Brief Biographies

Mike Okamoto has been illustrating for some 30+ years.  He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, then attended the Parsons School of Design , in New York City, on a full scholarship, from 1971-75.  He lived and freelance illustrated in NYC from then until 1991, when he moved to West Virginia at the start of his comic book career.

In 1990, he met the love of his life, Diana Light.  They wed in 1991.

His influences range from Frank Frazetta, N. C. Wyeth and Al Williamson to Wally Wood,  Joe Kubert, Mort Drucker and Carl Barks.

Also in 1990 he realized another dream when he had the honor of working with Al Williamson on the graphic novel series Atomic Age for the Marvel Epic line of comics.  The four issue series was created and written by good buddy, Frank Lovece, pencilled by Mike, and inked by Mr. Williamson..

In 1992, he won the prestigious Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award  for his painted work and storytelling skills on the Innovation Comics adaptation of Piers Anthony's classic Science Fiction novel On a Pale Horse at that year's San Diego Comic Con.

In 1999-2004, 2006 (plus 2004 Outstanding Achievment for Illustration), he won the International Network of Golf Illustrator of the Year Award for his work in Golf Illustrated!

Diana Light-Okamoto has been a writer, editor, and vice president of Innovation Comics during their glory years of 1989-92.  She was the Creative Director of Cherry Tree Toys from 1993-98, designing products and putting together their catalogs.  She's currently the Director of Graphics Production with a nationally known marketing corporation by day, and  freelance designing by night, as well as working on the script of her science fiction/fantasy creation, ZONE21.

Daughter, Jennifer Light, graduated high school second in her class and has completed studies at Boston University.  She currently resides in Boston.  She is Diana's proudest creation, and Mike's most joyous association!  Jennifer is now married to Ed McCauley, whom we are proud and honored to call "son"!

 

Mike Okamoto began comics work in 1990, including:

The Vampire Lestat
(Innovation Comics, 1990) Interior pencils on issues #3 and #4.

The Atomic Age
(Marvel/Epic Comics, 1990-92) Co-creator, cover and interior pencils, 4-issue mini-series.

Hero Alliance
(Innovation Comics, 1990) Pencils and colors on cover art, issues #11, #12. Interior pencils on issue #11 ("Obligations").

Hero Alliance Quarterly
(Innovation Comics, 1992) Painted cover art,issue #4

Hero Alliance Special
(Innovation Comics, 1992) Painted back cover art.

Maze Agency
(Innovation Comics, 1990) Interior pencils issue #15

Celestial Mechanics
(Innovation Comics, 1990-92) Cover pencils, issues #1, #2. Painted cover art, issue #3.

Timedrifters
(Innovation Comics, 1990-91) Painted cover art on issues #1, #2, #3.

Lost in Space
(Innovation Comics, 1991-92) Painted cover art on issues #1, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, and Limited Edition #1.

Piers Anthony's On a Pale Horse
(Innovation Comics, 1991-92) Cover and interior painted art for issue #1. Cover art on issues #2 and #3.

J. N. Williamson's Masques
(Innovation Comics, 1992) Painted story art (Rail Rider), Book One.

Clive Barker's Hellraiser
(Marvel/Epic Comics, 1992) Painted Story (Nursery Crimes) for Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special.

Forbidden Planet
(Innovation Comics, 1993) Graphic novel cover art.

The Green Hornet
(Now Comics, 1993) Painted cover art on issue #21.

Night Cry
(CFD, 1994) Painted cover art for Night Cry issue #4.

Kabuki
(Caliber Press, 1995) Painted pin-up for Kabuki Gallery.

Lady Death
(Chaos! Comics, 1995) Painted art for Lady Death Chromium Trading Card.

Kim Elizabeth's Dark World Vampires
(Millenium Publications, 1995) Painted art for the poem "Vampire Soul".

Marvel Portraits of a Universe
(Marvel Comics, 1995) Painted art, "Dr. Strange versus Baron Mordo and Dormammu".

Babylon Crush
(Boneyard Press, 1996) Painted cover art for Issue #5.

Five Years of Pain
(Boneyard Press, 1997) Painted cover art

Chaos! Quarterly
Chaos! Comics, 1996) "Bad Girls" story, painted art, issue #2.

Suspira
(Chaos! Comics, 1997) Painted covers and interior story art for 4-issue mini-series.