The Dark World of Masters of the Universe Minicomics

(Photo from JamesMarStudio.com)

ALFREDO ALCALA (He-Man and the Power Sword, Battle in the Clouds, The Vengeance of Skeletor, King of Castle Grayskull)

In 1948, Bituin Komiks commissioned Alfredo Alcala to illustrate a short story. Soon afterwards, he would illustrate novels for Pilipino Komiks, Tagalog Klasiks, Hiwaga Komiks and Espesyal Komiks--doing everything from pencilling to inking, to lettering. In 1964, Aflredo, along with Virgilio and Nestor Redondo, Amado Castrillo, Tony Caravana and others founded CRAF Publications, producing the best-selling VOLTAR comic. In the early 70's, an American comic book publishing executive on a visit to the Philippines took interest on Alcala's works. Before long, Alfredo had worked for nearly every company from Marvel to DC to Dark Horse, etc. He worked on characters as diverse as Conan, He-Man (in minicomics for Mattel), Man Thing, El Diablo, Star Wars and Swamp Thing with writer Alan Moore. Alfredo passed away on April 4, 2000; he was 74 years old.

(Photo from DonaldFGlut.com)

DONALD F. GLUT (He-Man and the Power Sword, Battle in the Clouds, The Vengeance of Skeletor, King of Castle Grayskull)

Most of Don�s professional life has been as a freelance writer.  To date he has authored numerous motion picture and television scripts (Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends, Transformers, G.I.Joe, X-Men, others), comic-book scripts (Captain America, Tarzan, including creating Dagar the Invincible for Gold Key, and other projects), more than 35 novels and nonfiction books, also numerous short stories, articles, songs, album-liner notes, The Dinosaur Dictionary (1972) and Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia (1997). Perhaps Don is best known for his novelization of the movie The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the nation�s No. 1 bestseller for almost two months, which to date (still in print) has sold over 3.5 million copies. In 1982 he created characters and back-story for Mattel�s Masters of the Universe toyline. More recently, Don became president of Frontline Entertainment, for which he wrote, directed and co-produced the comedy/fantasy motion picture Dinosaur Valley Girls�, which has already achieved �cult movie� status!

(Photo from CrusadeFineArts.com)

GARY COHN (Ordeal of Man-E-Faces, Tale of Teela, Power of Point Dread, The Menace of of Trap Jaw, He-Man Meets Ram-Man, The Terror of Tri-Klops, The Magic Stealer)

In the early 1980's, Gary Cohn freelanced mostly for DC Comics, writing the six He-Man minicomics that defined the Pre-Classic period.  He co-created, with Dan Mishkin, Blue Devil and Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (which inspired She-Ra), as well as creating the science fiction series Barren Earth and writing dozens of other scripts-- Green Lantern, Hawkman in Brave & Bold, Secret Origins (for DC Comics), Ghost Rider (at Marvel), Shi, Demon Gun (Image/Crusade Entertainment) and finally, Countess Vladimira (Peregrine Entertainment)--just to name a few.  After spending most of the past decade teaching composition, creative writing and American history in New York and working on his doctorate in American history, he returned to comics, joining Billy Tucci's Crusade Entertainment, for which he has written the acclaimed Senryaku miniseries, co-written (with Tucci) the Shi/Cyblade team-up, and edited several issues of Shi: The Way of the Warrior and the Tomoe miniseries.  Gary is an ardent motorcyclist, a recreational fencer and martial artist.

(Photo from MarkTexeira.com)

MARK TEXEIRA (Ordeal of Man-E-Faces, Tale of Teela, Power of Point Dread, The Menace of of Trap Jaw, He-Man Meets Ram-Man, The Terror of Tri-Klops, The Magic Stealer)

Mark Texeira has been recognized by the Salmagundi Club and Society of Illustrators for his oil paintings, earning him cover assignment work for books, magazines and record albums involving such properties as Remo Williams, Buckaroo Banzai and Public Enemy.  At 28, Mark married and worked for Continuity Associates, illustrating the MEGALITH book and ads for MARLBORO and SALEM, after which he freelanced on a number of high-profile projects for the giants of the comic book industry--Marvel Entertainment, Harris Publications, Image Comics, Black Bull Entertainment, D.C. Comics, where he illustrated the Pre-Classic minicomic adventures of He-Man.  After years of setting the graphic art world ablaze with his uniquely kinetic illustration style, he's finally adding his first creator owned graphic series to a long list of sensational, new work!  Mark Texeira has joined the Comic Book Pros posse and is now selling artwork through art representative, Sam Abbinanti.