Friday, October 21, 2011

Menagerie Viewing: An Art Gallery of Martian Manhunter Rogues

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alexmax
2010 DC Universe Vol.4: Going Solo Lobo
2010 "DCUniverse Vol 6: Supervillians"
2010 "DCUniverse Vol.7: The Injustice Gang" Scorch

Jim Aparo
1991 Who's Who in the DC Universe #13: Starro the Conqueror

Art-bully
2009 "The Ruler" Mongul

Mitch Ballard
2005 "JLA/Avengers:Galactus vrs Brimstone" Commission

Chris Batista
2006 Despero New York Comic Con Sketch

Simon Bisley
1995 Skybox DC Villains: The Dark Judgment Lobo Trading Card #36

J. Bone
2009 Professor Arnold Hugo Sketch

Bové
Who's Who Update '88 Vol.3: Queen Bee

Adam Broglia
2007 Asmodel Convention Sketch

Reilly Brown
2007 Brimstone Wizard World Philadelphia Convention Sketch

Rick Burchett
2004 JLA-Z #3 Vandal Savage Pin-Up

John Byrne
1991 Who's Who in the DC Universe #7: Darkseid's Elite

Travis Charest
1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Card #30

Danielle Corsetto
2007 Despero Convention Sketch

John Delaney
1997 JLA Gallery: Justice League of America vs. Professor Ivo & Amazo

Brian Denham
2011 Bel Juz Commission

Joe Devito
1995 Skybox DC Villains: The Dark Judgment Trading Cards-

Guy Dorian
2010 Triumph Convention Sketch

Dale Eaglesham
JLA Secret Files & Origins #3: White Martians Profile Page (December 2000)

Trevor Von Eeden
1991 Impel DC Comics Cosmic Cards "1992 Series" Despero #130

Franchesco!
1999 Despero Convention Sketch

Dave Gibbons
Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins 2005: Mongul

Patrick Gleason
2009 Sinestro Corps Mongul sketch

Dave Grote Jr.
2009 Despero Headshot

Craig Hamilton
2006 "Magical Lobotomy" color art

John Hanley
1996 Rogues Gallery #1: Mongul

Tony Harris
1995 Skybox DC Villains: The Dark Judgment Vandal Savage Trading Card #76
1995 Skybox DC Villains: The Dark Judgment Lord Havok Trading Card #78

Dean Haspiel
JLA-Z #1 Despero art (November, 2003)

Phil Hester
2011 Mister V Comicpalooza Commission

Don Hillsman II
1997 JLA Gallery featuring Despero
2010 Despero versus the Justice League Personal Sketch Card

Rick Hoberg
1991-92 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #128- Darkseid

Adam Hughes
Who's Who in the DC Universe #2: Despero (September 1990)

IcarusMach9
2010 Custom Despero Frog

Carmine Infantino
1991-92 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #96- Gorilla Grodd

Isucklikehell
2006 "JLA - J'onn J'onzz n Scorch"

Dan Jurgens
1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Card #121: Weapons Master

Kern
2008 Despero Custom Figure

Kiriska
2012 Human Squirrel Comicpalooza Commission

Andy Kuhn
2010 Doctor Trap Comicpalooza Commission
2011 Ma'alefa'ak Comicpalooza Commission by Andy Kuhn

Louie Lapalombara
2009 Despero Wizard World Philly Convention Color Sketch

Greg LaRocque
1991-92 Impel DC Cosmic Cards #110- Vandal Savage

Jeff Lemire
2005 Justice League of America vs. Starro Pin-Up

David Malki!
2010 Marco Xavier Mediocre Convention Sketch
2010 Professor Arnold Hugo Mediocre Convention Sketch

Tom Mandrake
1999 DCU Villains Secret Files & Origins #1: Malefic Profile Page

Isaac Mardis
2011 Mongul Comicpalooza Commission

Paul Maybury
2012 The Devil Men of Pluto Comicpalooza Commission

Marat Mychaels
2010 Commander Blanx Comicpalooza Commission

Mike Nasser/ Michael Netzer
2009 "December of Despero" Pin-Up

Irv Novick
1986 Professor Ivo (Who's Who Vol.XVIII)

