Collection of David Mack Artistic and Literary Works

MS-8

• Introduction
• Access and Use
• Access Points
• Scope and Content
• Biographical Sketch
• Container List
  

INTRODUCTION:

Size: 12.58 linear feet (including 46”x46” and 50”x50” oil paintings, 5 CDs/DVDs)

Span Dates: 1994-2012   

Language: English and French   

Accession Number(s): M1998-0002, NKU2007-518, NKU2008-005, NKU2012-003

Creator: Mack, David, 1972-

Custodial History: The archives department created this collection by combining several accessions into a single collection of David Mack materials.

Summary: This collection chiefly contains published materials such as single comic book issues, graphic novels, essay compilations, art calendars, and postcards documenting the work of David Mack, 1995 NKU graduate, as an artist, writer, illustrator, and artistic collaborator. There are also 3-D ephemera of Kabuki characters, publicity, and two original artworks created while Mack was an NKU student.

ACCESS AND USE:

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research access. Some comic book issues have publisher warning labels for “mature audiences” and “explicit content.”

Physical Access: Recording of live drawing session during Mack’s visit to an NKU art class. Recording quality is poor.

Technical Access: Optical discs (CDs and DVDs) require CD/DVD drives for access.

Use Restrictions: Copyright interests have not been transferred to Northern Kentucky University. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, US Code) governs the reproduction of copyrighted material. The User assumes full responsibility and any attendant liability for the fair use of materials requested in total compliance with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) that may arise through the use of any requested materials.

Preferred Citation: [Box #, Folder #], MS-8 Collection of David Mack Artistic and Literary Works, Eva G. Farris Special Collections, W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University.

Location of Copies: For access to digital copies of the video recording of Mack’s 2003 talk and live drawing session with an NKU art class, contact archives staff.

Related Materials: Steely Library’s circulating collection has select Mack graphic novels and books available for borrowing. Search the library catalog for “Mack, David” to find works.

Mack has been featured by many Northern Kentucky University publications and has been a university guest speaker on several occasions. For information, see the following in University Archives:

Alumni Success Series, April 2000, RG College of Arts and Sciences;

The Northerner, RG Student Engagement;

Campus Digest, RG University Marketing and Communications;
RG Alumni Programs.

Processing Information: Processed by Jennifer Gregory in April 2004. Reprocessed by Anne Ryckbost in 2014.

ACCESS POINTS:

Subject(s):
Art--History
Artist
Author
Children’s literature
Comic Art
Comic book covers
Comic books, strips, etc.
Creative process
Daredevil (Fictitious character)--Comic books, strips, etc.
Detective and mystery comic books, strips, etc.
Graphic novels
Illustrators
Illustrators--Comic books, strips, etc.
Motion pictures and comic books
Science fiction comic books, strips, etc.
Spy comic books, strips, etc.
Superhero comic books, strips, etc.
Superheroine comic books, strips, etc.
Will Eisner Comic Industry Award
Women martial artists.--Comic books, strips, etc.     

Person(s):   
Amos, Tori, 1963-
Bendis, Brian Michael, 1976-
Dick, Philip K., 1928-1982
Francis, Gary
Jimenez, Phil
Mack, David, 1972-
Mays, Rick
Rosa, Don
Stegelin, Stephen F. (Steve)

Organization(s)/Corporate Body(ies):
Boneyard Press     
Caliber Press
DC Comics
Image Comics
Icon Comics (Marvel Comics)
London Nights Studio
Marvel Comics
 

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

This collection contains materials relating to American artist, illustrator, and writer David Mack, creator of the acclaimed Kabuki comic series. It is arranged into fourteen archival series, the organization of which mostly reflects Mack’s publication credit (e.g. author, illustrator, inker). Titles are listed along with publisher and publication dates for published comics. The diverse range of content found in the collection demonstrates Mack’s many collaborations and artistic interests.

Series I, Kabuki, contains published single comic book issues and graphic novel compilations of the acclaimed series Kabuki. Single issue comic books are often collected and reprinted as trade paperbacks; graphic novels “combine comic-like illustrations with the storytelling features of novels and are meant to be read as a single story.”[1] The series centers around a masked operative for a clandestine government agency named Kabuki. The archival series is organized according to story sequence (volumes 1-7). Single issues are placed before compilations. Of special note are three early Kabuki ashcan printings (1994-1995) Mack handed out at industry conventions. In the comic book industry, ashcan printing refers to printing a small run of a comic which is then often distributed for free in an attempt to get new readers. The series also has French translations of Kabuki works and anthologies in which issues of Kabuki were published. There are Kabuki newsletters, calendars, and a special gallery issue featuring images of various Kabuki characters. It also has a The Inner Circle fan club edition package that includes a newsletter and certificate of membership in the club. There is one limited edition Kabuki print released by Image Comics. The series also contains Kabuki action figures, a statue, and ceramic masks from the Masks of Noh.

Series II, Daredevil, contains Daredevil: Part of a Hole, for which Mack wrote and illustrated. It also has Daredevil: Wake Up that includes Mack illustrations. There is one French translation of Daredevil Echo: Vision Quest.

