Kevin S. Collier

Kevin Scott Collier (born 1957 in Muskegon, Michigan) is a comics writer and illustrator, children's book author and illustrator, and columnist for several online and print magazines. He currently resides in Grand Haven, Michigan with is wife, author Kristen Collier, and son, Jarod.

Collier first began drawing, creating characters and dreaming ups stories at the age of five. He created his own line of "ditto" comics which he sold in his neighborhood by age 12. He published over 300 individual issues, which featured over 100 original superhero characters he created. In 1975, he formed, wrote and illustrated a line of off-set printed comic books under the label Red Ball Comics.

In 1976, Collier formed Full Circle Comix Group with writer/illustrator Jeff Cooke. Their first issue, "Amazing Stories" #1 was published in December of that year and featured Kevin's "Capt. Head" character and Jeff Cooke's "The Whip". Collier slipped in and out of Full Circle Comix up until 1981 when the group ceased publication.

In 1979, Collier began creating and illustrating original comic strip series for West Michigan newspapers. By 1980 he was published weekly in The Examiner, The Lakeshore Times, The Hart Journal, and The Muskegon Chronicle. In June 1981 he was hired as Art Director for the Grand Haven Tribune daily newspaper, where he has worked since. One of Collier's comics originally created in 1979, "In A Nutshell" still sees publication of new editions daily in the Grand Haven Tribune.

In 1983, Collier created a small press comics newsletter titled "Fandom Times." This publication, along with "Fan Scene" and his "Zine Collector" were published until 1986. The publications printed news, reviews, and photos of small press comics personalities. Collier freelanced for several small press comic book companies and fanzines in the mid-1980s. In 1988, Kevin ceased publication of the above mentioned titles, and produced a newsletter titled "Comixtalk" which ran 5 issues and explored the world on new wave and alternative comix books. Kevin left fandom that same year, and briefly reappeared 16 years later in 2004 with Jeff Cooke to resurrect Full Circle Comix, which ceased publication that same year, after producing at least 16 new titles.

In 2003 Kevin began writing children's books and was contracted by Baker Trittin Press in early 2004 and saw his first book published that fall. He has had over 50 children's books published since, as either a writer or illustrator. In 2006 he signed with the Hartline Literary Agency, which now represents Kevin's works. In November 2007, "Joy the Jellyfish" was released by Dragonfly Publishing, which he illustrated, written by wife, Kristen.

In 2008 Collier joined KICKS Club TV and publishing. He is illustrating a book series based on the show, and in 2009 will star in and appear with his son on a new program titled "Drawing for Kicks."

His newspaper graphics and designs have won him awards from the Michigan Press Association, United Press International and The Associated Press.

Partial List of Publications

*"barthpenn @heaven.org" published by Tweener Press, 2004.
*"Esther's Channel", 2005
*"Bongo of the Congo", 2006
*"Dreamchaser", 2007
*"Joy the Jellyfish", 2007

Other books written or illustrated by Collier

"Topsy Turvy Land", "If You're Gonna Be A Monster", "The Adventures of Peter Potato", "Mice In My Tummy", "Peter Potato and The Seven Crystals", "The Bedazzling Bowl", "The Little Sea Rock", "Ashby the Happy Little Elephant", "The Bedazzling Bowl", "The Esther Chronicles", "Journeys of Hope" (books 1 and 2), "Diligence the Dragon", "The Sad Little House", "The Lonely Lightning Bug", "Tales From Kensington Forest", "Bobby Cottontail's Gift," "Rufus Tweed, Father of Greed," "Ouch! Sunburn," "Piccolo," "No More Gunk," "Ava's Magic Tutu," "Tommy Turtle Takes a Tumble" and more.

External links

* [http://www.kevinscottcollier.com Kevin S. Collier official website