Carlos Pacheco
Despero Head Sketch

Bruce Patterson
1990 "Justice League America vs Lobo" Color Commission

Chuck Patton
1985 The Cadre (Who's Who Vol.V)

Nick Pitarra
2011 B'rett Comicpalooza Commission
2011 B'rett Comicpalooza Color Art

Joe Prado
2009 Black Lantern Doctor Light design
2009 Black Lantern Maxwell Lord design

Humberto Ramos
2010 Professor Arnold Hugo Convention Piece

Alex Ross
2006 Gorilla Grodd: From Bruce Wayne's private files in the Batcomputer

Chris Samnee
2007 Silver Age Despero Sketch

Bart Sears
1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Card #124: Despero

Johnny J. Segura III
2012 Professor Arnold Hugo Comicpalooza Commission

Val Semeiks
1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Hologram Hall of Fame DCH13 Lobo Trading Card

Evan “Doc” Shaner
2009 Darkseid
2009 Gorilla Grodd

Sillof
2009 Gaslight Gorilla Grodd Custom Action Figure

John K. Snyder III
1996 Rogues Gallery #1: Darkseid

Steve Stanley
1995 Skybox DC Villains: The Dark Judgment Trading Cards-

Jim Starlin
1986 Who's Who Vol.XVI: Mongul

Nathan Stockman
2009 Triumph Head Shot

Roderick Thornton
2011 Scorch Comicpalooza Commission

Thunderbolts' Customs
Despero Action Figure

Michael Turner
Doctor Light Sketches

Dave Wachter
2010 Gorilla Grodd art

Len Wein
1985 Who's Who Vol.VI: Despero

Joshua Wolf
2010 DCSH 3: Triumph Cubee

Unknown
1989 Mayfair Games DC Heroes Darkseid the Destroyer Character Card

4 comments:

LissBirds said...

What an amazing list, Frank! It's nice to go back and look at some of the commissions you've gotten.

Diabolu Frank said...

I wish they were all mine, but I must admit that I feel the ones that are pretty much represent the best of the lot. I might be a teensy bit biased, of course.

Rafa Rivas said...

How do you get a comission? How expensive is it?

Anyway, one thing that bother's me a bit about the Martian and Green Arrow is that new writers create new villains without investigating his original gallery. The Human Flame gives the sensation that there's nothing to work with. That is why I really like the work you have done with your list.

Diabolu Frank said...

Rafa, there are a bunch of writers whose work I find mediocre, but I would happily have working on characters I care about. They're inoffensive journeymen who at least pin down the basics of a character before telling their adventures without extreme highs or lows. You also have some writers like Geoff Johns who can be relied upon to do their research and think hard about why a character was appealing in the first place. Then you have the auteurs that assume that all things, including continuity, should bend to the will of their dominant vision. I personally am not a big fan of Geoff Johns, but his ability to combine knowledge with creative drive has made him a star. If more writers would just crack open some friggin' reference material and think beyond regurgitating whatever material they're huge fans of, we'd all have better comics.

As for commissions, I've been blessed. I've gotten some great pieces at conventions without ever paying more than $100. My cheapest was literally $1, but the average is $40-$60. However, those are Houston, TX dollars and I choose quality artists over names. For instance, I believe Rob Liefeld was charging at least $40-60 for head sketches the size of a trading card. Also, I've heard people on the coasts paying 50% more than I do here. The great thing about convention pieces is that for good or bad, it's all done in one day/weekend.

The other option is to get commissions through the mail, which can usually be found through artist websites/social networks, commission-specific sites like Comic Art Fans, or dealers. The problem there are scams or artists who take a year+ to actually do the work. Without the guy sitting across a table from you, it's hard to insure you'll actually get a piece or in a timely fashion. It's even worse for you, because then a simple case of U.S. mail fraud become tangled up in international law. Got to weigh the pros and cons.

Anyway, I've had wonderful and gut wrenching experiences with my commissions, so if you decide to give them a try, I can send you a private email about guys I'd recommend or avoid.