Larry Stroman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larry Stroman |
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Stroman in 2019
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| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Penciller |
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Notable works
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Alien Legion (vol. 2) The Uncanny X-Men X-Factor |
Larry Stroman is an American comic book artist and writer. He first became known for drawing the Epic Comics series Alien Legion. After that, he worked on many Marvel Comics books. These included popular titles like The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, Ghost Rider, and Punisher. He also drew for other companies, such as DC Comics' Darkstars and Dark Horse Comics' The Mark. In the early 1990s, he briefly published his own comic series called The Tribe with Image Comics.
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Larry Stroman's Journey in Comics
Larry Stroman loved comic books from a very young age. Before he could buy them, he would read comics from his brother or friends. He always wanted to be a comic book artist. But first, he worked as a draftsman (someone who draws technical plans). Then, he moved to New York City and became a portrait artist for a few years.
How Larry Stroman Creates Comics
When Larry Stroman works on comics, he often uses a method called the Marvel method. This means the writer gives a basic idea for the story. Then, the artist draws all the pages. After the artist finishes the drawings, the writer adds the words and dialogue. To make sure the story flows well, Stroman would draw the last few pages right after the first page. He would then draw the middle pages last. This helped him avoid problems with the story's timing at the end of the comic.
Early Career and First Comics
Larry Stroman's first work in the American comic book industry was in 1985. He drew extra stories in comics like American Flagg! for First Comics. He also worked on World's Finest Comics for DC Comics.
Soon after, he started drawing Alien Legion for Marvel Comics. He continued to work on this series for many years. He drew the main series and also special mini-series like Alien Legion: On the Edge and Alien Legion: Tenants of Hell. During this time, he also drew other Marvel comics. These included Alpha Flight Annual, Cloak and Dagger, and Ghost Rider. He also worked for other publishers, drawing The Mark for Dark Horse Comics.
Working on X-Factor
In 1991, a big storyline called "Muir Island Saga" changed the X-Men comics. The series X-Factor started a new direction with new characters and stories. Larry Stroman joined writer Peter David on this series. He was first brought in to help out, but soon became the regular artist. He even got to redesign the characters' costumes and their overall look. Stroman was the main artist for X-Factor from issue 71 to issue 81. After his time on X-Factor, he drew other comics like Wolverine, Punisher, and Darkstars.
Creating His Own Comic: Tribe
In 1993, Larry Stroman and writer Todd Johnson created their own comic series called Tribe. This comic was published by Image Comics. Tribe became a very successful comic created by African-American artists. The first issue sold over one million copies to comic shops!
However, the series stopped being published by Image Comics in 1994. Stroman and Johnson then started their own company called Axis Comics to continue Tribe. But this company also closed after publishing only nine issues. Stroman explained that there were changes in his work relationship with Johnson. Also, the costs of making comics went up, and there were other market challenges.
Later Work in the 1990s and 2000s
After Tribe, Stroman continued to draw for other comic companies. In the 1990s, he worked on WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams Annual for Jim Lee's Wildstorm Productions/Image. He also drew several Marvel titles. These included X-Men: The Early Years, Excalibur, and Heroes Reborn: Iron Man.
In the 2000s, Stroman worked on different parts of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. This is a reference series that gives information about Marvel characters. He also drew for What-If X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire. In 2008, he worked again with Peter David on X-Factor (volume 3). Stroman also drew the mini-series X-Men: The Times and Life of Lucas Bishop and Thunderbolts in 2009.
