Best of 2021 :: Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers

Tomb Raider/Witchblade #1 variant cover

Owner: Kin Wong
Artists: Michael Turner (Penciller) , Joe Weems (Inker)

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Artwork Details

Title:	Tomb Raider/Witchblade #1 variant cover
Artist:	Michael Turner (Penciller)
Artist:	Joe Weems (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
Views:	1,890
Likes on CAF:	17 18
Added to Site:	12/12/2021

Description

For well over a decade, I've been quietly hoping this cover would resurface. Shortly after Mike's unfortunate and untimely passing, I started to think about purchasing some of his inked work (I only owned a pencils-only piece at that point), especially his work on Witchblade. I made a wishlist of his inked covers that I'd love to own one day, and at the top of the list was the Tomb Raider/Witchblade cover here. But I didn't expect to see it pop up (his prime Top Cow covers were locked up in other collections), so I picked up a cool (no pun intended) Fathom cover that was more within my budget.

Fast forward to the latest Heritage auction, and my jaw dropped when I saw this (and the rest of the issue, including the main cover) for auction. I had my eyes on a couple pieces in the concurrent ComicLink auction (including a Marvel cover of Mike's that I used to own, to try to bring it back "home"), but those didn't matter anymore. It was this piece or bust.

So what makes this cover so special? It does have a movie poster feel with the floating heads in the background, but I love the way Mike drew Sara and Lara so that they're more than just sexy heroines posing for the camera. Sara has an almost wistful look to her as she's staring off into the distance, while Lara is giving some attitude like she's about ready to shoot you for looking at her funny. Since it was inked by Joe Weems, the detail here is incredible, from the ruins to the clothing and Witchblade armor (the scan doesn't do the fine inkwork justice at all). And while not part of the original art, I love the warm color palette of the final published image. (Fun fact- I was so convinced I'd never own this that I purchased a print/giclee of it years ago, just to have a large copy of the art.)

There were some really nice Witchblade pages/covers that came up over the years, and I regretted passing on each one at the time. I sadly can't own them all given the prices that Mike's art has commanded over the years, so if I could only afford to purchase one piece/cover, this would be it.

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About the Owner

	Kin Wong ( 2 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2007
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Kin's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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