SOJOURN: The Dragon's Tale TPB Vol.2 - COVER!
Artist: Joe Jusko (All)
29 Comments - 1,384 Views - 24 Likes
Additional Images:
SOJOURN: The Dragon's Tale TPB Vol.2 - COLOR!
Artwork Details
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DescriptionIn life, there are always exceptions to every rule. Myself, I never found much appeal in the Science Fiction or Fantasy genres. Wait, I always make that same mistake, so let me correct that. What I mean is, I enjoy looking at and admiring Fantasy and Science Fiction art, but the genres just don't appeal to me strongly enough to collect the original art. Then came the start of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy in 2001 and I fell in love with it. I'm someone who has always preferred the 1980's era of 90 minutes as the standard length for feature films, and felt 2 hours was stretching my patience to its limit, and yes, even if I'm loving the film I'm watching. But not only did the LoTR trilogy completely capture my imagination at their 3+ hour running length without a problem, I even rewatched the entire trilogy at their 4 hour running time when I bought the extended version DVDs, multiple times, with and without commentary on. What can I say? Truly an exception to the rule!Anyway, when the final film was released, I was so upset that the yearly release of a film for that trilogy had come to an end, as I had enjoyed it so much and desperately wished the adventure could continue. Soon after, I discovered the Sojourn title that CrossGen had been publishing and I bought all the available TPBs. I quickly realized that, yes, it was clearly derivative of LoTR and an obvious attempt to cash in on the LoTR "epic fantasy adventure" theme, but that's exactly what I wanted! I fell in love with the series immediately, because it really did give me the sense that the LoTR adventure was continuing, in a sense. I read the title all the way through, and even though the pending CrossGen bankruptcy forced them to wrap up the series in a very rushed manner which caused the story quality to suffer during the final few months of its run, I continue to remember how much enjoyment the series gave me right up to that point where the publisher rode off the rails. My wife, who is not a comic book fan but who likes me to show her original art whenever I get it in, also read the series because she too loved the LoTR films, and she really enjoyed it as well. So much so in fact, that she immediately told me that if we ever had a daughter, we had to name her Arwyn, after Sojourn's protagonist. Five years later, we did indeed have our first and only child, a daughter, and yes, we did name her Arwyn and she is without question, my life's Holy Grail. As the Sojourn series was running, I collected around 4 or 5 of the Greg Land covers. But as my interests changed over time, I parted with all of them. However, given how much I enjoyed the series plus the fact that my wife and I had named our only child after the series protagonist, I still felt that I wanted/needed to own just one quintessential Sojourn piece that encapsulated all the joy that we derived from the entire 2001 to 2004 LoTR to Sojourn adventure. For years I watched as the Sojourn covers I used to own traded hands, and I wondered which one of the series covers would be the "One to rule Them All". I could never decide which of the series covers would be my absolute favourite. Then, perhaps 8 or 9 years later, I saw this cover from the 2nd TPB collection appear at auction, and I instantly knew I'd found The One. It was one of those moments, I'm sure many of you have experienced before, where you realize immediately that the piece is already yours and that waiting for the auction to begin and end is just a formality. No one else on that live auction day who had interest in going after this piece ever stood a chance, they just had no way of knowing that their chances had gone up in smoke a few weeks earlier when I first noticed this piece would be up for bids. As soon as I received the art, I took it to my framer, got it framed, came home, gifted it to my daughter and hung it in her room where it continues to happily reside today, and we've lived happily ever after, The End. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Bob Kopman 
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
Beauty of a painting and a really nice story to boot. It's so nice when the entire family can enjoy the hobby in this way. Thanks for sharing.
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
2 - Posted on 3/30/2021
A Jusko cover is always a treasure. Happy that you found one that means so much to you and your family.
The Gweese 2
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
absolutely incredible, i love a nice jusko painting. that dragon is surreal
Rick W
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
That's just as cool as it gets (story & art!)
Jusko is the man!
Congrats to your family & treasure this precious ;) piece always!
Filmore W. Bedwick
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
This is One Helluva Jusko painting. The color, anatomy and layout are second to none!
