Matt Busch

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Matthew Stuart "Matt" Busch (born September 22, 1972) is an American artist, illustrator, and filmmaker, mostly known for his work with the Star Wars media franchise.[1] He has also illustrated projects for popular IPs such as Stranger things, Indiana Jones, and Lord of the Rings, as well as music acts such as Foo Fighters, Mötley Crüe, and Ozzy Osbourne.[2]

Early life

Busch was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania on September 22, 1972, to Frederick and Peggy Busch. He grew up in the northern suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, embracing all of the arts, from drawing his own comic books, playing several music instruments, and creating short films with his parents' VHS camcorder. Busch has claimed that his early years playing in a rock band inspired grassroots marketing as a visual artist when starting his career.[3] In 1993, he won an award from the Library of Congress for his copyright achievements.[4]

After getting an associate degree from Macomb Community College, he moved to Pasadena, California, where he attended the Los Angeles Art Academy, and received a bachelor's degree from the Art Center College of Design, studying illustration, film, and entertainment design. There, Busch was classmates with other notable alumni such as Justin Bua, Chris Do, and LeUyen Pham, and studied under notable professors, including Burne Hogath.[5]

Busch began working in Hollywood illustrating concept art and storyboards for films like Con Air and The Matrix.[6] After living in Los Angeles for nearly a decade, Busch eventually returned to the Northern Detroit area in the early 2000s where he set up his company, Kaleidoscope Koi Entertainment, LLC, and continues to work on Hollywood projects, via new technology.[7]

He found more notoriety in the areas of licensing and publishing, becoming well known in many different circles of pop culture and fandom as an entertainment illustrator. Busch was often referred in news articles as the rock star of illustration,[8] and mostly known for his Star Wars work, where he provided numerous covers, posters, and other illustrative material for the franchise.[9]

Busch has produced art for companies such as Columbia Tristar Pictures, Disney, Ford Motor Company, Fox Television, Hundai, K-Swiss Shoes, Larry Flynt Publications, Lucasfilm, Ltd., Mazda, Netflix, Nissan, Paramount Pictures, Sony Entertainment, Team Disney, Touchstone Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Viacom, and more.[10] Later in his career he dove into the world of independent filmmaking, creating the Aladdin 3477 trilogy of movies, and has taught media arts college courses at a number of higher education schools.[11]

Career

Star Wars illustrator

File:Star Wars Yellow Logo.svg
Matt Busch has illustrated numerous official Star Wars posters, books, apparel, and other products since 1994.

Since 1994, Matt Busch has provided art for official Star Wars books, posters, magazines, and other products. George Lucas himself has purchased nearly 400 of Busch's drawings and paintings for his own collection, many of which are on display at Lucasfilm's headquarters and Skywalker Ranch.[9]

Early in his career, Busch started illustrating books and playing cards for the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. He was the first to illustrate what an R7 series Astromech Droid looks like, which has since become a popular series of action figures from Hasbro.[12]

In 1997, Busch illustrated the cover of Star Wars: Tales from the Empire from Bantam Dell, which became a New York Times Best Seller.[13] He also began writing and illustrating monthly articles for both the Star Wars Insider and Star Wars Kids magazines.[14]

In 2006, Busch was hired by Lucasfilm to illustrated the well-known Style D One Sheet movie poster for Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which was designed to be a bookend piece top the original Star Wars "circus poster" illustrated by Drew Struzan and Charles White III. That same year, Busch was the 2nd artist to be inducted as an Honorary Member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers.[15]

In 2007, the You Can Draw Star Wars book from DK Publishing was released, to which Busch produced over 300 illustrations for. The book went on to become a New York Times Bestseller. Busch is perhaps best known for his outspoken antics in the You Can Draw Star Wars video series, which is based on the book.[16] The video series was first released on StarWars.com and later released on DVD.[17] Following that, the videos found even more success when they were released on MySpace.com, and shot straight to number one on their charts before being released on YouTube.[18] Volumes Two and Three of the same tutorial series were also released on DVD in subsequent years.[19]

