Rafael Kayanan

Last updated

Rafael Kayanan
Born1962
Manila, Philippines
NationalityAmerican
Area(s) Penciller, Inker
Notable works
 The Fury of Firestorm
Chiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci
http://rafaelkayanan.blogspot.com

Rafael Kayanan (born 1962) is a Filipino-born naturalized American comics artist and Filipino martial arts master in the Sayoc Kali system.

Contents

Biography

Comics

Rafael Kayanan stated in a 2007 interview that he "grew up with Filipino Komiks masters like Alcala, Coching, and Redondo mixed in with Kirby, Sy Barry's The Phantom, Kubert's Tarzan, and Hal Foster's Prince Valiant. From there I discovered Barry Windsor-Smith, Starlin, Adams, Wrightson, and Gulacy in the 70's. I copied and then drew my own stories on the backs of old xeroxes my mom would bring home from work." [1]

He has illustrated for every major comic book publisher. His most notable work has been on Marvel Comics' Conan the Adventurer , Acclaim Comics' Turok , and DC Comics' Firestorm and America vs. the Justice Society . [2] He also inked the Eisner Award-nominated series Chiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci for Vertigo.

Kayanan has illustrated concept designs for comic book, film and game companies. [3] During the late 1990s, he was the creator and art director for Cross Plains Comics featuring the pulp magazine characters created by Robert E. Howard. Kayanan developed concept designs for Nintendo's Turok: Dinosaur Hunter II video game. He currently continues to do work for Topps Cards on licenses such as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings .

Other titles he has worked on include The Amazing Spider-Man , Star Wars , Magic: The Gathering , and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight . [4] [5]

Kayanan's art is known for its rapid tempo, storytelling pace and layered depth. Much thought is evident in the choreography of dynamic action on every page. His slick and precise usage of shadows to define anatomy and emotion is as proficient as any of the longtime masters of the craft. [6]

Additional comic book work can be found in Dark Horse Comics' Conan #39, [1] Annihilation , [7] and fantasy novelist R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt , Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons from Devil's Due Publishing.

During his collaboration with writer Gerry Conway on DC's The Fury of Firestorm series in 1984, [8] Kayanan co-created three characters which have appeared in live-action media. The supporting character Felicity Smoak on The CW television series Arrow debuted in The Fury of Firestorm #23 (May 1984). [9] The supervillain Slipknot first appeared in The Fury of Firestorm #28 (October 1984)and appeared in the Suicide Squad film in 2016. [10] The supervillain Weasel first appeared in The Fury of Firestorm #35 (August 7, 1985) and appeared in The Suicide Squad film in 2021. [11] Rafael co-created the third character to be called Spider-Woman named Mattie Franklin published by Marvel Comics first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man” #441 (1998)

Film and television

Kayanan is a Master-level edged weapons (knife, sword, tomahawk) expert and instructor in Sayoc Kali. This rare combination of a visual and martial artist, has led to projects which utilize both skills to illustrate fight storyboards for film and TV. Kayanan choreographed and trained the actors, in William Friedkin's The Hunted starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones. [12] He also trained actor Sam Rockwell for director George Clooney's film, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind . Kayanan was a development artist, fight trainer and weapons consultant for Paramount Pictures adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars . His art was used for the CBS tv show NCIS: Los Angeles . Kayanan designed fights for the main cast of LL Cool J, Chris O' Donnell, Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen, as well as special guest stars Danny Trejo, [13] Ernie Reyes Jr., [14] and Daniel Henney. [15] Kayanan was the technical advisor for the close quarter fights inside the airplane of the film Non-Stop starring Liam Neeson.

Rafael Kayanan was a set illustrator and story board artist for the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Broadway show, directed by Julie Taymor with music created by Bono and the Edge.

Kayanan worked on concept illustration for the films Immortals . [16] [17] and Mirror, Mirror both directed by Tarsem Singh from Relativity Media, and the related graphic novel anthology Immortals: Gods and Heroes published by Archaia.

