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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

AquaSketch by Michael Netzer - 2008

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Michael Netzer is a man of his word!

He promised an original Aquaman sketch for the Shrine in conjunction with his
Save the Martian Manhunter campaign, and boy did he deliver!

Here we have
not only Aquaman, but also the Martian Manhunter and the Atom, all hanging out and taking five from presumably yet another world-shattering JLA adventure.

I love it, thanks so much Michael!

10 comments:

Diabolu Frank said...

I noticed in the sketch phase-- but trusted in the eventually result-- only to be totally creeped out by those "8mm" gloves. What kind of sick, twisted business is J'Onn J'Onzz getting up to in those things? I honestly fear the search for Ray Palmer may end in a place angels and gerbils fear to tread...

...added gut-wrenching bonus: my word verification was "wsexa." Ohhh, no! Please. Just no.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that is weird. For a guy who says he's a Jonn fanatic, you'd think he would know Jonn doesn't wear gloves. Other than that, the piece is awesome, though...

Damian said...

Maybe in an attempt to save himself and fit in more, the Manhunter picked himself up some gloves.

Or perhaps they're solely for the eating of cream filled cookies.

As for Frank's suggestion of gerbil treatment...

Oh no you didn't...

Anonymous said...

Well.....after reading the other comments...I almost hate to enter this conversation. Ha, well, sticking just to the picture, it's beautiful! I love Aquaman there, he totally looks like a king. I like the inclusion of all three of these guys, I think they'd make a pretty great team. As a matter of fact, who needs the rest of the League;) So, what is it with J'Onn and oreos anyway?

Michael Netzer said...

J'Onn had an Oreo addiction in Justice League International, but he got over it. It's become a trademark of sorts.

He's also been a little stressed out since the rumors that he might not have much time left. His wearing these gloves to meet Aquaman tells of the emotional disarray he must be in. Another good reason for DC to allow him to live.

For the record, I've never said I'm a J'Onn fanatic. Another way to understand the campaign is that it utilizes the rumor that J'Onn and Aquaman are on the chopping block in order to voice a widespread comics fandom dissatisfaction with current editorial and marketing trends in mainstream comics.

But I do like J'Onn. Even more so since the campaign began.

Diabolu Frank said...

Artists are always tweaking J'Onn's costume, and Mike Sekowsky even drew him with gloves in an early JLofA issue. At least the gloves match the boots. I never understood that period where he was wearing gold Amazonian bracelets.

Keith Giffen had the idea of Oreo filling having the same effect on a Martian metabolism as heroin. Either Janette Kahn or Andy Helfer (or both) nixed the idea of his being a literal junk food junkie, but his amusing affection for the cookie stuck regardless. John Ostrander even teased the original idea in an apocryphal issue of his solo series.

Michael Netzer said...

Exactly! He kept the gloves and bracelets in his closet all this time because Superheores are known to cultivate a sentimental attatchment to their creators' fetishes and deviations.

In the state of near delirium over his potential demise, J'Onn must have also thought that it's more fitting that he doesn't come nearly "naked" to meet a king. The gloves were apparently his way of dressing up for royalty.

But I do like how they round out his look. He simply looks more balanced, powerful and awesome with the gloves.

"The Campaign to Give J'Onn J'Onzz Gloves" can't be too far away... once he gets his life back. 8-)

rob! said...

he was "famously" mistakenly drawn with gloves on the cover to JLA #48, and when Bruce Timm did a recreation of the cover for TwoMorrows' JLA Companion book, he kept 'em in just to be accurate, so that's what at first i thought you were doing, mike. :)

but i like your answer better--its Manhunter's formal attire!

Anonymous said...

Sorry for the comment, then...although the conversation following my comment was hilarious, so I guess I shouldn't apologize after all. :-)

Diabolu Frank said...

Also, the Martian Manhunter chess piece for JLofA #1 wore gloves. I do not condone the gloves, I must reiterate, but they are not without precedent. Y'know what they also remind me of? Tyler Durden's dishwashing accessory from his first night with Marla...