Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Summer is wrapping up and I’m drawing a lot of snow and I am so very tired. I’ve been plugging hard on PROJECT WHITEOUT for the last couple of weeks. It’s taken up 95% of my time/energy in order to keep pages rolling in on time so other stuff has lagged behind a bit.

Worklog:

• Layouts, PROJECT WHITEOUT

• Pencilled PROJECT WHITEOUT pages 1-20

• Inked PROJECT WHITEOUT pages 1-10

• Pencilled PROJECT WHITEOUT pages 11-20

• Finished script A QUIET PLACE #5

• Roughs/pencils Mad Cave cover

-The worklog might seem lighter than usual but that’s because I’ve been grinding on pencilling/inking PROJECT WHITEOUT pages as it needs to be wrapped by the time I head to the Avilés festival in Spain next week. It’s been a lot of work to really dig into an issue like this but also feels good to be so productive on pages again. I’ve half the issue pencilled/inked now, wrapping up pencils for the last half today/tonight, tomorrow I’ll jump onto the rest of the inks. By the time I have this issue in, I’ll bloody well need the break that Avilés is providing, then I’ll be colouring the issue once I’m back from Spain. Here’s a look at a page of pencils and inks, without giving away what the book is. It won’t be solicited ‘til December, so I still can’t say what it is yet, sorry.

-Keeping everything else rolling as best I can. The artist of PROJECT AXIS has the first three covers done as well as the main designs. Once they’re dressed, will send into Image Comics to let them know we’re actively working on it. Have hired an editor who is starting today as I’ve done all the administrative stuff I can take care of by myself, I’m at the point where I need to delegate that to someone else and concentrate on the writing.

-I’m lightly chipping away on my revised outline for PROJECT LAZARUS. I’m frustrated with myself, now that I have the fire to start it, I’m too busy with PROJECT WHITEOUT right now to make significant progress. But I’m itching to get going on it and will be soon. Getting sick of me talking about this? Yeah me too, sorry.

-I got offered to do a one shot with an incredible writer …I’d love to do it but as I said above, I have to prioritise PROJECT LAZARUS going forward.

-FINALLY! THUNDERCATS Vol 3 is out! APEX collects #11-15 of the series, with art by Drew Moss with Joe Mulvey. Softcover cover by myself, hardcover art by Lucio Parillo. I was assuming it was out as I just got my comps but a friend saw a copy in the wild last week so I know it’s definitely out. Distributor issues delayed this volume a loooong time so it’s great to see this in print, with a cover by myself to boot.

-Marvel released my variant cover for PUNISHER SHOWDOWNS: WOLVERINE #1. This was tremendous fun. Some jobs are just essentially drawing the stuff you drew as a kid/teenager but you actually get paid to do them, such as this one.

-I’m taking part in Clare Culture Night on September 18th. I’ll be doing a storytelling workshop as one of over 45 events taking place around County Clare. All events are free but some may require prebooking. If you’re in the area, you can find more events here.

The workshop will be an updated version of the class I used to do for the Irish Writer’s Centre years back, but this class will be for teenagers. I have no idea if they’ll be really interested, or just act super moody and cool. You know what’s cool kids? Staying in school. Anyway, gems like that and other are sure to be shared. I’ll let ye know how it goes.

-Nice to see some love for our TERMINATOR run!

-My MARVEL KNIGHTS: THE WORLD TO COME #6 variant is out tomorrow. I did this a good while ago so the release date slipped me by. It was very cool to do a variant for this series. Love me some Marvel Knights.

Note: in the next Declarations, I’ll be taking open commissions. I’ll be doing them in time for New York Comic Con, but will be posted out after that. This will be the last opportunity to get a commission of mine posted out to you this year. Full figure, A4 pieces only. If interested, keep an eye out in a couple of weeks.

A QUIET PLACE

Issue One of A QUIET PLACE: RISING TIDES has been solicited!

Variant covers for the issue have also been revealed! The first, a B ‘Florida Travel Guide Set’ cover by Lendl.

C variant by Tyler Kirkham

And this excellent incentive variant by ASSORTED CRISIS EVENTS co-creator/artist [and former TIME BEFORE TIME co-collaborator] and recent Eisner Award winner Eric Zawadzki!

On a personal level, I’m delighted that Eric could do a cover for the book and seeing his spin on Luke’s character/environments.

All the art is now in for Issue Two, next week I’ll have to do lettering notes for the issue, this week I have some edits to do on the script for Issue Four. When I get back from Spain I’ll also be working on the cover for Issue Five.

OUT SOON

September 16th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #5 [C]

MARVEL KNIGHTS: THE WORLD TO COME #6

September 23rd

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO – SILENT MISSIONS Vol. 2 [W]

November 4th

PUNISHER SHOWDOWNS: WOLVERINE #1 [VC]

A QUIET PLACE: RISING TIDES #1 [W,C]

APPEARANCES

Avilés, Spain. September 8-12th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Welcome back to this ‘bi-weekly’ Declarations, aside from posts like this that are a week late. Apologies, I didn’t have time to put this together ahead of Dublin Comic Con, a show I did not attend to but floated around in order to catch up with old friends. More on that below but first, my Worklog:

• Layouts, PROJECT WHITEOUT

• Lettering notes, MUMM-RA #5

• Inked/coloured PROJECT AXIS #1 cover

• Inked/coloured Marvel cover

• Pencilled/inked/coloured A QUIET PLACE #4 cover

• Pencilled/inked/coloured DC Comics cover

• Pencilled PROJECT WHITEOUT pages

• Development work, PROJECT AXIS #1

• New roughs, A QUIET PLACE #5 cover

• Writing A QUIET PLACE script

-Dublin Comic Con was just over a week ago and while I didn’t attend the show this year, I did take the opportunity to take a break and catch up with all the Irish comics crowd. By the time I was back home, my whole body hurt from laughing, what a great time.

I also got the chance to see Lorenzo Re who made it over from Italy. I met him briefly at Lucca a few years ago years ago and after following his work for a while, asked to get him on issues of TERMINATOR. Loved working with him, so it was great to get to know him properly after having done some great [in my humble opinion] work together. He’s currently tearing it up on the upcoming FIREFLY series from Dynamite. I’ve seen some pages and they’re absolutely fantastic, don’t sleep on that, people.

Of huge note, my old pal Rickey Purdin [Talent Relations Director, Marvel Comics] was a guest at the Dublin show. He seemed very impressed with what he saw at the show and everyone I talked to who met him had a great experience. I’ve been bullying Rickey to visit to Ireland for years so I took some time off to see him and show him a good a time as possible. Brought him and his partner Sam out Wesht with the Mooneys after the show and they seemed to have a blast.

Also; this…

-I’m about halfway through pencilling PROJECT WHITEOUT. Can’t say more about it yet, but it’s a holiday-themed one-shot issue. Here’s a peek…

-I’ve gotten pretty busy with PROJECT WHITEOUT so I’ve stalled a bit on PROJECT LAZARUS. I’m geared up to jump into it asap though, I’ve been a bit scared/intimidated of late, and talking to peers while in Dublin helped me shake off those nerves. It’s good to get out and talk with people, to push out out of your head-cage.

-To be fair to myself though, I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to get PROJECT AXIS [an upcoming Image Comics series] off the ground, bouncing stuff off the artist and designer. I have a couple of covers in the bag and the artist has their first main cover done and we’ve worked with the colourist to nail down that final image. I’m very very happy with how the pieces are forming together. There’s some more prep work to be done, but I need to get this first script worked out soon.

-THOR #800 is out tomorrow and I’ve drawn/coloured a story in it, written by Kieron Gillen. It’s great to have another Marvel story out, especially a great character piece like this where I get to draw all the hits on a Marvel icon with an excellent writer. Getting to colour some sequential pages was a real treat too, I love colouring my covers, but he storytelling work in sequential pages is a whole other skillset that I really enjoy. Above is the first page. I also provided a foil variant for the issue [see OUT SOON section].

-I’m heading to Spain! I was recently invited to the Aviles, a festival I've always wanted to attend. From what I understand it's a very unique show, a week long as opposed to a weekend with a much more relaxed feel. Really looking forward to it, just about three weeks away[!]

-I saw this old John Cassaday piece [below] online a few days ago. Ever since he passed away in 2024, anytime I see a piece of his I am dramatially reminded just how much of the DNA of his work is in my own. Something that wasn’t obvious to me before his death. Some influences on you are obvious, some are forced, but some just seep in slowly and surely. I’m not saying I could do as good a job on this piece below [I definitely couldn’t], but by god it sure looks like it’s something I’d try do do now.

I got to meet him once, spent a whole evening with him at a show in Birmingham many years ago. I was just starting out, only a couple of published works under my belt yet he was very gracious and a lot of fun.

RIP, John.

ART DECO

Speaking of Avilés, I’m opening a small commission list for the show. A4, full figure for those wanting a more detailed piece. Depending on the amount ordered, I’ll try do a couple ahead of time but may end up finishing some at the show itself. As always, you Decloytes have first chance at getting one, I’ll open the list publicly tomorrow.

Avilés commission list

DEC RECS

I was fortunate enough to get an advance read of the brand new TEEN TITANS #1 by Kyle Higgins, Daniele Di Nicuolo and Marcelo Costa. Part of DC Comics’ Next Level line, its a fresh new take on the title. Higgins brings a very contemporary approach to fledgling DC superheroes under the [bad?] influence of the Red Hood with some wonderfully stylish storytelling by Di Nicuolo and brilliant colour design by Costa. Any fans of Higgins & co’s Black Market Narrative output will already understand the approach of this book, and it’s exciting to se it channeled into the DC Universe.

THUNDERCATS

The final issue of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS came out last week, here are the preview pages by series artist Drew Moss and colourist Igor Monti.

PHEW, It’s all done! It is of course a little bittersweet to see my last issue of the THUNDERCATS team come out. Been quite the ride. I guess I’ll be retiring this segment from the newsletter going forward, which after over two years will feel very weird.

MUMM-RA

And of course, tomorrow sees my last issue of MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING hits the stands. This being the last official ThunderVerse book I’ve written.

Heres the first page, I don’t want to show any more than that, as the last issue ended on quite the cliffhanger/revelation, that I don’t want to spoil for anyone who hasn’t read it yet. I am incredibly happy with what I got to do with this book and my thanks to editor Nate Cosby for not only approving the swing, but encouraging me to swing even harder.

Artist Rapha Lobosco did some phenomenal work on this. The series gave me the room to really showcase Rapha; period-specific locations, mixed with lots of moody scenarios, some horrific events, contemporary environments and even a superhero/monster clash. On the main book, it being monthly and ongoing, we would need standalone stories and fill-ins to keep the train moving on time. With MUMM-RA, it’s been great to just expand that world and have it fully realised by one sole artist. Hats off also to colourist Roshan Kurichiyanil, who really upped his game to make this book feel truly epic.

