Andromeda (Battle Damage!) Sketch Card by Jeff Moy

I figured I should post something fun for Valentine's Day, but realized in short order that I don't really have any romantic pages or pinups that would fit the bill. I'll definitely have to plan better for next year! So, I got to thinking, and in lieu of a sweet piece to fit the Valentine's theme... I guess there's always the spicy approach!

This card was something I commissioned on a whim during one of Jeff's slower WhatNot streams. You can request a character with "battle damage" as a way to add a bit of flair (wink wink) to your card. I like to think of Andromeda as my litmus test character to see if I like a new artist's style, or if I like a fun new twist from an artist I'm familiar with, and while this isn't usually my sort of thing, Jeff (of course) delivered in spades, giving Andy wild hair and an artfully torn costume.

All spiciness aside, I just love the energy this piece gives off. The smokey background, torn costume, messy hair, and flecks of dirt all speak to Andy having been in a hell of a fight, but her absolutely furious expression shows that she's ready to get right back up and really start ruining her attacker's day. Considering she's a Daxamite, with powers comparable to Supergirl, it makes you wonder just who she's fighting to get her in such bad shape (my money's on it being one of the evil Daxamites from Legionnaires Annual #2).

I like that this card feels a lot "busier" that most of my other ones, with so many tiny, chaotic details packed into such a little space that there's barely even room for a background. And, of course, Jeff's colourwork is just gorgeous. The nuanced shading he uses for her skintone makes a really strong contrast against the simpler shading of her uniform, and I think that simpler shading also helps the viewer's brain keep track of all the torn fabric details.

I think it's also very fitting that my 50th card from Jeff should be something special and fun, so this worked out very well, don't you think? Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!