The Marquis Coat of Arms

The Marquis "M" box was originally something I designed as part of the first preview issues logo~ later on I decided to use it as 'coat of arms" for the Marquis and a symbol of his pact with the Lord des Diables. Nothing that was actually used in the context of the story, but just decoration for the chapter breaks and something identifiable and interchangeable with "Marquis". Left is the first design for the original coat of arms~ when I revamped the logo I added more symbolism in context to the series (middle design) and then reworked the elements for the "Misere" character to reflect his time period (right design).

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What could fit a sunday Diableries better than a hilarious Marquis by Johnny Ryan (Angry Youth Comix, Blecky Yuckerella)? I can't think of a thing!

Johnny Ryan Comix

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Brian Quinn (Wicked Samurai, Blood River, Weird NJ) has a great and unique style, he sent me this wonderful drawing of the Marquis among a crowd of sinners (and lurking devil) in 2004!

Brian Quinn Artist

Marquis a trois~

Like the cover of the new Marquis and the Midwife graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics, the cover of the French Midwife tome for Les Humanoïdes Associés was also done a few years earlier (2006). They wanted a cover to reflect a scene from the upcoming book to match the motif of the Danse Macabre cover~ which wasn't a problem since the Midwife story was already plotted and laid out. Above is the line work drawing to the Humanoïdes Midwife cover and a hint at something nasty in store for Vol de Galle.

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A few years ago Andrew Lin sent me this fun drawing of the Marquis being lurked by a bothersome devil and I still get a kick out of it everytime I see it!

Andrew Lin's Mountain of Sadness

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The weekend Diableries continues with this wonderful drawing of the Marquis in his black/white and red world by Thomas Boatwright (Cemetary Blues / Zeke Deadwood).

Thomas Boatwright's Sequential Matinee

Marquis: Inferno Book Release and Art Exhibit

Coming up is a Marquis book release and art exhibit at Floating World Comics in Portland, OR on September 3rd. The art exhibit will include some illos from Marquis: Inferno along with B.P.R.D original art and pages from other Dark Horse projects I've done. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the opening in person~ but there will be other promos and surprises courtesy of Dark Horse Comics along with signed posters (above). The exhibit will run from Sept. 3~ 28th.

Floating World Comics

THE MARQUIS AND THE MIDWIFE cover artwork

Now that the Marquis: Inferno is officially released, I've been working ahead on the next original Marquis graphic novel for 2010~ The Marquis and the Midwife. I'll post some updates and peeks to the new story as I work on it, along with continuing the weekend Diableries fan art gallery!

The Marquis and the Midwife was originally a shorter side story planned for the second issue of the first Marquis series when it was slated to come out through Caliber Press in 1997. Like the Hell's Courtesan 2-part story (reprinted in Marquis: Inferno) , the Midwife story grew the more I fleshed it out and eventually I decided to make it the next Marquis graphic novel.

In 2003 I did some early promo art for the Midwife storyline, including the drawing above I planned as a teaser ad~ which I liked the feel of six years later and decided to use it as the cover to the upcoming graphic novel from Dark Horse in 2010!

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Another cool pinup I got back in 1997, this one from Michael Lark ( artist on Airwaves, Daredevil and Batman: Nine Lives among others). His styles changed over the years, but always unique and expressive~ especially his current brushwork!

Michael Lark MySpace

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I've been a fan of Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo) for years, he's a master storyteller and Usagi is always a great read. We traded pinups awhile back and it was a lot of fun to try my hand at his characters and to see him draw the Marquis!

Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo

THE MARQUIS: INFERNO ON SALE NOW!

Hell breaks loose early! I learned from Dark Horse that the new Marquis: Inferno shipped early from the distributors today~ so it's now available and on sale a month ahead of schedule!

The Marquis cover linework "Hell's Courtesan"

After the amazing guest covers I had on the 5 issue mini-series to "Danse Macabre", I wanted a chance to do a few covers myself and took over with the next 2-part mini-series~ "Hell's Courtesan". Above is the linework drawings I did for issues 1 and 2 that were painted over by Vince Locke (who also lettered the series). The color versions of the final covers (along with the story of Hell's Courtesan) is reprinted in the upcoming Marquis: Inferno!

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Craig Rousseau ( The Perhapanauts) traded me pinups awhile back and I got the better end of the deal with his great take on the Marquis in the midst of the devil's clutches!

Craig Rousseau

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Next up on the weekend Diableries is this wonderful portrait of the Marquis Vol de Galle by multitalented artist/ writer, Mark Ricketts!

Mark Ricketts Handbuzzer Studio

Le Marquis deux~

For the French edition of The Marquis: Danse Macabre published by Les Humanoïdes Associés, I first went with the idea of doing the cover based on the old proposal art showing the Marquis above the stairs that turn into the devils. Humanoides asked for something that tied into a scene from the actual story, so I reworked it to the finished drawing above. The printed cover was colored by Raúl Treviño and is reprinted in the color cover gallery of the new Marquis: Inferno collection from Dark Horse Comics.

M is for~

A Marquis promo drawing from 1998~ as I remember this was done for a comic store that asked different artists to illustrate the first letter of their books to make an alphabet used above the store's back issue boxes.

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Another great pinup I got years ago ( back in 1999) from artist and inker Bill Reinhold. I always enjoy seeing how different artist interpret the devils along with the Marquis himself!

Bill Reinhold DeviantArt

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Another weekend Diableries starts off with the amazing Sam Hiti (artist and creator of Tiempos Finales and The Long Dark Train) take on the Marquis and a devilish catch!

Sam Hiti Infatuations!