Graphic Ink: The DC Comics Art Of Gary Frank

Through the magic of the internet, I stumbled upon this image by Gary Frank, a promotional piece for a book titled GRAPHIC INK: THE DC COMICS ART OF GARY FRANK. The book is still up on the DC site despite being shelved. Here is that link: http://ift.tt/2nZSkhG

I've been a fan of Frank's art since his early work on the Peter David Supergirl site. And while not from DC, I loved his work on Supreme Power. Just gorgeous stuff there.

Looking at this image, you can see the breadth of Frank's work in DC. Obviously he had some time with Superman with Geoff Johns. But you also see the Stan Lee Imagines Shazam, the Tangent Flash, Black Canary (he was one of the first artist's on Birds of Prey), and the actual Marvel Family while on Justice League (again with Johns). And his take on the Legion was great in that Action Comics run.

This is a great piece, worthy of a poster.

But you can guess the two characters that really caught my eye.

Frank drew Supergirl in the Brainiac storyline in Action Comics. Kara was still suffering a bit in her own title but Johns made her young, a bit vulnerable, but ultimately the hero of that arc, saving the Earth from Brainiac's solar aggressor missile.

I thought she carried a certain youthful naivete with a grace. And the panels where she admits she is scared but then flies into space after the missile is just fantastic.

So it was great to see Frank draw that Supergirl again.

But really the image that gave me the biggest smile was seeing Frank draw Linda Danvers again.

I have gushed about the Peter David Supergirl run a ton on this site. I have reviewed a number of the Frank drawn issues from that run, including Supergirl #9, one of my favorites. This was the Matrix Supergirl merging with a troubled young woman and finding her way.

Seeing that classic skateboard, the full shirt S-shield, and a smiling Linda ... it just warmed by heart. I'd wear this image on a t-shirt!

I miss that version of the character. A lot.

Unfortunately, it looks like the book idea got scrapped. Frank posted this image on his twitter feed back in July 2016. Surprised I missed it back then.

It's a shame. I would have bought it!

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