A final thanks fo Jeff Eckleberry, who lettered this and all my THUNDERCATS work. I threw some weird stuff at him and he hit the mark every time

A QUIET PLACE

I’m waiting on approval to draw the last cover as I wrap up my last script for A QUIET PLACE: RISING TIDES. It’s so strange to be so far ahead on a book, that it’s all written before the first issue is even published! I’m sure there’s some notes I’ll have to deal with, feedback on art and lettering as the book is produced, etc, but feels great to have this all mostly squared away so far ahead of publication.

OUT SOON

August 19th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #5 [W/VC]

THOR #800 [C/A/Col]

August 26th

THUNDERHAWKS #5 [VC]

September 2nd

FIREFLY #1 [VC]

September 16th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #5 [C]

September 23rd

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO – SILENT MISSIONS Vol. 2 [W]

November 4th

PUNISHER SHOWDOWNS: WOLVERINE #1 [VC]

APPEARANCES

Avilés, Spain. September 8-12th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Seems like the comics sands are shifting a lot, in much bigger industry ways, as well as for me personally.

First, my Worklog:

• New roughs, A QUIET PLACE #4

• New roughs, A QUIET PLACE #5

• Roughs/pencils, PROJECT AXIS #1

• Roughs/pencils/ inks, PROJECT AXIS #2

• Roughs, DC Comics cover

• Design work, PROJECT AXIS

• Coloured PROJECT ARCA cover

• Character design, PROJECT WHITEOUT

• Lettering notes, THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5

• Roughs/pencils/inks/colours PROJECT WHITEOUT cover

• Roughs/pencils Marvel cover

• Writing PROJECT AXIS #1 script

• Writing PROJECT LAZARUS outline

-While suffering from serious SDCC FOMO, I did a lot of roughs in the last couple of weeks for various covers as well as pencilling/inking some of them. A lot of development work for PROJECT AXIS and PROJECT WHITEOUT too.

Ideally for the next month I’ll be writing pages for PROJECTS AXIS and LAZARUS while drawing the PROJECT WHITEOUT issue [starting layouts today], which suits me fine. Nice to have a paying gig while doing development work which does not pay.

-Some big comics news broke recently. Steve Wacker is taking over as editor in chief [EIC] of Marvel Comics, with CB Cebulski heading to Japan to spearhead Marvel initiatives there. I thought this was very cool news, strikes me as an obvious move for CB while there seems to have been a feeling among creatives and readers that a creative shift at Marvel was needed, with DC making obvious strides in the past year or so. Having worked with Steve in the past, I think this is exactly the guy to do it. Wacker is the editor who paired myself and Warren Ellis together on MOON KNIGHT among other excellent pairings so you can see why I think he’s an editor who has real vision and I’m excited to see what he does as EIC.

News also broke that Marvel Comics are going to be moving to LA. To be honest, I’m pretty heartbroken over this, NYC has been the beating heart of Marvel for decades, a revered publishing institution and a large part of the Americana I fell in love with as a kid, particularly through comics. This also means a certain amount of editors I value and respect likely won’t move to LA. At least, that’s my feeling, I can’t see many uprooting their families to move across the continent. If that happens, Marvel will lose a lot of brilliant people and that will be incredibly sad to witness. We’ll see what happens, I guess. I’ve made my plans to go to NYC for NYCC in October, I predict it’s going to be a big weekend for many.

-On the subject of Marvel, I saw this information was online so I can reveal that PROJECT LIGHTNING [that I spoke about in previous Declarations] is in fact a short story for THOR #800. I’ve drawn a cover [above] for the issue that will be a special foil variant, the story itself is one I drew and coloured written by the one and only Kieron Gillen. This special anniversary issue is out August 19th.

-My variant cover for DETECTIVE COMICS #1111 was released last week. I missed it the OUT SOON notice section, apologies. I am SO happy with this cover, just the right mix of design-integrated illustration that I find really satisfying. DC covers are a rare treat for me, and to get to draw Batman is always a dream for me, bonus to have Green Arrow and Black Canary featured too.

-While I was travelling to and from Miami, I got through more of my PROJECT LAZARUS reading list; I’ve now read 10 of the 20 books on my list. Yes, I’ve added books to the list, making it somewhat harder to complete the list, but I’m getting there. I’ve reworked a chunk of my PROJECT LAZARUS pitch into a more fleshed-out outline. Ideally. I would wait until I’ve finished all my research before writing but as I keep adding material to the list I’m worried that I’ll just end up pushing the start back even further. So, I’m making a proper start now, knowing I can always come back and tweak things later before I start any drawing.

-Dark Horse Comics released my variant cover for MINOR THREATS: THE CLEANER, a new series by old pal Gerry Duggan along with Patton Oswalt, and Jordan Blum, with art by Mark Torres.

-I just got invited to a european show happening later this year. Have always wanted o go to this one, just have to check dates before I commit.

-I coloured my cover for PROJECT ARCA [above]. What is it? Can’t say. When will it be out? No idea. But, at least this cover is done and in the bank for whenever I might need it. It’s a pretty out-there project for me, it’s in production but on a lower gear. A project that will come together over time, not something that is overtly time-sensitive, which is a nice change of pace.

-The great debate! Will I give the Dan Mora Batman headsketch to my friend as planned, of keep for myself? You Decolytes decided…

Guess I’ll jut have to keep it! Ah no …I will give it to my friend, but only to be used as blackmail for something that will benefit me. Its good to know [64% of] you Decolytes have my back, though.

-I saw that Image Comics are reprinting Warren Ellis and Chris Sprouse’s OCEAN [with a new cover by Sprouse]. This come out via Wildstorm back in the day, I believe, I missed the series at the time, so I’m looking forward to finally checking this out via this new collection.

THUNDERCATS

NEWS! Dynamite Comics announced a THUNDERCATS reboot with a new THUNDERCATS #1 written by Greg Pak with art by David Cousens.

Wait, what!? But that’s my book!

Yes, with having finished writing the main THUNDERCATS crossover with SILVERHAWKS and the MUMM-RA miniseries, I’m stepping away from the ThunderVerse.

I’ve had a BIG project to get started on [PROJECT LAZARUS] that was green-lit a few months ago and I think all the Thunderwork ended up eating up all my focus. Now I’m finally in a place to properly start a dream opportunity and with the natural build-up to the crossover and it wrapping up aliong with MUMM-RA, now feels like a good place to step off. After over two years [containing 35 scripts, one drawn issue and 56 covers] I just think it’s a good time to bow out. LAZARUS is a project that I’m writing/drawing and with two creator owned series I’m currently developing/writing, I think that will be more than enough for me to manage in the year to come.

Taking on THUNDERCATS as a writer was a unique challenge I feel that I was ready for. The huge positive reaction and the sudden sales blow-up was amazing and it all lead to a MUCH bigger challenge than I could have ever expected and I did my best to rise to it. The scope of this gig grew exponentially and I am hugely grateful to editor Nate Cosby, publisher Nick Barrucci and the crew at Dynamite Comics as well as the Warner Brothers licensor for the space to do what I’ve been able to do with my co-pilot Drew Moss [and everyone else who contributed, namely letterer Jeff Eckleberry [who lettered every issue I wrote] but also artists such as Joe Mulvey and David O’Sullivan who helped us keep the train on the tracks] with this franchise of characters, not forgetting those who worked on the spinoff eries/mini-series/one-shots.

This book gave me the chance to really push myself as a writer in a way I hadn’t been able to previously. Getting to essentially write a monthly superhero book for over two years in a publishing landscape that has recently been more saturated by limited series has been a rare and satisfying experience. Also, to wrap up my time on the series with this crossover event and a mini-series dedicated to the big bad of the universe is a perfect place to step off and see someone else take the Thunder-torch. I want to thank all the Thunder-fans here, as ye’ve always been so sweet to me. Anyone who has talked to me at conventions about THUNDERCATS has always been so positive and encouraging about the book, which has been a fantastic experience.

Of course, standing ovation to Drew Moss who really was the backbone of the series for the last couple of years. Yes, I had to work out ‘the take’ and developed the world, new lore, etc but without a dedicated, skilled and workhorse artist, the book would have faltered. Drew’s skill and dedication made this book possible, and his excitement and creative enthusiasm kept me going during some of the more stressful moments. Working on this book was a wonderful way to develop a partnership with a trusted collaborator like Drew. We’ve since made so many issues as a team [including a TMNT/MUTANT NATION issue]thar Drew is the artist I’ve worked with the most at this point and this is definitely not the last time we’ll be working together. In fact, we’re already talking about what’s next.

We’re not done yet though and we’re going out on a high. The final issue of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS, mine and Drew’s swan song on the title, is out August 12th. I hope ye enjoy the rest of the ride.

MUMM-RA

Issue Four of the mini-series came out last week. Fantastic work by Rapha Loboasco, Roshan Kurichiyanil and Jeff Eckleberry where things got dark. And if you’ve read the last page of the book, you know we’ve taken a really interesting turn…

Rapha handed in his final pages of Issue 5 last week and with him wrapped, I have to say I am so happy with this mini. Especially with how we’re wrapping it up. With every single page of the miniseries drawn by Rapha, it’s a wonderfully constistent, high quality book. If my run on THUNDERCATS is a solid gold crown then this mini is a rare jewel contained within. With this title, I got to play in a different corner of the Thunderverse I’d helped established, taking some ideas of the main book and giving them a larger playground to blossum, while hopefully leaving Mumm-Ra in a more interesting and indimidating place.

A QUIET PLACE

Quietely [ha] chipping away on this, I had to redo roughs for Issue 4 and 5 covers… they didn’t quite work for the licensor so have sent in new passes, waiting to hear back on approvals before I get working on the final pieces. Once I have some writing work done on PROJECT AXIS and LAZARUS I’ll circle back to write my last script of this.

Not to be a broken record, but Luke Sparrow’s pages are sublime.

OUT SOON

August 5th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #4 [C]

August 12th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5 [W/VC]

August 19th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #5 [W/VC]

Aug 26th

THUNDERHAWKS #5 [VC]

September 2nd

FIREFLY #1 [VC]

September 16th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #5 [C]

September 23rd

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO – SILENT MISSIONS Vol. 2 [W]

August 19th

THOR #800 [C/A/Col]

As this newsletter goes out, I’ll be on my way to the airport heading home from Florida Supercon in Miami. I had previously done that show years ago so it was great to make it back after all this time, I’ve had a lot of fun. More on that below.

