The Mixed Media Maverick:

When you think of comic book art, what comes to mind? For some, it might be ink illustrations, something along the lines of a Roy Lichtenstein painting. Today's comic book art has come a long way from the dot matrix of yesteryear. No artist is more of a testament to that than David Mack.

David Mack is an American comic book artist and writer who is known for his recognizable visual style and unique storytelling methods. Mack has a BFA in graphic design from Northern Kentucky University; now his own work has been used as required reading for Art and Literature courses for undergraduates and graduates alike.

Praised by critics and fans alike for introducing a new level of artistry to the business, Mack has received nominations for some of the most prestigious awards offered for comics. Eagle, Eisner, Kirby and Harvey all agree that Mack is doing some of the most aesthetically appealing work in the business. Mack has a unique approach to illustrating his work which, in a nutshell, is the beauty and complexity of mixed media. Not just innovative in terms of his illustration, Mack prefers to utilize complex non-linear narratives, which allows for a more accurate and realistic portrayal of his characters.

Mack is the creator of Kabuki, a series that chronicles the life of a masked Japanese assassin with a past that haunts her. The series has been collected in a number of trade paperbacks that includes the original volume, "Kabuki: Circle of Blood," as well as "Kabuki: Dreams," "Kabuki: Masks of Noh," "Kabuki: Skin Deep," "Kabuki: Metamorphosis," "Kabuki: Scarab," and the latest volume, "Kabuki: The Alchemy." This latest book has recently been released in a hardcover edition and has made the New York Times Graphic Books Best Sellers List.

Kabuki began by being illustrated in traditional black and white, but it later evolved into the mixed media work that Mack is known for today. Mack turns every page of his work into art, with layers of paint, photographs, and found materials arranged in interesting and offbeat ways. Scrapping the panels that are commonly used in comics, Mack tries to match each page more with the action in the story, rather than fitting the action to work within the panels.

In an interview with Alterati.com, Mack spoke of his thought process going into developing the ways he would illustrate the story. "...I also feel I would be doing a disservice to the story, if I did not invent new ways of telling the story that are custom designed for the feel of that particular story. It would be ridiculous to tell every story the same way."

Kabuki's story is one that benefits greatly from Mack's invention of "new ways of telling the story." The volumes that make up her story don't just show her past, but also help to paint the picture of her psychology and the struggles that she has with her own identity in relationship to it. Kabuki struggles with her family history, her present life as an operative for a secret organization named the Noh Assassins, and the future that she wishes to carve for herself.

It's long been said that Mack is working on a live-action film to bring the story of Kabuki to life on the big screen, though no release date is known. According to Mack's official website, he will be writing the treatment for the movie, as well as serving as Visual Designer, Creative Consultant and Co-Producer. With the recent rise in film adaptations of comic books, fans of Kabuki just might have their dreams realized much sooner than they think.

Though Mack is arguably most well known for his collage-like style of illustration and his work on Kabuki, he is no one-trick pony. Mack has his own children's book, entitled "The Shy Creatures." Starting off as a story within in the story of "Kabuki: The Alchemy," the book was published on its own and is available for purchase as a stand-alone piece. Mack has also worked on illustrating albums and calendars for many musicians, including Paul McCartney and Tori Amos. Mack has written for Marvel Comics on popular titles such as "Daredevil," "Alias," "New Avengers," and "White Tiger."

In Mack's work on Daredevil, he has contributed covers as well as a seven-issue arc called "Parts of a Hole" and a three-issue arc entitled "Wake Up." He worked on "Wake Up" with longtime friend Brian Michael Bendis. In "Parts of a Hole," while working with Joe Quesada, he introduced the character of Maya Lopez, a deaf martial artist who works under the name Echo.

Mack's stunning visuals and incredible command of storytelling will please both seasoned comic veterans and newbies. To learn more about Mack's work, check out his official website, DavidMack.net.