Other projects include the Discovery TV show Lone Target , also known internationally as Manhunt, starring former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert. The Kayanan designed RnD Hawk, Bontoc and Madumi Sayoc Kali-Daniel Winkler knives were prominently featured in this show. [18]

Kayanan’s Sayoc Winkler RnD Hawk is also featured in both the tv and book series Terminal List written by Jack Carr

Bibliography

As artist unless otherwise noted

Acclaim/Valiant

Archaia Entertainment

Cross Plains Comics

  • Robert E. Howard: A Short Biography #1 (1999)
  • Robert E. Howard: Myth Maker #1 (1999)

Dark Horse Comics

Devil's Due

  • Worlds of Dungeons and Dragons (2008)

DC Comics

Vertigo

Eclipse Comics

  • Phaze #1–2 (1988)

First Comics

  • Hawkmoon: The Jewel in the Skull #1–4 (1986)
  • Hawkmoon: The Mad God's Amulet #1–4 (1987)
  • Hawkmoon: The Runestaff #1–4 (1988)
  • Hawkmoon: The Sword of Dawn #1–4 (1987–1988)

Image Comics

Marvel Comics

Smart Pop

Topps

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Thomas</span> American comic book writer, born 1940

Roy William Thomas Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor. He was Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes – particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America – and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and The Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Conway</span> American comic book writer

Gerard Francis Conway is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, science fiction writer, screenwriter, television writer, and television producer. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante antihero the Punisher as well as the Scarlet Spider, and the first Ms. Marvel and also writing the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man in the story arc, "The Night Gwen Stacy Died".

<i>The Hunted</i> (2003 film) 2003 American action thriller film

The Hunted is a 2003 American action thriller film directed by William Friedkin. It stars Tommy Lee Jones as a retired civilian contractor and SOF Trainer, who is tasked with tracking down a former student of his played by Benicio del Toro who has gone rogue; Connie Nielsen also stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Milgrom</span> American comic book writer

Allen L. Milgrom is an American comic book writer, penciller, inker and editor, primarily for Marvel Comics. He is known for his 10-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciler, and inker on Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West Coast Avengers penciller; and his long stint as the inker of X-Factor. He often inks Jim Starlin's work. Milgrom is the co-creator of DC superhero Firestorm.

<i>The Mighty World of Marvel</i> Comic book series

The Mighty World Of Marvel was a British comic book series published first by Marvel UK and then by Panini Comics. Debuting on 30 September 1972, it was the first title published by Marvel UK and ran until 1984. The series was revived in 2003 by Panini Comics, who are licensed to reprint Marvel US material in Europe, and was published monthly until November 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janus Directive</span>

"The Janus Directive" is an eleven-part comic book crossover first published by DC Comics between May and June of 1989. Among the creators who contributed to the storyline were writers John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Paul Kupperberg, Cary Bates and Greg Weisman and artists John K. Snyder III, Rick Hoberg, Rafael Kayanan, Tom Mandrake and Pat Broderick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob McLeod (comics)</span> Artist

Bob McLeod is an American comics artist best known for co-creating the New Mutants with writer Chris Claremont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Stein</span> Comics character

Martin Stein is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is commonly associated with, and sometimes is, the superhero Firestorm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipknot (comics)</span> DC Comics character

Slipknot is a supervillain, published by DC Comics. Created by Gerry Conway and Rafael Kayanan, the character made his first appearance in The Fury of Firestorm #28.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yıldıray Çınar</span>

Yıldıray Çınar is a Turkish comic book artist known for his work on the American comic book Noble Causes.

Notable events of 1978 in comics.

Daniel Winkler is an American custom knifemaker based in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, US.

Arnis in popular culture reflects the impact that the Filipino martial arts of arnis/eskrima/kali have made outside of the martial arts community. The three terms are roughly interchangeable and for the purpose of convenience, the term arnis will be used throughout the article. These arts emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, blades, improvised weapons and hand-to-hand fighting which is formally known as Mano Mano or Pangamut. Because of this training with live weapons, elements of arnis have made an impact in film, video games, television, and comic books. Arnis is often used to train actors and stuntmen how to handle similar weapons for use in movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felicity Smoak</span> Comics character

Felicity Smoak is a fictional character appearing in comics published by DC Comics. Her first appearance was in The Fury of Firestorm #23, created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Rafael Kayanan. She was originally the manager of a computer software firm who opposed the superhero Firestorm because of his recklessness, eventually becoming the second wife of Edward Raymond and stepmother to Ronnie Raymond, one-half of the integrated dual identity of the superhero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresh Start (comics)</span> 2018 relaunch of comic book publications by Marvel Comics