My Worklog:

• Lettering notes, A QUIET PLACE #1

• Coloured PROJECT LIGHTNING short story

• Rough/pencilled/inked/ coloured PROJECT LIGHTNING cover

• Roughs A QUIET PLACE #4 cover

• Roughs A QUIET PLACE #5 cover

• Inked PROJECT ARCA cover

• Wrote talk for Florida SuperCon panel

• Outline; PROJECT AXIS

• PROJECT LAZARUS research

• Creator discussion; PROJECT LIGHTNING

• Exhibited, Florida SuperCon

• Wrote A QUIET PLACE #4 script

-Yes, Miami Supercon was great. Spending some days in a really fun city with great food, frolicking in a pool, etc, has been a great break I didn’t realise I was in need of. Was very fun to be back and hang out with old pals such as illustrator Kelly McMahon, writer Kyle Higgins and some guy called Dan Mora, whoever that is.

As you can probably tell from my sweaty face above, it was so hot. I drank enough cocktails and had enough gelatto to cool me down though. Oh, I also met another old pal…

Myself and Kelly did a class on comics covers and storytelling that went really well. It was nice to do something a little more educational at one of the bigger pop-culture shows.

I also did a panel about MOON KNIGHT that went very well. Some interesting questions I had never been asked before.

I was busier than I thought I’d be at the show; did more headsketch commissions than I expected. Turns out ABSOLUTE BATMAN is pretty damned popular these days.

I didn’t have huge expectations for the show but as it turned out, it went pretty great for me. I performed better than expected with commissions, as mentioned above I did some interesting panels and I got to bounce some ideas about my next Image book with Kyle, master of the MassiveVerse. Kyle’s a good guy to get some advice from as he puts so much into his work and the best ways to get it out to readers. Getting to spend some time with Dan Mora, was also fantastic. I was someone who raved about his early work back when he was working on KLAUS. He has swung by my table at cons many times over the years to say hi, but this was the first time we got to have some good chats. I drooled over his original art too. What a talent and a lovely guy. He even did this BATMAN sketch for a friend of mine.

…though, maybe I should keep it?

So when I land tomorrow I’ll be wrecked tired, but also very energised to jump on all the upcoming projects.

-PROJECT LIGHNING is all done. Handed in the colours before I left for Miami. I don’t think I can say what it is yet, but here’s a non-spoilery peek at a panel below. I’m extremely happy with it all.

-I inked the cover for PROJECT ARCA. I have no idea if this will ever see print to be honest, but I wanted to bank a cover in case it’s ever needed for a variant. As I was coming up with the book, this image really stuck in my mind and sometimes there’s images like this that you need to draw, to exorcise it out of you. I’ve been looking to draw this for a couple of years so if feels good to finally get it out. I’ll colour this once I get a chance.

-I saw that Jordan Thomas, an up-and-coming writer from the UK, has a new Kickstarter campaign that looks very impressive with Chris Matthews, his collaborator from a previous book called MUGSHOT, which I quite enjoyed.

This new project is called THE GODS AND MONSTERS OF HEDGRAVE

…A 120-page original graphic novel tale of aliens, ambition, conspiracy, Nazis and family. The book is the latest creation from Jordan Thomas and Chris Matthews, the creators behind Mugshots and Exorcism Island. This is a complete story, no cliffhangers or waiting for future volumes. This will be a softcover perfect bound book on high quality paper, a step up from most comics you will find in stores.

This is right up my alley, and I’ve set my eyes on the Kickstarter exclusive cover too…

GODS AND MONSTERS OF HEDGRAVE

-That ABSOLUTE BATMAN cover in Declarations #200 is SOLD btw. It was snapped up publicly, bot via ART DECO but I’ll always offer Declarations readers first chance at original art.

THUNDERCATS

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS Issue 4 came out last week. Here’s the preview pages by Drew Moss with colours from Igor Monti and letters by Jeff Eckleberry. Contributions in this issue also from Joe Mulvey and Alessandro Ranaldi.

That image of Panthro was one of the first moments I thought of when initially working out this story, and it’s soooooo cool to see Drew finally draw it.

Also, check out this fantastic cover by Eric Canete.

In the next Declarations, I’ll have some big THUNDERCATS news …so watch this space.

MUMM-RA

Issue Three of MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING is out tomorrow! I don’t have any official preview pages at hand presently, but here’s an advance peek at one of the pages, with excellent linework by Rapha Lobosco and wonderful colours by Roshan Kurichiyanil.

I'm now all wrapped on the book outside of lettering notes. Rapha is handing in great pages for the final issue, I’m really going to miss working on this book.

A QUIET PLACE

I’ve just about wrapped my script for Issue 4 of A QUIET PLACE: RISING RIDES as artist Luke Sparrow hands in beautiful page after beautiful page. He drew this panel for Issue One that just broke my heart. Luke is so good.

I’ve also done the final lettering notes on Issue One. I have to say, Jodie Troutman is doing some excellent work on this book. Because A QUIET PLACE is very specific as to how sound is used, I’ve had a bit of a back and forth with editors Heather Antos and Michele Abounade. The end result is a really sharp issue, I’m extremely happy with this first issue from a creative standpoint. The editors have also scheduled my scripts well ahead of the art, so it’s been a very stress-free project so far.

DECLINED

Adding a new feature here, showing old cover concepts that didn’t make the final cut.

When working on covers I tend to provide two options to an editors, though bout 50% of the time I’ll hand in one option if I just feel it’s the strongest image. Years back I used to do a lot more options, but over time I found I’d end up putting more time and effort into images that just weren’t working. I’d end up spending a lot of time and energy into creative dead ends that some editors would end up picking, and I’d be left drawing an image that I really wasn’t enthusiastic about.

The above roughs were for a SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE #1 [2024] variant cover by editor Emily Newcomen. Initially I was asked for a shot of Vengeance himself so I went with [A] a big bad shot of his intense face, or [B] a badass shot of his whole body with his bike.

I recall after I handed these in [both I quite liked, would have been happy to draw either] someone else in editorial then decided that they wanted a shot of the two main GHOST RIDERS for the cover. I was a little frustrated as I really liked what I had come up with but hey; I’m happy to draw one GHOST RIDER, more than happy to draw two [especially as I am a Danny Ketch fan from back in the day].

Above is the updated rough that I sent in; a shot of the pair with their respective cycles in the background. This one got the green light straight away, and I moved on to pencils, inks and then colours.

This was a very fun one and while I did have an extra hoop to jump through, in the end it resulted in a cover I was really happy with.

Hope it was interesting to see what was Declined.

OUT SOON

July 15th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]

July 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]

August 5th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #4 [C]August 12th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5 [W/VC]

August 19th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #5 [W/VC]

Aug 26th

THUNDERHAWKS #5 [VC]

September 2nd

FIREFLY #1 [VC]

September 16th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #5 [C]

September 23rd

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO – SILENT MISSIONS Vol. 2 [W]

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

It’s been hot. Ive been drawing flames and lava during a heatwve which is …less than ideal. On the other hand; there’s ice cream. I just finished pencilling/inking a 5 page story [PROJECT LIGHTNING] as I do more research for PROJECT LAZARUS …having a lot of fun, despite the heat.

First, my worklog:

• Lettering draft, MUMM-RA #5

• Inked PROJECT ARCA cover

• Layouts/ pencils/ inks PROJECT LIGHTNING short story

• Research; PROJECT LAZARUS

• Coloured A QUIET PLACE #3 cover

• Roughs, A QUIET PLACE #4 cover

• Roughs, A QUIET PLACE #5 cover

• Lettering notes MUMM-RA #3

-I sometimes have been asked if I write this newsletter myself. I’ve been confused as to why I’m being asked, apparently some people have people who do this for them. I can confirm; I do indeed take the time to put this newsletter together myself every two weeks. How can I prove this…? ALL THE FECKING TYPOS! I swear to god; I comb through every post for typos, fix all the ones I find, hit ‘publish’ and then in the posted newsletter, I immediately find something like 10 typos! Or Stephen Mooney points them out to me. I do apologise, I partly blame the lack of spellcheck on Substack but let’s face it; my own incompetence is to blame. I really do try my best and will continue to try my best but let’s face it; some typos will continue to slip through the net here on Declanations. See what I did there…?

-PROJECT LIGHTNING, a short story [for …ah, I can say it’s for Marvel I guess] is now all pencilled/inked. I’ve very much enjoyed drawing this quite fun and visual short, getting to work with a writer I’ve known a very long time yet never properly worked together. Just getting the inks prepped/ flatted for colour now while I work on a cover and then I’ll hop on colours.

-I took on another short art gig. It’s just a single issue that I’m not writing, again something with a great writer I’ve never worked with before. Something fun and very visual with a character I love. Will be something to pay the bills while all the research/early writing/designs on PROJECT LAZARUS is in the works. Going to call this PROJECT WHITEOUT.

-Dynamite Comics announced a new FIREFLY ongoing series written by Mark Russel with art by my former TERMINATOR and TERMINATOR: METAL collabrators, artist Lorenzo Re and colourist Colin Craker. I was very happy to be asked to contribute a variant cover for the book, I am a massive fan of the original TV series and have recently started a rewatch …god it’s so good. Ive had a peek at some of the pages from Issue One and the book looks bold and stylish, it’s really fantastic. So glad I can finally show off this cover as I drew it back in 2025.

I haven’t show much process stuff in a while, so here’s the inks/pencils/roughs…

-I had a big chat with the artist of the upcoming PROJECT AXIS about our plans for the book. All very exciting, he’ll be able to start development in about a month, so I’ have to get my arse in gear and get moving on a script.

-I have officially started on PROJECT LAZARUS. Still deep on research part of the project …I am five books deep in my reading list of [currently] sixteen. Once I’ve read/re-read all those, I’m going back to my original pitch and reworking out a new outline. I’ll be in this research stage for a bit longer before I’m ready to write, but it’s hard to believe I’m actually doing this.

-Ignition Press have released my cover for TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #5, the last issue of the series. This was a very fun cover-run, I’ll try put together a process post about them in a future Declarations.

-My pal Gavin Guidry [and artist on the excellent FLASH series] recently revealed that he has signed exclusive at DC Comics; congrats Gavin! Was very happy to see it… exclusive contracts [ie, contracts offered by publishers that lock talent down to work for them excusively for a set amount of time] havent gone anywhere, they just don’t seem to be talked bout much these days? With that in mind, I’m encouraged to see publishers continue to lock in promising and hardworking talent by put them on big ongoing books. I think it’s a great way to show readers that they have confidence in their creators, in their characters and that they’re investing in their various titles. I think it really adds buzz to books, to know that publishers are really getting behind their initiatives and also gives creatives an incentive to get behind publishers too. The public facing exclusivity makes creatives compedative with each other, wich leades to more energy in the work, I think. It’s not for everyone of course [I was once offerered one and turned it down], I just think it’s something that I’d like to see publishers make more fanfare out of.

