Spider-Man and MJ's Upside Down Kiss!

I have some new art up on ebay! It includes the above print AND the original art. They could both be yours! Check it out here!

Btw, Spider-Man kissing Mary Jane wasn't the first upside-down superhero kiss. Check out my older blog post from 2009.

Kirby Self Portrait. Now with color!

I adore this self-portrait of Jack Kirby (with inks by Joe Sinnott), which I recently saw online. I couldn't stop myself from coloring it! (I didn't try very hard to stop.)

Here's the original--

There's so many things to love about it-- A smiling Jack Kirby, a laughing Ben Grimm (aka The Thing), plus Dr. Doom and the Red Skull being wacky villains. So great!

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I've gotten behind on posting new work. The good thing about that is I can share this Scarlet Witch (done in 2023) and the Vision companion piece (done in 2024) together! Both requested by the same person. I'm told they share a wall space.

Next, the Metal Men! I crack myself up by putting Tin in a super-serious Iron Man/superhero pose, with a crinkled fist. Black ink on Bristol board, plus digital color and signed print.

It's always interesting when a person enjoys a TV show or movie and sends me a commission request to turn it into a fake comic cover. In the case, Killing Eve!

The next commission reminds me of a political cartoon. If you don't know the history of the name "Captain Marvel," just know the name became in Public Domain in the 60's. Previously owned by Fawett/DC, Marvel snatched it up. This saddened readers who had an attachment to the Golden Age character from the 40's-50's.

I'm not an expert on the subject. I merely drew the commission requested by a Golden Age fan. (And yes, the "Circle C" technically should have been a "TM." It's a bit of an oops, but I like this visual better.)

JSA Deja Vu! A few months ago, I completed a commission based on an All Star cover (seen here), with Wonder Woman added. I then received a different request to remove WW and add Wildcat. It also has a different logo and a few other minor tweaks. I completely redrew/recolored it.

Commissions! Cartoons Addition!

 OMIGOSH! I've gotten waaaay behind on posting my commissions here. I'll catch up soon!

Here's a post I started last October. Yikes!

Quick background on this first one-- When Peter Parker first met Mary Jane in Amazing Spider-Man #42 (1966), it quickly became a very famous panel. But com'on... she's no Olive Oyl!

The person requesting this next commission planned to attend a convention and meet the voice actors for Firestar (from Spider-Man & his Amazing Friends) and Sheila the Thief (from Dungeons & Dragons). It looks a bit empty here, but it won't once it's signed. I wanted the signatures to be the stars!

The person who requested it was kind enough to post a signed version. (Sorry, low res.)

In the 70's, Spectre had a comic series where he punished criminals with appropriate, bizarre deaths. The person requesting this latest commission wanted Halo (from my Halo & Sprocket series) to be looking on disapprovingly. Ha ha! Odd, but fun to do!

This last one was based on a real person-- Captain Karate! He had already had a cartoon version of himself commissioned, which I'll post below my art. Fun piece!

Commissions! Avengers! Spider-Man! Harley Quinn! More!

First up-- The Avengers! This commission was for me to draw the iconic scene from the first Avengers movie into a comic panel, but using 60's characters. I tried a grey Iron Man and a grey Hulk, but they disappeared into the background too much. I'm fairly sure Tony couldn't look up in that outfit. I had to lean him back. 😋 Here's a frame from The Avengers movie.

Next, a horizontal version of All-Star Comics #4, with three more characters added. I had to do some rearranging! If you think Flash runs funny, I just assumed he could speed-walk and still beat everyone!

A few weeks later, that commission lead to another version, this time with Wildcat instead of Wonder Woman. It also has a different logo and a few other minor tweaks. I completely redrew/recolored it!

I originally drew the following Spider-Man in a sketchbook, in black ink only. I thought it would be fun to spiffy it up and give it a color treatment. 

It is, of course, based on Amazing Fantasy #15.

Oh No! That reminds me-- I never posted this poster I did for a local comic convention! Dang. It's already come and gone. I was there. It was fun!

Next, I was asked to merely draw Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. The situation was left up to me. I might have gotten a little carried away with roses.

Here's a commission of Golden Age Wildcat. As I was drawing it, I mentioned to my wife I’ve never quite understood the flappy things hanging down from his mask. She replied, "Oh, it’s like a bobcat." Ah. Bobcats DO have them. I guess it was the black costume throwing me. On a different note, I’m not sure how I neglected to draw pants on the bad guy. Insert your own story here.

Finally, a little-seen E-Man Annual printed by DC Comics, OR my latest commissioned artwork? YOU decide!

Four Really Unrelated Commissions!

