Mystique #15 Cover Prelim - Mike Mayhew

Mike Mayhew’s thumbnail cover prelim for Mystique #15

To celebrate the new MYSTIQUE series, I wanted to post this prelim cover Mayhew did from the first volume (2003 - 2005). This was done in 2003 and may have been an idea Mayhew wanted to do for issue #1 but ultimately ended up being the cover for issue #15. It’s a very rough prelim sketch but even this small 3.5” x 5” art piece (on 8.5” x 11” paper) is a fun representative piece of art from that series. The covers were x-tremely eye catching with Mayhew’s stylings really made the covers stand out vividly on the shelves.

Getting this quick sketch art idea for only around $15 a year or so ago felt like a steal. It’s not very detailed and barely what you see in the published cover, but stands for a great step in the process. I really enjoyed this specific cover of Prof X Giant head behind Mystique as she works undercover. Initially looks as if Prof X eyes are focused in on her, but the final cover has it a bit more ambiguous and his mind is focused in on her. I kind of like the original idea with just the head and her, no hands and she has more of a stance that is less angry and more WTF!