Best of 2025 :: Published/Unpublished Comic Book Covers

Powerline #3 Cover Painting by Kevin Nowlan: The unaltered original before Marvel made her wear pink sunglasses

Owner: Chuck Arnold
Artist: Kevin Nowlan (All)

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Additional Images:

Nowlan's pencil prelim from his blog

Cover as printed

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Artwork Details

Title:	Powerline #3 Cover Painting by Kevin Nowlan: The unaltered original before Marvel made her wear pink sunglasses
Artist:	Kevin Nowlan (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Cover
Views:	457
Likes on CAF:	22 23
Added to Site:	8/13/2025

Description

One of my favorite Kevin Nowlan covers and, in my opinion, the best cover ever done for a very mediocre comic. The late 80s Marvel Epic Shadowline covers always looked incredible thanks to painters like Nowlan, Sienkiewicz, Kent Williams, and Jon J. Muth.

This piece has a great backstory. Nowlan has written that Marvel approved the sketch, but after he finished the painting they asked him to add pink sunglasses. He hated them, calling them �awful,� and a paste-up version with the glasses went to print. Somewhere out there that altered version still exists, but this is the unaltered original. Even better, it came from Mike Mignola�s collection before it surfaced at Heritage Auctions.

It is pure Nowlan, quirky proportions, wide-eyed expression, and beautifully layered paint and colored pencil. The lighting, color shifts, and electric movement in the hair make it a standout image that still has more intrigue than the comic it was made for.

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About the Owner

	Chuck Arnold ( 3 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2014
Last Login:	January 2026
Website:	http://ChuckArnold.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Chuck's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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