MIKE ZECK, born in 1949 in Greenville, PA, grew up in South Florida and attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota. He later resided in Connecticut, where he worked for Marvel Comics and DC Comics.

Mike’s comic series and covers have influenced generations of artists. His groundbreaking six-part story, “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” with writer J.M. DeMatteis and inker Bob McLeod, is considered the definitive Kraven the Hunter story. It elevated the Spider-Man character and has been voted the “Greatest Spider-Man story of all time.”

Mike’s work with writer Steven Grant and inker John Beatty on the Punisher Limited Series, collected as “Circle of Blood,” set the standard for the character and made the Punisher a flagship character at Marvel. Along with airbrush artist Phil Zimelman, Mike created some of the most recognizable images of the Punisher.

The 12-issue series “Secret Wars,” with writer Jim Shooter and inker John Beatty, was a monumental success. Zeck’s design for Spider-Man’s black costume remains iconic, as it eventually became the living entity, Venom.

Collected editions of these series remain in print, popular, and frequently discussed. Mike’s images and covers appear on t-shirts, costumes, and other merchandise.

Zeck’s work has also graced the pages and covers of titles such as Captain America, Master of Kung Fu, Aquaman, Batman, Legends of the DC Universe, Green Lantern, G.I. Joe, and many more.