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Chip Zdarsky
View on WikipediaSteven Murray (born December 21, 1975[1]), known by the pen-name Chip Zdarsky (/zəˈdɑːrski/[2]), is a Canadian comic book artist and writer, journalist, illustrator, and designer. Murray worked for National Post for over a decade, until 2014, as an illustrator and humorist, writing and illustrating the "Extremely Bad Advice" column as well as The Ampersand, the online edition of the newspaper's pop culture section.
Key Information
He uses the Zdarsky pseudonym for comics-related work, including Prison Funnies, Monster Cops, and as artist and co-creator of Sex Criminals with writer Matt Fraction.[1] He has written comics such as Howard the Duck, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Daredevil, Spider-Man: Life Story, and Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow for Marvel Comics, Batman for DC Comics, and Jughead for Archie Comics.
He has also used the pseudonym Todd Diamond.[3]
Early life
[edit]Steve Murray was born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised in Barrie, Ontario.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]Murray has illustrated for such clients as The Globe and Mail, New York magazine, CBC and Canadian Business.[citation needed]
In 2000, Murray created Chip Zdarsky as a pseudonym and alter ego for his persona as a comic book writer and illustrator, developing his own independent projects, such as Prison Funnies[4] and Monster Cops (which can be read online or in print) as well as collaborating on a variety of projects, including Dark Horse Comics titles Fierce and Rumble Royale. About his alter ego, Murray said "I wanted to have a sad-sack cartoonist persona that lives in his mom's basement, paints figurines for money, has restraining orders against him. And that became a character." He describes the character as "an idiot who doesn't know what I'm doing. I've had no success in my life. No matter what, I'm going to mess things up." Murray initially attempted to keep the identities separate and secret.[1]
From 2008 to 2014, Murray penned and illustrated a weekly advice column for the National Post called "Extremely Bad Advice".[5] He also wrote another column in that paper, Tear Jerk, in which he reviewed films to see if they could actually make him "weep like a baby".
Along with Kagan McLeod, Ben Shannon, and Cameron Stewart, he is a co-founder of the studio The Royal Academy of Illustration and Design, which produced Rumble Royale.
In 2010, he also launched a mock campaign for mayor of Toronto. He was not an officially registered candidate, launching his satirical "campaign" through social networking platforms after the deadline had passed to register as a candidate in the real campaign.[6]

In June 2013, Image Comics announced that Chip Zdarsky had teamed up with Invincible Iron Man and Hawkeye writer, Matt Fraction, on a new creator-owned series titled Sex Criminals. The first issue was released on September 23, 2013. Sex Criminals was declared number 1 on Time magazine's list of "Top 10 Comics and Graphic Novels" of 2013.[7]
In 2014, Murray won a Will Eisner Award for Best New Series for Sex Criminals.[8]
Zdarsky wrote the first series arc of the relaunched Jughead comic for the 2015 New Riverdale relaunch.
On February 15, 2017, it was announced that beginning that June, Zdarsky would be writing a brand new "back-to-basics" Spider-Man series Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man that would run alongside writer Dan Slott's run on The Amazing Spider-Man.[9] Zdarsky later wrote the two Spider-Man miniseries Spider-Man: Life Story and Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow.
In November 2018, it was announced that Zdarsky would serve as the writer on Daredevil, with Marco Checchetto serving as artist. The series began publication in February 2019 and lasted until November 2021 with issue 36.[10] This lead into the event Devil's Reign, also by Zdarsky and Checchetto.[11] A new Daredevil #1 launched in July 2022, with Zdarsky and Checchetto returning from the previous volume. The series explored the fallout of Devil's Reign and the effect it had on both Matt and Elektra, as both were operating as Daredevil.[12] August 2023 marked the end of his Daredevil.[13]
In 2020, DC Comics announced that Zdarsky would be among the creators of a revived Batman: Black and White anthology series which debuted on December 8, 2020.[14]
In 2021, it was announced that Zdarsky had signed a deal with Substack to develop exclusive comics for the service, such as Public Domain and volume two of Kaptara with Kagan McLeod.[15]
In February 2022, it was announced that Zdarsky would serve as the new writer for the mainline Batman book, starting with issue 125 on July 5, with Jorge Jiménez serving as the artist.[16] He concluded his run on February 5th, 2025 with the release of Batman #157 with Jiménez and Tony S. Daniel providing the art.