File:SWCE - Stormtroopers1 (854266698).jpg
Busch signing with Lucasfilm Author Bonnie Burton in Star Wars Celebration Europe on July 14, 2007

In 2008, Hasbro released a droid action figure named MB-RA-7, which was named after Matt Busch, based on articles he had written for Star Wars Kids magazines.[20][21] Also that year, Busch became the first Honorary Member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers to become an official member with his own TK Stormtrooper armor.[22][23] His TK number, 3477, is leet for "Matt" written sideways, and later became the year his Aladdin 3477 film trilogy would take place.[6]

In 2009, Lucasfilm solicited Busch to re-illustrate the existing 6 Star Wars film movie posters with a zombie twist, in an effort to help promote the first Star Wars horror novel. He titled the parody series Zombie Wars, and he created Episode I: The Zombie Menace, Episode II: Attack of the Undead, Episode III: Revenge of the Zombies, Episode IV: A New Epidemic, Episode V: The Living Dead Strike Back, and Episode VI: Return from the Grave.[24] The series did so well, Busch continued 'zombifying' classic movie posters in a series titled Hollywood is Dead, eventually collecting hundreds of the parody zombie posters into a coffee table art book. The initial Zombie Wars series later became licensed by Fright Rags as popular T shirts.[25]

Soon after, Zazzle, Disney parks, Gap Kids, and Kohl's department stores started releasing T-shirts featuring Busch's Star Wars art.[26]

In 2013, Busch illustrated the CD cover of the original Star Wars Radio Dramas. Based on the source material, Busch also illustrated dozens of trading cards for Topps, including special inserts for Star Wars Insider magazine. Also that year, Busch and Artist Lin Zy created an animated mashup parody combining Star Wars and Powerpuff Girls. The animated videos titled Power of the Force Girls went viral with millions of views on YouTube. The following year, Busch illustrated nearly 60 images for the Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Illustrated trading cards, including a series of character cards.[27]

Busch became a staple of large Star Wars events like the Star Wars Celebrations, JediCon and Empire Con, producing exclusive limited edition prints for each show. Busch's art was also featured in the 2016 Star Wars Calendar.[28]

In 2021, Disney unveiled a new limited edition print of The Mandalorian, illustrated by Busch.[1] That same year, he was one of 12 Star Wars Artists to exhibit in a Star Wars art show at the Galactic Gallery in Dallas.[29]

In 2023, Busch illustrated a 10th anniversary commemorative coin for the Peter Mayhew Foundation. That same year, the foundation supported Busch's Aladdin 3477 Kickstarter at the Executive Producer level, so the late Peter Mayhew (who was always a big supporter of Busch's work) could have his name live on in the credits of the film.[30]

In 2024, to celebrate 30 years of illustrating official Star Wars art, Busch exhibited 101 drawings and paintings in the Sparkasse Pyramide Gallery in Heilbronn, Germany. That same year, Busch released a new series of tutorial videos on Youtube titled Illustrating Star Wars.[31]

In 2025, Busch was a guest of honor in a Star Wars art show which was held in a medieval German castle, Schloss Hohenstein in Coberg.[32]

Pop artist

Busch has contributed to notable comic book, poster, and trading card projects, having worked on such properties as 24, Afterburn, Age of Empires, Alizarin's Journal, Battlestar Galactica, Bruce Lee, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Crow, Daria Jontak, Farscape, G.I. Joe, Heroes, The Hobbit Trilogy, Hulk, Indiana Jones, Lady Death, Legend of the Five Rings, Lexx, Lord of the Rings,[2] Lost, Medieval Witchblade, Night of the Living Dead, Poltergeist, Reservoir Dogs, Robocop, Scream, Shi, Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stargate SG-1, Stranger Things, Vampirella, The Walking Dead, and Witchblade.[33]

He has also created art for numerous bands and music acts like .38 Special, Alice Cooper, Beastie Boys, The Beatles, Beck, Billy Joel, Black Sabbath, Bret Michaels, Celldweller, Cinderella, Foo Fighters,[8] Garbage, Gene Simmons, Jessica Simpson, Kid Rock, L.L. Cool J, Megadeth, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, and Poison, Rockett Mafia, and Ted Nugent.[2]

One of Busch's earliest jobs in comic books was illustrating Coven 13, which was written by Rikki Rockett, drummer of the rock band Poison. The two became friends and have worked on a number of projects together, including an animated parody series titled Toke'mon for KNAC Radio in Los Angeles. Busch also created art for Poison's concert screen animations, as well as concert merch like T shirts and bandanas.[34] Rikki Rockett also wrote the introduction to Busch's first hardcover artbook, Fantastic Visions: The Art of Matt Busch, from Avatar Press.

