| Rafael Kayanan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 (age 62–63) Manila, Philippines |
| Area | Penciller,Inker |
Notable works | The Fury of Firestorm Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci |
| http://rafaelkayanan.blogspot.com | |
Rafael Kayanan (born 1962) is a Filipino-born naturalized Americancomics artist andFilipino martial arts master in the Sayoc Kali system.
Rafael Kayanan stated in a 2007 interview that he "grew up withFilipinoKomiks masters like Alcala, Coching, and Redondo mixed in with Kirby, Sy Barry'sThe Phantom, Kubert'sTarzan, and Hal Foster'sPrince Valiant. From there I discovered Barry Windsor-Smith, Starlin, Adams, Wrightson, and Gulacy in the 70's [sic]. I copied and then drew my own stories on the backs of old xeroxes my mom would bring home from work."[1]
He has illustrated for American majorcomic book publishers. His work includesMarvel Comics'Conan the Adventurer,Acclaim Comics'Turok, andDC Comics'Firestorm andAmerica vs. the Justice Society.[2] He also inked theEisner Award-nominated seriesChiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci forVertigo.
Kayanan has illustrated concept designs for comic book, film and game companies.[3] During the late 1990s, he was the creator andart director for Cross Plains Comics featuring thepulp magazine characters created byRobert E. Howard. Kayanan developed concept designs forNintendo'sTurok: Dinosaur Hunter IIvideo game. He currently continues to do work forTopps Cards on licenses such asStar Wars andThe Lord of the Rings.
Other titles he has worked on includeThe Amazing Spider-Man,Star Wars,Magic: The Gathering, andBatman: Legends of the Dark Knight.[4][5]
Kayanan's art is known for its rapid tempo, storytelling pace and layered depth. Much thought is evident in the choreography of dynamic action on every page. His slick and precise usage of shadows to define anatomy and emotion is as proficient as any of the longtime masters of the craft.[6]
Additional comic book work can be found inDark Horse Comics'Conan #39,[1]Annihilation,[7] and fantasy novelistR.A. Salvatore'sDrizzt,Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons fromDevil's Due Publishing.
During his collaboration with writerGerry Conway on DC'sThe Fury of Firestorm series in 1984,[8] Kayanan co-created three characters which have appeared in live-action media. The supporting characterFelicity Smoak onThe CW television seriesArrow debuted inThe Fury of Firestorm #23 (May 1984).[9] The supervillainSlipknot first appeared inThe Fury of Firestorm #28 (October 1984) and appeared in theSuicide Squad film in 2016.[10] The supervillainWeasel first appeared inThe Fury of Firestorm #35 (May 1985) and appeared inThe Suicide Squad film in 2021.[11] Kayanan co-created the thirdSpider-Woman,Mattie Franklin, who first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #441 (1998)
Kayanan is a Master-level edged weapons (knife, sword,tomahawk) expert and instructor in Sayoc Kali. This rare combination of a visual and martial artist, has led to projects which utilize both skills to illustrate fight storyboards for film and TV. Kayanan choreographed and trained the actors, inWilliam Friedkin'sThe Hunted starringBenicio del Toro andTommy Lee Jones.[12] He also trained actorSam Rockwell for directorGeorge Clooney's filmConfessions of a Dangerous Mind. Kayanan was a development artist, fight trainer and weapons consultant forParamount Pictures adaptation ofEdgar Rice Burroughs'John Carter of Mars. His art was used for theCBS tv showNCIS: Los Angeles. Kayanan designed fights for the main cast ofLL Cool J,Chris O' Donnell,Daniela Ruah andEric Christian Olsen, as well as special guest starsDanny Trejo,[13]Ernie Reyes Jr.,[14] andDaniel Henney.[15] Kayanan was the technical advisor for the close quarter fights inside the airplane of the filmNon-Stop starringLiam Neeson.
Rafael Kayanan was a set illustrator and story board artist for theSpider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Broadway show, directed byJulie Taymor with music created byBono and theEdge.
Kayanan worked on concept illustration for the filmsImmortals[16][17] andMirror, Mirror both directed byTarsem Singh fromRelativity Media, and the related graphic novel anthologyImmortals: Gods and Heroes published byArchaia.
Other projects include the Discovery TV showLone Target, also known internationally asManhunt, starring former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert. The Kayanan designed RnD Hawk, Bontoc and MadumiSayoc Kali-Daniel Winkler knives were prominently featured in this show.[18]
Kayanan’s Sayoc Winkler RnD Hawk is also featured in both the tv and book seriesTerminal List, written byJack Carr.
As artist unless otherwise noted
In this limited series by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Rafael Kayanan, the JSA was taken to trial following a modern-day witchhunt.
He illustrated for all the major US comics companies and produced development art, storyboards and character designs for computer games, TV, film and toylines.
Gerry Conway, the writer who co-created the character with artist Rafael Kayanan in a 1984 issue ofFirestorm.
Her Father's Knife which was specially forged by DK's friend Rafael Kayanan.
The CBS actors had to log quite a few hours with the show's fight director, Rafael Kayanan
Designed by Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler and Sayoc Kali Master Level Instructor Tuhon Rafael Kayanan, the Madumi belt knife is a potent compact belt knife perfectly suited for most survival tasks.
| Preceded by | The Fury of Firestorm artist 1984–1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Captain Atom artist 1989–1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Savage Sword of Conan artist 1993–1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Amazing Spider-Man artist 1998–1999 | Succeeded by |
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