Series III, Children’s Literature, contains an autographed copy of The Shy Creatures, Mack’s first published children’s book, written while still a student at NKU.

Series IV, Sketch Books and Artists Statements, has volumes of Kabuki Reflections. These publications produced by Mack explore his creative process.

Series V, Interviews and Essays with David Mack, includes one DVD copy of The Alchemy of Art, a documentary film (approximate 120 minutes runtime) that examines Mack’s artistic and writing processes as well as a video recording of a live drawing session with an NKU art class (55:55 minutes runtime).

Series VI, Cover Artist, has single issues from nine distinct comic book series that feature Mack cover art. One of the series is Boondoggle, written by 1996 NKU alumnus Steve Stegelin. Stegelin served as an editor for Kabuki: Circle of Blood, volume 1.

Series VII, Artist, has published comic book issues from five comic series as well as an album cover for Jake Lee’s A Fine Pink Mist and the He-man and She-ra: A Christmas Special (approximately 51 minutes runtime), which list Mack as artist. It also has a postcard Mack designed for Artworks Cincinnati.

Series VIII, Illustrator, contains an issue of the comic book Young Dracula and two Tori Amos RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) calendars. Mack donated his illustrations to the calendars to raise money for RAINN.

Series IX, Inker, has single issues of both H.P Lovecraft’s Cthulhu and Flaxen that identifier Mack as inker. An inker uses black ink to refine the outlines of pencil drawings in comics.

Series X, Writer, contains three works in which Mack is listed as writer. Two are the results of a collaboration with the estate of Philip K. Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Electric Ant). The compilation of Se7en contains “Envy” written by Mack.

Series XI, Writer and Artist/Letterer, has four items works that list Mack in multiple roles including writer and artist or letterer. A letterer is the person responsible for drawing a comic’s text. Of special note in this series is Mack’s story in Comic Book Tattoo edited by Rantz A. Hoseley in conjunction with singer/songwriter Tori Amos.

Series XII, Other Comic Books, is comprised of select issues of publications whose authors publically thank or acknowledge Mack and a few issues of Captain Kentucky by former Kentucky resident Don Rosa.

Series XIII, Publicity, includes news clippings from Cincinnati papers, articles, and programs about Mack’s art. It also has the March 19-25, 2003 City Beat, a weekly Cincinnati newspaper, that featured Mack on its cover.

Series XIV, Original Artwork, has two pieces Mack created while an NKU student. Mack created one of the pieces, the first oil that he made a square canvas for, in 1991 for a sophomore college project. He also reproduced this oil in Kabuki: Reflections number 1 (1998).

[1] Patricia K. Falk and Stefanie Dennis Hunker. Cataloguing Outside the Box: A Practical Guide to Cataloguing Special Collections Materials. Chandos information professional series. (Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2010), 42.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: ²

David W. Mack was born in 1972 to Wilson Grant Mack and Ida Mack (1946-1995). He graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 1995 with a BFA in Graphic Design and a concentration in English. He also took classes in comedy, theatre, anatomy, physiology, children’s literature, religion, mythology, history, and Japanese language.

While still an NKU student, Mack began publishing Kabuki in 1994 with Caliber Press. The first published collection, Kabuki: Circle of Blood, was Mack’s senior thesis in writing. Kabuki was later published by Image Comics and then Marvel Comics under its imprint Icon Comics.

The body and diversity of Mack’s work is extraordinary. He has contributed as a writer and/or artist to such publications as Kabuki, Daredevil, and New Avengers. He has designed covers for Alias, Justice League of America, White Tiger, and Daredevil among many other publications. He has also illustrated jazz and rock albums for Japanese and American labels, including one for Sir Paul McCartney. He has designed toys and packaging for various international companies. Mack’s work is often characterized by mixed media painting techniques.

His collaborations with significant artists and writers are also noteworthy. Mack has worked with such figures as comic book creator Brian Michael Bendis, singer/songwriter Tori Amos, and most recently with the estate of science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. An essay written by Mack appeared in the reprint of Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. In 2004 Mack, along with collaborators Brian Michael Bendis & Mike Oeming (also referred together as M.O.B.), formed a new imprint at Marvel Comics named ICON, to publish their creator-owned comics KABUKI and POWERS. Mack served as Lead Artist, Design & Concept for Marvel Film Studios’ Captain America: Winter Soldier, a feature film released in 2014 starring Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson.

Mack has been nominated for many comic-industry awards including the prestigious Eisner Award for Best Painter, the Harvey Award for Best Young Talent, the Kirby Award for Best Young Talent, as well as several International Eagle awards. His work has been translated in seven languages and displayed in exhibitions throughout America, Asia, and Europe. In 2011, NKU’s Office of First Year Programs selected Kabuki: The Alchemy for its Book Connection program. Mack lectures and teaches internationally on writing, drawing, and painting.

2 Biographical information obtained from David Thornton, “Biography,” David Mack Guide, accessed from http://davidmackguide.com/biography/ and “NKU alumnus David Mack’s ‘Kabuki’: The Alchemy; named as 2011 Book Connection selection,” News from NKU, accessed from http://www.nku.edu/display_news.php?ID=443
 

CONTAINER LISTING:

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