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Sal Velluto & Bob Almond, Black Panther Cover #41 (unpublished) 2002

Artists: Sal Velluto (Penciller) , Bob Almond (Inker)

5 Comments - 324 Views - 2 Likes

Sal Velluto & Bob Almond, Black Panther Cover #41 (unpublished) 2002 Comic Art

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Additional Images:

detail

colored cover

Cover BP #41

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Artwork Details

Title:	Sal Velluto & Bob Almond, Black Panther Cover #41 (unpublished) 2002
Artist:	Sal Velluto (Penciller)
Artist:	Bob Almond (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	324
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	8/23/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

A very cool BLACK PANTHER unpublished cover with an interesting backstory. This was presented to Marvel by the art team of Sal Velluto and Bob Almond - it was intended to be the cover BLACK PANTHER 41.

Bob Almond told:
�Starting a few months earlier is when Marvel started to follow the policy to not necessarily have covers that represented what was going on in the issue but rather have "iconic" pose images, often by another artist. This is why we didn't get to do the covers for issues 38-40. We were allowed again to do the covers for 41-45 but the prelims offered were more scrutinized. They didn't want retro covers (even if the interiors focused on retro Kirby images). They went with our follow-up for 41.
The prelim for that cover design by my art partner Sal Velluto for Black Panther #41 (2002) was rejected by Marvel. A private client commissioned us to complete it. Since then I have posted it a lot on my website and Facebook. I digitally colored it and it�s been one of the images I make prints of to sign and sell at shows.�

I like that Kirby retro style!

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Joined:	December 2018
Last Login:	August 2025
Country:	Not Specified
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Comments on this Artwork

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Eric B
Member Since 2014

Posted on 8/23/2022

No offense to the published cover, but this one was great! Congrats.

Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

Posted on 8/23/2022

This must have been during the period where Bill Jemas wanted covers to be more like pinups, even if they had no real connection to the story. Regardless, the decision to reject this cover was insane.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 8/24/2022

Look like modern Black Panther figthing his way into the world of the Kirby Black Panther!

Paul P Spiderversity
Member Since 2011

Posted on 8/27/2022

I love that Kirby retro style too. Why couldn't they make this one a variant cover? I mean, these days, it seems like every comic that comes out has two or three (or ten) variant covers, haha. Well, anyway, this is a stellar cover image. Great add!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

Posted on 1/8/2023

So cool seeing this faceoff shot between Velluto Panther and Kirby Panther! And so much other Kirby goodness throughout, including Zanda and some Krackle :) Congrats!

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