Steve Ekstrom is an award-winning American writer, journalist and graphic designer from the southeastern United States who has written for Shotgun Reviews, Newsarama.com, Fangoria, MTV and FreakSugar.com and for his work as a writer, letterer, and editor of indie comics.
Since 2007, Ekstrom's work has been published by 803 Studios, Desperado Studios, Images Comics, DC Comics, Tin Star Studios, Top Shelf Publications, Imminent Press, Orange Cone Productions, Behemoth, and Sumerian Comics.
Currently, he is the Senior Editor for Sumerian Comics. Ekstrom's first major project, a creator-owned crime thriller, SOKO, with co-creator Vanja Miskovic, artist Antonio Fuso, and colorists Stefano Simeone and Lecce was released in 2023. In early 2024, Ekstrom debuted his work on THE FOG, a licensed true sequel to the 1980 cult-classic horror film from John Carpenter. His work has also been featured on BAD OMENS CONCRETE JUNGLE featuring Bad Omens, the hottest indie rock act of 2023, as well as BASIC INSTINCT for Sumerian Comics.
2024 - Ekstrom writes Sumerian's true sequel to John Carpenter's cult-classic 1980 horror movie, The Fog, with artist Marco Fodera and colorist Emilio Lecce.
2023 - Ekstrom is named Senior Editor for the newly christened Sumerian Comics.
2023 - Ekstrom publishes Soko with co-creator Vanja Miskovic, artist Antonio Fuso and colorists Stefano Simeone and Emilio Lecce.
2023 - Ekstrom works on both creative teams for Bad Omens Concrete Jungle and Basic Instinct for Sumerian Comics.
2021 - Behemoth announces that Ekstrom has been named the brand's Editorial Director.
2020 - Ekstrom along with artist Kate Frizzell create "Chant of the Golden Cap" for Orange Cone Productions "Cthulhu Invades Oz" Anthology project.
2019 - Ekstrom begins freelancing as a letterer and editor in the indie comics arena with his contribution to Jonathan Hedrick's Capable which earned him an award for "Best Logo" as the letterer for the project.
2019 - Ekstrom works on Tyler Niccum's 660+ page Original Graphic Novel Hinterlife as co-writer, editor, and letterer on the project.
2018 - Ekstrom via Imminent Press successfully funds and publishes two issues of the Terminal Pulp Anthology Series through crowd-sourcing. Featuring 4 stories, two connector cover sets, and a collaborative variant cover boasting industry vets like Jamal Igle, Larry Watts, and Rob G, Terminal was widely lauded for it's markedly professional quality.
2018 - Ekstrom is awarded an Honorarium from Valdosta State University to speak to future graduates about his experiences as a professional writer and publisher of comic books.
2018 - Ekstrom is invited to to be a Featured Guest at MegaCon Tampa 2018 in Tampa, Florida.
2017 - Ekstrom, along with other indie comics creators like Justin Peniston (Hunter Black), Eric Palicki (Black's Myth), Justin Gray (Jonah Hex), Troy Brownfield (Sparkshooter), Marco Lopez (Puerto Rico Strong), and Mark Bertolini (Feeder), launch Imminent Press and announce their plans to publish comics via crowd-sourcing platforms.
2014 - Ekstrom launches his first web comic, Cannibal Island, a black and white historical fiction suspense thriller about the "Nazino Affair" that took place in the Soviet Union in 1923 with artist, Dino Adelinis.
2013 - Ekstrom's story "Haunted" is published in the 2013 Edition of Odradek the Valdosta State University Literary Arts Magazine, featuring his work as an alum being successful in his chosen field.
2013 - Ekstrom becomes a founding member of FreakSugar.com with Tom Akel and several members of the team from the now defunct MTV Geek.
2011 - Ekstrom publishes a new short suspense comic, "Haunted", with art by Doug Draper, and colors by Jesse Turnbull with Top Shelf Productions for their "Top Shelf Comix" digital imprint.
2011 - Ekstrom joins MTV Geek under the guidance of then MTV Geek Executive Producer, Tom Akel.
2010 - Ekstrom publishes "Breakfast" for a third time with Top Shelf Publications' "Top Shelf Comix" digital imprint, adding Jesse Turnbull as the colorist for the previously black and white comic.
CLICK HERE to read "Breakfast"
2009 - Ekstrom places third in DC Comics' Zuda Imprint Web Comic Contest for his work on "The Ares Imperative" with artist, Mikael Bergkvist, and colorist, Jesse Turnbull.
2008 - Published first short black and white comic "Breakfast" in 803 Studios' Sequential Suicide Volume 2: Slop with artist Doug Draper.
2008 - Published "Breakfast" a second time in Negative Burn #20 from Desperado Studios/ Image Comics
2008 - Newsarama wins Eisner Award for "Best Comics-Related Periodical/ Journalism", Ekstrom was considered a leading contributor at the website during that time period, producing upwards of 20 articles a month.
2007 - Promoted to paid freelance journalist at Newsarama.com under the guidance of Site Editor/ Owner, Matt Brady.
2006 - Joined the staff of Shotgun Reviews and Best Shots Reviews for Newsarama.com under the guidance of Troy Brownfield.