There are many Unsung Heroes In the world of entertainment art. Men who are well known to various high powered art directors, men who work with companies on projects most of us will only dream of, yet  no one outside the specialized world we live in will ever hear their name. Don't get us wrong, we don't actually feel sorry for them. The men we're talking about are so talented and high up on the food chain of the entertainment design industry that most of us don't deserve to carry their lunch. It's just galling to us because these master designers and illustrators are not likely to ever generate a huge following of fans, even though (in the following  case, at least) millions have seen and enjoyed their work. They do the job, collect the check and go home. Few people, if any, will ever think twice about it.  But not today. Today the League wants to introduce you to a man whose work we have admired for years and whose advice and guidance played a huge part in the rapid success of Johnny Atomic's career and later the rapid advancement of League Entertainment. Ladies and gentlemen; Mike Conrad.

He is an Officer and a Gentleman. As an artist, a breed known for its eccentricities, Mike is almost unique in his focus and largely unemotional approach to his work. He believes in creativity, good technique and hard work. That's it, that's his secret. A slightly lesser known bit of information is that he was also a West Point graduate and an officer in the U.S. Army. In our opinion, an even stranger fact is that he is completely self taught. With his unusually martial background, it would be easy to assume that he would be aloof or even arrogant. But, in reality, courtesy and graciousness are his hallmarks. He is generous with his time, his invaluable advice and his praise.

"An officer and a Gentleman" only sounds corny if you haven't met Mike Conrad. Clients to die for, with a sharp wit, powerful creativity and professionalism flowing off of him like a cool breeze, it's not surprising that he is sought after by companies like Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Lockheed Martin, Kennedy Space Center and the Orlando Science Center. He has made props for the TV shows Swamp Thing and Fortune Hunter, and was Art Director of the horror classic Oliver Twisted. His illustrations have won many awards at SF and fantasy conventions, where  he occasionally participates as Guest of Honor. You can check out a very brief portfolio on the links section of this website.

It's one thing to say "I designed for Walt Disney World", that's cool and all, but many good designers have, including our own Johnny Atomic. However, to really understand why we hold Mike in such high esteem (and quantify the colossal gap between him and lesser artists), you would have to ask him WHAT he designed for Disney World, and the answer would be…

That's right, he is the only man in history to change the face of the most iconic image in all of Disney's legacy. The 25th Anniversary Birthday Cake Cinderella Castle. We don't care if you loved it or hated it. You didn't get picked to do it… The whole Cinderella thing is just scratching the surface of his career. Whether it's his tight line drawings, masterful paintings or designing a whole f#*king theme park from scratch (which he's done); wherever there is beautifully crafted entertainment, Mike Conrad can't be far behind. All of us here at The League are proud to know him, and now you do too.

Mike Conrad's work can be seen at Radical Concepts, Inc.