Jan Strnad


Jan Steven Strnad is an American writer of comic books, horror, and science fiction. He is known for his many collaborations with artist Richard Corben, as well as his work in the Star Wars expanded universe, the majority of which has been published by Dark Horse Comics. He has also written for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Eclipse Comics, and Fantagraphics.

Biography

A native of Wichita, Kansas, of Czech descent, Strnad was influenced by such writers as Mark Twain and John Steinbeck, as well as DC and Marvel comic books.
He was active in comics fandom in the 1960s and contributed to fanzines such as Rocket's Blast Comicollector, where he wrote the column "Eyeing the Egos". He also published his own zine, Anomaly, until it was taken over by Bud Plant.
Strnad's first professional comics were collaborations with Richard Corben, published in Rip Off Press's Fantagor. Other collaborations were published by Warren Publishing. In 1978–1979 he and Corben serialized "New Tales of the Arabian Nights" in Heavy Metal, and in 1982 they produced the Jeremy Brood trade paperback. In 1990, Strnad and Corben produced the five-issue limited series Son of Mutant World, published by Corben's Fantagor Press imprint. From 1996–1997, Strnad and Corben produced "Denz" stories for Penthouse Comix #15–20. Strnad and Corben worked together on the Flash animation web series Bludd for PirateNet in 2000. Dark Horse Comics published Strnad and Corben's limited series RageMoor in 2012.
Strnad has also collaborated a number of times with artist Dennis Fujitake, in Dalgoda, published by Fantagraphics from 1984–1986, followed by Flesh and Bones in 1986; and Keith Laumer's Retief, published by Mad Dog Graphics in 1987–1988. From 1981–1986, Strnad contributed articles to The Comics Journal.
Other notable titles by Strnad include the Sword of the Atom limited series, with artist Gil Kane, published by DC Comics in 1983, followed by three Specials ; Stalkers with Val Mayerik; and Starship Troopers: Dominant Species #1-4 with artist Davidé Fabbri.
Strnad's Star Wars work includes story arcs in Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Star Wars: Prelude to Rebellion, and "Vow of Justice" in Star Wars: Republic, all published by Dark Horse Comics.
In the early 1990s, Strnad moved to Los Angeles to join the staff of Disney Television Animation, where he worked on Darkwing Duck ''Goof Troop and Aladdin. He later wrote for Sitting Ducks and Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Since 2000, he has concentrated on prose novels, three of which he self-published.
In May 2020, Parallax Studio announced preproduction on the live-action animated film MEAD based on the comic book Fever Dreams written by Strnad and illustrated by Richard Corben. The film features the voices of Patton Oswalt and Patrick Warburton and stars Robert Picardo and Samuel Hunt. MEAD'' was premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2022, and was released for streaming in North America on August 9, 2022.

Personal life

Strnad lives in Los Angeles with his wife Julie and his step-son.

Awards

Strnad won the 1970 Goethe Award for "Favorite Fan Writer." He was nominated for the same award in 1972.

Comics

Richard Corben collaborations

  • "Encounter at War" in Anomaly #3 re-published in Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #4 and in color in Den |Den #4
  • "To Spear a Fair Maiden," in Fantagor #2
  • "Alice in Wonderlust," in Anomaly #4
  • "Kitten for Christian", in Fantagor #3
  • "To Meet the Faces You Meet," in Fever Dreams
  • "Bowser," in Creepy #77 ; republished in Vampirella #54, Creepy #132, Comix International #4, and The Best of Richard Corben from Creepy and Eerie
  • "Ogre," in 1984 #4
  • "Mutant World," in 1984 #1–8 ; collected in Mutant World
  • "New Tales of the Arabian Nights," in Heavy Metal #15–28 ; collected as The Last Voyage of Sindbad Jeremy Brood
  • "Relativity", in Epic Illustrated #15
  • "Doomscult," in Heavy Metal #75
  • "Such Pretty Little Toes," in Den #8
  • "The Wreck of the Katerra-dan," in Den , in #9
  • "Incantation," in Den #10
  • "Donneman's Bluff," in Den #10
  • "Turtles Take Time," Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #33 Son of Mutant World
  • "Monster Maker," in Batman Black and White #2
  • "Denz" stories for Penthouse Comix #15–20
  • "Full Moon Killer Strikes Again" in Spirit #7 RageMoor limited series

Other comics writing

The Amazing Spider-Man #228, with artists Rick Leonardi and Dave Simons Marvel Two-in-One #90, with artists Alan Kupperberg and Jim Mooney Sword of the Atom #1–4 limited series, with artist Gil KaneSword of the Atom Special #1 with artist Gil KaneDalgoda #1–8, with artist Dennis Fujitake

Prose

Risen The Summer We Lost Alice The Murmuring Field and Other Stories
  • ''One Last Time''

Television and film credits

Television

Film