-Bad Idea sent me the first issue of their upcoming book WARBIRD for a quote. It’s a series very up my street. And man, this book is beautiful, definitely worth cheacking out. My blurb…

“With Kolstad and Vendetti channelling old school Cold War espionage via a stylish contemporary lens, WARBIRD becomes a delight in Euro-infused visual storytelling from masters Maleev and Ribic.”

-Declan Shalvey [Old Dog, ThunderCats]

ART DECO

I’ve had some inquiries about this piece and on the back of the news of an upcoming animated series, I’ve just put my ABSLOLUTE BATMAN #18 variant cover art up on the Art Deco store.

As usual, you Decolytes have first shot at snapping it up today but I’m going to publicly post this link tomorrow [in 24 hours]. I’m only offering it for ONE WEEK so if interested, jump on it asap.

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #18 VARIANT COVER ART

A QUIET PLACE

-I recently handed in my cover for A QUIET PLACE: RISING TIDES #3 and it’s one of my new favourite pieces. Working on the next cover rough now [Issue 4], I’ll be working on the script for it soon too.

Artist Luke Sparrow is currently working on Issue 2 and it’s looking phenomenal. I loved working with Luke on TERMINATOR, my only frustration was that they were sporadic issues in the overall run, the schedule was just too manic on that title. I really wanted to do a whole arc with him so when A QUIET PLACE was offered to me, Luke came to mind immediately. We have a great venn-diagram as regards our storytelling sensibilities so I felt with doing a book that is largely silent, I really needed someone I was very in-sync with which is why I asked for him on this. I’m very happy to report, not only did editor Heather Antos make it happen, Luke has raised the bar even more with this series. Seeing him develop a story into more issues is both incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

THUNDERCATS

So there’s some big THUNDERCATS news! Seems Warner Brothers are looking to make a new animated feature film.

Warner Bros. Officially Rebooting 41-Year-Old Fantasy Classic With New Movie.

Pretty class. I should stress, I know nothing about this. Do I think the should use mine and Drew’s run as a template? Yes! Will they…? God knows. In any case, it’s great news for fans of both Thunder and Cats.

Back to the comics! Dynamite have recently announced a new CHEETARA ongoing series by Saladin Ahmed and Andrea Ancari.

Don’t miss a bold new beginning for the Thunderverse from Eisner Award-winning writer SALADIN AHMED and amazing artist ANDREA ARCARI! Cheetara is used to hearing what others can’t…but this is different: Bold, relentless voices that contradict the Book of Omens and praise the Mu’Tants. Cheetara is fast, but even she can’t outrun these new visions that threaten to send her on a journey of discovery and danger… This issue features a PREMIUM MYSTERY BLIND BAG which contains three limited editions of the issue selected randomly from a range of variant covers exclusive to this offering. Please Note: The number of Blind Bags is limited. Allocations may occur.

Have a look at some great covers by Mark Spears, John Amor, Karen S. Darboe and Will Robson

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS Issue Four is out next week!

Thunder-bro Drew Moss is currently drawing the final issie of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS. Spare a thought for him, because this last issue is no joke, drawing-wise. There’s a LOT going on and this will be a punishing issue to draw. Cant wait to see what he does, though.

MUMM-RA

Issue Three of MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING is out now! Rapha Lobosco, Roshan Kurichiyanil and Jeff Eckleberry did amazing work, as usual.

Issue Four went to print last week, also looking great. I am so happy with how this book has come together. Saying that, Rapha is [unfortunatley] starting on the final issue at the moment.

With us nearing the end of production of this project, I’m looking back at this mini and I think it’ll will be a really interesting companion piece to the rest of the THUNDERCATS saga we’ve put together. A quality book from top to bottom because of the lovely work by Rapha with Roshan, as well as the fantastic Danny Earls covers and variants by John Amor and Erica D’Urso. Here’s their covers for the Issue 4 [as well as mine].

Not over yet of course, just taking a moment to smell the roses before it’s all done.

OUT SOON

July 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 [W/VC]

July 15th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]

July 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]

August 5th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #4 [C]

August 12th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5 [W/VC]

August 19th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #5 [W/VC]

Aug 26th

THUNDERHAWKS #5 [VC]

September 2nd

FIREFLY #1 [VC]

September 16th

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #5 [C]

September 23rd

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO – SILENT MISSIONS Vol. 2 [W]

APPEARANCES

Florida Supercon, July 10-12th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Posting this newsletter a little later today to coincide with the announcement of a new mini-series…

A QUIET PLACE: RISING TIDES.

I was previously discussing this under the codename PROJECT SILENCE. For this I am reunited with artist Luke Sparrow and colourist Colin Craker, who I previously worked with on TERMINATOR and TERMINATOR: METAL. I’m writing and providing the main covers for the series.

The series is lettered by Jodie Troutman, but as it’s A Quiet Place …who cares about lettering, right…?

Ah I’m kidding. Actually, a large appeal of taking on thi book was th idea of writing what is essentially a silent comic. That’s not exacly the case though, sound plays an important part in the story, so the lettering approach is actually far more significant on a book like this and I’m excited to see what Jodie is going to do.

This book follows the current STORM WARNING mini that is currently being published by indistry greats Phil Hester, Ryan Kelly and Lee Loughridge but it is a totally seperate story. It really is an honour to follow a team like that with our own story in this very Quiet world.

The series was offered to me by editor Heather Antos who told me that she felt having a writer/artist [such as Phil Hester in the current volume] write the series would be a big advantage in making the more silent stoytellling work. I think that was an excellent insinct on her part and it offered an interesting creative challenge fro myself.

I would need a very capable artist to make this work, though. I was earger to wok with Luke Sparrow again after our very satisfying collaborations on TERMINATOR and I felt we had a great creative and storytelling flow that would be a huge asset on a project like this. Luke is undoubtedly doing the best work of his carreer on this, and having Colin reliably make Luke look his best means this is already a beautiful book.

I’ll expand on all this in future Declarations when I get the chance, but for now head over to Entertainment Weekly to find out more. All of the first issue is drawn and coloured and it looks absolutely spectacular. Someone who shall remain nameless messaged me after the previous Declarations to let me know the panels I showed a peek of was some of the best work of mine they’d seen. Such a nice thing to say…

…except it wasn’t my work, it was Luke’s! ANYway, here’s said panels, now in colour.

Been pretty busy lately, mostly writing. My latest Worklog:

• Did a talk for a local creative event

• Coloured PROJECT SILENCE #2 cover

• Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5

• Mini-interview for Stripwire

• Wrote PROJECT SILENCE #3

• Wrote lettering draft, PROJECT SILENCE #1

• Notes on THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5

• Development work, PROJECT AXIS

• Pencilled PROJECT ARCA cover

• Coloured PROJECT SILENCE #3 cover

• Wrote MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #5

• Lettering notes THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4

-I’ve pencilled a cover for PROJECT ARCA. I’m being a bit premature, the book hasn’t even been pitched yet but I’ve been doing so much writing lately I needed to draw something. So, I thought I’d get ahead on it after having drawn the layout… 2 years ago…? Yeesh. I’ll probbly ink it this week.

I also got more inked pages from the artist and coloured pages from the colourist. I am delighted with how this is coming together, slowly but very surely.

-Last week I did a storytelling class for a local arts centre. It went great, despite it being for a group that were totally unfamiliar with comics. I was pretty rusty myself, but it seemed to go down pretty well. So well in fact that I’ve been asked to do another version of it for an arts event after the summer. Nice.

-I forgot to post sketches from London MCM! Here’s what I remembered to photgraph…

-I took on a new short story to draw. It’s a big character I’ve never taken a proper stab at, a great writer I’ve somehow never worked with before and for a special anniversary issue. What a treat! Will share more when able, but this will be a nice short project to flex on while I gear up on all the writing needed for the other various new projects I’m starting. Plus, I’m really itching to draw something at the moment. Going to call this PROJECT LIGHTNING for now. I got the script at the end of last week [it’s very cool] and have just started on the layouts. Out in August, I believe.

-The artist I’m working with on a short for the Negative Burn anthology handed in their layouts and have started drawing. Man, this story already looks great with the first panel.

-I’ve been doing a lot of research reading ahead of starting PROJECT LAZARUS. I’m going to rework my pitch in the next week or so while I work the art for PROJECT LIGHTNING.

-I drew a pizza for a thing.

Can’t say more about it yet but will explain when allowed.

-I’ll be doing a panel and a workshop at Flordia Supercon next month. A workshop on making comics and a panel about designing Moon Knight. Will have more info to share in the next Declarations.

-On the subject of cons, I’ve signed on for another this year in Europe. Should be a very fun one.

-Saw this video online last week and found it interesting, a conversation as part of IDW’s CreatorXCreator podcast series. This one is between two editors I’ve worked with; Heather Antos who edited OLD DOG, TIME BEFORE TIME [and currently A QUIET PLACE] and Jake Thomas who I worked with on the well-revieved PUNISHER covers I did for the Cloonan/Dillon/Horak run as well as the PUNISHER VS BARRACUDA series I did with Ed Brisson [that was never released]. It’s a fun look behnd the curtains at what editors really deal with by two people who are very very good at their jobs.

-Been a while since I recommended a Kickstarter. I’m a big fan of the work of Tomm Coker, and there’s a campaign to release his UNDYING LOVE series with Daniel Freeman in a lovley b&w oversized collection. It’s already met it’s goal, but I thought I’d share it here before the campaign ends in a couple of weeks.

UNDYING LOVE: ‘Not Dead Yet’ is a tale of horror and action, blending vampire mythology with Chinese folklore, set in modern-day Hong Kong.

Ex-soldier John Sargent has fallen for a beautiful Chinese woman named Mei. The only thing keeping the star-crossed lovers apart? She is a vampire. To free Mei from the curse, Sargent sets out to destroy the vampire who made her. The only problem: Mei was turned by one of the most powerful vampires in history...

This Remastered, Giant-Sized Hardcover Edition celebrates the fifteen-year anniversary of UNDYING LOVE’s original release, collecting the critically acclaimed story from creators Tomm Coker (Black Monday Murders, Daredevil Noir) and Daniel Freedman (Birdking, Kali, Witcher: Blood Stone) in this format for the first time.

UNDYING LOVE: ‘Not Dead Yet’ campaign

Just before posting this, I saw that THUNDERCATS artist Joe Mulvey has a new series with writer John Lees coming out via Kickstarter called GRAWLGORE & SHANKS.

