Dheeraj Verma

Dheeraj Verma (22 October 1967 – 7 June 2021) was an Indian comic book artist and creator. He is often credited with being the first Indian to enter the US comics industry.

Early life
Dheeraj Verma was born on 22 October 1967, in Delhi, India. He attended school at N P Boys Sr Secondary School and graduated from Pannalal Girdharlal Dayanand Anglo Vedic College, University of Delhi in 1991. Dheeraj spent his life in the heart of the capital, Connaught Place. As an aspiring artist he started drawing "The Phantom, Batman and Superman" in his 3rd grade. He was quite impressed with "The Phantom and Flash Gordon" which became his inspiration to draw.

Career
Verma started his career as an illustrator in the Indian comic industry in 1991 with the New Delhi-based publishers Parampara Comics and Fort Comics. He was noticed by the industry with Divaystro Ka Raja, Ajoobey (Parampara Comics) and garnered more attention from the Indian comics industry with the comics Jangaroo (Fort Comics). Later, in December 1993, he moved on to Raj Comics, the leading Indian comic company of the time. There he created his famous one-of-a-kind wolfman character Bheriya. Bheriya (wolfman) represents Verma’s immense love and dedication towards wild life and nature, which have always been the strongest aspects of his lifestyle. His debut issue in Raj Comics was Bheria Aya in 1994. He also wrote as well as illustrated its initial issues which were a huge hit such as Wolfano, Grahano, Lazy, Tilangey and many more. He worked on almost all the major Raj comics characters as an artist. His best selling comics were from the 90’s, and all of them were drawn by him. He also worked on covers, posters, trading cards, pin-ups, and other promotional merchandising for Raj comics. Verma was the first artist to introduce digital coloring to the Indian comic industry in 1996 on Parmanu's cover and then Bheria's Digest. He worked with Raj comics until April 2000. He joined a gaming company Escosoft Tech. (Division of Escort) as a senior visualizer and worked there for three years until June 2003.

In 2004, he got his big break in the American comic industry with Avatar Press where he worked as an artist for writer Joe R. Lansdale on By Bizarre Hands. His biggest series with Avatar was Escape of the Living Dead, Plague of the Living Dead, Yuggoth Creatures,  Nightmare on Elm Street, and Night of the Living Dead. He also worked on Dynamite’s The Complete Dracula series written by Alan Moore’s daughter Leah Moore. He also did cover art for Marvel Comics's invincible Iron Man. He worked on Transformers' series published by IDW Publications. His first series for IDW Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron was a superhit series on ComiXology, which was launched in August 2012. After this series he worked on Transformers: Robots in Disguise # 19 in July 2013 and it entered in Top 300 comics.

He has done up to 14 issues of Lady Death.

He was working on Conan the Slayer (Dark Horse comics, USA), as a penciller.

In January 2013, after a decade away, Verma made his comeback in the Indian comic industry with Jaljeevni (Bheria Series) from Raj Comics. Subhasya Sheegram (Doga), Sarvanayak series was his latest project with Raj Comics.

Verma also ventured to exhibit his painting in the world renowned Indian Government national academy of fine arts Lalit Kala Akademi in Delhi, and caused quite a buzz in the fine art circle by introducing original comics pages from Transformers and Lady Death in the gallery in a seven-day exhibition, which was inaugurated by Mr. Taj Hassan, Special Commissioner of Police.

Personal life and death
Verma married Malti Verma in 1991 and had two daughters. Verma died on 7 June 2021, in Delhi from pulmonary fibrosis complicated by a COVID-19 infection.