Busch's second art book, Pucker: The Seductive Art of Matt Busch from SQP Publishing has a written introduction from another well-known drummer, John Dolmayan from the nü metal band System of a Down.[35]

In 2008, Busch was a Featured Special Guest at Comic-Con International in San Diego, joining other notable visionaries celebrated, including Bernie Wrightson, Al Jaffe, Sergio Aragones, Jim Lee, Ray Bradbury, Joe Hill, and Dean Koontz.[36]

In 2009, Busch was hand-selected to illustrate President Obama for the cover of the DVD documentary, Becoming Barack: Evolution of a Leader. Busch also produced a video bonus feature on the DVD.[37]

In 2011, the Indiana Jones World Map was released, a project which Busch spent 3 years researching and Illustrating. The map details all of the locations Indiana Jones has acquired archeological treasures from the films, Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV shows, the novels, the comics, the video games, and the Disney Theme Park attractions.[38]

Busch has co-developed Apple iPhone and iPad apps with his brother Ian, such as Interactive Sketchbook and How to Draw (with Artist Matt Busch).[1]

In 2025, the film Afterburn will be released, based on the Red 5 comic book series that Busch illustrated all of the covers for. The film stars Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson.[39]

Filmmaker

Having worked behind-the-scenes for years in many aspects of corporate studio film productions, Busch eventually gravitated into the world of independent films. In 2006, his first feature-length movie, Conjure, was released straight-to-DVD; a project that he wrote, directed, starred in, and even composed the music for. It was also one of the first horror films available on Netflix.[40] The movie gained critical acclaim and broke records in the Horror Genre.[41]

In 2009, Busch released a DVD titled Illustration Nation, a documentary of audacious travel adventures ranging from Hollywood to London to Tokyo.[42]

Busch's magnum opus is writing and directing a trilogy of Aladdin 3477 films based on the classic Arabian Nights tale Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp.[1] The movies are set in Asia 1,500 years in the future.[43] The first film, Aladdin 3477- I: The Jinn of Wisdom was released January 3rd, 2025 on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango at Home.[6]

Professor

Matt Busch has instructed college-level courses at art schools such as the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. Currently, he is a professor of Media and Communication Arts and faculty advisor of Creative Imaging and Illustration at Macomb Community College. He teaches a range of courses including painted illustration, figure illustration, and previz storyboarding for film and animation.[44]

Busch has also given guest lectures and panel workshops at such venues as the Animation Academy in Burbank, California, the Art Institute of Pittsburg, the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival, Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, Schloss Hohenstien in Coberg, Germany, Sparkasse in Heilbronn, Germany, Star Wars Celebrations around the world, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and numerous Wizard World Conventions across the US.[10]

Personal life

Busch was married to Lin Zy (née Selestow) in 2011, but divorced in 2019.[45] He later married Novelist Casey McGrath, in 2024 at the historic Emerald Theatre in Downtown Mount Clemens, Michigan. Busch resides in a multi-faceted home studio in Macomb Township, Michigan with his wife Casey, their son Beaux, and dog Kyp.[6]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Con Air Storyboard Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
1997 Home Alone 3 Storyboard Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
1997 How to Be a Player Storyboard Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
1997 The Devil's Own Storyboard Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
1998 Hard Rain Storyboard Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
1999 The Matrix Storyboard Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
1999 The Mummy Poster Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
2002 Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones Poster Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
2003 Goregoyles: The Holy Terror Actor DVD, Streaming
2003 Hulk Poster Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
2005 Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith Poster Artist Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, Streaming
2006 Conjure Writer, Director, himself DVD, Streaming
2007 You Can Draw Star Wars Director, himself StarWars.com, DVD, YouTube
2008 Illustration Nation Himself Documentary, DVD
2008 Becoming Barack: Evolution of a Leader Director, himself Bonus Feature / Documentary, DVD
2008 You Can Draw Star Wars: Vol. 2 Director, himself StarWars.com, DVD, YouTube
2010 You Can Draw Star Wars: Vol. 3 Director, himself StarWars.com, DVD, YouTube
2025 Aladdin 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom Writer, Director Streaming, VOD, Blu ray, DVD