Grawlgore & Shanks is "The Lord of the Rings" meets "Knives Out" loaded with sharp wit, rich world-building, and fantasy-noir intrigue, from award-winning writer John Lees (SINK, Hotell) and acclaimed artist Joe Mulvey (Wailing Blade, Thundercats).

It looks like a lot of fun, looks like Joe’s best work to date on a totally original story. Also sporting some lovely colours from Ireland’s own JP Jordan. Check it out below.

GRAWLGORE & SHANKS campaign

ART DECO

I’m taking commissions! These are for pickup only at FLORIDA SUPERSON, offered first to you Declarations readers.

I was hoping I could open them up for the US more generaly, I might be able to take a couple more in the next newsletter, will see how I get on in the meantime.

A4 sized, full figure, inks w/ greywash, limited background, $700

Florida Supercon Commission List

Here’s a timelapse of my recent AGENT VENOM commission

THUNDERCATS

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS came out last week with some dynamite work from Drew Moss and Igor Monti colours. Here are the preview pages!

Drew has wrapped up his pages on Issue 4. We had to bring in some help [as Drew had a personal issue] so thanks to Alessandro Ranaldi and the main man Joe Mulvey to get the book in on time. I just did the lettering notes and its a big, bold and fun issue.

My final scripts for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS and MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING are all done, hereby wrapping up my main work on the THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS event. Phew!

MUMM-RA

I’m riding high from having recenty handing in my script for MUMM-RA #5, wrapping the mini-series. I’ve done something very different with this issue and I can’t wait to see what Rapha Lobosco makes of it. Here’s an advance peek of the first page from Issue Four.

He’s wrapping up the issue this week and then will be jumping on our final issue.

OUT SOON

June 17th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #3 [W/VC]

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2 [VC]

June 24th

THUNDERHAWKS #3 [VC]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #3[C]

July 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 [W/VC]

July 15th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]

July 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]

Aug 12th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5 [W/VC]

Aug 12th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #5 [W/VC]

Aug 26th

THUNDERHAWKS #5 [VC]

APPEARANCES

Florida Supercon, July 10-12th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but Declarations missed a week! Truth be told, I was just back from London MCM and in the middle of hosting my BARONESS collaborator Joëlle Jones around Ireland a little, so I just didn’t have time to wrap up this edition on time. Apologies!

So yeah, I had a great week away, some of it being a very sweaty London MCM. Had a great time at the show [heat aside], more an that below.

My latest Worklog:

• Did a podcast interview

• Pencilled/inked PROJECT ARCA cover

• Inked a commission for London MCM

• Wrote MUMM-RA #4

• Wrote Negative Burn short story

• Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 script

• Coloured PROJECT SILENCE #1 cover

• Roughs/pencils/inks PROJECT SILENCE #2 cover

• Lettering notes, THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3

• Gave notes on a friend’s pitch/script

• Attended London MCM

• Press interview for PROJECT SILENCE

• Roughs/pencils/inks PROJECT SILENCE #3 cover

• Notes, PROJECT SILENCE #2 script

-As the ThunderVerse crossover winds down, I’m looking to what’s coming next. All of it codenames for now.

PROJECT SILENCE: Writing, 5 issue miniseries. Artist TBA

PROJECT LAZARUS: Writing/drawing, 6 issue miniseries

PROJECT ARCA: Writing, 3 issue miniseries. Artist TBA

PROJECT AXIS: Writing, ongoing series.

All projects are in the early stages at the moment, except for PROJECT SILENCE which I’m two scripts deep, with the first issue drawn as of this week. Here’s an advance peek.

I’ve the first three covers for the series inked, and the first coloured. I believe the series will be announced in a week or so and out in November.

Everything else may take a while to come out, PROJECT LAZARUS won’t be out until 2027, as well as the rest. In a week or so, I’m going to start proper on LAZARUS, my long ago teased project, which is effectively a dream/bucket-list project. I have built a reading list [nearly a whole shelf-worth!] to go through before I take my initial pitch and flesh it out more.

PROJECT ARCA [above] is moving along, we have some coloured pages now and I couldn’t be happier. This is going to be such a beautiful book.

PROJECT AXIS is a book that will be published at Image Comics. I’ve been bouncing around on the concept a lot but recently gave it a good shake and have landed on something strong. Doing a LOT of development work at the moment so that everything is nailed down by the time the artist is ready to get moving. Having two creator owned projects in the works at the moment feels great, I must say.

-London MCM was a great time, got to catch up with pals like Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, Lee Garbett, Joëlle Jones, Babs Tarr, Jock, Caspar Wijngaard, Tula Lotay, David Lopez, Pepe Larraz and more. I showed some of the above my cover for PROJECT LAZARUS and got such a great reaction to it, that I am feeling very excited to really get started. You can forget a great thing about conventions for creators; the opportunity to bounce stuff off other peers you respect and come away with more inspiration.

I decided to bring more ‘DIY’ work to the show, that is instead of selling books you can buy anywhere I brought more self published material. I sold out of Art Deco sketchbooks by Saturday morning and sold copies of the TIME BEFORE TIME Process Edition and OLD DOG Process Editions. Sold all of my THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 copies too, most of my TERMINATOR trades, most of my OLD DOG OPERATIONS copies [The Tula Lotay covers sold first of course!] and gave away a lot of OLD DOG bookmarks.

Despite having a seat of its own [above], I somehow lost my hat on the way home.

-I handed in my short story for Negative Burn’s new anthology. It’s with the artist now, I’ not sure if I can say who it is just yet, but it’s a young artist I’m a really big fan of, who will be familiar to Declarations readers.

-Image Comics released my variant cover for Issue 3 of Lorenzo De Felici’s RED ROOTS hot on the heels of news that Issue 1 is sold out and going back to print. Congrats Lorenzo! It’s a stunning book …one of those books that really make you feel crap about your own work. “What’s that Lorenzo…? You’s like me to follow Ryan Ottley and Paul Azaceta with a variant cover? Suuuuure, no problem.” Well, this is what I came up with.

-Ignition Press have released my cover for TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #4. Was very much going for a Michael Mann’s Heat vibe with this one.

-I somehow missed this, but the trade for STAR TREK: RED SHIRTS by Christopher Cantwell and Megan Levens is out now, sporting a cover by myself. I was particularly happy with this unusual variant so it’s very cool to see that IDW Publishing used it as the cover for the collection.

On the subject of STAR TREK, I recently saw IDW will be pulling out a Hardcover collection for Star Trek’s upcoming 60th anniversary, which will collect the upcoming STAR TREK #500 as well as STAR TREK #400 in the STAR TREK: 60th Anniversary Special – The Deluxe Edition HC. It will include ‘Soldier On’ the Miles O’Brien short story I wrote with art by Seth Damoose.

-Finally, huge congratulations to Joe Palmer [artist & co-creator of TIME BEFORE TIME] for Issue 1 of his solo series DESTINATION KILL selling ut at the distriburor level. If you missed out, you can now get a copy of the second printing. Don’t miss out on this exceptional and original book!

ART DECO

I got this AGENT VENOM commission done ahead of London MCM. This was fun to do, I hadn’t drawn him properly in a long time.

Here’s a timelapse for my recent BATMAN piece…

…which I saw was liked by …Jim Lee!

NOTE: In the next Declarations I’ll be taking on open commissions ahead of Florida Supercon. I’ll be looking to do them at home over the next weeks, then post them out when I’m in the states in July to keep postage costs down. So, keep in mind they won’t be posted out until late July. I’m only going to offer 4 spots here, so you’ll have to jump on them as soon as you can. Declarations readers: you’ve been alerted!

THUNDERCATS

I’m currently working on the final issue of the THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS crossover series. All the spinning plates are crashing down now and I’m trying not to get cut by all the sharp pieces. Issue 3 went to press last week, both Drew Moss and Igor Monti having pulled out all the stops. Have an early look at Page One…

I drew this for a friend recently, the true star of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS; BB!

If I had any smarts, I’d colour this and make a mini-print out of it.

I forgot to share this, my awkward and fidgity performance in a promo for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1…

I’ve now wrapped up all my art for the crossover project, the last piece being this cover for THUNDERHAWKS #5

This thing has taken over my life for the last few months, feels good to be over the halfway point production wise and wrapping it all up writing-wise. It’s been a huge challenge and I feel great about what we’ve achieved so far. Still more to come!

MUMM-RA

Issue Two of MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING came out last week. Art by Rapha Lobosco, colours by Roshan Kurichiyanil and letters by Jeff Eckleberry.

[Just to note, I think the colour profile/saturation in these preview pages is a little off. Happens with online previews sometimes.]

Very happy with this issue, everyone knocked it out of the park, Jeff really went to extra effort with this one [I asked that each of the Ancient Spirits of Evil had a different lettering style and he really delivered]. I got to write some weird dark monster stuff in this section that I really enjoyed.

Love seeing the slew of covers for this book, all handpicked by myself on this book. It doesn’t always work out this way, but feels great when it does. Covers by Danny Earls, myself, John Amor and Erica D’Urso.

I Just have one more issue to write, I’ll be bummed when it’s over as Rapha is knocking out some great stuff. Was just looking at his pages for Issue 3 and they’re really something. Here’s a peek…

OUT SOON

June 6th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 [W/C]

June 17th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #3 [W/VC]

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2 [VC]

June 24th

THUNDERHAWKS #3 [VC]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #3[C]

July 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 [W/VC]

July 15th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]

July 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]

Aug 12th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5 [W/VC]

Aug 12th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #5 [W/VC]

Aug 26th

THUNDERHAWKS #5 [VC]

APPEARANCES

Florida Supercon, July 10-12th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Was doing a lot of moving in the last week, while chipping away at work. Also some touristy stuff with Paul Azaceta before I sent him on his way. We had some lovely weather too which was the icing on the cake.

With all the new sunshine, and going through a big move, I’m going thorough a bit of a mental reboot. While packing everything up, I found some old jems [one of which was a lovely pair of glasses I’d forgotten about and lost them that night while out drinking], wonderful books that were at the bottom of some pile I hadn’t looked at in a few years, etc. I’m looking to streamline things a bit for the rest of the year as I kick off some new projects.

So yes, I’ve moved into a new space. I’m still getting things together, but with this ‘reboot’ I’m trying to take some time to organise my files, update to a new laptop, etc.

I’m all moved now, with the above setup for the next few months. Here’s the latest Worklog:

• Wrote PROJECT SILENCE #2

• Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4

• Wrote outline for Negative Burn short story

• Wrote first outline draft; PROJECT AXIS

• Pencilled 2x London MCM commissions

• Pencilled/inked PROJECT SILENCE cover

• Inked/live-streamed one London MCM commission

• Gave two friends some feedback on their creator owned pitches

-DC Comics have released my variant cover for DETECTIVE COMICS #1111! I had such a blast working on this.