Fresh Start is a 2018 relaunch of comic book publications by Marvel Comics, following Marvel Legacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talos the Untamed</span> Fictional character in Marvel Comics

Talos the Untamed is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Peter David and artist Gary Frank, the character debuted in The Incredible Hulk #418. The character is a well known member of the Skrulls due to not being able to shapeshift. He was a member of the United Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Raymond</span> Fictional superhero

Ronald "Ronnie" Raymond is a character appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is one of several characters called Firestorm and is normally fused together with Martin Stein or Jason Rusch. He first appeared in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1, and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Goblin (Ultimate Marvel character)</span> Comics character

The Green Goblin is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is the Ultimate Marvel version of Norman Osborn, and was rendered by artist Mark Bagley to resemble actor Brian Dennehy, as per writer Brian Michael Bendis's instructions.

References

  1. 1 2 Atchison, Lee (April 1, 2007). "Bringing Conan to Life". Sequart Organization. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016.
  2. ↑ Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 212. ISBN   978-0-7566-6742-9. In this limited series by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Rafael Kayanan, the JSA was taken to trial following a modern-day witchhunt.
  3. ↑ "Rafael Kayanan". Lambiek Comiclopedia. December 17, 2006. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. He illustrated for all the major US comics companies and produced development art, storyboards and character designs for computer games, TV, film and toylines.
  4. ↑ Rafael Kayanan at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ↑ Zablo, Craig (October 17, 2004). "First Blood". Stallonezone. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2006.
  6. ↑ Moy, Albert (n.d.). "Rafael Kayanan". Albertmoy.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2006.
  7. ↑ Richards, Dave (October 5, 2007). "Annihilation Makes Things Civil: Hine talks What If? Annihilation". Comic Book Resources . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ Disharoon, Cecil (June 2019). "The Firestorm Interviews". Back Issue! (112). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 20–22.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Matt D. (July 1, 2013). "Gerry Conway Starts Blog Aimed At Fair Compensation For DC Character Creators". ComicsAlliance . Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Gerry Conway, the writer who co-created the character with artist Rafael Kayanan in a 1984 issue of Firestorm.
  10. ↑ White, James (October 28, 2015). "From Slipknot To Captain Boomering (And Back Again): Meet The Suicide Squad". Empire .
  11. ↑ Weise, Jason (August 7, 2021). "Weasel: The DC Comics Origins Of Sean Gunn's The Suicide Squad Character Explained". Cinema Blend .
  12. ↑ Drape, Steven (May 2003). "The Hunted". Black Belt . Active Interest Media: 61–65.
  13. ↑ Gaddam, Shridevi (December 4, 2013). "5x15 Tuhon". NCIS: LA Episode Summary and Analysis. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Her Father's Knife which was specially forged by DK's friend Rafael Kayanan.
  14. ↑ Frith, Vanessa (November 21, 2013). "NCIS: LA Season 5 Spoilers: Densi Drama Plays Out With Between Intense Fight Scenes In "Frozen Lake"". Enstarz.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. The CBS actors had to log quite a few hours with the show's fight director, Rafael Kayanan
  15. ↑ Gaddam, Shridevi (February 24, 2014). "5x21 Three Hearts". NCIS: LA Episode Summary and Analysis. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014.
  16. ↑ Goldstein, Patrick (June 26, 2007). "A 'Fall' no one wants to take". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  17. ↑ Wise, Damon (October 4, 2008). "Final fantasy". The Guardian . London, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  18. ↑ Estela, Kevin (November 25, 2014). "The Madumi Knife by Winkler Knives". JoelLambert.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Designed by Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler and Sayoc Kali Master Level Instructor Tuhon Rafael Kayanan, the Madumi belt knife is a potent compact belt knife perfectly suited for most survival tasks.
  19. ↑ https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/10/13/19/rafael-kayanan-comics-artist-and-hollywood-trainer-returns-to-ph-for-pop-convention
  20. ↑ https://asianmoviepulse.com/2022/12/film-review-how-i-got-there-2022-by-zeyad-z-alhusaini/
Preceded by The Fury of Firestorm artist
1984–1986		Succeeded by
Preceded by Captain Atom artist
1989–1991		Succeeded by
Preceded by The Amazing Spider-Man artist
1998–1999		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.