Azrael by Harvey Tolibao

This piece is part of a larger collection of comic art sketch cards that represent friends I have met along the way in the comic art hobby. Some were chosen because the collector seriously focuses on that character, and others simply because I noticed a piece in their gallery and wanted to see a sketch card interpretation of that character. I decided not to name names, leaving the collection open to interpretation, since it reflects the community as a whole and the shared connections that make this hobby meaningful. Each card is a tribute to the friendships formed, the generosity of fellow collectors, and the joy of discovering characters through someone else’s passion.

Harvey did an amazing job with this piece, creating a perfect mood for Azrael through the heavy shadowing around the face. The texture in the clothing looks almost tactile, as if you could reach out and feel the weight of the fabric.

This sketch card was inspired by a collector I have spent time with on many occasions who has always made me feel welcome in his city. His heroes of choice always seem to carry a gritty, shadowed edge to them. It is a theme that pushes me beyond my usual love of comedic and lighthearted characters, but it intrigues me all the same due to how well it is artistically translated. Azrael pushes me the furthest outside my comfort zone, since he is the character I was least familiar with before exploring this piece. Outside the superhero themes, we have bonded over a shared love of vintage Japanese traveling swordsmen, my favorite being Zatoichi and his being Lone Wolf and Cub.