-I got my trade and hardcover comps for TERMINATOR: Vol 1 in the post. It came out great, it’s a really nice package. Will bring some trade copies to London MCM in a week or so.

-The script for PROJECT SILENCE #2 is in. Very much enjoying this mini-series and hello, what’s this…?

I’m also doing covers for this series, here’s a tease from the first…

-More art is rolling in on PROJECT ARCA and I couldn’t be happier. Will need to write more of this soon.

-I’ve been making progress on another creator owned project that I’m going to call PROJECT AXIS. Been trying to spend some time to develop this along with everything else I’ve had on but have finally makereal progress and pretty much have the whole concept and team worked out now.

-Saw this online a week or so ago, a look at the Wintermorph from my ALIEN run with Andrea Broccardo, focusing on the annual I did with Danny Earls.

-I’m currently preparing a workshop [or trying to] for a local arts group. It’s essentially a version of the classes I used to do doe the Irish Writer’s Center in Dublin years back. I’m pretty rusty though, and would like to do something more updated.

-I’ll be a guest at Florida Supercon on July 10-12th. Been a few years since I’ve been to Miami, looking forward to going back.

-With the new studio space comes a new studio buddy. I think you’ll all agree he is a big step up from Paul Azaceta.

This face is very hard to walk away from when I need to go to the shops though…

ART DECO

I got a couple commissions via the previous Declarations post.

Have made a start on them with …BATMAN

You can watch the livestream from yesterday here…

Last chance to grab one [one spot remaining] if you’re heading to London MCM this week!

Mondon MCM commissions

PADDYWHACKERY

Longtime readers of Declarations will know I released two Irish-set crime ‘Paddywhackery’ graphic novels. The first was SAVAGE TOWN, a Limerick-set Sopranos-type story with cartoonist Philip Barrett. The second was a survivalist story set in the Dublin mountains with Gavin Fullerton [THE CLOSET, EXQUISITE CORPSES] called BOG BODIES. Both were creative highlights for me where I got to stretch myself as a writer and expand in different creative avenues.

It seems both books have reached their widest audience as Image Comics have decided to liquidate the remaining stock of both books later this week. I can’t complain, Image took a risk putting out these odd Irish-tinged books, especially SAVAGE TOWN which was by an as-yet unproven writer over 10 years ago. Both books both did well [BOG BODIES even getting a second printing, SAVAGE TOWN optioned by Lighthouse Studios] but they have been out a good few years at this point and storage costs are eating away at us.

So, I wanted to give these books a final plug. I may have some copies at shows in future but NOW is the final opportunity to order them from your local comic shop, or via Amazon links below…

SAVAGE TOWN Amazon [US] /[UK]

BOG BODIES Amazon [US] /[UK]

If you haven’t tried these books out yet, I urge you to try them now while you can, I’m very very proud of them, I feel great about having made original Irish-set material with fellow Irish creators for a wider international audience and still want to do more in this ‘world’ once I get a chance.

THUNDERCATS

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS Issue 2 is out tomorrow! Drew Moss takes over art duties for the rest of the crossover series. Here’s some preview pages, colours by Igor Monti, letters by Jeff Eckleberry…

I just handed in the script for Issue 4, ahead of Drew wrapping Issue Three. Just one to go and I’m wrapped! Here’s a little peek at one of Drew’s more recent panels…

MUMM-RA

I’ve started working on the script for MUMM-RA Issue 4, I’m looking forward to writing this next issue as it gets pretty dark. Series artist Rapha Lobosco is working on Issue 3, here’s a peek at some of his layouts.

Not much else to report on this book this time as we’re just busy making it.

OUT SOON

May 13th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2 [W/C]

THUNDERCATS HC VOL 03 APEX [W/C]

May 20th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2 [W/VC]

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #4 [VC]

THUNDERCATS CLASSIC YEARS COLLECTION OMNIBUS HC [C]

PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4 [VC]

May 27th

THUNDERHAWKS #2 [VC]

June 6th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 [W/C]

June 17th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #3 [W/VC]

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2 [VC]

June 24th

THUNDERHAWKS #3 [VC]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #3[C]

July 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 [W/VC]

July 15th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]

22nd July

THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]

APPEARANCES

MCM London, May 22nd-24th

Florida Supercon, July 10-12th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

So I didn’t make it Zagreb, unfortunately. There was a snafu with the flights so I never left the country. Disappointing, obviously but at least it gave me a chance to catch up on work.

Feels like I didn’t get as much done in the last couple of weeks but probably because I’m actually getting more writing done. I still have that problem …it’s ALL work but writing feels less tangible whereas drawing results in a physical stack of pages. It’s all in my head I know but I can’t shake it. My next week will be mainly moving out of my current place, more writing and finally getting things together to work on PROJECT LAZARUS.

It’s gonna be hard to say bye to this place, I made a hell of a lot of comics here, mainly my entire TERMINATOR and THUNDERCATS runs.

Anyway, my latest Worklog:

• Coloured DC Comics cover

• Wrote MUMM-RA #3 script

• Lettering notes, THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3

• Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4

• Coloured indie cover

• Pencilled/inked PROJECT SILENCE #1 cover

• Lettering notes, MUMM-RA #2

-I am a little bit distracted at the moment as the not-at-all handsome-and-talented Paul Azaceta is visiting [not by choice, the poor guy]. It’s nice to have a visitor [even if they are desperate for a place to crash] especially one as inspiring as Paul. An impromptu guest when the weather is so noce has been a great excuse to take a neeses break for a couple of days. I won’t say this to his face [until I inevitably get drunk later] but Paul always been a huge inspiration to me and I am in awe of his talent. He did some work in the studio with me yesterday, we bounced ideas back and forth and I had to pretend I wasn’t freaking out the whole time. As this post goes out, I’m taking him on the obligatory visitor tour of West Clare.

-News broke just after the last Declarations was posted that some staff at Marvel were let go as part of larger Disney layoffs. I was really sorry to see two of them are editors I’ve worked with closely, Devin Lewis and Darren Shan.

I met Devin when he was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed assistant editor when I was working on VENOM. He moved up the ranks and would eventually hire me to write short stories for books like ELEKTRA, CRYPT OF OF EVIL and PHASES OF THE MOON KNIGHT [where I got to create a new Moon Knight!]. We didn’t work together a lot, just the odd thing here and there but I always appreciated short writing gigs like that, to stretch my range a bit [and get a little taste at DAREDEVIL]. Devin’s enthusiasm for the work and the characters was always infectious and I can’t think of an editor at the company who was more open to try out new talent.

Darren was my editor on MYSTIQUE and we worked really closely together on it. He really helped me on that story, pushing back on story stuff to make it better, we even met up in New York for lunch once to go over the script and he did a lot of work to help make the process easier for me. I was first contacted by Darren when he worked at DC where he offered me my first opportunity to draw Batman for a 2-page short, and I’ll always appreciate that. We didn’t work together a lot at Marvel over his 10 or so years there, but as I was saying above, worked quite closely on MYSTIQUE and I got to learn what a great editor he was.

Both editors are great guys and I’m sure someone smart will try snap them up soon.

-Heads up that my cover for A QUIET PLACE: STORM WARNING #2 is out tomorrow!

-If you’ve seen the latest trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day you may have spotted this shot…

…which is rightly being recognised as a homage to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 345‬. Boomerang was created by artist Bill Everett and writer Stan Lee back in 1966. What you may not know though is that the Boomerang costume in the movie is based on the re-design I did of the character for my run with Jeff Parker on THUNDERBOLTS. It looks like they added shoulder-straps to the movie design but the colour scheme, chest ‘V’ and visor are all there from my costume. Here’s the design sheet I made …gulp 15 years ago[!]

Below is an earlier version of the costume. It’s 90% what the final would become, but I hadn’t nailed the mask yet. If memory serves, Jeff suggested we see some of his face, which made me think of making the ‘V’ visor over his eyes. Looking at it now, I think the mask looks way too ‘Citizen V’, so we made the right call.

And soon the costume will be in the movies, which is insane to me. Also …now he’s a Lego! Between this and the Mr Knight Lego, I’m slowly building my own Lego empire.

Much like with Moon Knight, it’s very cool and crazy to see something I drew for Marvel reach the wider pop culture.

-I have a designer on board for PROJECT ARCA which nearly completes the team! Have made a budget for it too …that’s the scariest bit! I’m going to spend the next week banging a better outline together as well as the pitch doc itself so I can pitch it in June, hopefully.

-PROJECT SILENCE is up and running, the artist has started the first issue and has already handed in fantastic layouts. Feeling great about this one. Been working on the Issue 2 script, it’s due in next week.

-Ignition Press released my cover for TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #3. This was fun.

-I have another creator owned series concept in the works, codename incoming. I really need to hammer that into shape as soon as possible, which should be doable as the last crossover scripts are done and before I dive properly into PROJECT LAZARUS.

ART DECO

I’m taking 4 pre-commissions for MCM London next month [May 22nd-24th]! Recent examples below…

Details:

A4 Paper Size (Approximately 9x12)

Full Figure with limited/stylized background €600 [approx £500]

You will be prompted to input your character description when adding to cart.

Commissions for pickup at MCM London ONLY

As always, you Decolytes have an early shot… giving ye 2 days to nab them, I’ll be offering whatever’s left publicly on Thursday.

London MCM commissions

PS, I’m mixing up my process with Art Deco so if there’s any issues, bear with me and I’ll work them out in a day or so.

I have a new inking video up on Youtube, this time of Mr. Knight …you know who Mr. Knight is, right…? Should be more to follow if people do get some commissions for London.

INTERVIEW DEC

With MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #1 now out, I wanted to talk to Brazilian artist Rapha Lobosco who joins me on this book after a hot streak of the THUNDERCATS: APEX one shot and THUNDERCATS LOST series. I’ve known Rapha many years, with him starting out in the Irish indie scene as I was making a name for myself at Marvel. That we’re now working together professionally on a project like this is such great hapinstance. Beow is a short interview with Rapha, along with some peeks from MUMM-RA #2.

DEC: After a great run in THUNDERCATS LOST with Ed Brisson, what appealed to working on a new book in the Thunderverse?

RAPHA: First of all, Mumm-Ra is one of my favourite characters. I was always more inclined to draw villains and anti-heroes, as I think they need to have a stronger personality and more motive to do what they do. Also, the opportunity to work on a more intimate book, exploring the rise of one of the greatest villains of my generation, seemed too good to let pass.

DEC: This story is very different to the main book I was writing, as well as your previous Thunder-series. Has MUMM-RA opened up any new challenges for you as an artist?

