The Wedding Gift - An Illustrated Tale of Einarinn
A 'Navy baby' born in Malta, Steve was drawing dinosaurs as soon as he could hold a pencil. From working at Marvel UK on titles such as CARE BEARS, THUNDERCATS and TRANSFORMERS, he went freelance after the release of JURASSIC PARK meant an artist could make a living drawing dinosaurs. These days he's back to drawing for fun and working as Graphic Novels Editor at Titan Books.
Steve had a challenge on his hands to show the highly colourful elemental magic of the Tales being worked in black and white. He succeeds admirably as the initial pencils on the left show, although Planir loses his hat and beard in the final version, as in the detail on the right.
Planir remains one of the most mysterious characters throughout the five Tales. His status, as the lofty Archmage, requires constant negotiation and deal making, with the political powers of the mainland and with the various factions within Hadrumal. His interest in and friendship with individuals such as Livak, Ryshad and Shiv can sometimes come into conflict with his role. However, it would take a bold man to be certain that any eventual outcome wasn't just what Planir had intended all along.