Nick Pitarra is the artist on
The Manhattan Projects. The book explores a timeline where the Manhattan Project to build the bomb is just a minor activity and front for what was really going on. A fascinating read with wonderful art.
I met Nick and Joe Eisma at the first Space City Comic Con. They were literally starving artists so I bought them some food. Nick talked me into buying the first five issues of The Manhattan Projects from him. I'm glad I did. Since then, I have accumulated
a few convention pieces by Nick, but I've wanted a commission for awhile.
Arranging a commission isn't so hard. Nick is represented for OA sales and commissions by
Felix Comic Art. Felix does a great job for his buying clients (and, I assume, his artists. :) )
The tough part for me is the concept for the commission. Well, normally it is. I have three themes:
- Artists and the characters I most associate with them,
- The cover to the never published Sugar & Spike #100, and
- Supergirl arm wrestling various foes.
Since Nick has taken up arm wrestling, the idea was obvious - Nick vs. Supergirl.
I maintain a potential gift list for my wife (I'm very thoughtful) so I added this to the list.
The result is everything I could have wished to receive.
At the bottom center, we have Nick matched up with Kara Zor-El. He's not intimidated by the Kryptonian powerhouse.
Backing Nick (top to bottom), Team Pitarra consists of:
- A pilot from The Red Wing (Nick's first book),
- Jean Claude van Damme,
- Frank Quitely - love the t-shirt,
- Michelangelo of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) fame,
- He-Man,
- Moebius,
- Einstein (but, maybe, not the one you know),
- Sylvester Stallone and,
- Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Backing Supergirl (top to bottom), we have:
Looming over the contest, we have the evil mastermind of the piece - me! (I've never looked better.)
Nick put his all into this piece. He wrote on Facebook, "Threw a bunch of my heroes influences and creations on this most PITARRA centric commission ever..."
I think it's great.
There is a funny story that goes with this piece as there usually is.
Nick was due in Houston for a signing at my LCS,
Bedrock City Comic Company on Saturday, July 30, 2016. When I got up that morning, I saw my face in my Facebook feed. Nick had posted the Evil Genius picture. I knew he was coming to Houston for the signing and he knew I'd be there. He'd said he'd have sketches to give away so I assumed that this was for me. I asked him for it and he said sure. I'm pleased that I have this great personal sketch.
Then he posts the entire commission. It's awesome and exactly what I'd hoped for - only I hadn't ordered it. So, I asked Kathy about it and she gave me that look. Ooops! No one had told Nick it was a surprise. Kathy was not pleased that I'd seen it, but I was tickled pink. She called Felix and he called right back. He'd asked Nick to start it now because he knows Nick can procrastinate a bit. However, Felix forgot to tell him it was a surprise. Nick thought it was just a commission for me. Pretty funny I think.
Felix refunded the S/H since it was hand delivered and Kathy wouldn't let me look at it - until now! :)
Update 1 (2019-10-06) -
Mike Garland, Nick's designated colorist, created a digitally colored version that really pops. I've also found a number of details that I hadn't noticed before the color was added. The color is a terrific addition.
