active Interest Media|date= May 2003|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kdsDAAAAMBAJ&q=Rafael+Kayanan+the+hunted+black+belt&pg=RA1-PT22}} He also trained actor Sam Rockwell for director George Clooney's film, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Kayanan was a development artist, fight trainer and weapons consultant for Paramount Pictures adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars. His art was used for the CBS tv show NCIS: Los Angeles. Kayanan designed fights for the main cast of LL Cool J, Chris O' Donnell, Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen, as well as special guest stars Danny Trejo,{{cite web|url= http://ncisla-episodeanalysisbysd.blogspot.com/2013/12/5x15-5x14-for-crew-dave-kalstein-cmoore.html|title= 5x15 Tuhon|first= Shridevi|last= Gaddam|date= December 4, 2013|publisher= NCIS: LA Episode Summary and Analysis|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013052/http://ncisla-episodeanalysisbysd.blogspot.com/2013/12/5x15-5x14-for-crew-dave-kalstein-cmoore.html|archivedate= December 25, 2014|url-status= live|quote= Her Father’s Knife which was specially forged by DK’s friend Rafael Kayanan.}} Ernie Reyes Jr.,{{cite web|url= http://www.enstarz.com/pre-photo/29511/20131121/ncis-la-season-5-spoilers-densi-drama-set-to-knife-wielding-gurkah-plot-photos-intense-fight-scenes-for-frozen-lake-video.htm|title= NCIS: LA Season 5 Spoilers: Densi Drama Plays Out With Between Intense Fight Scenes In "Frozen Lake"|first= Vanessa|last= Frith|date= November 21, 2013|publisher= Enstarz.com |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160430212545/http://www.enstarz.com/pre-photo/29511/20131121/ncis-la-season-5-spoilers-densi-drama-set-to-knife-wielding-gurkah-plot-photos-intense-fight-scenes-for-frozen-lake-video.htm|archivedate= April 30, 2016|url-status= live|quote= The CBS actors had to log quite a few hours with the show's fight director, Rafael Kayanan}} and Daniel Henney.{{cite web|url= http://ncisla-episodeanalysisbysd.blogspot.com/2014/02/5x20-by-crew-written-by-dave.html|title= 5x21 Three Hearts|first= Shridevi|last= Gaddam|date= February 24, 2014|publisher= NCIS: LA Episode Summary and Analysis|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013050/http://ncisla-episodeanalysisbysd.blogspot.com/2014/02/5x20-by-crew-written-by-dave.html|archivedate= December 25, 2014|url-status= live}} Kayanan was the technical advisor for the close quarter fights inside the airplane of the film Non-Stop starring Liam Neeson.

Rafael Kayanan was a set illustrator and story board artist for the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Broadway show, directed by Julie Taymor with music created by Bono and the Edge.

Kayanan worked on concept illustration for the films Immortals.{{cite news|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jun-26-et-goldstein26-story.html|title=A 'Fall' no one wants to take|last= Goldstein|first= Patrick|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|date=June 26, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181022/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jun/26/entertainment/et-goldstein26|archive-date= March 3, 2016|url-status= live}}{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/oct/04/fall.tarsem.singh|title= Final fantasy|first= Damon|last= Wise|newspaper= The Guardian|location= London, United Kingdom|date=October 4, 2008|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160306045228/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/oct/04/fall.tarsem.singh|archivedate= March 6, 2016|url-status= live}} and Mirror, Mirror both directed by Tarsem Singh from Relativity Media, and the related graphic novel anthology Immortals: Gods and Heroes published by Archaia.

Other projects include the Discovery TV show Lone Target, also known internationally as Manhunt, starring former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert. The Kayanan designed RnD Hawk, Bontoc and Madumi Sayoc Kali-Daniel Winkler knives were prominently featured in this show.{{cite web|url= http://joellambert.com/875/madumi-knife-winkler-knives/|title= The Madumi Knife by Winkler Knives|first= Kevin|last= Estela|date= November 25, 2014|publisher= JoelLambert.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160328032710/http://joellambert.com/875/madumi-knife-winkler-knives/|archivedate= March 28, 2016|url-status= live|quote= Designed by Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler and Sayoc Kali Master Level Instructor Tuhon Rafael Kayanan, the Madumi belt knife is a potent compact belt knife perfectly suited for most survival tasks.}}

Kayanan’s Sayoc Winkler RnD Hawk is also featured in both the tv and book series Terminal List written by Jack Carr

Bibliography

As artist unless otherwise noted

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

=Acclaim/Valiant=

=Archaia Entertainment=

=Cross Plains Comics=

  • Robert E. Howard: A Short Biography #1 (1999)
  • Robert E. Howard: Myth Maker #1 (1999)

=Dark Horse Comics=

=Devil's Due=

  • Worlds of Dungeons and Dragons (2008)

=DC Comics=

==Vertigo==

=Eclipse Comics=

  • Phaze #1–2 (1988)

=First Comics=

  • Hawkmoon: The Jewel in the Skull #1–4 (1986)
  • Hawkmoon: The Mad God's Amulet #1–4 (1987)
  • Hawkmoon: The Runestaff #1–4 (1988)
  • Hawkmoon: The Sword of Dawn #1–4 (1987–1988)

=Image Comics=

=Marvel Comics=

=Smart Pop=

=Topps=

{{div col end}}

Filmography

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=654}}
  • [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=942 Rafael Kayanan] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
  • [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namk5.htm#N1382 Rafael Kayanan] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
  • [http://www.afn.org/~afn31010/rafkayanan.html Rafael Kayanan] at AFN.org. Retrieved March 28, 2006

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|title= The Fury of Firestorm artist|before= Gene Colan|after= George Tuska|years= 1984–1986}}

{{Succession box|title= Captain Atom artist|before= Pat Broderick|after= Colleen Doran|years= 1989–1991}}

{{Succession box|title= The Amazing Spider-Man artist|before= Joe Bennett|after= John Byrne|years= 1998–1999}}

{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kayanan, Rafael}}

Category:1962 births

Category:20th-century American artists

Category:20th-century Filipino artists

Category:21st-century American artists

Category:21st-century Filipino artists

Category:American comics artists

Category:American martial artists

Category:American storyboard artists

Category:DC Comics people

Category:Filipino comics artists

Category:Filipino emigrants to the United States

Category:Filipino storyboard artists

Category:Living people

Category:Marvel Comics people