Essential Wolverine Cover by John Byrne
Artist: John Byrne (All)
24 Comments - 2,174 Views - 12 Likes
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DescriptionFor a brief shining moment, John Byrne looked like he was going to be the closest thing Marvel had ever had to the second coming of Jack Kirby. He didn't quite get there, but, at the time, he was, hands down, one of the best and most popular artists mainstream American comics had seen in a looooong time.If you read Marvel comics in the late 70's and kept going through most of the 1980s at both Marvel and DC, Byrne continuously worked on some of the most popular comics in the business. With apologies to Jack Kirby and Jim Lee, et al, his run on X-Men remains the singular most influential in the series' history. And you probably know the rest of the bio. Byrne and Terry Austin came to Charlotte for one of the mini-cons Heroes Aren't Hard to Find used to run in the early 1980s. One of the dealers had a splash from the "Dark Phoenix" saga for the princely sum of (if memory serves) $500 (no bartering; take it or leave it). I wanted it, and I wish I had taken out the loan that it would have required at that time as I still must have been in college living off of my self-imposed $20-a-week spending allowance (meals and dorm room were covered in my tuition), but alas, I had other priorities back then. Many years later, after I took the plunge into OA, getting an original piece by John Byrne was high on my wish list. Art from his X-Men and, to a lesser extent, his FF runs were already expensive and hard to find, but, one day, on eBay, Albert Moy posted this. It was described as an "Essential Wolverine Cover." I do not think it was published as I've looked around but have yet to find any comic, TPB; etc. with this image. If memory serves, nobody bit on Albert's auction price (or it didn't meet the reserve or whatever). One reason might have been that he'd gotten it from Jim Warden (it arrived at my door still in Jim's packaging with his return address on it) at what must have been a cheaper price. More experienced collectors than me who knew the existing price ranges decided to pass. Smitten and thinking it would be hard to get a better page at a similar price, I made an offer and Albert accepted. Je nŐai aucun regret (thanks again, Albert; also, pardon my French). While I believe Byrne was at his best during his collaborations with Austin near the end of their X-Men run in the early 80s, I really enjoy Byrne's own, almost savage inking style here. It's like he attacked the precise pencils that he laid down underneath. Christ, he even kept that vibe going on his signature (a nice touch IMO). Moreover, I think this is just a tremendous latter-day image of one of the key characters that helped make him famous. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Derek Muthart
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 8/17/2007
This is BADASS!!! Very rarely does John draw Wolverine with the Miller blade claws. You're a lucky man.
aric shapiro
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 10/1/2007
INCREDIBLE!!!! If you ever want to sell, look me up
Surfer Kid Cosmic
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 4/19/2008
This is a very powerful image, incredible!
Paul Greer
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 10/8/2008
Incredible. I agree the inking style used fits the rough condition of Wolverine himself. Great piece.
Earl Hamilton
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 8/27/2009
I visit this every once in a while to appreciate it and hate you for owning it!!! lol CONGRATS!!
Earl Hamilton
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/12/2011
GAWD!!!! HAD TO STOP BY AND VISIT THIS PIECE AGAIN!! :)
Jonathan Mueller 
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 10/28/2011
Lovely battle worn Wolvie... love that look in his eyes! Usually I much prefer Austin's inks on Byrne; but I love what he did with this piece!
Marvelman Excelsior
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 11/16/2012
Love it - prime Wolverine! The gutsy shadow-work on this piece really gives it a powerful punch!
Rick W
Member Since 2017
2 - Posted on 7/26/2020
A dark and dangerous looking Wolverine you have there. Looks like Byrne was scratching an itch on this masterpiece!
Bob Diamond
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 8/28/2020
Love the inking on this piece, very unique and full of manic energy. Just awesome, and I'm sure I don't have to say this, a keeper!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 2/7/2023
Fabulous Wolverine Sketch cover by the amazing John Byrne! Wolvie looks totally badass on this sketch!
Joe Murray
Member Since 2006
2 - Posted on 3/13/2025
Wow, from the katana klaws, to the battle wear & savage image, this is awesome, big congrats!!
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