Saturday, June 10, 2023

Commissions! Crisis! Vartox! More!

This client's request was for an image of Crisis on Infinite Earths if it happened in the 60’s. I TRIED to keep it all serious, but Golden Age Green Lantern slipped by me a bit. (And yes, I know Supergirl’s skirt was blue during this period, but it looks sooooo much better as red.)

Here's the original 1985 cover by George PΓ©rez.

This one might need a bit of explaining...

In February of 1974, the sci-fi movie ZARDOZ was released, starring Sean Connery.

Towards the end of that same year, DC Comics introduced a character named VARTOX in Superman #281. He looked suspiciously similar to Connery’s character. I received a commission request to draw Vartox in a "Curt Swan" style and invoke the feel of the Zardoz movie poster.

The above image is a commission request that came from a person who created his own characters (when he was much younger) and now collects baseball-card size art of them. I asked if I could draw them in a retro "Marvel Value Stamp" style, and happily, he agreed! He also prints indy comics with these characters. If you're curious, you can see them here.

This one was a birthday present! I tried to write a gag that was occasion appropriate and felt like it came from the 60’s. It's for a collector who routinely commissions Sugar and Spike art for “Issue #100.” The actual S&S series ended at #99. Seems like they could have held on for one more “Special Cancellation Issue!” You can see ALL his Sugar and Spike commissions here.

5 comments:

  1. I always thought Vartox looked ridiculous, as did Sean Connery in that silly movie. I guess that's what it looks like when they give male characters the same type of revealing costume they give to women in comics.

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    1. At least sometimes, comics can make silly costumes look less silly when drawn. Not so with Vartox.

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  2. It's scary how authentic your art looks. In a thousand years historians will find your work and mistake it for authentic works πŸ˜‚✌️

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  3. the giant energy fist from green lantern...

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