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 Pérez.

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.

Batman! Joker! Green Lantern! Dr. Fate! Ice Maidens! More Commissions!

The above commission was a request to have "first appearance" Batman hit the Joker with a large, specific sound effect. "Kablamm!" Done and done! I decided to put off-registered color on the Joker. THAT'S how hard Batman hits!!

I'm a fan of the primitive way superheroes' powers were represented in the Golden Age. So, for the above commission I played it up! I never thought about how Green Lantern's beam might be made of flame. It makes so much sense coming from an old-time lantern.

The ladies above are lesser-known DC characters. I’m not sure if they ever hung out together or not. Apparently most of them were part of the Global Guardians at some point. From top to right-- Fire (or Green Flame), Owlwoman (or Owl-Woman), Godiva, Ice (or Ice Maiden II), and Ice Maiden.

Btw, on all commissions, I now offer a color print, hand-signed, by me "1 of 1." Most pieces are created in black ink on Bristol board, which you receive. I then add digital colors, and make only one print. (You also get the digital file.) If you have commissioned it from me, you're the only person to have a high res print. (I go to a printing service for this, to insure quality.) If you're interested, please shoot me an email at KerryCallenArt@gmail.com.

Animated Merry Christmas, Old Comics Edition

Just goofing around. Happy Holidays!

Art taken form Comic Cavalcade #13, 1945.

1966 DC Comics FOLDEES! Part 1

In 1966, Topps made "Comic Book Foldees." They came with gum and three-panel cards that could be folded to produce ridiculous characters. I recently scoured the internet and found images of all 44 of 'em!

My goal is to now animate them all! They'll just so dang fun! This post kicks off with the first ten--

More to come (when I have the time)...

Super Antics #14

I haven't taken the time to do something purely for fun. So I did!

Should I add tags to my post, so that if people are hunting for things, they can find them? Hourman and Ourman. Atom and At 'Em. There.

War of Light-- 60's Style!

Whew. Been busy or otherwise occupied the last couple of months. If you're a weekly reader, sorry for the gap between updates.

The good folks at Comics Alliance asked if I would create a few mock covers to go with Chris Sim's "Silver Age Remix Comics" writing, and I said, "Sure!" I always enjoy their site. The below Green Lantern art posted a week ago, but I didn't want the tiny rumble of my blog to steal their thunder, so I waited before posting it here. You can read the whole article on CA's site.


I'll do a few more, but, again, I'll wait until they're on CA before posting them here.

Speaking of Green Lantern, he's about to become a well-known character with his movie debut. Here's a very early post of mine examining his name, just in case you know any moviegoers who might question it...

The Greatest Super-Villian Weapon Ever?

I've been watching 1967 cartoons on the DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures DVD. I believe I have stumbled across the most nefarious weapon ever created. It appears in the Green Lantern episode, Sirena, Empress of Evil.

Sirena fires the magnificent Magno-Beam, which is somehow "attuned to Green Lantern's brain waves."

Oh! It also contains a bird.

The bird follows the fired beam directly to Green Lantern's head, knocking them both unconscious.

It's genius in it's simplicity.

Green Lantern victim of bad translation?

I’m actually a fan of Green Lantern, but you have to admit the name is kind of silly. A lantern doesn’t exactly strike awe in the minds of most people. If someone today created a hero named the Blue Flashlight, you probably wouldn’t be too impressed.

I don’t know if it’s ever been addressed in the comic, but since the Green Lanterns are of alien origin, I like to think that the name just didn’t translate well into human terms. It probably sounds really cool in its tongue of origin.

Maybe “Batman” doesn’t translate well in their area of the universe…