A little while back, I was contacted by DC/Vertigo to create the cover for their upcoming Deluxe Edition of Fables. I have picked up the series at Volume #9 (where James Jean left off), and will hopefully continue to work on these graphic novels on for the foreseeable future.
Because this cover is for a compilation of issues, and not just a single issue, we wanted to capture a LOT of different aspects of the story.
Below are some of the thumbnails showing other possibilities.
Ultimately, the AD decided to go with a combination of the sketches, and asked for me to show Boy Blue prominently in the foreground, as he is the main protagonist of this particular story arc.
The changes posed a few problems, because I had initially planned on giving Boy Blue a much more dramatic cape and using it as a framing element. But now that he was in the foreground, a big flowing cape would have covered up too much of the composition. I had to settle on a more heroic (and somewhat more static) pose to pull it off.
The final image is acrylic and oils on board, and is approximately, 20×30 inches.
Fables Deluxe Edition #9 will go on sale October 7th.
Dan this whole thing just blows my head off. Really tremendous work, especially in juggling such an intricate composition. You don't lose one wisp of energy to including so many details and bits. Great work, brother.