Film director

Year Title Notes
2006 Conjure Straight-to-DVD
2025 Aladdin 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom Streaming, VOD, Blu ray, DVD

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Storyboard Artist
1995 The Nanny Storyboard Artist
1996 - 1997 Everybody Loves Raymond Storyboard Artist
1996 Melrose Place Storyboard Artist
1996 Millennium Storyboard Artist
1996 Early Edition Storyboard Artist
1996 In the House Storyboard Artist
1996 Nash Bridges Storyboard Artist
1997 Martin Storyboard Artist
1998 Touched by an Angel Storyboard Artist
2015 Local 4 News Himself Interview[46]
2019 Stranger Things Poster Artist

Internet

Year Title Role Notes
2024 Illustrating Star Wars[31] Artist 4-part tutorial videos[47]
2023 - present Aladdin 3477: Draw This In Your Style Himself Aladdin 3477 character art challenges[48]
2022 - present Livestream Lounge Himself Livestream Host
2020 - present Matt's Class Instructor Art tutorial videos[49]
2020 - 2021 Sketchbook Challenge Artist 50-part art challenge videos[50]
2010 Hollywood is Dead Artist Zombie art videos[51]
2007–2012[52] How to Draw Star Wars Himself 22-part tutorial videos[53]

Published books

  • The Art of Aladdin 3477: The Jinn of Wisdom, published by Kaleidoscope Koi Entertainment, LLC (2025) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Star Wars Poster Book, published by Chronicle Books (2025) (Template:ISBN)
  • Aladdin 3477: Official Collector's Edition, published by Kaleidoscope Koi Entertainment, LLC (April 2023) (Template:ISBN)
  • Afterburn (1) Graphic Novel, published by Red 5 Comics (2021) (Template:ISBN)
  • Stranger Things: Visions from the Upside Down, published by Del Rey / Random House (2019) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Cyberpunk Nexus, published by Sequart (2018) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Art of Film: Star Wars - Volume 2, published by Future Publishing (2017) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars - Legends: Tales from the Empire, published by Del Rey / Random House (2017) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Art of Painted Comics, published by Dynamite Entertainment (June 2016) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Art of Film: Star Wars, published by Future Publishing (2015) (Template:ISBN)
  • Hollywood is Dead, published by Planetmatt Entertainment (2014) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars Art: Illustration, published by Abrams Books (October 2012) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Zombook, published by Graffito Books (2012) (Template:ISBN)
  • Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes, published by Boom Entertainment (2011) (Template:ISBN)
  • Matt Busch's Sketchbook (Now With 90% More Bad-Ass!), published by Planetmatt Entertainment (December 2010) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: 1000 Collectibles, published by Harry N. Abrams (October 2009) (Template:ISBN)
  • The Worlds of Matt Busch, published by Hermes Press (April 2008) (Template:ISBN)
  • Gene Simmons House of Horrors, published by IDW Publishing (February 2008) (Template:ISBN)
  • Walt Disney: The American Dreamer, published by Tomart Publications (2008) (Template:ISBN)
  • You Can Draw Star Wars, published by DK Publishing (January 2007) (Template:ISBN)
  • Pucker: The Seductive Art of Matt Busch, published by SQP Publishing (September 2006) (Template:ISBN)
  • Aprodisia II - Art of the Female Form, published by Aristata Publishing (2006) (Template:ISBN)
  • Vader: The Ultimate Guide, published by Simon & Schuster (2005) (Template:ISBN)
  • Battlestar Galactica: Paradis, published by Simon & Schuster (2004) (Template:ISBN)
  • Crisis - an Illustrated Screenplay, published by Accomplished Productions (April 2002) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Secrets of Naboo, published by Wizards of the Coast (2001) (Template:ISBN)
  • Fantastic Visions: The Art of Matt Busch, published by Avatar Press (September 2001) (Template:ISBN)
  • Battlestar Galactica: Resurrection, published by Simon & Schuster (2001) (Template:ISBN)
  • How to Draw Peanuts, published by Scholastic (1999) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars Classic Adventures - Volume Four, published by West End Games (1997) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Platt's Smugglers Guide, published by West End Games (1997) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Instant Adventures, published by West End Games (1997) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Tales from the Empire, Published by Bantam Books (1997) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Alliance Intelligence Reports, published by West End Games (1995) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Heroes & Rogues, published by West End Games (1995) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars: Fantastic Technology, published by West End Games (1995) (Template:ISBN)
  • Star Wars Adventure Journal Volume 1 No.5-14, published by West End Games (1995) (Template:ISBN)

