Pope, Paul - Heavy Liquid, issue 5, cover (Feb 1999)
Artist: Paul Pope (All)
14 Comments - 289 Views - 18 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThis is the cover to issue #5 of Heavy Liquid, Paul Pope’s five-issue series released from October 1999 to February 2000. The series was collected as a trade paperback in 2001, a hardcover in 2008, and a 20th-anniversary TPB released by Image Comics in 2019. TIME magazine listed Heavy Liquid among the 100 most influential science fiction graphic novels of the decade when it originally debuted in the 2000s.Like many Paul Pope tales, Heavy Liquid is set at the intersection of science fiction, hardboiled crime stories, manga, and cyberpunk. We’re quickly introduced to the character S (short for ‘Stooge’) and his connection to the metallic street compound/drug called ‘heavy liquid.’ S ‘had a real life’ before heavy liquid – military school and a career as a policeman (narcotics, of course). It’s an accidental encounter with heated heavy liquid that changes the trajectory of his life. It becomes all he cares about, and his addiction costs him his career and the love of his life (the renowned artist, Rodan Esperella). Long story short, S gets recruited by a wealthy collector to make an art deal happen. The collector knows of S’ knowledge of the underworld of heavy liquid…and S’ former relationship with Rodan. The collector wants ‘to own a sculpture by the world’s greatest living artist, cast in the world’s rarest metal’—and he knows S can make it happen. So, S goes on the hunt, first looking for Rodan in NYC and eventually finding her in Paris. The problem? It’s not clear which thing in her life Rodan wants less – heavy liquid or S. They were a couple, but she does not wish S in her life because of his heavy liquid usage. To her, it’s a drug, and it's killing him (and it’s revealed she had a traumatic one-and-only experience with the drug herself). She loves S – and does not want to see him kill himself. So, she cuts a deal to work with one (heavy liquid) to shed the other (S). At this point, the story seems simple – as S says at one point, ‘find the girl, lose the girl, get paid, disappear.’ But then we find out what heavy liquid really is and where it comes from. Which is incredibly cool…but I would not want to ruin the story. But, most interestingly, the truth of heavy liquid is represented in the hands at the bottom of this beautiful cover featuring Rodan. Thanks to Simon for allowing me to be its next owner! Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Chris K. 
Member Since 2008
2 - Posted on 7/7/2024
Rick W wrote:
I like the "To Rick" inscription ;)
Sweet page!
It's a great piece to start with, but I agree the 'To Rick' really launches it into the stratosphere ;)
Comic Art Channel
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 7/6/2024
Marvelous! A true jewel. Pope's Batman gets a lot of the love but his personal indie work is where it's really at.
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/7/2024
Classic Pope from his peak era of art and creativity. He was so bold and confident in this inking but still hungry and exploring and all of that comes through in every page from this era.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 7/7/2024
Pope does this cover with earnest confidence that comes across in his brush work! Certain details will just fade and lose importance on the edges while the human connection is cemented in a block.
Joseph Melchior
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 7/7/2024
Now that's something you don't often see. Nice pick up.
Simon M.
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 7/9/2024
Heavy Liquid and 100% got me hooked on Pope. I love his organic raw lines and movement. It's like Kirby...well, nothing like Kirby but maybe like him at the same time, just grown in a different time and given different comics to read and tools to use.
I hope your fantastic write-up of the series means you've since read and fallen for the book. Maybe not as great as 100% but great regardless.
Chris K.
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 7/11/2024
Simon M. wrote:
Heavy Liquid and 100% got me hooked on Pope. I love his organic raw lines and movement. It's like Kirby...well, nothing like Kirby but maybe like him at the same time, just grown in a different time and given different comics to read and tools to use.
I hope your fantastic write-up of the series means you've since read and fallen for the book. Maybe not as great as 100% but great regardless.
Simon! I had not read Heavy Liquid for 25+ years. This cover got me to pick it up and absorb it again. It's rare that a story that I re-encounter much later in life ends up being even better than I remember...but that was certainly the case with Heavy Liquid. What a joy! Thanks again!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/12/2024
What's this--A Paul Pope Heavy Liquid cover!!!?? Chris, I don't know where you found this, but covers like this is are as rare as hen's teeth! I'm a big Paul Pope fan too, and I loved Heavy Liquid, 100%, Batman: Year 100, and even Battling Boy! IMHO Paul Pope is the real deal, a generational talent, and I'm always on the lookout for cool Pope stuff. Congratulations on picking this one up--I'm jealous!
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