Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Eric Powell

Eric Powell — Shmak!

Original Art and The Artists

Goon, Vol. 2, #4 (Albatross), April 2003

Here’s a great Goon splash page from Eric Powell, cool sound effect included.

We’ve previously discussed a tremendous appreciation for Powell’s art, but I also have tremendous respect for him as entrepreneur.

He’s come pretty much full circle recently as he returned to independent publishing after spending many years under the Dark Horse umbrella.

When Eric launched Goon, he published a handful of issues with Avatar, but, dissatisfied with that arrangement, he ultimately independently published the series after a brief try out at Dark Horse that didn’t result in a Goon publishing offer. 

After a few issues, however, Dark Horse realized they had made an error in editorial Judgment, and brought the Goon on board. 

That relationship ended in 2018, and Eric once again, turned to the independent route under his own publishing banner, Albatross.

It takes willpower, discipline and much more to hit your creative deadlines while simultaneously working through the labyrinth of publishing details — production, printing, distribution, etc. But as far as I can tell, Mr. Powell is doing just fine, thank you.

If you ever have a chance to hear him give a marketing presentation for Albatross, don’t pass it up. 

I’ve seen a few, and they range from “just” very funny — to downright hilarious.

For economic reasons, the first printing of this Goon story is in grayscale. Later trade collections feature the Goon Albatross stories in color.
The Goon — From Avatar to Dark Horse to Albatross to Dark Horse and ultimately, back to Albatross, Powell’s own imprint.

Eric Powell — That’s Gotta Hurt

Original Art and The Artists

Will Eisner’s The Spirit # 11, 2016

Concluding our celebration of the 80th anniversary of The Spirit, with additional creators’ takes on the beloved and influential character.

Looks like the Spirit forgot to beware the Ides of March.

Matt Wagner brought the Spirit back to life for Dynamite in 2015 with an ongoing series. Although Matt drew the cover for the first issue, the amazing Eric Powell created many of the rest of the main covers, including this terrific one.

I first discovered The Spirit via the over-sized, black & white reprints from Warren Publications in the mid 70s. I was bowled over by Eisner’s artistry and sophisticated use of sequential narrative but also by the enormous emotional punch these stories seemed to pack into a brief seven pages. Whether it was humor, romance, pathos or irony, I found a depth of character and resonance that seemed to be missing from the mainstream comics of the day. I can honestly say The Spirit changed my perceptions of a comics creator and made me consciously aware of the artistry involved in rendering these tales. I’m a comics artist and writer today because of Will Eisner and The Spirit.

— Matt Wagner, quoted in the Westfield Comics Blog

Kitchen Sink started the tradition of all-star creators working on the Spirit, a tradition that continues today…

Eric Powell — Monster Mash

Original Art and The Artists

Marvel Monsters: Where Monsters Dwell #1, December, 2005

Continuing a two-week series celebrating Halloween with the best in monsters, mystery and mayhem.

Marvel Comics has only recently fully embraced its monstrous heritage; giant creature stories that dominated its publishing line just prior to the “Marvel Age of Comics.” 

When it came to oversized behemoths (home grown or alien) terrorizing Earth’s inhabitants, no one could hold a candle to these giant-size oddballs from 1959 -1963. 

And I do mean odd: Oog, Orrgo, Ulvar, Rombu, Rorrg, Goom —and his offspring Googam (I kid you not) — are only a few of the dozens of beasts, lizards, robots, and aliens that walked the earth. (And of course, our pal Groot from Guardians Galaxy was originally a planet-wrecking alien conqueror way back in 1960.)

Obviously inspired by the pop culture of the day (Godzilla, et al) Stan Lee, along with co- creators Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers Larry Lieber and others, took a monster-sized football and ran with it. 

Eric Powell created all four covers for this series of modern one-shots in 2005, plus he provided interior art for the Devil Dinosaur issue. I’ve shared my thoughts about Eric previously. The creator of the Goon is a terrific talent, and his art style blends reverence and satire perfectly on these covers.

The Where Monsters Dwell issue specifically features three main characters: Bombu, Monstrollo and Manoo. The covers of their original appearances, along with Eric’s three other covers, are shown below.

Eric Powell — Field of Screams

Original Art and The Artists

The Goon, One For The Road (One-Shot), 2014

Imagine if the legendary cartoonist Jack Davis suddenly appeared —as a young man— and promptly joined you on a fantastical adventure.

Eric Powell imagined it, and realized it, in a special one-shot issue of the Goon. When Joe Jackson shows up in your story, you call it “Field of Dreams”. When Jack Davis, one of the all-time great EC horror artists (among many) pops in — I say we call it “Field of Screams.” (Even though the correct title is “Goon One For The Road.” Sue me. I couldn’t resist the pun.)

Davis was easily one of America’s most talented 20th-century illustrators, and one of three main influences Eric cites in his artistic career. See here for a personal story of Powell getting a dream fulfilled by getting Jack to do the cover.

And how great is this page?!?  The gorilla is wearing a friggin’ Prussian war helmet! A helmet!