Anatomy of a Cover: Kid Phantom #1

Final low res cover mock up, announced by Frew last week (via Facebook)

From go to whoa- The wraparound cover for Kid Phantom #1, due out via Frew Publications in 2017.  This was actually the last thumbnail cover idea, with the other half a dozen being a single front cover design. But then, seeing as though many of Frew's other Phantom comics tend to have the wraparound, I scribbled up this idea, based on event in the first issue. 

The designs were inspired by memories of great covers and wraparound covers from John Romita Jr., such as his "Daredevil: Man without Fear" 90s mini-series/graphic novel with Frank Miller (tiny figures from story element, big background title character taking up the majority of space) and the Wraparound from memory that I also loved, from his 'Wolverine: Enemy of the State' part 1 (#25 of the Marvel Knights series? Can't remember the issue number, but the cover stands out, almost a callback to John Buscema's Wolverine #1 cover, standing on the pile of beaten bad guys) with Mark Millar as writer. Again, large element/title character from story, tiny figures that feature in story. 

For con season, if time permits, I'd like to do a WIP sketchbook, for "scholars review". Maybe. Anyways. Gotta run, Cheers!

Thumbnail: about A5

scribbly pencil roughs

Inked and pencils removed digitally in Photoshop

Colour Flats, and colour holds on various lines: Mainly clouds and smoke.

Some mild rendering

Cat out of the bag aka: Why I don't sleep: KID PHANTOM

 Will do a process book for the cons, and chat more about this later (under the pump, might be grading for my 4th degree black Belt in a day or so), so those keen on development of this series and concept sketches can suss out in full glory.

So stoked to be involved with this character, considering he was the one who got me into reading comics when I was in primary school, and influenced the Soldier Legacy greatly. Full circle, if you will. Think of this as 'Untold tales of Spider-man'- Phantom-style :D
And stoked to be working with my good friend, the super talented writer Andrew Constant (Torn, Broken Line, Fly (Gestalt), DC Comics) from issue 2. 81 years of the Phantom, and still going strong, thanks to Frew, and its a thrill to be onboard.

 Huge thanks to Chris Sequeira, Glenn Ford, Henriquez, and for their support: my ever patient partner Amanda, Mum, Dad, my sister, Robyn and Jeff Bacchi, Brad Mengel, Baden Kirgan, Rand and Carissa, Doug and Aly, Stewart and Wendy, Nicola Scott, Andrew Constant, And Spark, Paul Cleveland, Peter Moyes, Wolfgang Bylsma, Christian Read, Dean Rankine, Mark Sexton, Tom Taylor and Zoran Illievski.