William Tucci

William "Billy" Tucci
Billy Tucci at a convention
Born	William Tucci
Area(s)	Writer, Penciller
Notable works	Shi

William (Billy) Tucci (born 13 August 1966, New York, New York) is an illustrator, writer and filmmaker best known among American comic book audiences for his creator-owned title and character, Shi.

Career

Tucci created his own publishing company, Crusade Comics, through which he publishes both his personal projects, as well as work from other up and coming creators. Several comic characters, including Top Cow’s Witchblade and David Mack’s Kabuki, actually debuted in Shi.

Shi has been featured on Fox, NBC, and E! television while also gaining recognition in The New York Times,^{[volume & issue needed]} Wall Street Journal^{[volume & issue needed]} and USA Today.^{[volume & issue needed]} The character has also crossed over with many comic book icons including Daredevil, Witchblade, Vampirella and Wolverine. For more than two years Shi: The Way of the Warrior #1 remained atop Wizard Magazine's Top Ten Comics list, a record for any single issue that still stands to this day. Billy is also one of the few comic book creators recognized by Wizard on both their Top Ten Artists and Writers list.

In 2006 Tucci began doing work for the "Big Two" in the American comic book industry, pencilling Marvel Comics' Heroes for Hire, and DC's VS cards. He also released the 576 page Definitive Shi, the Illustrated Warrior novel and penned Zombie-sama! with illustrator John Broglia.

In 2007, on Shi's 13th anniversary, Tucci's newest miniseries The Ring of Fire was released. Shi also had a crossover with Brian Pulido's Lady Death/Shi through Avatar Press and with Peter David's Fallen Angel through IDW Publishing. Dark Horse Comics is also producing a 200-page hardbound Art of Shi coffee table book showcasing several artists' take on the character. Other Shi projects include a full color Zombie-sama! TPB with John Broglia and Definitive Shi Vol. 2.

Tucci is writing the screenplay of the Shi movie with Kevin Bernhardt and will serve as executive producer. Tia Carrere will play the titular role of Shi.^[1]

He also wrote, produced and directed his own award-winning^{[citation needed]} short film, some trouble of a SeRRious nature.

Tucci produced a six-part miniseries for DC, Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion, which premiered in Nov. 2008.^[2] The final part was released in June 2009. Describing the series, as a "labor of love", Tucci spent time at a large reenactment with over 2,000 World War II reenactors in Pennsylvania as part of his research for the story. In the reenactment, Tuccci acted out the part of a war correspondent, interviewed several veterans of the campaign, and visited the grounds where battles took place.^[3]

References

1. ^ Grosser, Marty. "http://www.maida.net/shi/interviews/diamondinterview.html". Diamond Comics. http://www.paperbackreader.com/interviews/ragsmorales_070605.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-01. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Heroic Japanese Americans in New Comic Series". AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-10-03.
3. ^ Project Fanboy interview with Billy Tucci

External links

• William Tucci's official site
• William Tucci at the Internet Movie Database
• William Tucci's myspace page
• Megacon '08 coverage on Sgt. Rock

Persondata
Name	Tucci, William
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1966-08-13
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death