Grifter VS Destine trading card art by Rick Mays & Karl Story

This is a very nice piece from one of the various Wildstorm trading cards set released during the TC craze in the 90s (here the Widevision set from 93).

I have always loved Rick Mays' art. His manga influence offered a different artistic style on the US type of storytelling and art when blending genres and artistic schools was not as common as it is nowadays. After a quiet GN release from Image years ago, he seemingly disappeared from the comic industry (if you have current info, please share them).

I always found that his characters, especially his women, which he had the tendency to give an Asian flavor to, were realistic and quite sexy. Kind of a what if you merged Kevin Maguire with Manga influences.

Point in case, Destine is not much covered in clothes here and she does feel nearly naked (looks at the muscles lines in her back and other tiny lines on her flesh which accentuate that impression).

Just remember boys, cosplay is not consent 😉

On the main card art, all the curving speed lines make for a super dynamic action shot and composition (and tactically avoid any need for backgrounds?). You feel the urgency of the scene. By his body position, you also get that Grifter is on the defensive side here with his enemy getting the jump on him.

Regarding the two inserts (found at the back of the card), Destine is nicely youthful, badassy and slightly haughty.

My actual favorite part of the whole piece is the Grifter insert. I find that the lateral speed lines to his guns make for an incredibly cool shot AND a nice and much welcomed change to the Jim Lee/John Woo hero jumping horizontally with the two guns shooting right at the reader/viewer poses that were so prevalent in those years. It also gives a great impression of speed, something Gritfer, the quick gun drawer, is known for.

Finally, I find that the usual expert inks really do justice to Rick's thick lines.