Biography

 

Biography
(brief)

Daniel Maia (Lisbon, 1978) is a comics artist and advertising illustrator, plus indie publisher (Arga Warga Ed.), and creator of original characters Harpoon Jason, Ms.Aurea, Pão-de-Law, Raul 'Rampage' Rocha, Super-Peter and others.
First published in the US market in 2001, began his career in 2003 with a graphic novel for Platinum Publishing, with Steven Grant, and gained a wide experience in the field over the next decades, also in areas as publishing, exhibitions and masterclasses, plus writing articles and studies (in portuguese media). He is currently represented by Prado's Art Studios.

Worked as creative/artist for multinational ad. agencies BBDO, Euro RSCG/Havas Worldwide, McCaan-Erickson Worldgroup, Saatchi & Saatchi and Still Productions, and as artist for Platinum Publishing, Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins LLC., Produções Fictícias, Media Capital, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Chiaroscuro Studios, Saída de Emergência Ed., Ala dos Livros, Another Door Comics and other companies, on series like Ms. Marvel, X, Infante Portugal, The Boy in the Bot and Apparition Metempsychosis.

Among other accolades, won a Critics' Choice Award for Revelation Artist (1995), the Trophies Central Comics for Best Artist (2006), Best Independent Publication (2010), Best Short Comic (2018) and Best Comics Anthology (2024), and the II TCC:HD for Best Short Comic of the Decade (2024), plus the 6th Prémios Bandas Desenhadas for Best Comics Anthology (2024). Also won the ChesterQuest: Worldwide Talents Hunt, by Marvel Comics (2008). Was nominated for Best Graphic Novel by Portuguese Author at AmadoraBD Awards '2022, along with four other nominations for CoBrA: Operation Goa, which was later elected in the prestigious Ler+ program (2024).

(full)

Lisbon, 1978. Comics artist, illustrator and indie publisher, represented in USA comics by Prado's Art & Design.

Self-taught, started with DIY comics fanzines in his adolescence, i.e. Spectre (1991), Captain & Rebel (1991) and Dalton (1992-1993). Made his editorial debut in a high-school newspaper supplement, O Ardina/The Paperboy #3 (1993), in magazine Crash! #1 (1995) and in ControlJornal comics magazines (1995-1996). In 1995, cofounded the 1st Portuguese comics group, Fantasia Studios, that published Fantasia Studio: Portfólio (1995), BDzona #0-1 (1996) and BD-in-Fólio #1: Comics supplement (1998), where the first Portuguese fictional comics universe was developed - Fantasiverse.
After solo comics fanzines (i.e. Lusitan Guardians (1994) and Hep7et (1996)), self-publishes the anthology Compendium (1996), released at ExpoBD'96 comics sallon, which he organized at Montijo High-school (Portugal), with various guest artists and the presence of BDmania comics store.

Attended the masterclass Narrative Techniques, coordinated by Diniz Conefrey at CAM-CITEN/Gulbenkian (1995), the 1st and 2nd Year of Drawing course at the National Society of Fine Arts (1998-2000) and Design Degree at IADE (1998-2001).

Concurrently, published short comics and illustrations in fanzines' Boletim CPBD #90 (1996), Bizarro (1997, 1998 and 2000), NetComixZine (2000), Phylàctere (2001), Lua de Prata (2002), Venham +5 (2006, 2008) and Tertúlia BDzine (2003-2009); in newspapers Inside (1999), Jornal do Montijo (2002) and O Inimigo Público (2003), w/ writer Filipe Homem Fonseca; in magazines Comix (2002), A Ponte (2003), SuperMaxim (2003-2004), w/ writer Pedro Boucherie Mendes, JuveBêDê (2005), Sketchbook (2005) and Kulto (2005), w/ writer Nuno Duarte; and in books Atelier de Técnicas Narrativas (1995), ExpoBD ‘96 catalogue, FIBDA catalogue (2002, 2006, 2008) and Fenacerci Annuary (2006). Plus, was listed in the Dictionary of Comics and Cartoon Authors in Portugal (1999) and in Larousse de la Bande Dessiné (2004).