In March 2022, it was announced that Public Domain would be heading to print via Image Comics in June 2022.[17]
In July 2024, Zdarsky announced that he would be releasing a monthly physical newsletter in comic shops called Zdarsky Comic News. The newsletter included content such as interviews, news on upcoming comic releases, games, humorous columns, and promos of his upcoming work. In the first month, Zdarsky released 50,000 copies of the newsletter to comic ships distributed through Diamond Comic Distributors.[18]
In February 2025, it was announced that Zdarsky would be writing a new volume of Captain America for Marvel. The opening arc of the series follows Steve shortly after he is freed from the ice and tells the untold first encounter between him and Doctor Doom. Valerio Schiti serves as the main artist for the book. The first issue debuted in July 2025.[19]
Awards and nominations
[edit]Awards
[edit]- 2014 Eisner Award – Best New Series (Sex Criminals, with author Matt Fraction)
- 2014 Harvey Award – Most Promising New Talent
- 2014 Harvey Award – Best New Series (Sex Criminals)
- 2015 Harvey Award – Special Award For Humor (Sex Criminals; rejected by winner)
- 2016 Harvey Award – Special Award For Humor (Howard the Duck)
- 2017 Eisner Award – Best Humor Publication (Jughead, with Ryan North, Erica Henderson and Derek Charm)
- 2017 War Rocket Ajax Intercontinental Championship
- 2019 Eisner Award – Best Single Issue/One-Shot (Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310)
- 2019 Shuster Award – Best Writer (Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel Two-in-One)
- 2020 Eisner Award – Best Digital Comic (Afterlift, with artist Jason Loo)
- 2021 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book — Empyre, Lords of Empyre: Emperor Hulkling / Empyre: Aftermath Avengers (with Al Ewing, Dan Slott and Anthony Oliveira)
- 2023 Eisner Award – Best New Series (Public Domain)
- 2025 Tripwire Award – Best Comic-Related Publication (Zdarsky Comic News)
Nominations
[edit]- 2014 Eisner Award nominee – Best Series (Sex Criminals, with author Matt Fraction)
- 2017 Eisner Award nominee – Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17) (Jughead, with Ryan North, Erica Henderson and Derek Charm)
- 2019 Eisner Award nominee – Best Writer (Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel Two-in-One)
- 2020 Eisner Award nominee – Best Writer (White Trees, Daredevil, Spider-Man: Life Story, Afterlift), Best Continuing Series (Daredevil with Marco Checchetto)
- 2021 Eisner Award nominee – Best Writer (Stillwater, Daredevil, Fantastic Four/X-Men)
- 2021 Eisner Award nominee – Best Continuing Series (Daredevil)
- 2021 Eisner Award nominee – Best Continuing Series (Stillwater)
- 2023 Eisner Award nominee – Best Continuing Series (Daredevil with Marco Checchetto and Rafael de Latorre)
- 2023 Eisner Award nominee – Best Writer (Stillwater, Daredevil)
- 2023 Harvey Award nominee – Book of the Year (Public Domain)
- 2025 Eisner Award nominee – Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism (Zdarsky Comic News)
Bibliography
[edit]Archie Comics
[edit]- Jughead #1–8 (writer, October 2015 – August 2016)[20]
- Volume 1 (collects #1–6, with Erica Henderson, tpb, 168 pages, 2016, ISBN 978-1627388931)
- #7–8 (with Derek Charm, 2016), collected in Volume 2 (tpb, 144 pages, 2017, ISBN 978-1682559987)
Comixology Originals
[edit]- Afterlift (writer, 5-issue limited series, with Jason Loo, April 2020; republished by Dark Horse in February 2021, tpb, 136 pages, ISBN 978-1506724409)
- The All-Nighter (writer, with Jason Loo, October 2021 – February 2024)
- #1-5 (republished by Dark Horse in March 2022 as Season One, tpb, 136 pages, ISBN 978-1506728049)
- #6-10 (republished by Dark Horse in December 2023 as Season Two, tpb, 120 pages, ISBN 9781506736488)[21]
- #11-15 (republished by Dark Horse in January 2025 as Season Three, tpb, 128 pages, ISBN 978-1506740713)
DC Comics
[edit]- Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special: "Bird Psychology" (writer, with Joe Quinones, November 2017)
- Harley Quinn story in Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook (writer, with Khary Randolph, October 2020) collected in Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Darkest Knight (tpb, 208 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1779507921)
- Detective Comics #1027: "Many Happy Returns" (artist, with Matt Fraction, November 2020) collected as Batman: Detective Comics #1027 Deluxe Edition (hc, 184 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1779506740)
- Red Hood: Cheer in Batman: Urban Legends #1–6 (writer, with Eddy Barrows, March 2021–August 2021) Collected as:
- Batman: Urban Legends Vol 1 (collects #1-6, 264 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1779512178)
- Batman: Black and White vol. 5 #4: "The Green Deal" (writer, with Nick Bradshaw, March 2021)
- Justice League: Last Ride #1–7 (writer, with Miguel Mendonça, May–November 2021) Collected as
- Justice League: Last Ride (tpb, 154 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1779514394)
- Batman: The Knight #1–10 (writer, with Carmine Di Giandomenico, January 2022–October 2022) collected as
- Compendium Edition #1 (collects #1–3, 99 pages, 2022)
- Batman: The Knight (hc, 318 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1779518507, tpb, 318 pages, 2024)
- Batman vol. 3 #125–157 (writer, with Jorge Jimenez, Mike Hawthorne & Giuseppe Camuncoli, July 2022–February 2025) Collected as
- Batman Vol 1. Failsafe (collects #125–130, HC, 176 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1779519931)
- Batman Vol 2. The Bat-Man of Gotham (collects #131-135, HC, 224 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1779520425)
- Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War (collects Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Battle Lines, Batman #137-138, Catwoman #57-58, and Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Scorched Earth, co-writer, with Tini Howard and various, HC, 272 pages, 2024 ISBN 978-1779525987)
- Batman Vol 3. Joker Year One (collects #139-144, HC, TP)
- Batman Vol. 4: Dark Prisons (collects #145-152, HC, TP)
- Batman Vol. 5: The Dying City (collects #153-157 and the lead story from Batman #150, HC, TP)
- Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #1: "The Man of Steal!" (writer, with Kevin Maguire, September 2023)
- The Penguin #0 (reprints backup stories from Batman #125-127, writer, with Belén Ortega, October 2023)
- Titans: Beast World Tour: Gotham: "The Good Boy" (writer, one-shot with Miguel Mendonça, December 2023)
Image Comics
[edit]- Sex Criminals (artist, with Matt Fraction, September 2013 – October 2020)[22]
- Volume 1: One Weird Trick (collects #1–5, tpb, 128 pages, 2014, ISBN 978-1607069461)
- Volume 2: Two Worlds, One Cop (collects #6–10, tpb, 128 pages, 2015 ISBN 978-1632151933)
- Volume 3: Three the Hard Way (collects #11–15, tpb, 132 pages, 2016 ISBN 978-1632155429)
- Volume 4: Fourgy! (collects #16–20 tpb, 136 pages, 2017 ISBN ISBN 978-1534302310)
- Volume 5: Five-Fingered Discount (collects #21–25, tpb, 128 pages, 2018 ISBN 978-1534306837)
- Volume 6: Six Criminals (collects #26–30, 69, tpb, 152 pages, 2020 ISBN 978-1534310629)
- Big Hard Sex Criminals (collects #1–10, hc, 256 pages, 2015 ISBN 978-1632152435)
- Big Hard Sex Criminals Volume 2 Deluxxxe (collects #11–20, hc, 256 pages, 2018 ISBN 978-1534307063)
- Big Hard Sex Criminals Volume 3 Deluxxxe (collects #21–30, 69, hc, 272 pages, 2021 ISBN 978-1534319097)
- Sex Criminals: The Complete Edition (collects #1-30, 69, hc, 824 pages, 2024 ISBN 978-1534397484)
- Sex Criminals: Just the Tips (artist, with Matt Fraction, December 2014)[23]
- Kaptara (writer, with Kagan McLeod, April–November 2015)[24] continued online[25]
- Volume 1: Fear Not, Tiny Alien (collects #1–5, tpb, 128 pages, 2015, ISBN 978-1632155573)
- The White Trees #1–2 (writer, limited series, with Kris Anka, August–September 2019)
- Stillwater #1–18 (writer, with Ramón K. Pérez, September 2020–December 2022)
- Volume 1: Rage, Rage (collects #1–6, tpb, 136 pages, 2021 ISBN 978-1534318373)
- Volume 2: Allways Loyal (collects #7–12, tpb, 128 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1534320048)
- Volume 3: Border Crossing (collects #13 - 18, tpb, 168 pages, 2023 ISBN 978-1534323513)
- The Silver Coin #1 (writer, with Michael Walsh, April 2021) collected in The Silver Coin, Volume 1 (tpb, 144 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1534319929)
- Crossover #7 (writer, with Phil Hester, June 2021) collected in Crossover Vol. 2: The Ten Cent Plague (tpb, 176 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1534319288)
- Newburn #1–16 (writer, with Jacob Phillips, November 2021–March 2024)
- Volume 1 (collects #1–8, tpb, 160 pages, 2022 ISBN 978-1534322394)
- Volume 2 (collects #9–16, tpb, 176 pages, 2024 ISBN 978-1534397187)
- Public Domain #1–current (writer/artist, reprint of online series, June 2022–)
- Volume 1 (collects #1–5, tpb, 160 pages, 2023 ISBN 978-1534322394)
- Volume 2 (collects #6-10, tpb, 120 pages, 2025 ISBN 978-1534353770)
- Kaptara: Universal Truths #1–6 (writer, limited series, reprint of online series, with Kagan McLeod, August 2023–January 2024)
- Volume 2: Universal Truths (collects #1–6, tpb, 168 pages, 2024 ISBN 978-1534397910)
- The Domain #1-5 (writer, limited series, with Rachel Stott, July 2024-November 2024) collected in The Domain (tpb, 112 pages, 2025, ISBN 978-1534364165)
Marvel Comics
[edit]- Original Sins #5: The No-Sin Situation (writer/artist, October 2014) collected in:
- Original Sins (tpb, 144 pages, 2015, ISBN 978-0785191513)
- Howard the Duck:
- Howard the Duck vol. 5 (writer, with Joe Quinones, May–October 2015)[26] collected in:
- Howard the Duck by Zdarsky & Quinones Omnibus (hc, 464 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302932015)
- Volume 0: What the Duck? (collects #1–5, tpb, 112 pages, 2015, ISBN 978-0785197720)
- Howard the Duck by Zdarsky & Quinones Omnibus (hc, 464 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302932015)
- Howard the Duck vol. 6 (writer, with Joe Quinones January–December 2016) collected in:
- Howard the Duck by Zdarsky & Quinones Omnibus (hc, 464 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302932015)
- Volume 1: Duck Hunt (collects #1–6, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #6, tpb, 160 pages, 2016, ISBN 978-0785199380)
- Volume 2: Good Night, and Good Duck (collects #7–11, tpb, 112 pages, 2016, ISBN 978-0785199397)
- Howard the Duck by Zdarsky & Quinones Omnibus (hc, 464 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302932015)
- Howard the Duck vol. 5 (writer, with Joe Quinones, May–October 2015)[26] collected in:
- All-New, All-Different Avengers Annual #1: "The Once and Future Marvel" (artist, with Mark Waid, August 2016) collected in:
- All-New, All-Different Avengers Vol. 3: Civil War II (tpb, 112 pages, 2017, ISBN 978-1302902360)
- Civil War II: Choosing Sides #5: "Alpha Flight" (writer, with Ramón K. Pérez, October 2016) collected in:
- Civil War II: Choosing Sides (tpb,152 pages, 2016, ISBN 978-1302902513)
- Doctor Strange vol. 4 #1.MU (writer, with Julian Lopez, April 2017)[27] collected in:
- Monsters Unleashed: Battleground (tpb, 264 pages, 2017, ISBN 978-1302907198)
- Star-Lord vol. 2 #1–6, Annual #1 (writer, with Kris Anka, February–July 2017)[28] collected as:
- Star-Lord: Grounded (tpb, 168 pages, 2017, ISBN 978-1302905545)
- Spider-Man:
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 2 (August 2017 – February 2019)[29][30] Collected in:
- Spider-Man by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus (hc, 936 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1302952983)
- Volume 1: Into The Twilight (collects #1–6, FCBD 2017 Secret Empire, writer, tpb, with Adam Kubert and Michael Walsh, 144 pages, ISBN 978-1302907563)
- Volume 2: Most Wanted (collects #297–300, writer/artist, tpb, with Adam Kubert and Juan Frigeri, 112 pages, ISBN 978-1302907570)
- Volume 3: Amazing Fantasy (collects #301–303, Annual #1, writer, tpb, with Joe Quinones, 112 pages, ISBN 978-1302911188)
- Volume 4: Coming Home (collects #304–310, writer/artist, tpb, with Adam Kubert, 112 pages, ISBN 978-1302911195)
- Spider-Man by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus (hc, 936 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1302952983)