First up, a commission of Ma Hunkel in her superhero identity, Red Tornado! I drew this one in my own natural style. (With a tip of the hat to Sheldon Mayer.) It's a sweet spot for me, a Golden Age character that's slightly cartoon-y.

And for something totally different--

Apparently there was a scandal during a chili cook-off involving store-bought chili. I was sent photos of the people involved and now it's a Cable #3 cover parody! Ha ha! Original--

The following commission was a request for Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. In an attempt for give it my own spin, I asked if I could include the original Doom Patrol (or should we say "Doomed Patrol"). Happily the answer was yes! I first discovered comic books as a 5 year-old in a barber shop-- Metamorpho, Metal Men, and Doom Patrol. (Hmm. Probably all the titles that didn't sell at the dime store. They were coverless.) I didn't put any jokes in this one. (Unless you consider walking on sand in high heels funny.) For those who don't know, the Doom Patrol was killed in 1968 when their book was canceled.

And lastly, another left turn-- Rick & Morty run through Halo & Sprocket's world! I was surprised that Rick, Morty, and Sprocket all have the same kind of feet.

I have another H&S commission coming up soon, mixed with a "realistic" character. It should be fun!

If you've never read my Halo and Sprocket comics, you really should. It's some of my most thoughtful work. Available here!

Captain America vs Batman, by Jack Kirby

Sometimes I see pencils by Jack Kirby and I have to ink and color them. I HAVE TO!! I've inked Kirby a couple of times for fun and always stuck exactly to his pencils. But, this time I took tiny little liberties that I felt spiffied it up, such as with Cap's shield. Here's his original pencils--

More commissions

The requestor asked for this situation with Cyclops and Wolverine. I asked if I could add Nightcrawler. He's my favorite X-Man, but I don't think I've ever drawn him! This was a treat because I also drew it in my own style, instead of mimicking a Golden Age look. Black ink on Bristol board + digital colors.

At first glance, you may think I've already posted this one. But, it's actually based on a previous commission, with the characters switched! Black ink on bristol board + digital colors.

Wolverine. No! John Brown!

I just finished promotional art for the FREE STATE COMICON in Lawrence, KS. The old man is John Brown, an abolitionist from the 1800's. He's famous in Kansas and is the con's "mascot" of sorts. I based the poster on the Wolverine #1 cover by Frank Miller and Josef Rubinstein.

If you'd like to see more of John Brown on convention posters over the years, here's a fun gallery the convention has put together!

(Doctor) Strange Going-Ons

I recently saw some really cool Dr. Strange pencils by Marie Severin. I couldn't resist inking it and adding color! I feel she's underappreciated as a Marvel artist in the 60's and 70's. Here's her original pencils. (Btw, it looks like a watermark might have been removed from it. Not my doing.)

Daredevil comic page by Gil Kane. Mostly

On the internet, I recently came across an image of an unused, penciled, Daredevil page by the great Gil Kane. Kane is one of my all-time favorite comic artists. So, I decided to ink it just for fun!

Then I thought, "Well, if I've inked it, I might as well add dialog to match the action." I'm certain what I've written is pretty much exactly what the real author would have written. At that point, I had no choice but to also color it. 😊

Here's the original Gil Kane image. Created around 1975.

Jack Kirby never drew Wolverine. Or did he?

This certainly looks like an old 60's panel of Wolverine. Perhaps he first appeared in an old Ka-Zar story?

Okay, okay-- I drew it, I can never fool you guys.

It's based on a Black Panther panel from Fantastic Four Annual #5.

The Origin of SPIDERY-MAN!

I was lucky enough to create original content for MAD Magazine until they went to mostly reprints the last year or so. I enjoyed all of it, but one of my favorite pieces was this 3-page parody I wrote and drew of Spider-Man's origin.

Batman is often shown as a bat-shape in the comics, The first panel of my story is supposed to be "Spidery-Man" in a spider-shape. Not sure if it's obvious or not.

I didn't try to create an exact copy of Steve Ditko's art style. Instead, I drew in my own style as if it was heavily influenced by Ditko.

I thought it was a bit ironic that Marvel was known for their monster stories in the early 60's, but the radiated spider in Spider-Man's origin didn't turn into anything horrible.

Originally, I had a different last page written. Uncle "Ken" was at the wrestling ring where Spidery-Man fought. Uncle Ken lost all his money, betting on the wrong guy, and had a heart attack and died. "P. P. Poker" takes the money he won and skipped town to avoid all responsibility. It was fine, but this new one occurred to me and I like it much better.

Oh! The issue (MAD #3, 2018) also had a "cover" to this story.