RAPHA: I suppose, being a book about the beginning of a creature that has so much inside, so much conflict, has made me try to draw better expressions—ones that can show a friendly face, but as soon as you look into their eyes, you can tell the character is plotting, being deceitful, or even hiding fear or anger.

DEC: I believe this is the first time you’re worked with a writer who is also an artist… I was wondering, for you does that come across in the scripts at all?

RAPHA: Ah sure! I can definitely see times where you imagine the scene while writing it :D

DEC: If it does, how so?

RAPHA: One of the funniest things about that is me trying to figure out how you would draw those panels, hahaha. Knowing your work, I can see times where you leave room for me to work on the panel, or where you are directing the scenes because you have them clear in your head. And it’s great for me, as I can make my layouts knowing exactly where to go simpler or add more details.

DEC: Has there been fun/interesting aspects to work with in this book that you weren’t expecting?

RAPHA: I think the idea of going into the mind of Mumm-Ra is one of the most interesting aspects of this series. It’s not just about a monster who’s evil and crazy—we are inside his mind, looking at everything that happened before and why, which is something that really caught me as an interesting series to work on.

DEC: Drawing a solo book is a LOT easier than a team book, isn’t it…?

RAPHA: Ah yeah! I loved working on THUNDERCATS LOST —it was something new to me as my first team series. It had its unique challenges, and I think I came out a better artist for sure. Now, working on a solo character, you have room to explore more of the character’s motives and personality—it feels more intimate for sure.

DEC: Do you think you’ve learned anything about your own work from this series in particular?

RAPHA: What I’m learning is to have more fun with monsters and creatures. With my style, sometimes I can be a bit stiff with my designs, and with each issue I try to push more in drawings that have strong, exaggerated expressions and anatomy. And I’m loving it!

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS

Here’s a look at my cover for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4, I really liked working on this one.

The second issue of our main event series is out May 13th with THUNDERCATS artist Drew Moss now on board to draw the rest of the series. Here’s a peek at the page I showed you in Declarations #195, now with colours by Igor Monti.

The lettering draft is done so this issue is in the can, Drew currently drawing Issue 3 as I’m writing Issue 4. Sharing here my cover for THUNDERHAWKS #4

The third arc of our THUNDERCATS run will finally be out soon. This one was had a crazy delay so I’m very happy to see it finally come out. THUNDERCATS VOL 03: APEX is out May 13th [same day as THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2]. We have so much THUNDERCATS work done, I’m happy to see the trades start to catch up. This volume sprts a cover y myself, I believe the hardcover edition is by Lucio Parillo.

Also I believe the THUNDERCATS CLASSIC YEARS COLLECTION OMNIBUS Hardcover will be out on May 20th, with a cover by myself that homages the first cover to the original THUNDERCATS comic book series. It looks like Dynamite put a lot of work into this, so any THUNDERCATS completists should be adding this to their collection.

MUMM-RA

Series artist Rapha Lobosco is all wrapped on Issue 2 and has started on Issue 3. I’m really enjoying working with Rapha and the results have been fantastic. He even made the time to answer my questions above, bless him.

Colours by Roshan Kurichiyanil are in too and he really is making this book look so rich and textural. I just handed in my notes for letterer Jeff Eckleberry who did an extra great job with a specific lettering request I asked of him for this issue.

Here’s an advance look at John Amor’s final cover for Issue 5. Genius stuff.

And my cover for the issue…

I’ll be starting the script for Issue 4 soon, which means I’m nearing the end! I’m going to miss this book when it’s gone, I’m so glad we got to step into the darker corner of the Thunderverse.

OUT SOON

April 29th

A QUIET PLACE: STORM WARNING #2

May 06th

CYCLOPS #4 [VC]

ORDAINED #1 [VC]

May 13th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2 [W/C]

THUNDERCATS HC VOL 03 APEX [W/C]

May 20th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2 [W/VC]

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE [VC]

THUNDERCATS CLASSIC YEARS COLLECTION OMNIBUS HC [C]

PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4 [VC]

May 27th

THUNDERHAWKS #2 [VC]

June 6th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 [W/C]

June 17th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #3 [W/VC]

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2 [VC]

June 24th

THUNDERHAWKS #3 [VC]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #3[C]

July 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 [W/VC]

July 15th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]

22nd July

THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]

APPEARANCES

MCM London, May 22nd-24th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

Hello Decolytes, hope ye’re all well. I’m in the process of moving at the moment, chucking a lot of stuff in storage. In case you were unaware; boxes full of comics are heavy.

Anyway, I’ve also been working, here’s my Worklog:

• Coloured MUMM-RA #4 cover

• Coloured MUMM-RA #5 cover

• Coloured THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 cover

• Coloured THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #5 cover

• Roughs/pencilled/inked DC Comics cover,

• Roughs/pencilled/inked indie cover

• Roughs/pencilled/inked/coloured THUNDERHAWKS #5 cover

• Wrote PROJECT ARCA pages

• Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 script

A friend sent me this last week…

Look at the head of hair on me. I must have been around 14 at the time? If I remember right I got through to the Community Games Art Final at the Mosney camp [was a BIG deal at the time].

I didn’t win the final but I was able to see the Star Trek Experience exhibition there, so I was very happy. The exhibition had props and costumes from the films and shows [which I think I was a lot more invested in anyway].

If only that kid could see me now… he’s say: “Who is that weird man?” And then, he’d think that I’ve the coolest job in the world, and he’d be right.

-He certainly couldn’t have imagined he’d actually be getting to do what I’m doing today, working on a DC Comics cover. Can’t say what it is, but here’s a peek at the original art, I’m colouring it today.

-In other news, Bad Idea are doing a fifth printing of ORDAINED #1 using a recoloured version of my variant cover, out May 6th.

-I haven’t seen it online yet, but here’s y variant cover for PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4, out May 20th. Pal Ruairí Coleman is the artist on this book so I was happy to take this on, though mainly for the pleasure of drawing the big ugly mug of a Predator.

-I’m making good progress on scripts and my cover slate has eased off a bit which is all good timing considering I’ve been packing and moving. I need to write my short for NEGATIVE BURN soon too. If everything goes according to plan, I’ll have cleared a lot off my plate before getting started on PROJECT LAZARUS at the end of May.

-PROJECT ARCA is moving along, I have more pages for the artist and one of my favourite colourists ever has joined us! God, I want to say who, but can’t. Have brought an editor on board too. Exciting to see things come togethter properly.

-The artist of PROJECT SILENCE has handed in some fantastic character designs. I’ve handed in roughs for the first cover, waiting to see what the licensor thinks.

-I’ll be at Zagreb Comic Con this weekend! I don’t think I’ll be bringing too much, maybe some prints and comic packs. I’ve never been before, so don’t really know what to expect.

INTERVIEW DEC

In the previous Declarations [#194], I spoke with TIME BEFORE TIME co-creator Rory McConville. This time, we’re talking to the other co-creator of that series Joe Palmer about his new series DESTINATION KILL, coming from Oni Press next month. Joe is such an original artist with a unique voice, I’m so delighted to see him do this project as a writer/artist and develop his work even further.

DEC: Joe, we worked together closely for a year or so on TIME BEFORE TIME, with you ultimately deciding to leave the book to pursue your own work that became this new series DESTINATION KILL. Since starting that process of a solo book, what have you learned from it?

JOE:On the one hand, I was really ready to do my own thing, but I also had no idea about how it would feel to put in that amount of work into a project. And there were more than a few times during the making of this book when I was nostalgic for the relative simplicity of being given a complete script by you and Rory! Writing was really hard to begin with. It makes sense as it’s the area I had the least experience in, but learning what worked for me was a bumpy ride!

DEC: What made DESTINATION KILL the idea that you wanted to commit yourself to?

JOE: I guess I would say that in hindsight it was really just a vehicle for me to try out a lot of different stuff. I knew I wanted to do more sci-fi, as I love the flexibility with reality that it affords, and I wanted to get better at drawing action.

Story-wise, it was the weaving together a lot of different story ideas that I’d had in my head for years. I’d had this idea of a transatlantic train and gangs of builders in a futuristic London a long time ago, and gradually all of these other elements I had started working together when I sat down and tried to work out a plot.

DEC: When I first saw your work, I instantly loved it. I thought you had a very defined voice. I definitely noticed a shift in that voice with the second volume. When we wrapped the series however, you generously came back to draw the final issue and by then your work had changed dramatically, clearly from working on DESTINATION KILL. Has that shift been a gradual one, or something that’s evolved out of DESTINATION KILL specifically?

JOE: Thanks for the kind words!

When I look at my work now, all I see are my influences, so when people say things like ‘defined voice’, I can’t really see it. I really appreciate it, though, and of course it’s very flattering.

I can’t remember at what stage of making Destination Kill I was at when I came back to draw that final issue of Time Before Time, but looking at it now, it was certainly very rounded and brushy at that time, which I’ve really moved away from now. I’ve ended up going back to a more angular look, as this seems to be how I naturally draw. I just go with what feels right at the time, and I’m always trying things out, so the way my art looks tends to evolve as a result of those experiments.

DEC: What is DESTINATION KILL about?

JOE: It’s a sci-fi story set in London in 2125. The city is now privately governed, and human workers displaced by the government’s robot workforce are causing chaos on the streets.

Our lead is Gina Serene, a police officer who has pinned all of her hopes of stress relief on a trip to New York, but when things don’t go to plan she’s forced to team up with a sleazy Private Detective and together they have to uncover the truth about the human worker rebellion.

There’s a lot going on, haha.

DEC: DESTINATION KILL is a massive chunk of story, [four 48 pages issues I believe]. What made you decide to tell this story in this format.

JOE: It’s actually a bit shorter than that. The whole book is about 120 pages.

Whilst I’d always intended it to be a four-issue miniseries, my initial plan was to do four 60 page issues. What ended up happening was after I finished drawing the first 60 page issue, I realised that some of the story wasn’t working (due to me not writing a clear enough outline to work from), and that I was never going to sustain the enthusiasm required to complete a book of that length. I scrapped what I had and ruthlessly edited the whole book down by 50% or so, and I’m so glad that I did, because the story is better for it, and more importantly, it actually exists.

DEC: What are the advantages/disadvantages to doing your own work, do you think? I know you wrote/drew/coloured and lettered this entire series, and I know that is a mammoth undertaking.

JOE: There are lots of positives, but the main advantage is control over the storytelling. I really wanted to try and do it all myself, and just play with each of those components. The disadvantages are that it can be a little lonely sometimes, and also as you say, it is a ridiculous amount of work!

DEC: Having scratched the itch of writing/drawing your own series, is it something you want to do more of or do you have different plans for the future?

