Stingray by Matt Allison

OAX 2026 Pre-Show Commission!!!

I read Cankor for the first time last year. It was one of those books that upon finishing, I closed the cover, I put the book down, and I thought to myself, "What the fuck did I just read?" And I mean that as a compliment because Cankor is a story that bears reading more than once to really begin to peel back the layers of what's going on. I love weird stuff, and that is what Matt Allison excels at.

After reading the book I knew I needed to see a Cankorized version of Stingray. When I saw that Matt was taking pre-show commissions for OAX this year, it was a no-brainer. At first glance, Stingray seems to have the typical exaggerated super hero anatomy, but in this instance something about it is off. The proportions are a little weird, and he seems elongated? It's like Stingray is a teenager experiencing an awkward growth spurt. The linework and shading are tight and clean, the colors bright. The watery, or perhaps cosmic shape in the background really makes Stingray jump off the page. Not quite a nightmare version of Stingray, but perhaps a version out of a fever dream.

When booking this commission, I dealt with Matt's rep, Sean from Athenaeum Comic Art. As with all the other times I've dealt with Sean to purchase original art from some of the finest indie creators in the business, communication and payment were a breeze. Sean has cultivated an atmosphere of sophistication without intimidation, welcoming potential buyers without ever causing them to feel pressured to spend money. It's always great getting to hang out with Sean and OAX was no different. His passion for comics and art, as well as film and music, make him the kind of person you can talk to endlessly as though you were old friends. So the next time you find yourself looking for some great art, checkout Athenaeum.

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Cankorr