The Self-Absorbing Man

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 436

2026-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

HELLO DARKNESS #25. 2026. Photoshop, 4125 × 6263 px.

What's this? Two Wacky Reference Wednesdays in a row? Have I come out of retirement? Was I ever in it?

As I look back over my records and files, I realize that I only did a reference post on the #4 cover, so I guess that's as good an excuse as any to go through the rest of the batch in the coming weeks (or years). You can see the rest of the covers here on the blog.

Yes, son, I took your magnet blocks. No son, you can't play with my dolls.

Below you can see how I started things out. I seem to remember having this idea early on, but it never made it into the first round. Not pictured is a ton of reference of half-naked showgirls, all in the name of research, I swear. When it comes to costumes, the most helpful is often Etsy, eBay, and specialty stores, where people post great pics of things they're trying to sell.

I still have lots of other variations on the "turning out the lights" theme, so hopefully I get another chance down the line.

digital sketches in Photoshop

detail

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 435

2026-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

The figure is the 1:12 scale TBLeague TM01A, in case you're curious.

At long last, the day is finally here. Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is out!

Can you believe it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

When my editor floated the idea of working with John Romita, Jr., it was an instant "yes," as I'm a huge fan, but I was worried I couldn't hit the deadline. Half a year later, I realize I needn't have worried. At the time, though, things were tight.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000. 2026. Pencils by John Romita, Jr.
Gouache, watercolor, & acrylic on illustration board, 11 × 17″.

I got the email in March, started in April, and had to finish it before I flew to Italy for the Lake Como Comic Art Festival. Technically, the original art still isn't finished, as I had to do the final touches in Photoshop, but it's pretty close. You can see the raw scan near the end of the post.

JRJR's pencils

Then things got weird. And internet-y. I shan't go into the details, but let's just say this cover made the rounds. Videos were made. People started doing their own versions. Could Marvel have done a better job communicating what happened with the solicitations? Probably. But I know from experience that's it's crazy just getting a single comic done, let alone cat-herding an entire company of creatives across an entire line of books.

digital color study of JRJR's pencils

At the end of the day, I got to work with a true comic art legend, not to mention a man of utmost dignity and grace. Painting the piece also unlocked a memory: the first time I ever saw JRJR's art wasn't on a floppy comic — it was the Marvel Comics Tryout Book. This was a gorgeous, 11x17 bible, too thick to bag and board, too tall to fit on any shelf. My Dad most likely bought it for himself, and he kept it where there was room, to the side of his roll-top desk. Neither of us ever built up the courage to color, ink, or pencil on the bristol board pages, but the assembly line breakdown showed me something important from an early age. Comics is collaboration, and it's often a family affair.

It's always an honor to work on a Spider-Man book of any number, and I consider myself unreasonably lucky to be part of the Spider-Verse.

the original painting as it stands today

detail of scan

Operation: ALIENS

2026-02-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

OPERATION: ALIENS - GORILLA ALIEN. 2026.
Gouache, watercolor, & acrylic on illustration board, 14 × 11″.

This piece wasn't for anything but my own entertainment. It's based on the line of Kenner toys from the 90s.

digital pencils and color study

digital layout

YFNSM: Spider-Man Webbing

2025-10-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

YFNSM: Spider-Man Webbing. 2021. Photoshop, 6400 × 3600 px.

I always meant to add these to the blog, but never seemed to find the time. I wouldn't exactly say that I have the time now, but my personal embarrassment has exceeded my devotion to deadlines. These are just some of the many designs I made for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, a wonderful show that was a pleasure to work on, but is always a slog to type.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 434

2025-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

SPIDER-MAN '67 PIN-UP. 2024.
Gouache, watercolor, ink, & acrylic on illustration board, 13 × 19″.

Listen, bud... He's got radioactive blood

digital layouts

digital color study

digital pencils

Hellboy 1953 Studies

2025-10-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

HELLBOY 1953 STUDIES. 2015.
Pencil, ink, & watercolor on bristol board, 17 × 11″.

Hellboy & Buddy Studies

2025-10-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

HELLBOY & BUDDY STUDIES. 2016.
Pencil, ink, & watercolor on bristol board, 17 × 11″.

