VIDEO: HIDDEN ALEX ROSS ART part 2

Here's the Hidden Art within the pages of HELLRAISER #17. See more celebrity appearances and delve deeper into Alex's musical tastes, all of which kept him sane during the creation of this project which he dislikes to this very day!



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I AM SPEECHLESS!

There's little I can say with the few monosyllabic words that were left in my head after what happened blew my mind. On his latest e-mail Sal Abbinanti, Alex Ross' art dealer, his model for Shazam and writer/artist of the awesome indie comic, Atomika, told me he'd send me some swag for all the hard work I'm doing on this site and because he's a really cool guy. I thought I'd get t-shirt and such but, oh no. Sal went above and beyond. He sent me what you see in the photo, The Absolute Justice hardcover, the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con sketchbook and that kick-ass letter, which you can see below. Awesome!

Thanks Sal, you're truly a class act!



Don't expect any more updates this week, I'll be recuperating from the shock I had when I received these presents. My doctor said to take it easy or I'll have a heart attack. LOL, just kidding!

STATUES & BUSTS: part 6

EARTH X BUSTS: To cover this big line of busts and statues, let's cover the ones sculpted by Alex Ross first.

LOGAN: This was the first bust of this line. Completely designed, sculpted and painted by Alex, it sets the bar pretty high for this line.
Since the Earth X Wolverine was a fat slob and nobody would like that statue, Alex used the version of the "Days of Future Past" story line which was incorporated into the Earth X continuity during Paradise X. The detail is astounding! It looks so real and the claws are painted in a chromed-silver hue which makes it metal-like. It's just so real. This bust was limited to 1299 pieces and it can be found (occasionally) on eBay for about US$50 to US$75.



SPIDER-GIRL & VENOM: Designed, sculpted and painted by Alex Ross, these two busts are exactly the same figure only painted differently. The shape of the figure looks a bit off in the chest area but the "veins" on Venom look very creepy and much like the comic version.
These were limited to 5000 pieces and can be found at very cheap prices all over the internet. Hey, I got mine for US$9.99.



DAREDEVIL: Again, designed, sculpted and painted by Alex Ross, this laughing Daredevil is another one of the highlights of this line of busts. Great pose and fantastic metallic paint job makes this one amazing addition to your collection, Earth X fan or not. Limited to a sold-out quantity of 2000 units, this bust is really hard to find and if you do it won't come cheap. People just wouldn't part with this statue because it's THAT cool. So it has become a rare item that can go for up to US$100. If you ever find one that is.





CAPTAIN AMERICA: This incredibly huge and detailed sculpture which measures around 12 in. (30 cm) is a collaborative effort between Alex Ross who designed, painted and partially sculpted the figure and Jarrod Shiflett, who were able to capture every little scar on Cap's body as well as every single thread on the tattered flag/tunic he wears. The level of detail is awesome and because it's the only full-bodied Earth X statue and if you own one you know what I'm talking about. I've seen this statue but don't have the privilege of owning one. If you'd like to have one, expect to pay between US$250 to US$350 if you ever find one in a store or online.
If you want to see more of Jarrod's, and his brother Brian's, work visit: www.shiflettbrothers.com

IN MY COLLECTION: The Logan and Venom busts.

JUST IN: COMICS

I was able to find these variant covers at really cheap prices on eBay and being able to see them up close it's a whole new experience than seeing them as a digital scan. The Batwoman cover is gorgeous with the flow of her cape and the contrast of bright red and purple. The detail on Daredevil's costume and surroundings rocks! I complained that Spidey's cover was too monochromatic yet the motion of the hero and the "tentacles" is unparalleled and makes up for it. The Cap cover is great yet too many characters in it take away some of the impact off it, this cover would work best as a poster.
The big winner in my opinion is the Hulk cover. The colors, the expression on the green giant's face and the level of detail all over this cover makes it absolutely brilliant. Kudos to Alex for a fantastic job on these covers.

STATUES & BUSTS: part 5

SUPERMAN FOREVER STATUE:
Designed by Alex Ross and sculpted by Karen Palinko, this statue perfectly captures Alex Ross' classic image from issue 1 of the comic of the same name. This fantastic bust is 12 inches (30 cm) tall and still retails or can be found on eBay for US$175 to US$200. I really think the sculptress captured the pose perfectly and this is a must-have for any Superman fan, even if they're not Alex fans. The image is that iconic.
Can't afford the price tag? relax, on March, 2010 this fantastic piece of art is being re-released, albeit in a "mini" version. Half the size and a little less than half the price. So there's no excuse now.



MARTIAN MANHUNTER: This statue was designed by Alex and sculpted by Mike Hill. It was released in 2005 to coincide with J'onn J'onzz 50th anniversary of being created by Joseph Samachson and Joe Certa and appearing in Detective Comics #225 in 1955. This fantastic statue was limited to 1500 pieces and it measures 12 inches (30 cm) tall. And if you can find it online, expect to pay no less than US$200 - US$250. If you can find one, of course.

None of these 2 great statues are IN MY COLLECTION.