Alex Ross was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in Lubbock, Texas. His mother, Carolyn Ross, was a fashion designer and artist who consistently encouraged his artistic pursuits, and his father was a Protestant minister.

• Education: Ross developed a fascination with comic art at a young age, and by the age of 13, he was already designing and writing original comics. After high school, he moved to Chicago to study painting for three years at the American Academy of Art.

• Early Career: After graduation, he worked as a storyboard artist for an advertising agency. His first published comic book work was the miniseries Terminator: The Burning Earth in 1990.

• The Breakthrough: Ross achieved widespread acclaim in 1994 with the publication of the miniseries Marvels, co-created with writer Kurt Busiek. The book, which chronicled the history of the Marvel Universe from the perspective of an ordinary photographer, was revolutionary for its full-painted, photorealistic interior and cover art, setting a new standard in the industry.

• DC Work: Following this success, he collaborated with DC Comics and writer Mark Waid to create the critically acclaimed masterpiece Kingdom Come (1996), which solidified his reputation as one of the preeminent artists in the comic book medium.

He often compares his style to that of classic painters like Norman Rockwell, aiming to bring the same level of realism, humanity, and sense of drama to the world of superheroes.

Notable Works

Ross is primarily known as a prolific cover artist and illustrator for major publishers like Marvel Comics and DC Comics.

• Marvels (1994, Marvel Comics)

• Kingdom Come (1996, DC Comics) – Widely considered his magnum opus.

• Astro City (1995–Present) – Ross provides cover art and character designs for this original creator-owned series.

• Justice (2005–2006, DC Comics)

• Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, and Shazam! Power of Hope (often called the “Oversized Hardcover” series).

He has also gained recognition for his work on album covers, movie and TV posters, and has won numerous accolades, including multiple Eisner Awards.