Helga's Story variant cover

This artwork is for the variant cover of a Fearless Dawn one-shot called HELGA’S STORY. Steve’s gallery is on my watch list so when he updated with this piece, I immediately jumped on it. You all know how much I love Steve’s work. And getting a nice color piece like this is even more special. What’s funny is that when I first saw this, I immediately wondered if the regular cover was just as nice or maybe even better. But if you take a look at that cover in the Additional Images, I think you’ll agree I made the right choice.

Easily topping the list of my favorite Mannion pieces (along with my Slave Leia commission and Joker/Harley commission), this is my first full color piece by Steve and I just love absolutely everything about it. Well, I guess technically it’s my second color piece if you count the Vampi (also in this gallery), but that’s more of a wash than an actual painting so I’m going with this as my first (po-TAY-to, po-TAH-to). Anyway, it starts off with a gorgeous drawing of Helga. Love the colors – soft and subtle, yet strikingly effective. It’s full of lovely and intricate detail. The size was nice, along with the collector friendly price. And it’s published. What more could you ask for? Also, it had been a while since my last Mannion piece, so it also a long drought for me.

Steve is a collector’s dream. You get incredible works of art for very fair, affordable prices. I think that’s so important for that segment of the collecting population that can’t spring for the high end pieces, but still wants to participate in, and enjoy, this great hobby. Artists like Steve make it possible for everyone to play, not just the rich kids. And that’s the way it should be.

Anyway, my thanks to Steve for this beauty. Hope it’s not another long drought before I get my next one!