- Spider-Man: Life Story (writer, 7-issue limited series, with Mark Bagley, May 2019 – August 2021)[31] collected as
- Spider-Man: Life Story (tpb, 208 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302917333)
- Spider-Man: Life Story (hc, 240 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1302931919)
- Spider-Man by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus (hc, 936 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1302952983)
- Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow (writer, 5-issue limited series, with Pasqual Ferry, April–August 2021) collected in
- Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow (tpb, 128 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1302920913)
- Spider-Man by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus (hc, 936 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1302952983)
- Amazing Spider-Man: Full Circle (co-writer, one-shot, with Rachel Stott and various, December 2019) collected as
- Amazing Spider-Man: Full Circle (hc, 128 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302921385)
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 2 (August 2017 – February 2019)[29][30] Collected in:
- Not Brand Echh #14: "The Not Next Issue Page" (writer/artist, January 2018) collected in
- Not Brand Echh: The Complete Collection (tpb, 480 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302918828)
- Unbeatable Squirrel Girl vol. 2 #26: "A Bird in the Hand" (artist, with Erica Henderson, January 2018) collected in
- The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Volume 7: I've Been Waiting For a Squirrel Like You (tpb, 128 pages, 2018, ISBN 978-1302906658)
- The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 4 (hc, 272 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302915445)
- Marvel 2-in-One vol. 2 (writer, February 2018 – January 2019)[32][33] collected in Fantastic Four: Fate of the Four (hc, 2021)
- Volume 1: Fate of the Four (collects #1–6, tpb, with Jim Cheung and Valerio Schiti, 136 pages, 2018, ISBN 978-1302910921)
- Volume 2: Next of Kin (collects #7–12, Annual #1, tpb, with Declan Shalvey and Ramón K. Pérez, 160 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302914912)
- Doctor Strange vol. 1 #390 (co-artist, with Donny Cates and Frazer Irving, July 2018) collected in
- Doctor Strange by Donny Cates Vol. 2: City Of Sin (tpb, 112 pages, 2018, ISBN 978-1302910655)
- Doctor Strange by Donny Cates (hc, 360 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302915292)
- Merry X-Men Holiday Special: "The Gift That Keeps On Giving" (writer/artist, one-shot, February 2019)
- Namor: The Best Defense #1 (writer, one-shot with Carlos Magno, February 2019) collected in
- Defenders: The Best Defense (tpb, 168 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302916145)[34]
- Invaders vol. 3 (writer, with Carlos Magno and Butch Guice, March 2019 – February 2020)[35] collected as Always an Invader (hc, 304 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1302927356)
- Volume 1: War Ghost (collects #1–6, tpb, 144 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302917494)
- Volume 2: Dead in the Water (collects #7–12, tpb, 136 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302917500)
- Daredevil:
- Daredevil vol. 6 (April 2019–December 2021)[36]
- Collected in Trade Paperbacks as:
- Volume 1: Know Fear (collects #1–5, writer/artist, tpb, w/ Marco Checchetto, 120 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302914981)
- Volume 2: No Devils, Only God (collects #6–10, writer, tpb, w/ Lalit Kumar Sharma and Jorge Fornés, 112 pages, 2019, ISBN 978-1302914998
- Volume 3: Through Hell (collects #11–15, writer, tpb, w/ Marco Checchetto and Francesco Mobili 112 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302920180)
- Volume 4: End of Hell (collects #16–20, writer, tpb, with Jorge Fornés and Marco Checchetto, 112 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302925802)
- Volume 5: Truth/Dare (collects #21–25, Annual #1, writer, tpb, w/ Marco Checchetto, Francesco Mobili, and Mike Hawthorne, 144 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1302925819)
- Volume 6: Doing Time (collects #26–30, writer, tpb, w/ Marco Checchetto and Mike Hawthorne, 120 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1302926090)
- Volume 7: Lockdown (collects #31–36, writer, tpb, w/ Marco Checchetto, Mike Hawthorne, Stefano Landini, and Manuel Garcia, 2022, ISBN 978-1302926106)
- Collected in Oversized Hardcovers as:
- Volume 1: To Heaven Through Hell (collects #1–10, hc, 232 pages, 2021, ISBN 978-1302928247)
- Volume 2: To Heaven Through Hell Vol. 2 (collects #11–20, hc, 224 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302931995)
- Volume 3: To Heaven Through Hell Vol. 3 (collects #21–30 and Annual #1, hc, 264 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302945114)
- Volume 4: To Heaven Through Hell Vol. 4 (collects #31-36, Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #1-3, hc, 232 pages, 2023, ISBN 978-1302950057)
- Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus Vol. 1 (collects #1-30 and Annual 1, ohc, 696 pages, 2024, ISBN 978-1302956219)
- Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus Vol. 2 (collects #31-31, ohc, 786 pages, 2024, ISBN 978-1302956264)
- Collected in Trade Paperbacks as:
- Devil's Reign (writer, 6-issue limited series, with Marco Checchetto, December 2021 – April 2022) collected in
- Devil's Reign (tpb, 208 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302932848)
- Daredevil: Woman Without Fear (writer, 3-issue limited series, with Rafael De Latorre, January–March 2022) collected in
- Daredevil: Woman Without Fear (tpb, 120 pages, 2022, ISBN 978-1302934934)
- Daredevil vol. 7 (writer, with Marco Checchetto, Rafeal De Latorre, and Manuel Garcia, July 2022-August 2023)[12]
- Volume 1: The Red Fist Saga Part One (collects #1-5, writer/artist, with Ann Nocenti and various, tpb, 2023, ISBN 978-1302926113)
- Volume 2: The Red Fist Saga Part Two (collects #6-10, writer, with Marco Checchetto, Rafael De Latorre, and Manuel Garcia, tpb, 2023, ISBN 978-1302932510)
- Volume 3: The Red Fist Saga Part Three (collects #11-14, writer, with Marco Checchetto and Rafael De Latorre, tpb, 2023, ISBN 978-1302947712)
- Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus Vol. 2 (collects #1-14, ohc, 786 pages, 2024, ISBN 978-1302956264)
- Daredevil vol. 6 (April 2019–December 2021)[36]
- War of the Realms: War Scrolls #1: "Waugh of the Realms" (writer, with Joe Quinones, June 2019) collected in
- War of the Realms Omnibus (hc, 1576 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302926410)
- Marvel Comics #1000: "Armor: Disassemble": (writer/artist, one-shot, October 2019) collected as
- Marvel Comics #1000 (hc, 144 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302921378)
- X-Men/Fantastic Four vol. 2 #1–4 (writer, 4-issue limited series, with Terry Dodson, April–September 2020)[37] collected as
- X-Men/Fantastic Four: 4X (tpb, 128 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302920036)
- Doom 2099 vol. 2 #1 (writer, one-shot, with Marco Castiello, February 2020) collected in
- Amazing Spider-Man 2099 Companion (tpb 296 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302924928)
- Incoming! #1: "5–8" (writer, one-shot, with Jorge Fornés, February 2020) collected in
- Road to Empyre (tpb, 2020, ISBN 978-1302925888)
- Lords of Empyre: Emperor Hulkling #1 (co-writer, one-shot, with Anthony Oliveira and Manuel Garcia, September 2020) collected in
- Empyre: Lords of Empyre (tpb, 168 pages, 2020, ISBN 978-1302925918)
- Carnage: Black, White & Blood #2: "My Red Hands" (writer, with Marco Checchetto, April 2021)
- Story in Free Comic Book Day 2021: Spider-Man/Venom (one-shot, with Greg Smallwood, August 2021)
- Howard the Duck vol. 7 #1: "Into (Looking at) the Multiverse" (writer, one-shot, with Joe Quinones, November 2023)
- Avengers: Twilight #1–6 (writer, limited series, with Daniel Acuña, January 2024–May 2024)
- Free Comic Book Day 2025: Fantastic Four/X-Men: "Popularity Contest" (writer/artist, May 2025)
- Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man #1 (writer, one-shot, with CAFU, June 2025)
- Captain America vol. 12 #1–current (writer, with Valerio Schiti, July 2025–)
- Fantastic Four Fanfare #3 (writer, one-shot, with Marcos Martín, July 2025)
Other publishers
[edit]- Royal Academy of Illustration & Design
- Monster Cops (writer/artist, 2003; republished by Legion of Evil Press in 2006)
- Legion of Evil Press
- Prison Funnies #1–2 (writer/artist, 2003)
- Chip Zdarsky's Monster Cops (writer/artist, 2006)
- Comics Festival!: Monster Cops (writer/artist, 2007–2009)
- Substack
- Kaptara #6–11 (writer, with Kagan Mcleod, August 2021–September 2023)
- Public Domain #1–current (writer/artist, September 2021–)
- Zdarsky Comic News #1–current (writer/artist/interviewer, July 2024–)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Medley, Mark (28 November 2014). "A dream invite from Marvel to resurrect Howard the Duck". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Chip Zdarsky spills Daredevil Secrets – Ask Marvel
- ^ Bayon, Arthur (3 June 2023). "Chip Zdarsky: «Je ne surprends personne avec mes "révélations" sur l'industrie des comics!»". Le Figaro.
- ^ "Chip Zdarsky's Prison Funnies! @ PopImage". Pop Image. Archived from the original on 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
- ^ "Extremely Bad Advice". National Post. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "Steve Murray Hates Toronto, and Wants to Be Your Mayor". Torontoist, October 1, 2010.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas (December 4, 2013). "Top 10 Comics and Graphic Novels". Time.
- ^ "Steve Murray insufferable and 'very proud' after picking up prestigious Will Eisner award". July 28, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Spider-Man Goes Spectacular". News - Marvel.com.
- ^ Marston, George (2021-08-16). "Marvel is ending Zdarsky and Checchetto's Daredevil ... for now". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE Announcement – New 'Daredevil' Creative Team: Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ a b "Chip Zdarsky And Marco Checchetto Reunite For An All New Era Of Daredevil". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Zdarsky, Chip. "Just A Nice Friday Update". zdarsky.substack.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Adams, Tim (September 9, 2020). "DC's Batman: Black and White Anthology Series Returns in Late 2020". CBR.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (2021-08-12). "Chip Zdarsky, Latest Substack Publisher With Public Domain & Kaptara". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ Rivera, Joshua (2022-02-24). "Daredevil writer Chip Zdarsky is the new writer of Batman". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Schreur, Brandon (2022-03-17). "EXCLUSIVE: Batman Writer Chip Zdarsky's Public Domain Headed to Print". CBR. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ Brooke, David (2024-07-17). "EXCLUSIVE: Chip Zdarsky reveals new comics project launching this week". AIPT. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ^ "'Captain America' Comic Series by Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti Launches a New Era for Steve Rogers". www.marvel.com. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
- ^ Jughead (2015–17)
- ^ Schreur, Brandon (2022-05-12). "EXCLUSIVE: Chip Zdarsky's All-Nighter Returns With Vampires, Superheroes and More". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ Sex Criminals
- ^ "Just the Tips Hardcover". Image Comics. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
- ^ Kaptara
- ^ Zdarsky, Chip. "Kaptara Katch-Up!". zdarsky.substack.com. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ Howard the Duck (2015)
- ^ Doctor Strange (2015) #1.1
- ^ Star-Lord (2016–2017)
- ^ Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017–2018)
- ^ Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual (2018) #1
- ^ Spider-Man: Life Story (2019)
- ^ Marvel 2-in-One (2017–2018)
- ^ Marvel 2-in-One Annual (2018) #1
- ^ Namor: The Best Defense (2018) #1
- ^ Invaders (2019–present)
- ^ Daredevil (2019–present)
- ^ X-Men/Fantastic Four (2020)
External links
[edit]- Official website

- Chip Zdarsky at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Chip Zdarsky on Tumblr
- "Extremely Bad Advice" column
- "It's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay?"
