Monday 7 December 2009

Cover: 2000AD Prog 1665

Tharg is being very good to me at the minute - he's given me plenty of lovely covers to do and here's the latest cover for Prog 1665: (Sinister Dexter) "The Deadliest Duo":


It was great fun working on this one as it's a step away from the explosions and gritted teeth that usually appear in my work. Also, I love the way there are no header/ footer bars on this, the image just bleeds off the page - luvverly bit of design, Tharg!

As always it starts with a sketch:


Then my wife took a few reference photos with me 'in costume' holding various plastic toy gun props - hey, no sniggering at the back!:


Then I painted up the final version, paying close attention to their expressions, I wanted them to look like they'd just stepped out of a futuristic/ cop/ buddy/ hitmen film ( a sort of Beverly Hills Cop meets Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer):


Here's a little fact, fact fans... Dan Abnett, the writer of Sinister Dexter, is also one of the fantastic writers for the Horus Heresy series, of which I do the covers - Oh, and did I mention that Dan is an AWESOME chap!

The great thing about 2000AD covers is the quick turnaround - you do the illustration, next few weeks it's in the shops - sorted!

6 comments:

FQP Dave said...

Hey Neil, you want to get yourself a copy of this months Megazine as well. You'll be glad if you do!

Neil Roberts said...

Cheers, Dave - so I hear!! Maybe another blogpost is on it's way soon...

Jamie Bury said...

Great stuff Neil, Dans stuff is probably my favourites from the horus series as well :D

Tony Jackson said...

Nice work once again ... I've given Damon a couple of copies of 2000ad to bring with him tomorrow ... hoping you'll scrawl you name on the me... I will then of course sell them ...

Not really ... I will of course treasure them, show them to my grand kids ... one day.

Aidan said...

i can't keep up - good work!

Unknown said...

This looks great Neil!