Steve Epting

Epting's influences include Alex Raymond, Stan Drake, Jim Holdaway, Joe Kubert, John Buscema, Al Williamson, and José Luis García-López.{{cite web |url= http://www.aquamanshrine.net/2009/02/aquaman-shrine-interview-with-steve.html|title= Aquaman Shrine Interview with Steve Epting|first= Rob|last= Kelly|year= 2009|publisher= The Aquaman Shrine|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131115025614/http://www.aquamanshrine.net/2009/02/aquaman-shrine-interview-with-steve.html|archive-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status= live|access-date= November 14, 2013}}

Epting received a BFA in graphic design from the University of South Carolina.{{cite web |url= http://www.lambiek.net/artists/e/epting_steve.htm|title= Steve Epting|date= January 14, 2011|publisher= Lambiek Comiclopedia|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120701035921/http://lambiek.net/artists/e/epting_steve.htm|archive-date= July 1, 2012 |url-status= live|access-date= November 14, 2014}}

In 1989, Epting read of a contest being conducted by independent comic book publisher First Comics, with the winner's story to be published by the company. Although the contest did not actually exist, First declared Epting one of the "winners" and he began drawing for the company.{{cite web |url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/06/21/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-108/|title= Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #108|first= Brian|last= Cronin|date= June 21, 2007|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131109205825/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/06/21/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-108/|archive-date=November 9, 2013 |url-status= live}} His assignments for First included backup stories for Nexus, guest-artist duties on Dreadstar and Whisper, and two miniseries starring Nexus supporting character Judah Maccabee: Hammer of God and Hammer of God: Sword of Justice.{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Steve+Epting|title= Steve Epting}}

Image:Avengers-345.jpg

By early 1991, First Comics had gone out of business, and Epting was sending submissions to other comics publishers. He found work at Marvel Comics. Originally assigned to draw half the issues in a six–part biweekly The Avengers story arc, Epting drew five of the six issues (#335–339). Shortly thereafter, he became the full-time penciler on the series with issue #341 (Nov. 1991). Working closely with writer Bob Harras and inker/colorist Tom Palmer, Epting crafted several Avengers adventures. The creative team introduced a new version of the Swordsman character in issue #343{{cite book|last1 = Manning|first1 = Matthew K.|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura, ed.|chapter= 1990s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 258|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= Written by Bob Harras with pencils by Steve Epting, the Avengers faced the menace of a mysterious man calling himself the Swordsman, the second one to do so.}} and worked on the "Operation: Galactic Storm" crossover storyline. His stint on The Avengers ended with issue #375 (June 1994).

After leaving The Avengers in 1994, Epting spent the next few years working on Marvel's franchise of X-Men titles including the "Age of Apocalypse" crossoverManning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 272: "The story began in [the] X-Men Alpha special by writers Scott Lobdell and Mark Waid and pencillers Roger Cruz and Steve Epting." and Factor-X, the alternate timeline counterparts of X-Factor.Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 273: "One-eyed prelate Scott Summers rebelled against his master Apocalypse...in this four-issue miniseries by writer John Francis Moore and artists Steve Epting and Terry Dodson. He had a run on the X-Factor ongoing series, but mostly concentrated on annuals, specials, and mini-series. These included X-Men '97, Bishop: X.S.E., and the Marvel Comics/Image Comics cross-over Team X/Team 7. In 1998, Epting collaborated with writer Roger Stern on a story starring Marvel's World War II heroes, The Invaders. It was serialized in the first three issues of the Marvel Universe anthology title and was inked by Al Williamson.

In 1999, Epting moved to DC Comics. He was the main artist on the Superman series as well as on Aquaman, where he was teamed up with writer Dan Jurgens. Their work on Aquaman began with issue #63 and ran until issue #75.

In 2001, Epting returned to Marvel's Avengers for two issues (#36 and #37), which had been relaunched three years earlier with writer Kurt Busiek. Most of his work during the early 2000s was for the independent comics publisher, CrossGen. Epting drew issues #1–25 of Crux, a fantasy-adventure book co-created with writer Mark Waid. Epting's next CrossGen project, El Cazador, was an historical adventure centering on a female pirate, it was cancelled after only six issues.

