Showing posts with label Dale Keown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dale Keown. Show all posts

Monday, October 6, 2025

Pitt & Friends finished art by Evan Dorkin

Okay, let's be real. I asked Neal Adams to draw Pitt in the closing hour or so of HeroesCon. To my surprise, he said yes, for the relatively low price (for him, at the time) of $200-250. I got a very rough outline, and I would have paid more for a tighter piece, but I'm still proud to have gotten what I could under the circumstances. I then took it to Evan Dorkin, and asked how he'd like to ink Neal Adams? Not so much, actually, since he didn't feel that he could ape Adams' style, and didn't exactly have the warmest regards toward the man himself. I explained that there wasn't much identifiable as Adams in the sketch, and I certainly wouldn't ask an artist of Dorkin's caliber to mimic another artist. Again, frankly, there were other guys at the show who'd either trained under the heavy hand of Adams or were known for being able to impersonate other artists (hell-- Joe Staton contributed here already, though in his own style.)

We'd already agreed that he would draw the Savage Dragon, and that it would require his taking the piece home. So what we discussed was maybe filling out the space... Specifically, we set down the two main characters, and then toss in a bunch of Isz from The Maxx, plus some foreground/background elements. It took a little time after the show for Dorkin to get started, and then as he worked on it, we talked about adding some additional cameos into the mix. Late in the game, I requested Eric Stephenson & Richard Horie's Infiniti, since she was an obscure early Image heroine co-created by an integral person, who eventually became their current longtime publisher and a partner in the company. I don't think that quite happened, and I'm pretty sure some properties that were eventually sold to DC accidentally ended up in a piece meant to honor those still with Image a quarter century in. But we're also talking about '90s Image b-listers, so they're a tad less than iconic, and I figure some creative coloring could "correct" for that.

Anyway, Dorkin was checking in with me and sending photos of the process. I think I recall his needing some nudging to more or less obliterate what Adams had laid down, but those emails are locked up in an account that Yahoo! isn't allowing me access to without handing over my Social, passport, and their preferred testicle. I'd hate to break up the set for a simple clarification. Eventually, Dorkin absolutely went to town on Pitt, to a degree that I think surpasses his Dragon. It feels like he was trying to exceed the detailing of Pitt's own creator, Dale Keown, and I'm here for it. Pitt went from being questionably salvageable to maybe the coolest bit on Dorkin's already extraordinary build-out of the jam. I hope you enjoyed seeing the progress of Pitt, and if you're so inclined, hit up Dorkin for a piece all your own?

Evan Dorkin
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Sunday, March 28, 2021

2017 Heroes Convention Pitt Jam Sketch by Neal Adams

I believe that by this point, it had already been determined that Evan Dorkin's contribution to the jam would be provided after the convention. I still tried to get in a few quickies like WildStar before turning the piece over, because I still wanted it to be a HeroesCon 2017 piece mearly "finished" after the fact. Despite not being an official Image founder, I felt that Dale Keown came in early and was important enough to rate inclusion. I'd already been refused by indie/self-publishing legends like Jim Steranko and Frank Brunner, so I figured Neal Adams of all people was a huge longshot. No creator came closer to creating an Image Comics before the Marvel Exodus than Adams, one of the most important figures in the history of comics, and easily one of its greatest and most influential artists. Also, while Bernie Wrightson is his most obvious antecedent, Keown's style seemingly owed no small debt to Adams.

Again, we're in the last hour of the show, I see Adams on Pitt as a total Hail Mary, and was frankly shocked when he said yes. Adams drew some of my earliest favorites as a comic book fan, so it was a big deal to get original work from him on short notice at a reasonable rate. He knocked it out while I watched, and admittedly this is a layout at best, but it still pleased me immensely to get something I specifically asked for (and will unlikely ever be replicated) by someone of Adams' stature. Also, frankly, Neal Adams is an intimidating guy with an imposing reputation, so the fact that I also own a Martian Manhunter head sketch and got Adams to agree to a very brief (by design) interview is a source of pride to me. I've had nothing but entertaining experiences with Neal Adams.
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Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Spawnometer 0:0:1:8: PITT 3- In The Blood (1995-1997)

Spawn #18 &
Pitt #½, 9-14 & In The Blood


Listener Discretion Advised

iTunes ⚬ Stitcher ⚬ ShoutEngine ⚬ Internet Archive ⚬ MP3

Spawn #18

by Grant Morrison & Greg Capullo with Art Thibert & Dan Panosian

"Reflections" Part 3
Dedicated To: Dick Ayers
'You gotta watch out for your buddies.' That was the rule.

