The Wedding Gift - An Illustrated Tale of Einarinn
A native Yorkshireman, Staz began freelancing in 1986, firstly for the UK RPG market, before graduating onto comics, working for British publishers Fleetway and Marvel UK. In 1993, following a 2 year sojourn in the world of advertising, he returned to comics, this time for the 'big two' American publishers DC Comics & Marvel Comics, for whom he continues to work to this day. He is married to Nicky and has a daughter Alice.
As you can see on the left, Staz draws very detailed pencils before inking. The main change from this sketch to the finished print is Halice gaining a shirt. As a professional mercenary, that kind of bodice alone wouldn't be very practical.
The blue pencil as shown the right is a useful tool for comic artists, as it allows them to be very detailed in draft, but does not show through in the final printing process.
Halice is Livak's best friend of many years, frequent partner in gaming scams and petty crime when she's not pursuing her successful career as a mercenary captain. At the beginning of the Tales she has suffered a potentially crippling injury. Gradually healed through sorcerous intervention in The Swordsman's Oath, Halice feels herself under an obligation to help Livak and the mages in their on-going quest. With her martial skills and contacts, by the time of the Fifth Tale, The Assassin's Edge, she has become an important figure in the development and defense of Kellarin.