Steve Lipsky
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
This is easily the coolest piece of art you own. Correction, your daughter Arwyn owns. Not just for the fantastic painting, Joe's superb use of color, composition and depth but, for what it means to you personally. After I read the story behind the art, it meant so much more and took on a life of it's own. Outstanding story to accompany an outstanding piece of art. And, you're right--this is a grail but, your daughter is your greatest grail. Hope to meet her at a con someday.
William Lawson
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
Stunner of a painting. Cooler story. Even for your swag, this one is top notch. Thanks for sharing!
Duke Fleed aka #1 Groo Fan
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
It was interesting to read your write up as I never would have connected this comic with LOTR. Exceptions in collecting usually lead to a mix of emotions (such as - did I do the right thing, is this really something that fits, why did I buy this, etc..) Clearly not a difficult decision in this case as your WHY is your daughter. Personally I Love the art. It is an epic image and the colors are fabulous. Now if only I could get my hands on a Land Soujorn cover..
Paul P Spiderversity
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
What an enjoyable description! They should make THAT into a movie! I especially like that you mentioned the Lord of the Rings saga. I grew up reading and re-reading those books, and when the film franchise came out, I was thrilled. It's also so cool that Arwyn's name is a result of the love you and your wife share for fantasy/adventure stories. Anyway, I am absolutely blown away by this piece. The colors and textures are amazing, and that dragon is AWESOME! Someday I WILL come visit you and get to see that one in person.
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
Jaw-dropping! (I mean it--Just look at that cover!) Love the art, love your story!
Ted Latner
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 3/30/2021
Wow! Jusko is amazing! That dragon looks like it's about to fly out of the art!
Tim F
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 3/31/2021
While it's one I've always thought i'd love to own, after your story I'm glad you do! Great piece, hope your daughter treasures it.
J H
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 3/31/2021
Arwyn is a lovely name. What a wonderful gyre of reasons to become Implacable Bidding Man! Great origin story ;). And what an incredible Jusko cover! It's a perfectly set battle scene, and I like the almost TSR (D&D) feel it has with that fiery red dragon just like that iconic compendium image. Great intersection of story on art! Big congrats!
JOE JUSKO
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 3/31/2021
Ruben! I am SO flattered!! I had a lot fun with the couple of Crossgen covers I did! Really nice to see this found the right home!! :-)
Dino Mauricio
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 3/31/2021
Ruben, what an incredible painting with a dramatic composition and vivid colors...plus a heroic story of your quest!
F M
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 3/31/2021
Truly impressive piece and color work!
I too loved Sojourn (and everything from Crossgen I read over the years, often way after the fact for that matter). I preferred Scion and it's probably the last work of Greg Land I appreciated but given the personal history the title represents to you (which I thank you for publicly sharing), you made the right choice with adding this piece which is probably much better than any Greg Land cover.
(But I didn't know that Tom Grummett could paint so well-with apologies to both artists).
David Askani’Son
Member Since 2012
Forum Moderator
1 - Posted on 4/2/2021
Beautiful Story And Gorgeous Cover Ruben!!
Michael Kirton
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 4/4/2021
About time you posted this one buddy :) Lovely story and an incredible addition to your collection.
West Stephan
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 4/9/2021
What an incredible cover! Takes me back to my D&D days. Awesome!
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 4/14/2021
Great story to go along with the great art. My first son's name actually, too, came from this grand world of fiction we all love. Awesome that you were able to get such an examplary piece that checked so many boxes. And when you started with "exception to the rule" I was actually thinking about you picking up a colored piece, cuz I know you mostly do the B&W stuff. Love the deep colors - must really pop. I'm sure your daughter's thrilled to have it - congrats, Arwyn!
Steve N. Comic/Fantasy Art
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 6/28/2021
Jaw. Dropped. Someone should ring Wizards of the Coast to get this man on their most important D&D illustrations...
Seamus O
Member Since 2007
Posted on 9/7/2022
Cool piece and double cool story. I didn't name my son after the character, but there is one in comics and I'm always on the look out for something cool with him in it.
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