I’ve been friends with Turra and Jetta from the beginning.
Okay. Well, maybe not the very beginning, before the girls ever made it from Martheus’ head onto the page, but right after they first filled out (and filled out oh so noticeably) their first graphic novel.
It was Memphis. Mid-South Con. I was there with Scott McCullar representing Shooting Star Comics. Scott marched me immediately over to Martheus’ table in the dealer room and said something to the effect of “Check out this guy’s stuff. He’s amazing.”
He was right. Something about Martheus’ artwork had a raw energy to it that had me hooked from the get-go. The smiles, the action lines, the eyes, the accurate fight scenes, the large… ahem … tracks of land.
But I digress.
That night, during a meal of good ol’ Memphis barbeque, Scott told me he thought we should bring Jetta into the Shooting Star fold.
And we did. It was, as they say, a no-brainer.
Now, 25 years later, Martheus and crew have been with the Queen of the Toshigawa Butt-Kickers on numerous action-packed adventures for several publishers. She's been a warrior, a princess, and she's even co-starred with indy favorite Shi for the crossover to end all crossovers. Not just that, but Martheus and I have been able to collaborate on several projects as well (both Jetta-adjacent like Turra and non-Jetta-related like The IDW comic of The Bad Girls Club for Oxygen Network).
So, from me to you, Martheus, Janet, and Anakin, happy anniversary!
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Martheus Wade is a creative ninja who writes and draws ninjas. Why? I guess because it takes one to tell stories about one. The first time I met him he was showing off martial arts moves and demonstrating how to illustrate the human body as a piece of artwork in motion, a violent, deadly piece of artwork in motion.
Then I read his work in Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa. I was hooked.
If you haven't met him and entered the world of the Toshigawa Universe, you don't know what you're missing.
Tell us a bit about your latest work.
I've recently been working on expanding my universe of characters called the Toshigawa Universe. The universe includes our books Shinobi: Ninja Princess, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa, Turra: Gun Angel, and the webcomic, Ready 2 Spar. The most current book that is out now is the redesign and re-release of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa - Defiance which was our first book ever to go nationwide. Ironically, it was first published by Shooting Star years ago.
What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work?
Martial arts is a huge theme of our books. I have always been a fan of anime and manga. All of that makes up the basis of our look and feel.
What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer?
I've never considered being a “writer” really. If someone asked me to write a novel, I don’t think I could do it. I’ve always just seen these stories in my head and wanted to convey them. I've always loved reading and English class in school. So it was a natural progression to write stories and characteristics for my creations. So, I guess I am a writer in that respect!
What inspires you to write?
I see writing as an extension of my creativity while illustrating. It’s almost like the piece isn’t finished until its personality is infused into it. That’s why it's difficult for me to find interest in drawing fan art. I can’t inject my own story into it.
What would be your dream project?
My dream project would be a Wonder Woman and Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa crossover. I got really close with a Jetta and Shi crossover that I got to write and illustrate in Jetta/Shi: Arrow of Destiny. She and Wonder Woman are some of my favorite characters. To place them alongside my character would be awesome.
If you have any former project to do over to make it better, which one would it be, and what would you do?
I’m kind of doing that now. I’m revisiting my old graphic novels and really getting a chance to update the art as well as add to the story to make it smoother. I’m adding color. I’m adding extra conversions. The characters are a lot more well-rounded. It’s been a treat to go back into these books again.
What writers have influenced your style and technique?
I love Marv Wolfman’s Teen Titans. He was first. The late Kentaro Miura’s work as a whole has been amazing to follow over the years. I love Stephen King’s work as well. I think all of those have been highly detailed worlds and characters. I try to bring those to my work as well.
Where would you rank writing on the "Is it an art or it is a science continuum?" Why?
Well, I think we are seeing the answer to that unfold in real time now. With the advent of AI and how it’s quickly trying to steal creative jobs, science is trying to eat the artist. Writing as well as a creative endeavor is on the chopping block because people can’t really fathom the spiritual, mental, and artistic energies it takes to make anything. The general thought is, “I should be able to do this. I see other people do it. Why can’t I?” What they don’t realize is that there is an entire history behind that person creating. A person brings their life experiences to the table while writing or drawing. But we are seeing Ai rip that end result off as creativity. Writing isn’t science. It’s as art as you can get.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Most would say starting. But I love starting and watching it evolve. I would honestly say finishing. Being satisfied with your work enough to leave it alone.
