The color version of this is already up in my gallery, but here's the black-and-white inked version.
This piece is based on the cover to AVENGERS #211. One of my earlier pieces, it was done after I had the Panther assemble the seven core members of the group.
I thought it'd be interesting, and kind of amusing, to see what would happen if a group of D-list, failed heroes decided to all show up at once looking for a place on the team.
So who are these characters? Glad you asked. Starting at the top, then going from left to right, first of all we have:
Omega Man -- The superhero from the future starred in his own independently produced one-shot comic. It sucked.
Chapel -- All you YOUNGBLOOD fans should recognize him. Don't try to convince me you didn't at least read YOUNGBLOOD #1 back in the day. Apparently, he didn't make the cut for the new Youngblood comic that Joe Casey and Derec Aucoin are doing now.
Moe Muscle -- Yeah, that's him in the hardhat. Moe was a bit player in the SAVAGE DRAGON comic, until he got eaten by a creature that looked like a giant electric muppet. I decided to revive him and bring him here.
Heru, Son of Ausar -- He starred in his own VERY short-lived comic as part of the ANIA Comics line. They started up about the same time Milestone Comics did and died a quick death. Heru was some Egyptian god type.
Purge --The guy with the long knives. He's another ANIA veteran who was an urban vigilante type. Two issues then good-bye.
Ebony Warrior -- He completes the ANIA trifecta. A masked fighter who excelled at hand-to-hand combat. Lasted maybe three issues.
Back to the left:
Sentinel -- Another YOUNGBLOOD veteran and Rob Liefeld creation. He eventually ended up murdering one of his Youngblood teammates in the JUDGMENT DAY limited series by Alan Moore. How stupid is it to armor your self completely from the neck down and leave your head vulnerable.
Rapture -- This well-endowed superheroine was the lady love of Erik Larsen's SAVAGE DRAGON until she was killed in battle by some Darkseid wannabe. You know the rules: You kill 'em off, they become mine.
Shadow Knight -- Okay, this guy, to my knowledge, has never even appeared in an actual published comic. I just needed one more character, and saw him at this website: http://www.omega7.com/html/ShadowKnightPoster.html
From the same people that brought you Omega Man.
I later took Omega Man, Sentinel, Ebony Warrior, Heru, Moe Muscle, Rapture, and Chapel and put them on a team together of disgruntled heroes turned villains named ANIA Nation. That's right, a group of envious, resentful, failed superheroes decide to become villains and take down heroes who've made it.
Penciled and inked by Sergio Cariello, whose done quite a bit of work for Marvel, DC, CrossGen and others.
