A Coda in Wolfsong

So who killed that wolf?

This is the cover for the final issue of X-23, issue #21, out a couple weeks ago now. And that means it's finally time for me to write this post, the one I've been dreading, because writing it means it's really over. X-23 is all done.

This cover run will go down as one of my favorite assignments. A little bit because of the character --as an X-Men kid, and a Wolverine kid, she's right up my alley, a little bit because I figured some shit out on in my own head during this gig, both about myself as a creator and a professional, but mostly due to the people involved . The team had a rapport and... I want to say synergy here, but I have railed against people who use that word in earnest... Let's just say we had something special here.

And I think it showed in the book, I think we surprised everyone. All involved brought their best to the table, and made me proud to add my small part to something so awesome, you all know who you are.

In particular, though, I need to give some props here to Jeanine Schaefer editor extraordinaire, and the real star of the show Marjorie Liu. And most especially, to Jody Leheup, for commissioning this way back at the beginning, as an inventory cover originally, just so I could scratch my digital painting itch.

Kudos.

An alternate color scheme was explored.

The original sketch. I just started working over this in digital paint. No pencils, no inks.

RAGE

It's the cover for Irredeemable #35, and Plutonian is very very angry. This one was fun, really liberating to just bang away with the pencil.

Earlier, slightly looser version.

She's Back.

Maybe this time she'll stick around...

Cover art from Irredeemable #34, featuring the delightful yet occasionally infuriating Bette Noir.

New Years Kiss in Deep Space

So this one snuck right past me. Still not on top of this whole double shipping thang... But this is the cover to X-23 #19 and it's out now!

Rumour squashing time: Sadly, X-23 as an ongoing series is coming to an end, beloved though it may have been.  The final issue, though, will be #21, not #20 as many seem to believe.

A kiss is not a contract.

But it's very nice, very very nice.

Happy new year Kidlettes! Let's try not to fuck this one up as badly as the last one! Mwah!

Here there be Dragons!

Hey! Wow! It's the cover art to X-23 #18! it's a dragon in Times Square and the Future Foundation kidlets!

 

In other news, only 3 more days left in X-23 month, the month where all X-23 cover art is 20% off! More info here.

Irredeemable

I'm pleased to announce that I'll be the regular cover artist (tag-teaming with the stellar Dan Panosian) on Irredeemable starting with January's issue #33.

The buzz on this book has been strong since the outset, but now that I've caught myself up on the series, I am a bonafide fan and couldn't be prouder to be a part of it.
 

November is X-23 Month!

For the entire month of November all X-23 covers are 20% off. More information here. And examples below!

Adventures in Mutant Babysitting

They MUST have Thor merchandise in the Marvel U, right?

Hey Wow! It's the cover art to X-23 # 17. Conceived to hearken back to certain well-loved teen movie of the 80's.

Hey, Adventures in Babysitting referenced Marvel, so now Marvel is referencing Adventures in Babysitting.

Hakuna Matata.

And apologies and much love to Mr. Drew Struzan.

UNDEADLINE!

...or The Artist Formerly Known as BOMBHEAD!

The real final!

I did some cover art last year for new publisher Kickstart Entertainment (NOT Kickstarter.com, which is what everyone thinks when I say the name.)

This is the first of them, for an OGN originally known as Bombhead! and ultimately released as Deadline! Above is the cover art I submitted, but for reasons too complex to go into here, the book was released with a slightly different look.

So here's the real cover (along with some process shots), this may be the only place you will ever see it, unless Deadline! goes into a second printing...

Pencils!

Inks!

Universe X-23

Apologies for the blog neglect my friends, it's been a whirwind month. I Just got back from NYCC and my head is still spinning. Up top, cover art to X-23 # 16, the culmination of the Future Foundation arc, which is also (cat's out of the bag now...) a Captain Universe arc!

Future Foundation Down

What can X-23 do against this maniacal threat that the combined might of the entire FF failed to? Find out soon-ish in X-23 #15.

Soldier in Repose

So this is my final Soldier Zero cover for the fine people at BOOM! 
 
