Ron Randall
Creator of Trekker, veteran DC and Dark Horse artist
đź“Ť Portland, OR
Ron Randall is a distinguished comic book artist and creator whose career spans over four decades. A graduate of The Kubert School, Randall has established himself as a master of visual storytelling across multiple genres, from sword-and-sorcery fantasy to hardboiled science fiction.
Early Career and Education
Randall’s path to comics excellence began with formal training at The Kubert School, one of the industry’s most respected art academies. His first published work was a two-page backup story titled “Killers Above — Killers Below!” written by Robert Kanigher, appearing in Unknown Soldier #243 (September 1980).
The Barren Earth: A Collaboration with Gary Cohn
Randall’s partnership with writer Gary Cohn produced one of DC Comics’ most memorable science fiction properties of the 1980s. The Barren Earth first appeared as a backup feature in The Warlord #63 (November 1982) and ran until issue #88. The series was later spun off into a four-issue limited series in 1985, offering a post-apocalyptic saga set in Earth’s distant future.
Trekker: Creator-Owned Success
Perhaps Randall’s most personal work is Trekker, which he both writes and illustrates. First introduced in Dark Horse Presents #4 (January 1987), Trekker follows Mercy St. Clair, a gifted and complicated young bounty hunter in the 23rd-century city of New Gelaph on a gritty, failing planet Earth.
The series combines noir sensibilities with science fiction worldbuilding, creating what critics have described as “pulp adventure that crosses genres.” Trekker is notable for being among the first creator-owned properties at Dark Horse Comics.
In September 2011, Randall launched Trekkercomic.com to collect all previously published Trekker material. The series continues with new content through Kickstarter campaigns, including Trekker: The Complete Journey deluxe hardcover collections.
DC Comics Work
Throughout his career, Randall has been a reliable artist for DC Comics:
- Arak, Son of Thunder - Took over as artist with issue #26 (October 1983)
- Justice League Europe - Collaborative team with writer Gerard Jones (1992)
- Swamp Thing - Contributed to Alan Moore’s legendary run
- Supergirl - Contributed to the acclaimed Kelley Puckett era
Professional Community
Randall is a member of Periscope Studio in Portland, Oregon, a collective of accomplished comics creators. He also participates in Helioscope, another collective of industry professionals.
Skills and Versatility
Beyond comics, Randall has applied his visual storytelling expertise to:
- Illustration and storyboards for major clients including Nike, Amazon, and Polartec
- Dungeons & Dragons adventures and the Endless Quest book Conan the Outlaw (1984)
Connect
Sources: Wikipedia, Panel Patter Interview, LinkedIn
Their work includes Conqueror of the Barren Earth.
