CREATOR BIO: JAN-MICHAEL FRANKLIN

Jan-Michael Franklin (Jan) was born in southern Ohio in 1976. From age 3 to 15, Jan grew up in Columbus, Ohio’s capital. One day in 1983, Jan was in the Dayton, OH Greyhound bus station with his Grandmother. A young man playing video games in the station arcade called Jan over to him and said “Hey kid, you want some comic books?” The man turned to Jan and handed him a stack of about ten comics. This stack of comics was diverse, and contained titles like X-Men, The New Teen Titans, Thor, The Hulk, and a few others. Needless to say, the bug had taken its bite.

Already showing a talent for drawing, this introduction to comics fueled Jan’s passion for art. Jan went on to win two full summer school scholarships to the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus before he reached junior high school.

In late 1991, Jan moved to Sacramento California with his Grandmother. Many things changed, and Jan’s passion for drawing comics grew into a passion for “creating” comics. In 1993, Jan’s senior year in high school, he wrote and drew a full 24-page comic book called Blackfist. However, the book never saw publication.

After a few years of dealing with the rigors of “real life”, Jan slowly gravitated away from comics and art. In search of a solid foundation, Jan joined the U.S. Army in early 1998. In early 2002, Jan re-discovered comics, and his love for creating them has grown stronger than ever.

Jan Separated from the Army in September 2003, and currently resides in North Carolina. The first volume of Deadly Artisans is complete, and Jan is working on making it available to readers in various countries worldwide.