Works
A:
 * A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook
 * Amanecer Zombie

B: 1. Bheria 2. Bheria Aaya 3. Elephanto 4. Green Gold 5. Bhura Billa 6. Blast 7. Lazy Bheria 8. Meen Bheria 9. Laskula 10. Lutera Sher 11. Wolfa 12. Grahno 13. Tilange 14. Bali 15. Nahi Rahega Aatank 16. Baagad Billi 17. Bhatiki Ka Jaal 18. Bheria ka Kanoon 19. Hatyara 20. Ladake 21. Achook 22. Nagor 23. Maut Ke Parkale 24. Kaigula 25. Gajara 26. Maut Mere Andar 27. Indrajaal 28. Mogambo 29. Andhi Dhund 30. Totampol 31. Ayi Musibat 32. Jinda Pathar 33. Kala Sona 34. Jaag Kritya Jaag 35. Janwar 36. Bhujang 37. Neeli Lashein 38. Kobi aur Bheria 39. Mera Jungle 40. Aag aur Paani 41. Jen 42. Chaaro Khane Chit 43. Doma 44. Balikuthar 45. Bheel 46. Masaba 47. Bachna Mushkil 48. Budha Jungle 49. Bhaago Pagal Aaya 50. Kshetra 51. Thoo Thoo 52. Maaramari 53. Hurdang 54. Bura Na Mano 55. Apni Raksha Aap 56. Kadam Kadam Par 57. Pathar Kobi Pathar Bheria 58. Kaantein 59. Yuvraj 60. Bheria Vansh 61. Marr gya Bheria 62. Kobi Bajaye Baja 63. Jungle Jungle Maut Chali 64. Apshakun 65. Maut Na Maar Koi 66. Jal Utha Jungle 67. King Luna 68. Ajooba 69. Jeetega Thodanga 70. Dekh Tabahi Lakdi Ki 71. Wohi Puarana Jallad 72. Maut Kshetra 73. Chhupa Kabra 74. Sardar Kobi 75. Ashwa 76. Condor 77. Maut Jaegi Khali Haath 78. Jungle Paar 79. Kala Bheria 80. Kaise Ladu Kaise Bhidu 81. Uttradhikari 82. Jungle Meri Muthi Mein 83. Kale Log Musibat Bhog 84. Mai Bhi Rakshak 85. Jungle Ka Beta 86. Tarzoo 87. Jungle Sharir 88. Jungle Sabka Hai 89. Jungle Khali Karo 90. Asli Nakli 91. Yahi Hai Kobi 92. Aadamkhor Bheria 93. Gajbola 94. Ek Gin Ek Bheria 95. Chero Pao Maut 96. Jaan Par Bhari 97. Ichcha Aur Dhari 98. Pinjer 99. Prem Bala 100. Prem Na Khoon 101. Prem Hiran 102. Avdhoot 103. Prem Pishach 104. Prem Tadap 105. Prem Prateek 106. Prem Ratan 107. Prem Ashru 108. Prem Shradh 109. Van Rakshak 110. Shaapit Rakshak 111. Aahuti 112. Bheria Kaun 113. Bheria Ki Khoj 114. Jaan Ke Laale 115. Kobi Bhai 116. Ek Myaan Do Talwaarein 1. Issue #1 2. Issue #2: Not from Detroit 3. Issue #3: The Pit 4. Issue #4: Tight Little Stitches In A Dead Man's Back 5. Issue #5: Night They Missed The Horror Show 6. Issue #6: God of The Razor/My Dead Dog, Bobby
 * Bheria Series - Titles
 * By Bizarre Hands

C: 1. Issue #12: The Devil in Iron Part Six
 * Caliber Rounds
 * Conan The Slayer

D:
 * Deadly Inferno: Battle of The Wilderness

E:
 * Escape of The Living Dead
 * Escape of The Living Dead: Airborne
 * Escape of The Living Dead: Fearbook
 * Escape of The Living Dead: Trade Paperback Collected Edition
 * Escape of The Living Dead: Resurrected

G: 1. Issue #1: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part One 2. Issue #2: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part Two 3. Issue #3: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part Three 4. Issue #4: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part Four 5. Issue #5: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part Five 6. Issue #6: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part Six 7. Issue #7: The Fall of G.I. Joe Part Seven 8. Issue #8: The Fall of G.I. Joe Conclusion
 * G.I. Joe
 * Grimm Fairy Tales presents Alice In Wonderland One-Shot