How do your writer friends help you become a better writer? Or do they not?
Kevin Williams takes red pens to my work constantly and Janet Wade, tells me daily how much a piece sucks. So they keep me on my toes. Haha.
What does literary success look like to you?
Success is being able to live comfortably while taking care of my family and having readers enjoy my work. I don’t have to be rich and have a private island or anything. I just want to live life creatively and allow my family to live it as well.
Any other upcoming projects you would like to plug?
My graphic novel series is up and going at ToshigawaUniverse.com. There you will find all of our different series as well as apparel. So, I’d love for supporters of independent comics to go there to check it out. There are books there for all ages, adult and young adult readers.
Note: As we approach the 15th anniversary of Shooting Star Comics, the indie comics publisher I served as EIC back in the beginning of this century, we've relaunched a website to help archive info and announce new outlets from former SSC members. The following is from that website. Join the Facebook group and share your own memories at https://www.facebook.com/shootingstarcomics.
In December 2001, a group of online friends, all aspiring comic book writers, came together to produce a showcase for their talents. As readers who love the medium of comic books, they also had a desire to see their scripts given visual form. Since they were serious about their ambitions in this particular field, they decided to pool their resources, find artists (or in some cases, do the art themselves), and publish their short stories (all of it creator owned, original material) together in one book – and then to send that book out into the world, into the hands of the comic book reading public during the summer of 2002.
These friends are also not the least bit reluctant to acknowledge some of the main influences on their own progress in the medium. As a consequence, they decided to ask a couple of those influences to contribute to the endeavor. Chuck Dixon, whose articles on writing for comic books are almost as good as a writing course, was invited to contribute a Western story. And another of those influences, the legendary Denny O’Neil, was asked to write a foreword for the book. He very graciously agreed. The first issue of SHOOTING STAR COMICS ANTHOLOGY was the result of those efforts.
From 2002 to 2006, Shooting Star Comics expanded and became an independent publisher committed to releasing a wide variety of genres and styles in our books. Including both new talent and longtime legends in the industry, Shooting Star Comics produced a high-quality anthology series for six issues and a variety of one-shots and mini-series.
As the 15th Anniversary approaches, this website will expand in the days to come to document the history of our small independent publishing house and serve as an archive that recognizes the body of work produced. This site will also serve as a present day guide pointing to where you can work of the original creators now.
INDEPENDENT COMIC CREATOR PUTS A COMIC BOOK SPIN ON ART CLASSES
Indy comic book creator, Martheus Wade, creator of the hit graphic novel series Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa and Turra: Gun Angel and art director for MAW Productions Studios, is proud to announce the formation of The Comic Studio, a series of classes that specialize in the art of comic book and graphic novel creation.
The Comic Studio will be art classes with a comic book twist. The classes take an innovative approach to creative design that combines fine art, writing and graphic design skills and team them with goal setting techniques that will empower students to see projects through to completion. Courses will cover everything from photoshop techniques, to illustration techniques, to writing all from the perspective of comic book and graphic novel creation. "I've always wanted to give back to the Memphis area," Martheus said. "The idea for the Comic Studio began when I taught comic illustration in the penitentiary system. There were some extremely talented individuals there that could have contributed so much to the art world if someone would have reached them early and helped develop their talent. I want to find that child before it's too late." Thanks to fellow artist and prolific painter, Adam Shaw, classes will start at his studio in November at 2547 Broad Ave, Memphis TN. "The revitalization of Broad Avenue as an arts district fits The Comic Studio perfectly," said Martheus. "It's the perfect place to open minds to the arts and the power of the graphic medium."
Classes start in November and will meet Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. More information on times will be available in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in enrollment should contact Martheus Wade at martheus@toshigawa.com or join our facebook page, keyword: The Comic Studio. Free art tutorials are also available online at www.mawpro.com.
Optioned for motion picture, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa was created in 1985 by Martheus Antone Wade, a graduate of the University of Memphis. Martheus’ love for martial arts, along with his talent as a graphic artist, was a natural fit for creating exciting characters and imaginative storylines. He then began his carrier as an intern at Signature Advertising. After completing his internship, Martheus worked as graphic designer. After two years, Martheus struck out on his own as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator working with companies such as the Radison Hotel, Trust Marketing, Senior Services, The YWCA, The Girl Scouts Council of the Mid-South, and Special Olympics.