See also

References

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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Matt Busch's biography Template:Webarchive – Matt Busch
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Star Wars Artist Series: Matt Busch (July 28, 2005) – Star Wars
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ 'Matt Busch: Dreams Really Do Come True' by Loren PhillipsTemplate:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". (July 16, 1999) – Echo Station
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Style D One Sheet movie poster – Hollywood is Dead
  16. ↑ 'Local Illustrator Brings Star Wars Characters to Life' by Sarah Cormier (January 24, 2007) – C&G Newspapers
  17. ↑ 'C4: Matt Busch Drawing DVD Available' by Jay (May 16, 2007) – TheForce.net
  18. ↑ 'Number One. THANK YOU!' by Planetmatt (October 7, 2007) – LiveJournal
  19. ↑ 'You Can Draw Star Wars, Vol. 2' by Dustin (July 7, 2008) – TheForce.net
  20. ↑ 'Hasbro releases new Star Wars action figure named after Matt Busch!' Template:Webarchive (December 16, 2008) – Matt Busch
  21. ↑ MB-RA-7 – Jedi Temple Archives
  22. ↑ Card 165 – Matt Busch – 501st Legion
  23. ↑ Matt Busch's 501st Legion Stormtrooper trading card – Matt Busch Store
  24. ↑ Matt Busch's Zombie Wars posters Template:Webarchive (October 13–17, 2009) – Matt Busch
  25. ↑ Matt Busch's Zombie Wars posters (December 7, 2009) – Geekologie
  26. ↑ 'Kohl's exclusive Boba Fett T-shirt back by demand!' Template:Webarchive (February 10, 2010) – Matt Busch
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ 'Post-Apocalyptic Treasure Hunting in Afterburn' by SuperHeroHype (November 2, 2007) – Superhero Hype!
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ 'Illustrating Obama with Artist Matt Busch' by Matt Busch (August 4, 2009) – Facebook
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ 'Conjure' Template:Webarchive – Matt Busch
  41. ↑ 'Matt Busch's First Independent Thriller Sets A New Record!' by Dustin (March 29, 2006) – TheForce.net
  42. ↑ 'Illustration Nation' Now Available on DVD' by Dustin (May 24, 2009) – TheForce.net
  43. ↑ Aladdin 3477's frequently asked questions – Aladdin 3477
  44. ↑ Matt Busch's online client list, résumé, and curriculum vita Template:Webarchive – Matt Busch
  45. ↑ 'Matt Busch Gets Married!' Template:Webarchive (October 19, 2011) – Matt Busch
  46. ↑ 'Michigan Man Creates 'Aladdin 3477' Movie Out of Love for 'Star Wars' by Lauren Podell (March 3, 2015) – Local 4 News
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ 'Lin Zy Directs the Series Finale of 'You Can Draw Star Wars' by Lin Zy Template:Webarchive (April 14, 2012) – Lin Zy
  53. ↑ Matt Busch's 'How to Draw Star Wars' tutorial videos – YouTube

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External links

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