You think you can hurt me -- Heaven's soldier?

Wanda. I saved it for you.

PITT #9-14 (1995-1997)

by Dale Keown (with Steve Gerber & various)

PITT #½ & PITT, IN THE BLOOD: Oneshot

by Richard Pace

High above the world, in the silence of space, the being known as Jereb, Child of Future Light, bade farewell to the Creed hybrid whose body and mind he shared for so long.

Over twenty-six ground-based armor units and twenty air combat units are being prepped as we speak. We're modifying forty battlesuits for our ground troops. The alpha and beta class psychics' battle gear is also being upgraded... After this battle, there may no longer be a Connecticut.

Ever since you showed up, my whole life sucks!

What kinda school is an electoral college, Grandpa?


Image is Everything

Promotional Material


Spawning Ground



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Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Spawnometer 0:0:1:7: PITT 2- Still Rippin' (1994-1995)

Spawn #17 &
Pitt #5-8


Listener Discretion Advised

iTunes ⚬ Stitcher ⚬ ShoutEngine ⚬ Internet Archive ⚬ MP3

Spawn #17

by Grant Morrison & Greg Capullo

"Reflections" Part 2
Dedicated To: Ross Andru
Just as your new Spawn body is composed of psychoplasm and can change shape, so too can this gateway assume the forms of any thoughts and emotions imprinted upon it.

The soldier is ready. Our Anti-Spawn has been prepared for his first battle.

Just what were Wynn's connections to alleged Youngblood covert operations and all those other sneaky little dirty-tricks outings nobody seems to want to report?

Pitt #5-8 (1994-1995)

by Dale Keown & Brian Hotton

So many questions... and the only one who can answer them... resides within the subconscious of an eight year old boy.

It's the men who attacked the girl. Somebody removed their heads. The girl...?

You... my noseless friend, are coming with us! No if's, and's, or but's... The powers that be, may just go lightly on this particular offense, that is proving you come along peacefully.

I serve NO one! I do not have TIME for this! The boy NEEDS me!


Image is Everything

Promotional Material

  • Mirror/Image: Image is pleased to present a brand-new podcast, Mirror/Image, featuring Image writers and artists reflecting on shared passions with creators from film, music, prose, podcast, and beyond.
  • Deadly Class: The Official Podcast: Rick Remender joins hosts Jackie Jennings and Max Tedaldi for the official podcast of SYFY’s Deadly Class.
  • Defenders Dialogue: Best-selling, award-winning novelists and comic book writers Christopher Golden and Brian Keene rediscover one of their earliest mutual influences — Marvel Comics’ long-running, loony THE DEFENDERS series.

Spawning Ground



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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Spawnometer 0:0:1:6: PITT (1993)

Spawn #16 &
Pitt #0.5-4


Listener Discretion Advised

iTunes ⚬ Stitcher ⚬ ShoutEngine ⚬ Internet Archive ⚬ MP3

Spawn #16

by Grant Morrison & Greg Capullo

"Reflections" Part 1
Dedicated To: Max Gaines
Welcome to Simmonsville, Major Vale. Our very own little piece of Hell on Earth.

And if I'm here, what did they bury in Al Simmons' grave?

Rise up! Be Born Again! Soldier of the Light! Anti-Spawn!

Pitt #1-4 & Extra-Image Presents Pitt (1993)

by Dale Keown & Brian Hotton

The lines were drawn. Destruction of Chakra was imminent. Only one had the power to halt their impending onslaught.

I'm scared Grampa. I wish Mom and Dad were here... I don't think things will ever be the same again.

I AM A CREED HYBRID. A WARRIOR.

you are not at war with this planet, PITT. as a matter of fact, we may end up playing an important role in it's salvation.


Image is Everything

Promotional Material


Spawning Ground



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