Bizarro Studies

2025-10-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

BIZARRO STUDIES. 2023.
Pencil, ink, & watercolor on bristol board, 17 × 11″.

X-Men '97

2025-10-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

X-Men Line-Up. 2021.
Photoshop, 6400 × 3600 px.

For a very brief 3 weeks in 2021, I got to work on the X-Men '97 show. I loved every minute of it. Most of the heavy lifting had been done by the core team, so I don't think I ultimately contributed much, but man did I have fun. Can't wait for season 2!

Magneto / Erik Lehnsherr Costume Options. 2021.
Photoshop, 6400 × 3600 px.

Jean Grey Costume Update. 2021.
Photoshop, 6400 × 3600 px.

Sentinel Color Schemes. 2021.
Photoshop, 6400 × 3600 px.

Morph / Kevin Sydney Costume Options. 2021.
Photoshop, 6400 × 3600 px.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 433

2025-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

MADI Trade Cover. 2025. Photoshop, 4125 × 6263 px.

As usual, I'm far behind in keeping this blog up to date, but I'm still committed to the dream of 2007. Come to think of it, this blog is finally old enough to vote! Or go to prison. You never know these days.

The good news is, I've got another cover ~~coming out~~ that's already out. It was an honor to be a part of such a monumental collection of talent, and it was just my kind of sci-fi thriller.

Originally funded via Kickstarter, it's now a trade paperback collection. And don't let the "various artists" credit fool you — it's basically a list of my favorite creators. You can find out more about it at Image Comics.

I miss my beard 😭

digital pencils

digital layouts and color study

I'm Not Daredevil

2025-09-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'M NOT DAREDEVIL. 2025.
Ink & watercolor on illustration board, 9 × 12″.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 432

2025-04-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

ALIENS VS. AVENGERS #3 Variant Cover. 2024.
Gouache, watercolor, acrylic on illustration board, 11 × 17″.

Do you remember Wacky Reference Wednesday? I do. This book is already out, but the cover was a great excuse to buy an Alien toy. I'm withholding one of my sketches in the vain hope that I'll make it happen on my own one day. My editor loved it, but it got nixed in the course of studio approvals. Oh, well!

Godzilla vs. X-Men

2025-04-03T23:23:00.000-07:00

GODZILLA VS. X-MEN #1 (variant cover). 2025.
Ink on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

original inks with Acryla Gouache

digital pencils

Splash Page Spotlight

2025-03-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #577, Page 15. 2008. Ink on bristol board, 11 × 17″.

My art rep, Mark Hay, has just introduced a new sister site called Splash Page Spotlight to highlight new releases and upcoming events. You can find my own feature page here. The classic site still works, of course, and you can find my entire catalog here.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #577, Page 5.
2008. Ink on bristol board, 11 × 17″.

Red Hulk

2025-03-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

RED HULK. 2025. Ink & watercolor on illustration board, 5 × 7″.

Joseph Manuel Rivera, 1953-2024

2024-12-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

I keep trying to make this not about me. But it's just not possible.

I'm in Daytona Beach in my childhood home. When I open the top drawer of his steel tool chest, he's got the same odd collection as mine. A shipping scale. Packing tape. White gloves for handling art. Batteries and chargers. A digital multimeter. Coins we will never, ever use.

And we haven't even gotten to the drawing board.

Maybe this is a common thing, but I kind of doubt it — at least not to this degree. If you knew me, whether through work or personal life, then you knew him. We were a team, and had been for as long as I can remember. He caught me when I peed on the doctor that delivered me. He was there when Joe Quesada gave me a job (Mom too).

He died early Wednesday morning, but I couldn't manage to write this until today. (My apologies to those I wasn't able to tell in advance of this post — I'm still a wreck.) I was able to fly home to see him one last time, thank goodness. He was still himself. Even on his hospital bed, he was so happy that the Assad regime fell. We both thought we had more time.

There's more to be said, but I just needed to share this without more delay. I still have my Mom. I still have his artwork. I still have his craft. I'm so thankful I had him for as long as I did. I just wish my kids had more time with "JoJo" — he was truly an amazing grandfather, and breaking the news to them was by far the hardest part.