He has illustrated for Maximum CNG, Bloodstream for Image Comics, Shooting Star Comics, Chaos Campus for Approbation Comics and Andrew Dabb’s Slices just to name a few. Recently, he has worked on such titles as Action Man and Nanovor for IDW, Bad Girls Club for the Oxygen Network, and illustrated, written, and produced a comic book crossover with his title character, Jetta, and William Tucci’s, Shi. His work has been used for the movie Role Models from Universal Pictures as well as the instructional DVD and book, Hi-Fi Digital Color for Comics available from IMPACT Publishing.
Visit www.mawpro.com to see more of his work and artistic process .
There I was, sitting at our booth on Sunday at San Diego Comic Con 2009, my hands clasped over my face. Our booth was put on a horrible lane with no traffic. Sells of our books were dismal. My quest to land some full time comic work failed. My portfolio was over looked by both DC and Marvel. A major production company was debuting a new t.v. show that looked a lot like Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa. And my wife was back at home and pregnant. What’s worse, I told her that I would come home with something concrete. I looked at my last sketch for the convention and knew I would not be coming back. And, just maybe, comics may not be in the cards as a means to take care of my new family.
It was a hard pill to swallow. After all, I put in my time. Submitted my portfolio to the powers that be. Smoozed with editors. Worked on my craft. I should have been there by now. But, for some reason, I wasn’t. I saw friends and colleagues’ careers sail past me, while I stood still. When I was single, I had time to wait on that one break that SHOULD'VE happened. But with a wife and newborn, it was getting harder to justify the wait. I kept thinking, “Why am I doing this?”
by Martheus Wade, Janet Stone Wade, and Kevin Williams
This tutorial will be a slightly complicated one. There are a lot of different techniques that inkers apply to get the job done. So, I split this one up into three different point of views. The first part will be inking for cartoons and strips with Kevin Williams. The second will be inking for comic book pages by myself. The third will be inking for the pin up with Janet Wade. Some of the techniques and tools will overlap and some will be drastically different. However, the overall goal is the same. The inks should add more clarity, weight and definition to the pencils. As with any tutorial, this is meant for you to take what we are presenting and use it as a basis to create your own technique for tackling your personal or professional project. Here we go!
Shianndrea Toshigawa is “The Chosen One” of the Toshigawa Ninja Clan.
She is the only warrior powerful enough to save the world from the wrath of the Knave, a demonic samurai army led by her father, Terminus. Although Shianndrea longs for a normal life away from the weight of her destiny, she is hunted at every turn.
Taki Sato, one of the most deadly warriors in all of Japan wants Shianndrea dead and the monstrous tracker known as Desai would like nothing more than to restore his honor by breaking Shianndrea and returning her to Terminus.
Now this reluctant warrior must cope with the fear of her destiny, a battle to the death and a rumor that another clan member is traitor.
Action Lab Entertainment is proud to present Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa as a digital exclusive comic, available in Nook, iOS, Android, Kobo, Kindle, Graphicly and additional formats in Mid-May.
Created by Martheus Wade and optioned for a motion picture, “Beginnings” will be the first in a series of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa digital omnibus collections to be released over the next two years. “Beginnings” collects Jetta – Last Chances (first published in 2003) and Jetta – Crucible (first published in 2009) into one 120 page full color graphic novel.
With all new story additions, art and ending commentary, Beginnings brings an entirely new reading experience to these exciting books and provides an excellent jumping on point for new readers who have always wanted to check out one of the most popular female characters in independent comics.
Additional previews to come soon. Get ready for Jetta!
One of the questions we get asked from time-to-time is, "Where do you get your ideas?"
Kevin:
Well, sometimes from reading. It can be a book about creating ideas, like "The Cartoonist's Muse"; or, it can happen while you're reading a novel. Sometimes, reading other comic strips will send my brain reeling down another path and then I have to stop and go write a few comic strips.
Martheus:
I'm a big fan of movies. I find a lot of inspiration in going to a great movie (and some of the not so great ones) and falling into the story. Sometimes an idea for a comic story can come to me from something as simple as a camera angle. I remember going to see 300 and being moved so much by the fight scenes that I was determined to achieve that feeling of camera angles and movement in a Jetta comic page.
Janet:
I get a lot of ideas from movies and animation as well. If there's a good storyline going, you can't help but become inspired. Good stories are timeless and transcend boundaries, so you'll see recurring themes in different books and movies. Music can also put you in a certain mood to create.
I’ve been friends with Turra and Jetta from the beginning.