This isn't our last dance together though. I have a new cover gig with them that I'll be announcing here soon, so stay tuned!

Big Thing

This here is the cover to X-23 #14, part 2 of the FF arc, with amazing interiors by the lovely and talented Phil Noto.

Sometimes, a cover demands a ton of laborious detail to convey its idea (see last month's) resulting in endless windows, bricks, debris, or, ocasionally, French RAGE zombies. But other times, the concept is so simple and elegant it stands on its own, and any additional bells and whistles would only distract.

Luckily, this was one of those.

 

Here's a Mighty Marvel Fun Fact: Did you know the Thing (pictured above) is only 6' tall? I didn't! (Clearly.) According to some cursory research, this means that: Nick Fury, Doctor Strange (!), Gambit, Longshot, Cyclops, Margali (Nightcrawler's adopted mom), Hawkeye, Cable, and the Litterbug, are all taller than the Thing. 

I don't actually know who the Litterbug is. I have never read a comic with him in it. But I do now know he is 5 inches taller than the Thing.

Soldier of Two Worlds

 

This is my penultimate cover for Soldier Zero. I've been neglecting the Soldiers for a while now, no real reason why, so it's time to catch up!

Also, I haven't said it enough lately, thank you for coming and looking at my pictures.

 

Spider-geddon!

Modern: Djurdevic styles!

 Hey, wow! A cover that matches the logo! It's the cover art to X-23 #13 featuring the luckiest character in the Marvel U, the Amazing Spider-man!

He's so lucky that New York is literally crumbling around him. Crumbling into tiny bits, all of which are getting sucked into that terrifying icon looming in the roiling orange sky! Roiling orange skies never portend good things. Lucky things he's lucky!

Classic: Ditko styles!

 There was some debate about what he should be wearing at this pivotal moment, and so I decided to hedge my bets and do both outfits. I am a huge fan of those swanky hex-tastic new FF costumes, but where foreshortening is concerned, you can't beat that webbing grid for really popping a limb!

Which grabs you guys more?

Lots and lots of bricks, and rocks, and window frames, and broken glass and...

The Other Right Hand of Doom

 A while back I was asked to do a Witchblade inventory cover for the good folks at Top Cow. I have now learned that that cover, which you see above, will be used as the San Diego Exclusive variant for Witchblade #146.

I've been a secret fan of Sara Pezzini for a long time. I haven't read a lot of Witchblade comics, but I've always dug the essential concept, and the current run treats Sara the way I always though she should be treated: she's a cop. Sure she's got some vestal endowments, but she's a cop, more Olivia Benson than Jenna Jameson.

The Claw Daddy

Finally. The thing I've wanted since my first real gig at Marvel back in '07, to draw the man himself, Wolverine. And here he is on the cover of X-23 #11.

Believe it or not, it was a bit challenging to get Wolverine on the cover of a Marvel comic, even one he's actually in. I tried so hard to fit him in to the cover for X-23 #10, with sketch after sketch, but editorial wanted something different.

I needn't have fretted though, because the very next month...

The Last Vamp in Paris

A little out of order here, but you can deal, right? This is the cover to X-23 #10, part 1 of the 3 part Paris arc.

These covers are a bit of a tour of the city's landmarks, and this one is set in the catacombs, an elaborate network of tunnels and tombs beneath Paris. In my head: Vampires + Paris = Catacombs. Can you blame me?

X-Men Vs. R.A.I.D.

Red rain falls in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

What happens when X-23's trigger scent is tweaked to effect all humans? Paris goes... goes... errr, what's crazy in French? Fou? Paris goes fou!!!!

Out today, in your favorite Brick n' mortar comic shop: X-23 #12.

A point of possible interest: In addition to the Silver Elvis (not so silver here) and the Peruvian Mandolin Player, this cover also features the mighty Marvel debut of myself and several of my studiomates at the R.A.I.D. Studio in sunny Toronto, Canada.

So step to it reader! It's Where's Waldo O'clock!