Goodbye, Dad. I love you (and you knew that) and we both knew how lucky we were. We traced the same lines.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 431

2024-12-04T11:28:00.004-08:00

HELLO DARKNESS #4. 2024. Photoshop, 4125 × 6263 px.

This cover already came out, but I thought I'd share the rather racy reference for it. I should also mention that I'll have prints of this series for sale in my shop. The first of the limited edition prints is available now, with more on the way. I have a new printer as well (an Epson P900), which means I can do poster size!

TMNT 2024 No. 4

2024-11-25T06:00:00.003-08:00

TMNT #4 (1:100 variant cover). 2024.
Gouache & watercolor on illustration board, 11 × 17″.

It's not even out yet, but I'm already seeing this one go for over $100 on eBay! (You can find full details on the issue at Previews World.) I hope to have some comp copies to sell, but I'm not sure how many just yet. The good news is, it'll be out in time for Thanksgiving... and it looks like pizza is on the menu :)

Hello Darkness No. 5

2024-11-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

HELLO DARKNESS #3. 2024. Photoshop, 4125 × 6263 px.

This one will be out just in time for Thanksgiving. Full details at Previews World.

BATMAN '89: Echoes No. 6

2024-11-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

BATMAN '89: Echoes #6 COVER. 2024. Pencils by Joe Quinones.
Gouache, watercolor, acrylic on illustration board, 11 × 17″.

This series has been a bit delayed, but that gave me the extra time I needed to collaborate with Joe on another cover Batman '89 cover. And thank goodness! This piece was a joy to paint. (It's not even a variant cover, so it won't be impossible to find, or insanely expensive.) Should be in shops by February, but I'll remind folks when the time comes.

digital pencils by Joe Quinones

raw scan of original art

Comic Art LIVE, Fall 2024

2024-11-14T22:16:00.001-08:00

SENTINEL. 2024. Ink, watercolor, & acrylic on illustration board, 5 × 7″.

It's that time of year again — Comic Art Live is happening this weekend! My live stream will be Sunday, November 17 from 10-11 a.m. (Pacific Time). As always, my art rep, Mark Hay of Splash Page Comic Art, will be auctioning off original art during the show.

We'll have a handful of 4x6" head shots, and a 5x7" Sentinel, pictured above. We may be offering some future commission spots as well, but I'll leave it up to Mark to decide on final details. You can watch the whole thing via YouTube. Hope to see you there!

Something Old, Something New

2024-08-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #641 COVER. 2010.
Gouache and acrylic on bristol board, 11 × 17″.

I had a bit of recent luck that was too good not share. Over a year ago, I released the cover to Amazing Spider-Man #641 and Mark Hay, my original art representative, put it up for auction. The piece sold, it was paid for, packed up, and everyone was happy... until the package didn't arrive.

Mark broke the news to me as softly as he could. Softening was helped by the fact that it was fully-insured. But while I still received payment, I would much prefer my precious babies in a collection, than lost in the Negative Zone.

One year later, almost to the day, Mark called me with the news: FedEx had found the art! He waited until he had it in hand to tell me, and I waited to announce it until the collector (finally) had it in his hands.

Huge thanks to the collector for his support, patience, and understanding. FedEx, you put our 3 hearts through the wringer, but I can't thank you enough for pulling through in the end. And, of course, thank you to Mark for taking care of a less-than-ideal situation. (Glad you got your deductible back :)

Splash Page Comic Art

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 107

Hello Darkness No. 4

2024-07-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

HELLO DARKNESS #4. 2024. Photoshop, 4125 × 6263 px.

In shops just in time for Halloween! Full details at Previews World.

Green Goblin Commission

2024-07-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

GREEN GOBLIN. 2024.
Ink & watercolor on illustration board, 11 × 14″.

Wacky Reference Wednesdays, No. 430

2024-07-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

SCARLETT #2 Cover D (1:25 Incentive). 2024.
Gouache & acrylic on illustration board
(w/ digital edits, background by Hector Garrido), 11 × 17″.

Believe it or not, I've got a fresh Wacky Reference Wednesday! Maybe I'll make it to #500 after all? If you feel like treating yourself to something special, why not pick up this variant cover? It's out today! Full details at Image Comics, and here's my previous post with the finished art.

original art detail

original art

digital pencils

digital layouts