Mark V :: Commissions, Sketches, and Illustrations

The World of Pope - Color Version by José Villarrubia

Artists: José Villarrubia (Colorist) , Paul Pope (All)

69 Views - 10 Comments - 13 Likes

The World of Pope - Color Version by José Villarrubia Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	The World of Pope - Color Version by José Villarrubia
Artist:	José Villarrubia (Colorist)
Artist:	Paul Pope (All)
Media Type:	Computer Art
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	69
Likes on CAF:	13 14
Comments:	10
Added to Site:	1/7/2026
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Not quite original art but starting off the new year with a project completed in late 2025.

I love Paul Pope's art and think his work looks best in its original pen and ink form. However, I was intrigued by what color might add to the "World of Pope" commission I picked up in 2024 via Felix Comic Art.

If you check out my post for the original black and white commission, you'll see that it started with the idea of Paul Pope doing a hypothetical cover to an omnibus collecting work featuring characters from his signature projects: THB, Battling Boy, Batman: Year 100, Adam Strange (Wednesday Comics, Heavy Liquid, etc. Such a cover would likely be in color so it made sense to think about what color might add to Pope's already impressive black and white composition.

Once I decided to pursue a color version of the commission, only one color artist seemed appropriate: José Villarrubia. Villarrubia was the color artist on Batman: Year 100 and is an artist in every sense of the word.

So here it is. Not quite original art but still a collaboration between two true artists.

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About the Owner

	Mark V Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2021
Last Login:	January 2026
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Mark's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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FBS Stroun
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 1/7/2026

What a smart, nice commission idea !

Villarrubia is truly a great artist. His meticulous restauration work on Richard Corben's work is outstanding, I love his illustrations for Alan Moore's Voice of Fire and his colors on Sweet Tooth are truly epochal.

Congratulation !

Comic Art Channel
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 1/7/2026

Beautiful!! So well executed by Pope's go-to colorist.

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 1/7/2026

I think the colors compliment the line art really well. But as an original art collector, I have to ask the question: Why wouldn't you insist on getting the line art colored by hand? Is José adamant on only coloring digitally?

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 1/7/2026

Ruben DaCollector wrote:

It's not an oversight by me or an unwillingness by JV. I didn't really need it colored by hand since the original is the only real world artifact I need. The digital version will serve to produce a print at a smaller size that I can frame since the original takes up a lot of wall space.

Yo Kuri
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 1/7/2026

I loved this from first sight. Great choice, JV is a master of color theory. There is so much going on under the surface. Sorry for the geek out that follows.

1. The acid green sky vs THB's red shoulder puts the eye at the center of the page. These complementary (contrasting) colors are extended upward from that central focus by dividing the page in two fields of harmonious analogous colors (yellow/green and purple/red) on either side of the central lightning bolt.

2. He takes care to balance the page horizontally by putting opposing dashes of the yellow and green next to Batman and a dash of THB's red in Haggard West's scarf on the left.

3. He also repeats colors on a more vertical axis. S from Heavy Liquid is lavender on the bottom left to balance the purple sky on the top right. THB is red on the bottom right to balance the SKREE red letter on the top left.

4. JV honors the U shaped composition with matching gradients on the skies on either side of the lightning bolt. The skies darken to blue and purple (analogous) which creates a frame of soothing colors around the brightness in the center.

Given the number of characters in the piece, it could have been a mad jumble. He's so skilled that he tied it all together while making it clash where it needed to clash.

I love this. Postcards! Prints! T-shirts! Mugs! Congrats!

artless artmore
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 1/8/2026

Beautiful coloring job on this amazing piece!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 1/8/2026

Top notch job! It blends in every property into one with the color.

Kavi H
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 1/8/2026

Very cool project to undertake, and the end result came out looking as publishable as the original art, no surprise considering it was done by one of Pope's best coloring partners in Villarrubia. Nice work and Thanks for sharing this, Mark!

Tyler T
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 1/9/2026

I love this idea, have done it with a few of my commissions, and to me personally it's worth it to do with some of your absolute favorites. It's always fun to see an original in a new light and Villarubia definitely brings this to life. Cool to see.

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 1/20/2026

Villarrubia really knocked this one out of the park!

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