Cover Story.

The first image is the cover to Wrestler Zero #1 and the second is the initial concept sketch. Generally, there are three types of comic book covers; one is inspired by a scene within the story, another is the "pin up" cover and yet another is what I call "the symbolic cover". The latter option often incorporates a variety of images from the story as well as elements of the first two cover types. I chose a symbolic cover. As you can see, I made a lot of changes from concept to execution. For example, in the sketch there isn't any action on the cover aside from the fist thrusting out of the grave. I wanted Wrestler Zero to be in a more dynamic pose and I hit upon the idea of him smashing his way (symbolically of course) out of a skull. Since I rely on the contrast between light and shadow pretty heavily it helped me avoid overlapping black on black areas.

I draw directly on the board using H, HB and F pencils. The cover was inked with a Faber Castell Pitt Pen, a Faber Castell Pitt Pen "S" and some Hunt 102 crow quill and a touch of Micron Pigma pen in the 001 size. I usually buy pads of Bristol paper and cut my own boards but recently I've been using a batch of pre cut/ruled boards I picked up at a steep discount. The lettering in the comic and covers was done by hand directly on the board.