Mr Majestic 1 cover by Ed McGuinness & Jason Martin

This one is a pretty special addition for me.

First because I love Ed’s art and had already been following him since his early days at Harris comics/CFD and London Night studios when this project really felt like he was upping his game (yet again) even after the successes he had at Marvel (Deadpool) or Awesome (Fighting American).

Second, this series was one my fav’of the badly considered 90s, a true hidden gem of a too short series that was under the radar of many (and possibly indicating that what was bad out of the 90s was to be left behind as this one had a selling date of September 1999, thus at the very end of the dreaded decade). Obviously not to the editorial at DC as it soon landed Ed his Superman gig.

The series was fun, original, and bold in scope with GREAT writing by the always interesting Joe Casey co-sharing that function with Brian Holguin. This first issue had Majestic, basically Wildstorm’s version of Superman, only quite haughty, being an immortal warlord, HIDE our solar system from a solar system threatening menace. No less and astrophysical laws be damned. I loved that first issue so much that I read it again on that same day after reading it first, not something I had really experience before and I don’t believe since.

I’ll be the first to recognize that this cover is not Ed’s best on the series for which he produced 7. And yet, it’s a first issue cover featuring Majestros in a typical super heroic pose with his massive fist up to any threat or villain’s face, safeguarding our nice planet in the process.

From a design pov, leaving so much white space was a bold and ingenious move to get that first issue noticed on the racks.

This one popped on one of our regular dealer’s sites only I felt the price was too high (when does that ever happen, I wonder?) and I was hesitating and sweating it. Then it popped at auction and I was able to obtain for much less than the initial price.

Ed’s art would get even (MUCH) better but everything that would make him the superstar he is (fully embracing his Capcom and Manga/Animé influences) was already there and enthusing me like few artists before him in that vein. Jason Martin’s inks did a swell job understanding his line and how to approach it with that sharp (Gaijin Studio like) line.

So yes, I quite like that one ;)

This is part 9 of my 2024 CAF birthday party.