Chip Zdarsky
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Childhood and upbringing
Steven Murray, who later adopted the pen name Chip Zdarsky, was born on December 21, 1975, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.[9][10] His family relocated to Barrie, Ontario, where he spent his formative years.[9][11] From a young age, Murray displayed a strong interest in drawing and humor, influenced by his exposure to comics and cartoons. He particularly enjoyed Archie Comics, with a fondness for the character Jughead Jones, as well as Marvel's Howard the Duck and the Star Wars franchise, which sparked his affinity for illustrated storytelling.[12] These early encounters with visual narratives and satirical elements laid the groundwork for his future creative pursuits in illustration and comedy.[1] In his early professional life, Murray adopted the pseudonym Chip Zdarsky to create distance from certain journalistic work, establishing it as an alter ego. The name's origin stems from personal anecdotes: "Chip" was a nod to Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, while "Zdarsky" came from the last name of a close friend's ex-girlfriend.[10][13]Formal education
Zdarsky attended Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, for a year of graphic design studies in the early 1990s, following high school. His relocation to Ontario as a child from Edmonton facilitated access to local institutions like Georgian College. During this time, he focused on coursework that introduced foundational skills in visual communication and layout, though he often expanded assignments creatively by incorporating elaborate drawings and backgrounds, which sometimes diverged from the program's expectations for more structured design outputs. This experience highlighted his inclination toward illustrative storytelling over purely commercial applications.[13] After a brief and unsuccessful attempt at Sheridan's Media Arts program, Zdarsky enrolled in the one-year Art Fundamentals course at Sheridan College around 1994, before transitioning into the Illustration program, from which he graduated in 1996. The Illustration program at Sheridan emphasized commercial art, training students in editorial illustrations for newspapers and magazines, storybook visuals, and technical drawings to prepare them for professional freelance work. Key coursework included portfolio development and practical projects that built skills in conceptual design and narrative visuals, directly informing his later abilities in comics and journalistic illustration.[14][13][15] College experiences at Sheridan, including rigorous portfolio reviews and guest lectures from established illustrators, played a significant role in shaping Zdarsky's artistic approach. These sessions often featured candid, humorous anecdotes about the industry's challenges, such as tales of 1980s excess and pragmatic advice like partnering with non-artists for stability, fostering his self-deprecating and witty style. Faculty and visiting professionals served as informal mentors, encouraging adaptability in a competitive field where only a small percentage of graduates secured art-related careers. Such interactions reinforced the blend of technical proficiency and humor that became hallmarks of his illustrative work.[15][13]Professional career
Journalism and illustration
Under the pseudonym Steve Murray, Chip Zdarsky launched his career in journalism and illustration following his 1996 graduation from Sheridan College's illustration program. He joined the National Post in 2000 as a graphic designer and illustrator, later taking on columnist duties, and held these positions for nearly 14 years until 2014.[16][14][1] A key part of his work involved creating the weekly humor column "Extremely Bad Advice," which ran from 2008 to 2014 and featured self-illustrated satirical responses to readers' personal dilemmas, emphasizing absurd and impractical suggestions delivered through witty, cartoon-infused commentary.[17][18] Zdarsky also penned "Tear Jerk," another column for the paper that humorously evaluated films based on their ability to provoke tears, combining lighthearted reviews with personal reflections on emotional impact.[19] Alongside his staff roles, Zdarsky pursued early freelance illustration assignments for various publications and clients, honing his design skills in editorial and advertising contexts.[13]Transition to comics
Zdarsky's entry into the comics industry began with self-published and small-press projects in the early 2000s, marking his shift from illustration and journalism toward sequential storytelling. His first notable comic work was Prison Funnies, a series of humorous strips created between 2000 and 2001 that satirized prison life through absurd, cartoonish scenarios. These strips initially appeared in publications like the Independent Weekly and Too Much Coffee Man Magazine, serving as his debut in professional comics venues before being collected in a 2003 edition by Legion of Evil Press.[20][21] In 2003, Zdarsky contributed to the Canadian anthology Rumble Royale, published by the Toronto-based Royal Academy of Illustration and Design (RAID), where he wrote and illustrated the short story "Monster Cops: Once a Dracula." This piece introduced his Monster Cops concept, featuring classic monsters reimagined as bumbling police officers combating supernatural crime, and represented an early milestone in blending his illustrative style with narrative comics. The story's inclusion in the anthology highlighted his growing involvement in the mid-2000s Toronto comics scene, a vibrant hub for independent creators through organizations like RAID, which facilitated networking and collaborative opportunities among local artists.[22] Zdarsky later expanded Monster Cops into a self-published one-shot in 2003, which he wrote, drew, and produced independently before its republication as a collected edition by Legion of Evil Press in 2006, including additional stories like "Indecent Exposure" and crossovers such as a Vampirella encounter. Transitioning from newspaper illustration—where his satirical columns under the name Steve Murray imposed strict content limits—Zdarsky faced challenges in adapting to the longer-form demands of comics, such as pacing and emotional depth, but found the medium offered greater creative freedom. These early gigs, including anthology contributions and small-press releases, built his portfolio and connections in Canada's indie scene, paving the way for more established projects while his humor-infused tone carried over from journalistic work.[23][21]Creator-owned projects
