Mel Smith

MEL SMITH is the publisher of Wildcard Ink who produce the Eisner award-winning Gumby Comics. He is also an artist and writer himself.

Born in Evensville, Indiana, Smith broke into the comics business in 1985, at the ripe age of 16, pencilling and writing for Pinnacle Comics, then progressing onto others.

As his craft developed he began taking art assignments for Innovation, Marvel Comics and Malibu, notably its Rock-It imprint.

Work with the Rock-It imprint developed into a sideways career move with Smith producing artwork for various bands and record labels, itself leading into other illustration assignments including clothing design. Seeking security during a period where he sought to re-establish his career in comics, he took on responsibility at a prestigious local Arts & Posters shop.

This lead to Smith co-founding Wild Card Ink with the intent of producing a charity comic from which profits would go towards feeding the homeless. The resulting publication was Feed America's Children featuring Major Impact, including pages by numerous famous comic book artists who drew for DC Comics, Dark Horse, Image and Marvel among others. Smith himself co-wrote the story and also contributed art.

Wild Card Ink then did the most unexpected of things to happen in comics for a long time and brought back American children's television favourite Gumby to the printed page.

To this end the editor/publisher brought in top talents in the form of Bob Burden and Rick Geary to produce Gumby Comics. The resulting series found favour with critics and fans alike, receiving several Eisner nominations and winning the 2007 Best Publication for a Younger Audience.

Aside from Gumby Comics itself, spin-off titles have been published or are in development, some featuring materia by Smith.

Mel Smith has taken on many roles within the comics business. He is a publisher, editor, designer, artist and writer, and because he is also a fan of the medium his enthusiasm does not wane.

Concurrent with producing Gumby Comics, the man continues to develop his career from his Walnut Creek, California base, taking on other assignments such as illustrating Godzilla trading cards, and developing stories of his own, including Dead Ahead published by Image Comics, and The Seven Lives of Dr Phibes due from Blue Water.