Jan Duursema ([1] born October 27, 1954)[2] is an American comics artist known for her work on the Star Wars comics franchise. She is the creator of Denin and Vila from Naldar, the Twi'lek Jedi Aayla Secura and the Kiffar Jedi Quinlan Vos.
Jan Duursema's first published comics work appeared in Heavy Metal vol. 3 #3 (July 1979).[3] She drew several stories for DC Comics' Sgt. Rock title beginning in 1980.[3] With writer Paul Kupperberg
Her association with Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars franchise began with Star Wars: Chewbacca #2 (Feb. 2000).[3] She has since drawn several Star Wars series for Dark Horse including the Star Wars: Darth Maul mini-series in 2000 and the comics adaptation of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones in 2002.[3][9] Duursema and Ostrander collaborated on the Star Wars: Legacy series which was introduced with a #0 issue and ran for 50 issues from June 2006 to August 2010.[3] They launched the Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi series in 2012.
Duursema was the basis for the character Ur-Sema Du.[10]
In 2011 Nike, Inc. commissioned Duursema and fellow comics artist Amanda Conner to create artwork for the Make Yourself: A Super Power advertising campaign.[11]
Duursema received the Russ Manning Outstanding Newcomer Award in 1983.[12]
Duursema is married to fellow comic book artist Tom Mandrake, whom she met while both were students at The Kubert School. Their wedding was held on the school's grounds.[13] The couple have two children: Jack Moses Mandrake[14] and Sian Mandrake,[15] who is also a Kubert School-trained comics illustrator.[16]