Zdarsky's creator-owned work gained prominence with Sex Criminals, a series co-created with writer Matt Fraction and published by Image Comics from 2013 to 2020. The story centers on Suzie, a librarian who discovers she can stop time during orgasm, and Jon, a banker who shares the same ability; together, they use their power to rob banks in a bid to save Suzie's local library from closure, navigating a secret society of others with similar gifts amid themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and rebellion against societal norms.[24][25] The series blends humor, explicit content, and emotional depth in exploring relationships, earning widespread acclaim for its innovative storytelling and character-driven narrative.[25] It won the 2014 Eisner Award for Best New Series and the Harvey Award for Best New Series, alongside topping the New York Times bestseller list for literary graphic novels; critics from Time magazine named it the best comic of the year upon launch, while Entertainment Weekly included it in its "Must List" and Rolling Stone ranked it among the 50 best non-superhero graphic novels.[25][26] In 2021, Zdarsky launched Public Domain at Image Comics, where he served as both writer and artist on the ongoing series that satirizes the superhero industry through the lens of creative ownership and family legacy. The narrative follows aging creator Syd Dallas, who co-founded a major comics company and originated the iconic hero "The Domain," now adapted into blockbuster films; his estranged sons grapple with their father's regrets, corporate exploitation, and the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success, weaving in meta-commentary on real-world issues like intellectual property rights and Hollywood adaptations.[27][28] Themes of heroism as mythology versus profit-driven cynicism underscore the story, with Zdarsky's artwork shifting styles to reflect generational perspectives and historical flashbacks.[28] The series received the 2023 Eisner Award for Best New Series and has been lauded for its sincere emotional core amid sharp industry critique, earning a 9/10 rating from AIPT Comics for its satirical edge on creators' rights.[27][29] Zdarsky also created the ongoing noir series Newburn (2021–present) at Image Comics, where he writes and provides covers; the story follows a former police officer working as a private investigator for two competing crime families in a corrupt city, exploring themes of loyalty, morality, and institutional failure.[30] Zdarsky explored science fiction parody in Kaptara (2015, Image Comics), co-created with artist Kagan McLeod, where reluctant astronaut Keith Kanga crash-lands on the bizarre planet Kaptara amid a crew mutiny, encountering grotesque aliens, motivational cults, and an impending invasion of Earth in a humorous deconstruction of space adventure tropes.[31] Shifting to supernatural vigilante tales, The All-Nighter (2021, Comixology Originals) features Zdarsky as writer alongside artist Jason Loo; it follows bored teenage vampire Alex, who flips burgers at a family diner by night but dons a cape to fight crime, inspired by superhero films, while building an unlikely found family with other undead allies.[32] In July 2024, Zdarsky debuted Zdarsky Comic News, a self-published, four-page monthly newsletter distributed exclusively to comic shops, where he handled writing, illustration, and design to deliver satirical comics industry updates, interviews, and games in a print format emphasizing tactile, internet-free engagement.[33] The project, blending journalism with comic elements, earned a 2025 Eisner Award nomination for Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism before concluding after 21 issues in December 2025.[34] In September 2025, Zdarsky launched White House Robot Romance at DSTLRY Comics, co-created with artist Rachael Stott, following two robots who fall in love amid escalating tensions between the United States and Canada, blending political satire, romance, and science fiction.[35]Marvel Comics contributions
Chip Zdarsky began his contributions to Marvel Comics in 2015 as the writer of the Howard the Duck series, which ran from 2015 to 2016 and revived the character through a blend of satirical humor and absurd adventures in the Marvel Universe.[36] The series featured Howard navigating bizarre team-ups and everyday frustrations, drawing on the character's origins as a cynical outsider while incorporating sharp commentary on superhero tropes.[37] From 2017 to 2018, Zdarsky wrote Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, revitalizing the series with stories focusing on Peter's personal life, scientific pursuits, and street-level heroics as he balances college and crime-fighting.[38] Zdarsky's most prominent Marvel work came with his tenure on Daredevil, where he wrote volume 6 from 2019 to 2021, emphasizing street-level crime and Matt Murdock's internal struggles with faith and vigilantism.[39] He continued with volume 7 from 2023 to 2023, taking on both writing and art duties to explore deeper psychological layers, including Murdock's time in prison and evolving moral dilemmas. Key arcs highlighted the tension between personal redemption and societal justice, often portraying Daredevil's actions as fraught with ethical ambiguity.[40] In 2019, Zdarsky wrote the limited series Spider-Man: Life Story, which chronicled Peter Parker's life in real-time across decades, blending personal growth with superhero challenges.[41] He also contributed to major events like Devil's Reign from 2021 to 2022, a crossover where Kingpin targeted New York's masked heroes, forcing Daredevil into a citywide confrontation that amplified themes of moral complexity in heroism.[42] Zdarsky's influence from his creator-owned humor subtly lightened tones in these works, adding wit to explorations of heroism's burdens. In July 2025, he launched a new Captain America series with artist Valerio Schiti, focusing on Steve Rogers' early encounters with Doctor Doom and the hero's role in a shifting world.[43] Across these projects, Zdarsky consistently delved into the moral ambiguities of Marvel's street-level and iconic heroes, portraying their decisions as nuanced responses to personal and systemic failures.[44]DC Comics contributions
