On The Cover
Wednesday August 29th 2012, 3:38 pmHere is the cover to Batwoman 14 in various stages. A Western flavored issue…
First up is the rough sketch of the idea for editorial approval.
Then here is the black and white version. I stuck to the sketch composition pretty accurately. I purposefully left the backgrounds without detail as I knew I wanted to have that be completely reliant on color tones and paint textures. Drawing in details there probably would have made it more confusing or cumbersome for that sunset western desert effect I wanted.
Color version by me. This is where the western effect comes into full play. The palette combined with textures in the digital paint were exactly what this piece needed to feel finalized as an idea. Having the only cool tones on the central figure does two things here, one- it puts the focus on him even though he is facing away, second- sells the idea of decay and death as well. And then having the ghostly Medusa figure within his form be the only white creates a secondary pull-in focus. With Batwoman and Wonder Woman being to either side of this and more affected by the palette of the setting allows for there to be a sense of layering, this layering effect is topped off with the design graphics.
Logo version.
16 Comments so far
Leave a comment
This one might be my favorite. Beautiful!
Comment by Scott 08.30.12 @ 3:24 pmHey there Scott
Definitely mine as well, but I tend to feel that way until the next one usually. You’ll have to let me know what you think when I post the cover to 15. The one I’m really excited about is for 17.
Wow … super cool. I love it. Can we look forward to a panel of Kate in a cowboy hat and chaps?
So, does issue zero just kind of plop down in the middle of the new arc and then the wonder woman arc starts back up? Or is WW in issue zero as well?
Yeah, this whole “new” issue zero thing is kind of confusing.
Comment by Pam 08.31.12 @ 5:57 amHey there Pam
Nah, sorry no Kate in chaps I’m afraid. And Wonder Woman is not in the new zero issue, but the narrative fits in with what is going , there references to the current story, and important revelations from the past that will play in the future. Clue: Sisters.
“Clue: Sisters.”
Oh my…can’t wait!
Thanks for sharing the covers – really interesting.
Comment by David Rand 09.02.12 @ 2:17 pmCowboys and Superheroes or Superheroines. Nice
Comment by Gabriel McCann 09.02.12 @ 10:54 pmJH, you are simply the best artist/designer/ creative in the business.
Comment by david hitchcock 09.06.12 @ 5:41 amHello David Hitchcock
Thank you very much, very generous of you to say.
Hi jhw3, any idea will there be a b/w variant cover available for this. I checked the official DC website and no information on it. And keep up the great work, I hope this series get Absolute’d in the near future.
Comment by azman 09.07.12 @ 3:00 amI hope DC someday publishes a “The DC Covers of J.H. WILLIAMS III” table book.
Comment by Said 09.13.12 @ 6:57 pmHey there Said
Now that would be grand wouldn’t it? If you want something like this to happen, may I suggest you write DC and demand it.
Leave a Comment
** Required but not displayed
sweet!
Comment by roussefolle 08.30.12 @ 3:00 am