In 2004, Epting returned to Marvel as one of the artists on the Ultimate Nightmare limited series.Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 323: "Ultimate Nightmare was a five-issue limited series by writer Warren Ellis and artists Trevor Hairsine and Steve Epting, which teamed the Ultimates with the X-Men." In January 2005, Epting teamed with writer Ed Brubaker to relaunch Captain America.Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 325: "When acclaimed writer Ed Brubaker made the switch from DC to Marvel, he brought with him yet another relaunch for Steve Rogers. A critical and financial hit, this new Captain America series featured the art of realistic draftsman Steve Epting." Brubaker and Epting produced the storyline in which Captain America was assassinatedManning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 335: "Surprising an unsuspecting fan base who thought the worst was over for Steve Rogers, Captain America's death captured worldwide media attention." and replaced by his former sidekick Bucky Barnes.Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 340: "Former sidekick Bucky Barnes donned a new costume designed by superstar painter Alex Ross in this second act of writer Ed Brubaker's and penciller Steve Epting's epic storyline." The creative team later collaborated on The Marvels Project an eight issue limited series.

In November 2010, Epting began as the artist on Marvel Comics' flagship title, Fantastic Four. Beginning in issue #583 through #587, Epting illustrated writer Jonathan Hickman's story "Three", in which Johnny Storm died. Epting was the artist on the Marvel Comics series, FF.{{cite news|last=Ching |first=Albert |url=http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/01/25/associated-press-spoils-fantastic-four-587-hours-before-comic-goes-on-sale/ |title=Associated Press Spoils Fantastic Four #587 Hours Before Comic Goes on Sale |work=Newsarama |date=January 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616160700/http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/01/25/associated-press-spoils-fantastic-four-587-hours-before-comic-goes-on-sale/ |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news|last=Ching |first=Albert |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/hickman-fantastic-four-587-110125.html |title=Hickman Details Fantastic Four #587's Big Character Death |work=Newsarama |date=January 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921171546/http://www.newsarama.com/6902-hickman-details-fantastic-four-587-s-big-character-death.html |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|last=Moore |first=Matt |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/25/after-half-century-its-1-fantastics-farewell/?page=all |title=After Half Century, It's 1 Fantastic's Farewell |publisher=Associated Press via The Washington Post |date=January 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193054/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/25/after-half-century-its-1-fantastics-farewell/?page=all |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|last=Khouri |first=Andy |url=http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/02/09/fantastic-four-FF-new-costumes-spider-man/ |title=Fantastic Four Get a New Name, New Costumes and an Old Spider-Man |publisher=ComicsAlliance |date=February 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430130523/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/02/09/fantastic-four-FF-new-costumes-spider-man/ |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Epting and Ed Brubaker launched Velvet, an espionage series, for Image Comics in October 2013.{{cite web |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/10/21/preview-ed-brubaker-and-steve-eptings-velvet-1/|title= Preview: Ed Brubaker And Steve Epting's Velvet #1|first= Rich|last= Johnston|date= October 21, 2013|publisher= BleedingCool.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131022052200/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/10/21/preview-ed-brubaker-and-steve-eptings-velvet-1/|archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status= live|access-date= November 13, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://comicsalliance.com/velvet-1-review-ed-brubaker-steve-epting-image/ |title=Brubaker and Epting's Velvet: The Super-Spy Done Right |first=John |last=Parker |date=October 23, 2013 |work=ComicsAlliance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114032208/http://comicsalliance.com/velvet-1-review-ed-brubaker-steve-epting-image/ |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2013 |df=mdy-all }} Epting collaborated with writer Marguerite Bennett on a new Batwoman series for DC Comics in 2017.{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batwoman-get-new-ongoing-comic-935670|title= Batwoman to Get New Ongoing Comic Series (Exclusive)|first= Aaron|last= Couch|date= October 6, 2016|work= The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170203020559/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batwoman-get-new-ongoing-comic-935670|archive-date= February 3, 2017|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|quote= DC Entertainment is launching a new monthly series starring Kate Kane (Batwoman) from writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Steve Epting.}} He drew the Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen limited series{{cite web|url= https://www.cbr.com/year-of-the-villain-hell-arisen-3/|title= Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3|date= February 22, 2020|website= Comic Book Ressources|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20200810235847/https://www.cbr.com/year-of-the-villain-hell-arisen-3/|archivedate= August 10, 2020|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}} which included an early appearance of the Punchline character in issue #3 (April 2020).{{cite web|url= https://screenrant.com/joker-punchline-new-girlfriend-sold-out/|title= Joker's New Girlfriend Punchline is Already a DC Superstar|first= Liam|last= McGuire|date= February 26, 2020|website= Screen Rant|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20200810235315/https://screenrant.com/joker-punchline-new-girlfriend-sold-out/|archivedate= August 10, 2020|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}