I: 1. Issue #1: Palmer Addley Is Dead Part One 2. Issue #2: Palmer Addley Is Dead Part Two 3. Issue #3: Palmer Addley Is Dead Part Three 4. Issue #4: Palmer Addley Is Dead Part Four 5. Issue #5: Fear Itself Part One 6. Issue #6: Fear Itself Part Two 7. Issue #7: Fear Itself 8. Issue #7.1 9. Issue #8: The Palmer Addley Infection 10. Issue #9: The Palmer Addley Infection, Part Two 11. Issue #10: The Palmer Addley Infection, Part Three 12. Issue #11: The Palmer Addley Infection, Part Four 13. Issue #12: The Palmer Addley Infection, Conclusion
 * Iron Man 2.0

K:
 * Kade: Sun of Perdition

L: 1. Lady Death: Unholy Ruin
 * Lady Death

2. Lady Death: Apocalyptic Abyss

3. Lady Death: Hellraiders

4. Lady Death: Hot Shots

5. Lady Death: Chaos Rules

6. Lady Death: Damnation Game

7. Lady Death: Extinction Express 8. Lady Death: Oblivion Kiss

9. Lady Death: Merciless Onslaught

1. Issue #1: Call Me G-d!
 * Lynx

2. Issue #2: Lynx Origin

3. Issue #3: Phone Home

4. Issue #4: Who is Yahweh?

N:
 * Night of The Living Dead: The Beginning
 * Night of The Living Dead: Just a Girl
 * Night of The Living Dead: Hunger
 * Night of The Living Dead: New York
 * Night of The Living Dead: TPB
 * Night of The Living Dead: Death Valley
 * Night of The Living Dead: Aftermath

P:
 * Plague of The Living Dead
 * Plague of The Living Dead Special
 * Project 26

S:
 * Snow White One-Shot

T: 1. Issue #1: Good Intentions 2. Issue #2: Secrets
 * The Complete Dracula
 * The Transformers Series - Fall of Cybertron Issues

3. Issue #3: Siege Mentality

4. Issue #4: Last Stand

5. Issue #5: Fragmentation

6. Issue #6: Fall 1. Issue #1: The Autonomy Lesson
 * The Transformers: Robots In Disguise

2. Issue #2: The World And Everything In It

3. Issue #3: Stick Together

4. Issue #4: Devisive

5. Issue #5: A Better Tomorrow

6. Issue #6: Syndromica (1)

7. Issue #7: Inference Patterns

8. Issue #8: Dinobot Hunt

9. Issue #9: Night And The City

10. Issue #10: Syndromica

11. Issue #11: The End Of The Beginning Of The World

12. Issue #12: City On Fire

13. Issue #13: The Verge

14. Issue #14: Before The Dawn

15. Issue #15: Plan For Everything

16. Issue #16: Heavy Is The Head

17. Issue #17: Dark Cybertron Prelude - Shockwaves

18. Issue #18: Dark Cybertron Prelude - Second Exodus

19. Issue #19: Dark Cybertron Prelude - Homecoming

20. Issue #20: Dark Cybertron Prelude - Three Monologues - 1. Long Night, 2. Young Evening, 3. Early Dawn

21. Issue #21: Dark Cybertron Prelude - Shockpoint

22. Issue #22: Dark Cybertron Prelude - Soundwaves

23. Issue #23: "Winners & Losers" - Dark Cybertron Chapter 3

24. Issue #24: Finest Hour - Dark Cybertron Chapter 5

25. Issue #25: The Dead Are Not Enough - Dark Cybertron Chapter 7

26. Issue #26: Finis Temporis - Dark Cybertron Chapter 9

27. Issue #27: Black Planet - Dark Cybertron Chapter 11

28. Issue #28: EarthFall Part 1 - Hello Cruel World

29. Issue #29: EarthFall Part 2 - Detonation Boulevard

30. Issue #30: EarthFall Part 3 - The Mind Bomb 31. Issue #31: EarthFall Part 4 - Full Fathom Five 32. Issue #32: EarthFall Part 5 - I Dream of Wires 33. Issue #33: The World Of Tomorrow 34. Issue #34: The Crucible
 * The X-Files/Transformers: Conspiracy

Y:
 * Yuggoth Creatures
 * Alan Moore's Yuggoth Creatures And Other Growths

Z:
 * Zombie Dawn: Safe House