Chip Zdarsky began his tenure on the main Batman series in 2022, writing issues #125 through #157, which spanned from July 2022 to February 2025 and encompassed 32 issues.[45] His run introduced key arcs such as "Failsafe," where Batman confronts an AI contingency created by Bruce Wayne himself to counter his potential failures, forcing a reckoning with his own vulnerabilities.[46] This storyline evolved into explorations of the Zur-En-Arrh persona, an alternate personality Bruce developed as a mental safeguard, delving into themes of trauma as Batman grapples with past mistakes like the death of Jason Todd.[47] Zdarsky's narratives emphasized Batman's psychological depth, portraying Bruce Wayne's internal conflicts through introspective dialogues with figures like Leslie Thompkins and Jim Gordon, highlighting his struggle to balance humanity with the vigilante role.[45] Family elements were central, particularly in arcs involving potential relatives like William Pureford, a figure tied to Wayne family secrets, and reflections on Thomas Wayne's legacy, which prompted Bruce to redirect Wayne Enterprises toward community support rather than isolation.[45] These themes of legacy and trauma culminated in the final arc, "The Dying City," addressing global threats from the Court of Owls and culminating in a poignant conversation between Bruce and Gordon that echoed the character's origins.[45] In addition to the ongoing series, Zdarsky wrote the 10-issue limited series Batman: The Knight in 2022, illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico, which chronicled Bruce Wayne's early training abroad and his evolution into the detective archetype through encounters with allies and adversaries.[48] Zdarsky announced in October 2024 that Batman #157 would conclude his run, a decision made earlier that year to wrap the Zur-En-Arrh storyline amid editorial changes and his expanding workload, allowing him to prioritize other projects while remaining open to future DC collaborations.[49] His approach to DC's Gotham drew from prior ensemble dynamics at Marvel, adapting them to a more introspective, solitary tone suited to Batman's lore.[49]Awards and honors
Major awards
Chip Zdarsky has received multiple Eisner Awards, recognizing his contributions to comics as both writer and artist. In 2014, he shared the Eisner Award for Best New Series with writer Matt Fraction for Sex Criminals, an Image Comics title that blended humor and drama to explore themes of sexuality and escapism, marking an early critical success in his transition from illustration to storytelling.[50] Zdarsky's work continued to earn acclaim, with the 2017 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication going to Jughead (Archie Comics, with Ryan North, Erica Henderson, and Derek Charm) for its witty narrative and visual style, which solidified his reputation for innovative genre-blending.[51] In 2019, Zdarsky won the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot for Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310, praised for its emotional depth in depicting Spider-Man's personal struggles, enhancing his profile within Marvel's superhero lineup. That same year, he won the Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Writer for Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man and Marvel Two-in-One (Marvel Comics).[52][53] In 2020, Zdarsky won the Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic for Afterlift (with Jason Loo, comiXology Originals).[54] His creator-owned series Public Domain earned the 2023 Eisner Award for Best New Series, lauded for its satirical take on intellectual property and comic book history through an alternate-universe lens, further establishing Zdarsky as a versatile indie creator.[55] Among Harvey Awards, Zdarsky received the 2014 honor for Most Promising New Talent, acknowledging his rapid rise in the industry following Sex Criminals. In 2015, he won but declined the Special Award for Humor in Comics for Sex Criminals, citing concerns over the nomination process that excluded Matt Fraction. He also won the 2016 Special Award for Humor for Howard the Duck, highlighting his ability to revitalize obscure characters with sharp, contemporary wit.[56][57][58] These accolades, spanning both major publishers and independent projects, have significantly elevated Zdarsky's career, leading to high-profile runs on titles like Daredevil and Batman, and underscoring his impact on modern comics storytelling.Nominations
Zdarsky's work has earned multiple nominations from prestigious comic book industry awards, recognizing his contributions as both writer and artist across various titles. These nominations span creator-owned series and mainstream superhero books, underscoring his versatility and consistent critical attention without securing wins in these instances.[59][60] Notable nominations include the 2016 Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Writer, where Zdarsky was recognized for his scripts on Jughead (Archie Comics), Kaptara (Image Comics), and Howard the Duck (Marvel Comics), highlighting his early forays into humor-driven and sci-fi narratives.[60] In 2020, his run on Daredevil (Marvel Comics) received a Harvey Award nomination in the Book of the Year category, acknowledging the series' blend of character depth and action storytelling.[59] That same year, Daredevil also garnered Eisner Award nominations for Best Continuing Series (with artist Marco Checchetto) and Best Writer, reflecting acclaim for Zdarsky's reinvention of the character's internal conflicts.[61] In 2024, Zdarsky's Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon (Marvel Comics, with artist Luca Maresca) was nominated for the Eisner Award in Best Limited Series, emphasizing his ability to craft high-stakes, self-contained superhero tales.[62] These selections demonstrate a pattern of nominations that frequently highlight Zdarsky's writing prowess in ongoing series and limited runs, particularly within the superhero genre, while also touching on his independent projects, signaling sustained industry recognition for his narrative innovation and artistic style.[61][60]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Joe Shuster | Outstanding Writer | Jughead, Kaptara, Howard the Duck | Nominated for works published in 2015; no win.[60] |
| 2020 | Harvey | Book of the Year | Daredevil | Nominated; winner was Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang.[59][63] |
| 2020 | Eisner | Best Continuing Series | Daredevil (with Marco Checchetto) | Nominated; no win.[61] |
| 2020 | Eisner | Best Writer | Daredevil, Spider-Man: Life Story, The White Trees, Afterlift | Nominated; no win.[61] |
| 2024 | Eisner | Best Limited Series | Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon (with Luca Maresca) | Nominated; no win.[62] |