• Crux #1–10, 12–16, 18–20, 22–25 (2001–2003)
• El Cazador #1–6 (2003–2004)

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• Action Comics #1007–1011 (2019)
• The Adventures of Superman #573 (1999)
• Aquaman vol. 4 #63–65, 67–69, 71–75 (2000–2001)
• Batwoman vol. 2 #1–4 (2017)
• Batwoman: Rebirth #1 (2017)
• DC Holiday Special 2017 #1 (2017)
• Detective Comics #1000 (2019)
• Secret Files & Origins Guide to the DC Universe 2000 #1 (one page) (2000)
• Secret Origins Featuring the JLA #1 (one page) (1999)
• Superman vol. 2 #143–145, 148, 150 (1999)
• Superman Secret Files and Origins #2 (1999)
• Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1–4 (2020)

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• Badger Goes Berserk #1 (1989)
• Dreadstar #58–59 (1990)
• Hammer of God #1–4 (1990)
• Hammer of God: Sword of Justice #1–2 (1991)
• Nexus #62, 74, 76–77 (1989–1991)
• Whisper #29–31 (1989)

• Velvet #1–15 (2013–2016)

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• The Avengers #335–339, 341–347, 349–350, 355–361, 363–366, 368–369, 372–375 (1991–1994)
• The Avengers vol. 3 #36–37 (2001)
• Bishop: XSE #1—3 (1998)
• Captain America vol. 5 #1–4, 6, 8, 11–14, 18–21, 25–35, 37–38, 40–42, 46 (2005–2009)
• Captain America vol. 6 #19 (2012)
• Factor X #1–4 (1995)
• Fantastic Four #583–587, 600–601, 604 (2010–2012)
• FF #1–3, 8–9 (2011)
• The Marvels Project #1–8 (2009–2010)
• Marvel Universe #1–3 (1998)
• The New Avengers vol. 2 #1–6 (2013)
• Tales from the Age of Apocalypse: Sinister Bloodlines #1 (1997)
• The Mighty Thor (vol. 2) #13–14 (2017)
• Thunderbolts #-1 (1997)
• Ultimate Nightmare #3 (2004)
• Uncanny X-Men #319 (1994)
• X-Factor #114–117, 119, 121 (1995–1996)
• X-Men '97 #1 (1997)
• X-Men: Alpha #1 (1995)
• X-Men Unlimited #11–12 (1996)

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• Sara #1-6 (2018)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.steveepting.blogspot.com Steve Epting's blog]
• {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=1043|title=Steve Epting}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929142602/http://marvel.com/catalog/?artist=Steve%20Epting Steve Epting on Marvel.com]
• [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=2730 Steve Epting] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
• [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/name8.htm#N309 Steve Epting] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

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{{succession box|title= The Avengers penciller|before=Andy Kubert|after=Grant Miehm|years=1991–1994}}

{{succession box|title= Captain America vol. 5 penciller|before= n/a|after= Jackson Guice|years=2005–2009}}

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