In the new millennium, was the 1st Portuguese author to publish in the USA, in the 'Spotlight Gallery' of Previews #8 (2001), and collaborated in comics Variance (2002) and Jon Pay, P.I. #2 (2003). Next, was hired by Platinum Studios to produce the graphic novel Guilty, w/ writer Steven Grant (2004), and by The Pack/ThomasNelson LLC. to adapt DudleyTown, by Bodie Ingelvie (2006-2007); both projects remain unpublished.
In Portugal, with his label Arga Warga, publishes his 2nd title, Pão-de-Law: First Batch (2005), the female anthology series All-Girlz (2006-2009) and Tribute to Robert E. Howard in Tertúlia BDzine (2006-2009), and created/coordinated the collective webcomic Cadáver Esquisito! (2008-2015).

During this period, contributed articles, reviews and editorial statistics to websites Lisbon's Comics Library, BDesenhada and Central Comics, and for magazines BDjornal, JuveBêDê and Spiderman (Devir Ed.), while also being jury in comics competitions and awards. Also worked as creative/advertising illustrator for multinational agencies, e.g. Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann-Erikson Worldwide, Euro RSCG/Havas Worldwide, BBDO and Still Productions.
He partook in studio Tasca da Animação/Animation Tavern (2005) - precursor to The Lisbon Studios - and Hydra Studios II (2007-2009). In late 2009, created a new graphic arts studio in Lisbon south bank, which outsourced talents to clients.

In 2008, he was the sole portuguese artist among the twelve winners of ChesterQuest: Worldwide Talents Hunt by Marvel Comics, following which drew a one-shot featuring Ms. Marvel, cancelled due to editorial hardship (pre-Disney acquisition).

After a hiatus from comics, returned to the field by joining the 2013's lineup of talent agency Chiaroscuro Studios. Made his mainstream comics debut in 2014, in X (vol2) #11, by Dark Horse Comics. Between 2016 and 2020, contributed to Chiaroscuro Studios' Yearbook, notably in graphic novels Days of Horror (2017) and Universal Declaration of Human Rights – An Illustrated Book (2020).
In Portugal, collaborated with illustrations in The Infante Portugal vol2 (2010), by José de Matos-Cruz, and illustrated vol3 (2012), with artistic cameos by Susana Resende & Daniel Henriques. Afterwards, adapted the character to comics in The Infante Portugal in Gathered Universes, with José de Matos-Cruz, with Susana Resende & Daniel Henriques, plus José Garcês and José Ruy, in 2017. It won the Trophies Central Comics for Best Short Comic and was runner-up for Best Independent Publication, and later won in II TCC:HD as Best Short Comic of the Decade.
Next, he collaborated in the spin-off Aurora Boreal and The Infinite Beginning (2017-2018), by José de Matos-Cruz.

In 2017, created the superhero-mascot Super-Peter for the private college St.Peter's School, presented in a comic book title.

In 2019, as follow-up to the BD Montijo: Initiation to Sequential Art comics courses, cofounded the Tágide collectivety and published comics fanzine Outras Bandas, produced with Eduardo Martins (#0-3) and Susana Resende (#4-9), which was terminated in 2023. Simultaneously, coordinates the collective comic 'Lino Ever After', a tribute to portuguese comics personality Geraldes Lino, and the homage cycle to Portuguese comics' main 150 characters in Tágide: Portuguese Heroes.

In 2021, illustrated 'Red Nails' in The Most Epic Tales of Conan, by Robert E. Howard, published by Saída de Emergência Ed.

From 2020 to 2023, collaborated in comics anthologies Turn the Page (2020), with script by Marco Fraga; A Matter of Right (2021), with script by Travis Johnson and Liliana Johnson; Aurora Boreal in Shared Reflections (2022), copublished with José de Matos-Cruz; JuveBêDê: 25 Years and H-Alt #12 (2022); plus Terminal: 25 Years of Comics and Zona: Ten Years (2023), which won the 33rd Amadora BD award for Best Independent Publication.

In 2022, joins Prado’s Art & Design talents agency and releases graphic novel CoBrA: Operation Goa, with writer Marco Calhorda, published by Ala dos Livros, his 3rd Portuguese volume and 1st with major commercial projection. Although not winning an award, it was the year's most nominated book in portuguese comics, i.e. AmadoraBD Awards, Geek d’Ouro, BandasDesenhadas Awards, Trophies Central Comics and Vinheta d’Ouro; and in 2024 was elected in the Ler+ program, Portugal's Reading Initiative, making it an important suggest graphic novel for public and school libraries.
In 2025, the book was released in Brazil through publisher Quadriculando.

