Dark Avengers #12, p. 21

Artists: Mike Deodato, Jr. (All) , Brian Michael Bendis (Writer)

16 Comments - 459 Views - 9 Likes

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Artwork Details

Title:	Dark Avengers #12, p. 21
Artist:	Mike Deodato, Jr. (All)
Artist:	Brian Michael Bendis (Writer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	459
Likes on CAF:	9 10
Comments:	16
Added to Site:	8/9/2022
Comic Art Archive:	Dark Avengers Issue: 12 Page: 21 View

Description

Beautiful high-contrast storytelling by Mike Deodato. As a big fan of no-panel pages, I love the feeling of (uncomfortable) intimacy this technique creates here, allowing the different views of Norman to conspire together and make this “quiet”, personal moment incredibly intense. Even covered in armor, his frailty is woefully exposed.

Regardless of how difficult he insists upon making the lives of our favorite heroes (and everyone else around him), this is a broken man in great pain. A fictional one, yeah (I get it), but one of the many triumphs of this run was that you could never write Norman off as a one-dimensional fiend. On more than one occasion while I was reading this series, I found myself gleefully cackling, “This could almost work…. Norman might be able to pull it off! Hang on, Norman!” But, of course, he couldn’t. :)

(It turns out those feet of clay fit perfectly well into repurposed Iron Man armor boots.)

I am thrilled to add some wonderfully bold black and white art by Mike Deodato to my gallery. It struck me as interesting that this piece was inked (as a fair share of his work at this time was in pencil), but I also thought it fitting, considering the central thrust of the page is all about the depths of Norman’s inner (and outer) shadows. Thanks once again to Anais at La Galerie du 9e Art!

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About the Owner

	Jason Hussa ( 7 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2017
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Doctor Fantastic
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

Norman Osborn was such a great villain all throughout Warren Ellis' Thunderbolts, then into Bendis' Avengers Saga! Congrats on grabbing this beauty; that middle image is so magical! I see it functioning as a panel border between it and the top image, a panel of its own, and also as a background for image 3! I understand your impulse to "root" for Norman amidst his struggles-- Deodato and Bendis made us feel that way by putting in the hard storytelling work! (PS don't worry, I won't tell Spidey)

A K
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

There is something operatically grand about Deodato's work and this page. You have Mike's signature and bold use of shadows to convey drama, combined with really expressive figurework. So beautiful. You can almost feel sorry for Norman Osborn...almost.

Hobby Halbert
Member Since 2022

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

Beautiful page!

Rick W
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

So striking and dramatic! Great find Jason!

F M
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

Norman's madness in full. Great staging on this one.

M L
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

A veritable grand opera moment! Congrats!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

3 - Posted on 8/9/2022

Let's go girls! Come on

I'm Goblin out tonight

I'm Norman alright

Gonna let it armor out

Wanna make some noise

Willem Dafoe voice

Yeah, he wanna scream and shout

No inhibitions

Hallucinations

Get a Deodato line

I ain't gonna be psychologically correct

I only wanna have a good time

The best thing about being a Norman

Is the prerogative to have a little fun

Deodato totally crazy

Forget I'm a Gobby

Iron shirts

Science works

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild

Yeah, Patriot style

Oh, oh, oh, get in the action

HAMMER distraction

Osborn my hair

Do what I dare

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free

Yeah, to feel the way I feel

Man! I feel like a Norman!

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

Inner turmoil is right! This page, aesthetically speaking, was Deodato's chance to use his high contrast style to best effect by using it to display EMOTION, and he succeeded beautifully. As silent as this page may appear to be without word balloons or sound effects, you can clearly hear Osborn's anguished grunts and screams, sensationally accomplished with expert technique and storytelling.

Chris Snorek
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

High contrast indeed! How much does this page weigh? ;)

Steve N. Comic/Fantasy Art
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

I am convinced the Hussanator's nose for topline art leads him to the most poignant page(s) in each issue. Never disappointed. Congratz on another prize, my friend!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 8/9/2022

The master of shadow work doin' his thang! Works to great effect here with this solitary moment. Norman...alone with this thoughts :) I thought the same, too, about him in this book. It was cool seeing him taking advantage of the situation...but slowly...and surely...it slipped away. Killer Deodato example, man. Congrats!

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 8/10/2022

Wow! What a great Mike Deodato splash! I love the high contrast look Deodato achieves here! His use of black is both bold and breathtaking!

Eranga Devasurendra
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 8/10/2022

Love the story-telling on this page and I'm a big fan of anything done in high contrast so this one hits a real sweet spot :) It's been fun watching Deodata go from 90's excess to straight up photo-realism to a more hybrid style. One of the modern greats and a little bit under-rated.

E DLS
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/10/2022

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The more black on a page, the better. Especially in the hands of people who know how to so effectively manipulate it. The bottom figure hunched over in agony is just so powerful. Great, great, splash buddy!

Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 8/10/2022

Dark Reign was one of the best crossovers that Marvel has ever done, and this was the flagship title for it. Deodato took his work to a whole new level on this series with this page a perfect example.

JN 80
Member Since 2016

1 - Posted on 8/22/2022

Beautiful Deodato work capturing Norman's emotions. I enjoyed this series alot.

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