F.M. :: PEARSON JASON

Batman VS the Joker by Jason Pearson

Artist: Jason Pearson (All)

14 Comments - 715 Views - 17 Likes

Batman VS the Joker by Jason Pearson Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Batman VS the Joker by Jason Pearson
Artist:	Jason Pearson (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	715
Likes on CAF:	17 18
Comments:	14
Added to Site:	2/16/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

If you know and/or follow my gallery, you could see this one coming a mile away, especially in the context of Jason�s untimely passing last year at the age of 52.

I always add a Pearson piece each year during my CAF b-day party but it only seemed naturally fitting to let his art crown it this year yet again, both as my fav� artist and as another homage to his sublime skills and art.

In the early 00s, Jason was on fire in the commission department, producing masterpieces after masterpieces. I own many of them and you can find even more examples of this production on CAF.

This one is actually a double commission on two 11x17 boards and it offers oh so many delights so when it became available, it took me 5 seconds to commit to its purchase despite a hefty asking price.

I love the composition here. The 2 characters are seemingly entwined in a sort of ballet which could be a slipping choice for anyone other than Jason as he clearly made it work with so much dynamism throughout the scene.

I love how beefy Batman looks despite the thinness of his ankles and wrists, a bold approach Jason was using during that artistic time period. His tensed pinched lips pissed off face is also pitch perfect. The Joker is certainly not half bad either as he looks plainly demented and is evidently enjoying himself. The laughing fish gun is a great nod to the Englearth and Rogers era.

Let�s turn to the backgrounds to finally notice everyone who is anyone in Gotham is lying there on the ground. A gang of clowns (the drooling or bleeding one on the far left is priceless), Harley, Barbara, Jim Gordon, Robin, Cassandra Cain Batgirl and Nightwing.

That Jason choose to add them behind their natural enemy in the scene indicates cleverly that this is the final match with only the last two enemies left standing. It also offers a ying and yang feel to the scene from a compositional point of view.

And lastly, we have a cleverly designated Gotham buildings to subtly frame the scene.
On the technical side, there is much to salivate over and Jason�s technique is faultless as always. The inks are razor sharp and one can barely detect any pencil. It�s like he drew this with ink in one go entirely.

The use of cross-hatching is just exquisite to delineate the muscles and articulation on the Bat and on the Joker�s costume and fish weapon. The way he spotted his blacks and shadows is incredible. Just look at Batman�s cape, how it flow in recoil against the joker with the sparse white spots seemingly targeting his foe.

Also take note how Jason used some broken lines within the cape, at its edges or a the shoulders level. Just amazing.

Lastly, let�s mention the bold and great choice to keep all the fallen parties uninked. This doesn�t deter the attention from the two main figures, in fact it reinforces their presence on the page and it creates both a sense of story to the scene, grounds it and adds depth at the same time.

This shows you how thoughtful (and next level, frankly) a storyteller Jason Pearson was, even when drawing for what many artists would consider a simple commission, and why he was one of the very best to ever put inks on paper.

(Published in one of Jason sketchbooks).

MAY HE DRAW IN PEACE FOREVER.

This is the eleventh and final day of my 2023 CAF birthday party. Hope you like this year�s entries.

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About the Owner

	F M Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
On CAF:	F's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 2/16/2023

HOLY SHIT! Hands down, the coolest Jason Pearson piece I've ever seen! It's like a cross between Golden and Nowlan, yet oh so Pearson! I don't know what else to say except, congratulations!

E DLS
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 2/16/2023

Not sure how many of these face-to-face sets he did, but I always thought they were so cool. Especially when presented as a set, like this one. I think he also did a similar set for Kill Bill. Anyway, this is a spectacular way to end your CAF Bday celebration. And also a great way to honor Jason. Few things are as iconic for comics as Batman VS Joker. Draw in peace Jason.

Simon M.
Member Since 2003

2 - Posted on 2/16/2023

This was mine originally. I asked for Batman vs Joker but was told Jason only wanted to do single character pieces so I asked for Batman AND Joker - two pieces. That was it. Everything else was down to Jason. Congrats on taking them to their forever-home.

Filmore W. Bedwick
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 2/16/2023

Definitely One of Jason's Best! Clean, Crisp and and Evolution in hiis design!!!

matthew reed
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 2/16/2023

wonderful stuff! the main images are amazing but its the background for me. love seeing it!

Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 2/16/2023

Amazing work by one of the best artists of his generation. Gone too soon, but never to be forgotten by fans of brilliant comic book art.

John Livesay
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 2/16/2023

cool!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

2 - Posted on 2/17/2023

A showdown or a dance off, this has a broadway pizzaz like an Al Hirshfeld playbill illustration.

Toni S
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 2/18/2023

Admiring the artwork and what you explain I only can say... Ladies and Gentleman hats off and stand up!

Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 2/19/2023

Well, of course your birthday postings would wrap up here for the year. Most sincere congratulations on another great series of posts, and this one is definitely the barn-burnin', brain meltin', jaw-droppin' stone cold killer of them all. Phenomenal composition, execution, and write up. I love everything you mentioned, Fred: the wireframe backgrounds, the slightly more finished background characters, and the ultra-defined foreground adversaries. Eternal. Joker's fish is my favorite thing here - so beautiful; love -LOVE- the hatching. I hope your birthday (and, indeed, your whole year) was (is!) as spectacular as this piece, F M; Happy birthday, sir! (which brings us to Day 11's wish: "DAY!"!)

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 2/21/2023

Wow, such DEEP block blacks and clean line work. Classic hero vs villain shot Pearson-ized? Yes, please. Another stellar rendition to your Pearson collection. Congrats.

J H
Member Since 2019

2 - Posted on 2/22/2023

Joker should use a mackerel, it has more stopping power, and doesn't jam as much. Firstly, happy birthday! I always enjoy your birthday posts. And this is a great one from your favorite artist (RIP). The line work really is exquisite, and so sharp. And that ink is applied BLACK! Those piles of bodies of eachs supporting casts is such an excellent detail. BANG!

Gal Schwartz
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 3/1/2023

Iconic piece by Pearson ! His talent will be greatly missed !

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 3/1/2023

Whooaaa! What a total kick-ass commission! Maybe the best Jason Pearson commission I've ever seen! I love the juxtaposition of the two enemies seemingly locked in a dance together. The stylization of each is perfect, the framing device of the cityscape is appropriate. A fitting last hurrah by master artist, Jason Pearson.

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