From 2022 to 2023, created a seminal advertising campaign for FC Porto, FCP-BD: 2022/2023, which introduced sequential art in sports advertising throughout the whole soccer season, and published the historical themed comic Cthulhu Sadino, for Setúbal city, with writer Pedro Moura and coartist Marco Gomes.

In 2024, he coordinated April, Carnation Showers - Stories of Freedom, that celebrate the Carnation Revolution's 50th anniversary, created by TágIIde group and published by Montijo City Hall. The anthology sold out and won the 6th BandasDesesenhasas Awards and the XXII Trophies Central Comics for Best Anthology. His short comic 'The Most Beautiful Insubordination' was nomeated for Best Short Comic in the 6th BD Awards, in the 5th Vinheta d'Ouro and in XXII Trophies Central Comics, plus as Best Webcomic in the later award.
He also published in Brazil's Giby #3 anthology, contributed to ACNUR's 'SuperHeroes for Peace' initiative and illustrated various characters for OverPower: World of Legends RPG card game revival. At the end of the year, cocreated comic Eduardo Lourenço: Fiction of Self - Intro, published by Edicarte/Longshot, with writers Diogo Figueira and Sabrina D. Marques, and colors by Susana Resende; the issue sold out in one day.

On another field, Daniel also wrote four academic studies: an investigation of comics adaptations of famous poet Fernando Pessoa (in Quaresma, the Decipherer vol.3 and Bang! Magazine #37), an investigation of Portuguese detective characters (in Quaresma, the Decipherer vol.4), a market analysis of Portugal's recent upward trend of comics editions, which underlined record-breaking releases in 2024 (in CentralComics.com and DanielMaia-Art.blogspot), and an investigation of cadavre exquis comics in Portuguese culture (in Cadáver Esquisito!).

From 2024 to 2026, collaborated in Tom Marvelli's creator-owned fictional universe, Another Door Comics, first with The Boy in the Bot vol.1 graphic novel (2024), with coartists Rafael Loureiro, Leo Rodrigues and colorist Ren Spiller, and cover artwork for vol.2 (2025), plus drawing the 2nd title - supernatural thriller Apparition Metempsychosis. This new graphic novel was presented in the 8th CoimbraBD, written by Tom Marvelli, drawn by Daniel Maia - with an art cameo by Daniel Henriques - and colors by Renato Spiller. The trilogy concludes in 2027.

Still in 2025, he collaborated in magazine JuveBêDê #100 (Juvemedia) and published the compilation of Cadáver Esquisito!/Weird Corpse! (Arga Warga), which is the most extensive collective comic ever created in Portugal and 5th longest in the world. The book was awarded as Best Independent Publication at the XXIII Central Comics Trophies, in 2026.
Also wrote the introduction to Pessoa Fragmentado – Antologia, by TágIIde Group, and contributed a short comic in inVISÍVEIS, with writer Hugo Pinto and colorist Susana Resende, an anthology about people with deficiencies, created for CerciOeiras. The book was awarded as Best Anthology at the XXIII Central Comics Trophies, in 2026.

In 2026, his publisher Arga Warga releases A Caneta era a Lei/The Pen was Law, a compilation of Robert E. Howard's tribute from twenty years ago, now expanded with a few unreleased short comics.


His comics and illustrations were shown in over 60 exhibitions in Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, People Republic of China and Belgium, and regularly attends comics events e.g. Comic Con Portugal, Amadora BD, Beja International Comics Festival, Brussels Comics Strip Festival and others.

Won the Art9 Drawing Competition (1995) and BDmania/FIBDA Comics Competition, placing 3rd & receiving the Critic’s Choice Award for Revelation Artist (1995).
Was awarded the Central Comics Trophies for Best Portuguese Artist (VI TCC '2006), Best Independent Publication (X TCC '2010), Best Short Comic (XVI TCC '2018), Best Anthology (XXII TCC '2025), and Best Independente Publication and Best Anthology (XXIII TCC '2026), and was also editor/publisher of three winners in Best Short Comic (2007, 2010 and 2020).
In the 2012’ Trophies Central Comics: Heroes of the Decade/TCC:HD (2002-2012), placed 3rd as Best Artist of the Decade and Best Independent Publication of the Decade. And in 2024's II TCC:HD, won as Best Short Comic of the Decade.
In 2008, was the sole Portuguese artist among the twelve winners of ChesterQuest: Marvel Comics Worldwide Talents Hunt.