T!M. Finney :: The Shakespeare Project Commissions Act I

Iron Man in Hamlet by Rubinstein

11 Comments - 1,628 Views - 2 Likes

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Prelims for Green Lantern/Othello

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Prelims for Tony Stark as Hamlet

Artwork Details

Title:	Iron Man in Hamlet by Rubinstein
Artist:	Joe Rubinstein (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,628
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	11
Added to Site:	10/29/2010
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This scene, as familiar as many people think it is, takes quite a bit of explanation. It's Act V, Scene I and Hamlet (who is believed to be mad and to have been sent to England by his regicidal uncle/step-father, King Claudius) and his only confidant, Horatio (here portrayed, respectively, by a melancholy Tony Stark and Rhodey/War Machine), are walking through a graveyard and come across a gravedigger going about his business. Hamlet asks the gravedigger whose grave he digs, and the gravedigger will only tell him that it is for one "that was a woman."

The gravedigger, who does not recognize Hamlet as the prince, tells him that he has been a gravedigger since King Hamlet defeated the elder Fortinbras in battle, the very day on which young Prince Hamlet was born. Hamlet picks up a skull, and the gravedigger tells him that the skull belonged to Yorick, King Hamlet�s jester (here portrayed by the head of Ultron). Alas, Hamlet tells Horatio that, as a child, he knew Yorick well and that he is appalled at the sight of the skull, realizing that all men, even great men, will eventually become dust.

However, what will happen when he learns that the coming funeral procession is for his one-time lover, Ophelia, who, in previous acts, he has cruelly spurned, called a whore and whose father he accidentally killed? Also, looming over him is the final fate of his uncle and mother (the king and queen, portrayed here by Iron Monger and Jocasta).

What, do you expect, a happy ending?

FYI
This commission, which took on the form of one of the old Marvel "floating head covers," is by Joe Rubinstein. Joe did several prelims for this commission before we arrived at its final form. I probably had more input into this one than all the other commissions to date, but Joe was the driving force from its conception. (If you want to know how this commission came about, you can see more in the "Prelims for Tony Stark as Hamlet" entry in this gallery.)

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About the Owner

	Timothy Finney
Joined:	August 2006
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	JAPAN
On CAF:	Timothy's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Romain Verlier
Member Since 2009

Posted on 10/29/2010

Excellent commission piece !!!!! Glad you got yours all the way to Japan mine isn't coming at all ................actually he hasn't done it yet and Man have I been waiting........ Resuming a Shakespear is an impossible task still you've done it !!!! Greetings !!!!!!!!

Kimberly Smith
Member Since 2009

Posted on 10/29/2010

OMG, this is awesome! I love creative commissions. This is one of the best I've seen. Congrats!

Josh G.
Member Since 2008

Posted on 10/29/2010

great JOCASTA!

Marvel Two-in-One Guy
Member Since 2003

Posted on 10/29/2010

Beauty.

Ken Fries
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/29/2010

Another winner in your excellent commission series, Tim. I always look forward to seeing the next installment. What artists are coming up in the future? I can think of a couple here on CAF that would be pretty good for this. Keep 'em comin'!

Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/29/2010

Ken Fries wrote:

What artists are coming up in the future? I can think of a couple here on CAF that would be pretty good for this.

I'm always looking for suggestions. Please drop me a line.

Michael One Minute Later
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/2/2010

An inspired choice of play, scene and characters fully realized by Joe's gorgeous artwork. My helm is off to you Sir.

Yoshi M. (REP. Japan Comic Art Expo)
Member Since 2009

Posted on 11/7/2010

Finished piece looks really nice!! Congratulations!!

Shannon Weathers
Member Since 2005

Posted on 12/11/2010

Alas poor Ultron! Excellent piece with great casting. One more reason why your project is one of my favorite CAF themes.

Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005

Posted on 4/8/2017

This is stunning.....a Legion version featuring Ferro Lad would be cool but this is par excellence

Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

Posted on 4/8/2017

Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy wrote:

This is stunning.....a Legion version featuring Ferro Lad would be cool but this is par excellence

There are, if not a myriad, at least a plethora of covers out there that have paid homage to Hamlet and Yorick, but I have no objections to an homage of my homage. You already know this as the "editor" of your Re-Legion covers, but the trick is to get the casting right and then the rest usually falls into place.

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