Geof (Geoffrey) Darrow (October 21, 1955) is a comic artist and designer born in Iowa, USA.

He was a student at Hanna-Barbera cartoon studios after studying at the American Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago. In 1982, he met renowned French comic book writer and artist Moebius at the making of the film Tron. Two years later, the two collaborated on a portfolio of prints named La Cité Feu, later reprinted for the English speaking market as City of Fire.

In 1993, he collaborated with writer and artist Frank Miller on the comic book Hard Boiled, a 3 part graphic novel. Loosely based on Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the book is a many-layered exploration of the mind and world of its protagonist Nixon. Nixon is a typical Philip K. Dick hero - a normal guy, with a normal job (tax collector ) and normal family. As the work unfolds, Nixon becomes increasingly uncertain of his identity, as do we. The work is a showcase for Darrow's talent - a retro sci-fi designfest, awash with paranoia and ultra-violence.

Darrow and Miller also worked on Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot in 1996, a far more family-oriented work, in which the protagonists save Tokyo from destruction by a giant lizard. The story was later developed into an animated series by Sony entertainment, first aired in 1999.

Darrow was credited as 'Conceptual Designer' on all three Matrix movies. He has also contributed to both volumes of The Matrix comics, a series of short Matrix-inspired comic stories.

Darrow has also contributed covers to a number of other comics, including Concrete, Transmetropolitan and Andrew Vachss' Cross.

Currently (2005), Darrow is working on his self-penned series, Shaolin Cowboy, featuring Darrow's trademark ultra-violence, irony and meticulous level of detail.

His distinctive style is meticulously detailed, embodying many elements of Japanese culture (giant fire-breathing lizards feature heavily), blended with the chrome clad style of 1950's Americana.

Select Bibliography

• La Cité Feu (1984) with Moebius. Reproduced as 'City of Fire'.
• Bourbon Thret (1986)
• Hard Boiled with Frank Miller (1990).
• Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (1996)
• Shaolin Cowboy (2005)

External links

• Publishers of Shaolin Cowboy and the Matrix comics
• Unofficial fan site with good examples of artwork
• Page devoted to Darrow, on writer Andrew Vachss site.