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P. Craig Russell
Birth name	Philip Craig Russell
Born
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer, Penciller

Philip Craig Russell, a.k.a. Craig Russell, is an American comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards. He is deeply influenced by art nouveau.

Russell broke into comics in 1972, and first became well known with his 11-issue Amazing Adventures run and subsequent graphic novel featuring Killraven, hero of a future version of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, collaborating with writer Don McGregor. Withdrawing for a while from mainstream comics, he produced a number of experimental strips, many of which were later published in his Night Music series and in Epic Magazine. This brought him to the attention of writer Roy Thomas, who was planning a comic adaptation of Michael Moorcock's Elric stories.

Contents 1 Elric (1982-1997) 2 Night Music (1984-1990) 3 Other works 4 List of Opuses 5 Selected works 6 Awards 7 External links

Russell's first Elric story, the Roy Thomas scripted "The Dreaming City", was published by Marvel Comics in 1982 as "Marvel Graphic Novel #2", following initial publication of the first half of the graphic novel in Epic Magazine. For the next series, "Elric of Melnibone", (also written by Roy Thomas) Russell shared art duties with Michael T. Gilbert. This story was published by Pacific Comics as "Elric" issues 1-6 in 1983-1984. Russell didn't return to Elric until 1997 when he collaborated directly with Michael Moorcock on "Elric: Stormbringer" co-published by Dark Horse and Topps.

In 1984, Russell began Night Music, an ongoing anthology series for Eclipse Comics featuring some of his most heralded literary and operatic adaptations (Russell has previously used the same title for a black and white collection of the earliest of these works, published by Star*Reach). Included in this series was "The King's Ankus", adapted from Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, (Russell had previously inked a number of Jungle Book adaptations drawn by Gil Kane, published in Marvel Fanfare). The series also included "Pelleas & Melisande", adapted from Maurice Maeterlink's opera of the same name, and "Salome" adapted from Oscar Wilde's play of the same name. Opera would continue to resurface in Russell's work, including a four part adaptation of "The Magic Flute", taken from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera.

Of particular note is Russell's adaptation of Wagner's operatic cycle, "The Ring of the Nibelung", described on Russell's web site as his 'magnum opus'; Russell's Ring adaptation has been published by Dark Horse Comics in two volumes. He has also adapted several fairy tales by Oscar Wilde into comic book albums from NBM Publishing.

Other notable works of Russell's are his collaborations with writer Neil Gaiman. Russell illustrated one of the most highly regarded issues of Gaiman's comic series Sandman, titled "Ramadan" (originally published as issue #50; eventually included in the collection Fables and Reflections). Russell also illustrated the first story in Gaiman's later Sandman collection, Endless Nights. Russell also adapted Gaiman's short story, "Murder Mysteries" into comics form. He is currently working on a comic version of Gaiman's children's book Coraline.

Throughout his career, Russell has numbered his works in the order in which they were published, similar to the treatment of works by classical musical composers. The works are usually labeled somewhere within the art with the word or an appreviation of "Opus" and its corresponding number.

1. The Chimera, 1973
2. Dr. Strange Annual #1, 1973-76
3. Killraven 1974-1976
4. Dance on a Razor's Edge, 1977
5. Parsifal, 1976-77
6. The Avatar and the Chimera, 1978
7. Siegfried and the Dragon, 1978
8. La Somnanbula, 1979
9. Breakdown on the Starship Remembrance, 1979
10. Elric: The Dreaming City, 1979-80
11. Isolation and Illusion, 1981
12. Elric: While the Gods Laugh, 1981
13. Killraven: Last Dreams broken, 1982
14. King of the Castle, 1982-83
15. Elric: Elric of Melniboné, 1982-84
16. The Drinking Song of Earth's Sorrow, 1984
17. The Insomniac, 1971-84
18. Unto this World, 1984
19. Jungle Book: The King's Ankus, 1984-85
20. Eine Heldentraum, 1985
21. Pelléas & Mélisande, 1985
22. Elric: The Dreaming City (2nd version), 1986
23. Salomé, 1986
24. Batman: Robin 3000, 1986-92
25. Jungle Book: Red Dog, 1987
26. Ariane and Bluebeard, 1988
27. Human Remains, 1989
28. The Magic Flute, 1989-90
29. From Beyond, 1994
30. The Golden Apples of the Sun, 1992
31. The Gift of the Magi, 1990
32. A Voyage to the Moon, 1991
33. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: The Selfish Giant, 1992
34. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: The Star Child, 1992
35. Batman - Hothouse, 1992
36. The Sandman: Ramadan, 1992
37. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: The Young King, 1993
38. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: The Remarkable Rocket, 1993
39. X: Devils, 1994
40. Jungle Book: Spring Running, 1996
41. Elric: Stormbringer, 1993-95
42. Elric: One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock, 1996
43. Dr. Strange: What is it that disturbs you, Stephen ?, 1996
44. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: The Birthday of the Infanta, 1997
45. The Clowns, 1997
46. Star Wars: Episode 1 - Queen Amidala, 1999
47. The Ring of the Nibelung, 2000-2001
48. Buffy the vampire slayer: Tales of the Slayers - Presumption, 2002
49. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: The Devoted Friend, 2004
50. In Flanders Field, 2002
51. Murder Mysteries, 2002
52. Between Two Worlds, 2002
53. The Sandman: Death and Venice, 2003
54. Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: Nightingale and the Rose, 2004
55. Gone, 2003
56. Fables: The Last Castle, 2003
57. Hellboy: Command Performance, 2003
58. The Godfather's Code, 2004
59. Lucifer #50, 2004
60. Daredevil #65, 2004
61. Conan: The Jewels of Gwahlur, 2005
62. Coraline, In Progress

• New Mutants vol. 1 #48 (inker)

1985 Jack Kirby Awards

Best Finite Series: Night Music (Nominated)

1986 Jack Kirby Awards

Best Finite Series: Night Music #4-5, "Pelleas and Melisande" (Nominated)

Best Artist: Night Music #4-5, "Pelleas and Melisanda" (Nominated)

1987 Jack Kirby Awards

Best Single Issue: Night Music #6, "Salome" (Nominated)

• Official website