The Death of Adulthood

A conceptual illustration for class. I've been listening to/watching/reading a lot of Joseph Campbell lately, which lead to this illustration: the various myths and rituals that our culture(s) have had to demarcate between childhood and adulthood have gone the way of the dodo in our society, with the few cultural milestones of this transition being largely optional. What does it mean, then, to be an adult in a post-industrial society that seeks to keep you a mindless, consuming adolescent?

What I was doing this summer

"Prophet" Cover by Marian Churchland

On "Prophet," you've got Brandon Graham writing and Simon Roy on art. What stood out for you in their pitch?

"I was a fan of Brandon Graham and his work on "King City," and his outline for "Prophet" was fantastic. "Prophet" from the outset will appear to be the biggest departure from the original look and feel of the "Prophet" that myself and Stephen Platt made popular, but it's no less amazing. The storytelling of Graham and Simon Roy is staggering. You can read the book without any word balloons and follow the story effortlessly. The look of the book is reminiscent of Moebius and Geoff Darrow -- it's a gorgeous, European-style graphic novel. Don't sleep on this book. In the original "Prophet" series, John Prophet was awakened from cryo-sleep in a sarcophagus and had to deal with the reality of a brave new world. This new series finds John Prophet awakened from cryo-sleep in a brave new world where he has to deal with a much harsher reality than anything he faced in the original series. "

- Rob Liefeld on the upcoming book that Brandon Graham, Richard Ballermann and myself have been working on this summer. And I can finally talk about it!

Basmachi Fighter, Soviet Conqueror

The final of the Protagonist - the basmachi fighter, looking back over the last chunk of free Central Asia.


The counterpoint to the Basmachi Fighter - his soviet antagonist riding past the ruins of Samarkand.

I tried to make sure the two portraits were connected by similar compositions and approaches to lighting.