JOE: I’d absolutely love to continue doing my own work, but to be completely honest it’ll come down to money. I financed the production of this book myself, and I’m not sure that page rates and advances as they are can keep me afloat whilst working on another comic, so we will see. No matter what, I’ll definitely try to find space for my own work in the future, even if it has to be squeezed in around work that pays the bills. I don’t want to end this on a downer about the realities of money in comics, but it’s good to talk about it!

Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered the book already, and thanks to you, Dec, for talking with me!

FOC date: April 20th

Release date: May 13th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS is out now! The first issue length [30 pages, in fact] I’ve drawn in over a year, it felt really good to illustrate a whole story again. Here’s the opening pages, with excellent colours by Igor Monti and letters by Jeff Eckleberry.

Having Jeff on board for letters was the obvious choice as he’s lettered every Thunderverse story to date, as far as I’m aware. I am shy about working with new colourists but for this series, I obviously wated someone great but could balance the fine line of being able to nail more ‘spectacular’ moments while also not going overboard all the time. I was already a fan of Igor’s but had recently seen his work on IMMORTAL BATMAN with my friend Erica D’Urso and really liked how Igor was able to balance big bold effects, but also knowing when to be more subtle …to know when to hold back. There are colourists who are very good at one but not ncessarily at the other. Igor’s great at both.

I made a point of not trying to be overbearing and note Igor to death, I know that can be very frustrating for colourists, so I did for him what I do for myself. I made a colour script of the issue from my layouts. I do this as a map for coloring my own pages, like on OLD DOG and IMMORTAL HULK: FLATLINE as a way of making storytelling choices with colour …to see the whole story and work out how I want to use colour to enhance the storytelling. Dynamite have made most of this into variant covers and I love it.

I told Igor that he didn’t have to diligently follow this colour script, I just wanted to show him what I was thinking. I was very appreciative to see that he actually stuck with my choices for the most part, while adding his own particular flair.

Again, feels good to have a whole book out, from what I can tell, readers are loving to see the two teams clash ad have has some surprises along the way. More to come!

I’m only now seeing all the covers, which include my layouts with no trade dress, my new Lion-O design and more!

Myself and THUNDERHAWKS writer Ed Brisson were both interviewed on the Near Mint Condition podcast. Was a fun one, talked all things THUNDERCATS, the new crossover, MUMM-RA and chatted about the unpublished PUNISHER miniseries Ed and I did together.

Drew has finished Issue 2 and in doing so, has reminded me yet again just how great he is.

I’ve handed in the script for Issue 3 as I move back onto MUMM-RA. Speaking of which…

MUMM-RA

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #1 is out tomorrow as part of our THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS crossover. Artist Rapha Lobosco has done a fantastic job on this debut issue. Here’s a look at the preview pages.

Colurist Roshan Kurichiyanil re-teams with Rapha from their run on THUNDERCATS LOST but they’re both bringing a whole new feel to this book. It’s been an interesting change of pace for me writing-wise and I’ve really been enjoying it. Hope ye all check out out.

As a treat, here’s an advance look at my cover for Issue 4.

I don’t think I have previously shown this, it was my first cover for the series, more of a ‘concept’ cover that Dynamite are using as Cover J. Just wanted to point it out, for you many Mumm-Ra completists.

I’m currently working on the script for Issue 3 to have it done by the end of the week as Rapha is doing finishing touches on Issue 2.

OUT SOON

April 15th

MUMM-RA #1 [W/VC]

April 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #1 [VC]

May 06th

CYCLOPS #4 [VC]

ORDAINED #1 [VC]

May 13th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2 [W/C]

THUNDERCATS HC VOL 03 APEX [W/C]

May 20th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2 [W/VC]

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE [VC]

PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4 [VC]

THUNDERCATS CLASSIC YEARS COLLECTION OMNIBUS HC [C]

May 27th

THUNDERHAWKS #2 [VC]

June 6th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 [W/C]

June 17th

MUMM-RA THE EVER-LIVING #3

June 24th

THUNDERHAWKS #3 [VC]

APPEARANCES

Zagreb Comic Con, Croatia, April 17-19th

MCM London, May 22nd-24th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

Bonjour, Decolytes. I’ve returned from my trip to France, having done a signing in Paris, and a couple more in Nice [where I was visited by a very special reader, see below], getting a chance to see some of the French Riviera.

I’m happy to say the break while busy, has recharged me somewhat. I did have some work to do while away, but the change of scenery, talking with readers, etc …it all did me the world of good. there was of course, plenty of work waiting for me when I got home, too. Here’s my Worklog:

• Lettering notes for MUMM-RA #1

• Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2

• Roughs/pencilled/inked/coloured Image Comics cover

• Roughs/pencilled/inked/coloured THUNDERHAWKS #4 cover

• Roughs/pencilled/inked MUMM-RA #4 cover

• Roughs/pencilled/inked MUMM-RA #5 cover

• Coloured THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 cover

• Wrote PROJECT SILENCE #1

• Wrote PROJECT ARCA pages

—My BARONESS one-shot with Joëlle Jones and Mike Spicer is out tomorrow! I’ve seen the finished PDF and it looks fantastic, VERY happy with it. Amazing wok by Joëlle, so much mood and delicate rendering, backed up with Mike’s sumptuous colours. No letterer for this one obviously, being a silent story. I think it works great though, this issue is a real feather in my cap and it’s success has nothing to do with me, all down to the art.

…oh, and my interview on Talking Joe will be live tomorrow!

-I’ve laid some more groundwork with PROJECT ARCA. My collaborator is working on a fantastic cover and I’m going to reach out to my editor Heather Antos this week to look over the pitch, nail down the rest of the creative team and work out a schedule to move forward. Feels good to be working on something very different to everything else on my plate.

-I took a handful of head-shot commissions for my French trip, a couple I previously posted in Declarations #193, here’s the rest…

For the signing in Les Fictionnautes, I did 10 free sketches for the store, for them to hand out to customers. It was a nice treat to reward some of their regulars, I think.

I also did some sketches at the signings, mostly rough remarks in books, but some looking for fancier drawings. Happy to oblige!

Would like to say thanks to Michael Derny of DiableBlanc Comics for setting the whole trip up for me, the great staff at Central Comics in Paris as well as Guillaume of Les Fictionnautes in Nice. It was wonderful to se more of the county as it’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper visit. Hope to go back again sooner rather than later. Here’s a short video from the Paris signing…

-A couple of new covers have been released, here’s a quick rundown…

My variant cover for SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2. Great to draw Punisher again, and was a fun experiment to try out the ‘Negative Man’ effect.

My variant cover for CYCLOPS #4. I was tying to channel my inner Chris Bachalo with this one.

My variant cover for BABS: THE BLACK ROAD SOUTH #6. The fantasy genre isn’t one I’ve played in much, but when Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows ask, one must abide. Very happy with the end result considering it’s a little outside my wheelhouse.

-When in France I took the opportunity to pick up the Panini French translation hardcover editions of my ALIEN run with Andrea Broccardo [also featuring Danny Earls]. So satisfying to see these collected in lovely hardcover format, of course I also drew a section of the second volume so I’m even happier to see those pages collected in this format. I heard a rumour these two stories may be collected into one edition soon …a rumour I hope is true as they are one big story and would love to have it all on one volume.

-I’ve been struggling with the concept behind a creator owned series I’m planning but having had a bit of time to myself while traveling, I think I’ve cracked it. I need to make some time to work it all out on paper [which is hard as I’m currently juggling a handful of writing projects] but I’m very relieved to have worked out the core concept, finally.

-And then, I saw Project Hail Mary at the cinema last weekend and loved it. Has definitely recharged my love for new meaningful and exciting sci-fi right at the moment I needed it. If you haven’t seen it yet, get to it.

-Fellow Eclectic Mick Will Sliney has launched a new YouTube show via Marvel Comics calles Marvel Illustrated. His first show is talking about DAREDEVIL. How actually dare he.

The incredible Matteo Scalera has launched a Kickstarter for his much awaited THE FOURTH FATHER. It’s smashing through it’s goals which is fantastic to see, but if you haven’t, have a look at the campaign, this book looks incredible and there’s only TWO WEEKS left tin the campaign. I’ve pledged to the deluxe, hardcover 11x14 edition, collecting the original scans of the pages. Can’t wait to get my mitts on it.

THE FOURTH FATHER Kickstarter

I’m going to Croatia! I’ll be attending the Zagreb Comic Con in a couple of weeks. Creators such as Mirko Čolak, Gaby von Borstel, Fernando Dagnino, Dirk Wood and more will be there. I’m very happy to be going, I was meant to go last year but I had to pull out last minute over a family bereavement. I have no idea what to expect to be honest, but should be fun.

INTERVIEW DEC

If you don’t already know, there’s a new RED SONJA series written by TIME BEFORE TIME co-writer/co-creator Rory McConville out soon. I’m really excited to see what Rory does on the book, so I thought I’d go straight to the source and ask about it…

DEC: A character like Red Sonja has been around for so long, with quite notable creators like Christopher Priest and Gail Simone doing prominent runs. For you, what was your ‘take’ on the character …did you find a way ‘in’ to work out how to write her in your own way? That to me, seems like the biggest challenge.

RORY: Well, Dynamite had some general guidelines in terms of direction and certain elements from previous Sonja runs they were looking to incorporate which helped inform some of those decisions.

I think it was Sonja’s sense of humour that really gave me the way ‘in’ to her character. l remember I was about halfway through my second draft of #1 when things fully ‘clicked; and I felt that I’d figured out how her voice.

DEC: As far as I know, this is a genre you haven’t written in before, ie sword and sorcery/ fantasy. Was that exciting or more maybe more intimidating?

RORY: A bit of both, for sure. I’ve read and enjoyed my fair share of fantasy but I wouldn’t consider myself as immediately at home in the genre as say something like sci-fi or crime. I think it’s really important to try your hand at genres outside your usual comfort zone though and it’s been a lot of fun getting the chance to stretch some different creative muscles.

DEC:How has it been working with Pablo deBonis? I wasn’t familiar with his work previously, but I really like it. Great character work, atmospheric environment, etc. he really establishes a believable world for this story.

RORY: Pablo’s incredible. This was my first introduction to his work and I’ve been counting my blessings that our editor, Joe Rybandt, brought him onto the series. Every issue he turns in is better than the last.

DEC: You’ve written plenty of projects before, but more recently you’ve collaborated with myself on TERMINATOR: METAL and TIME BEFORE TIME and working with some guy called Todd McFarlane on SPAWN. While working with such beloved creators on stories must be a huge honour for you *cough* how has it been to just develop a book on your own. Is it more freeing? Do you miss the pushback, or maybe editorial and the licensor fill that void?

RORY: Yeah, definitely the latter. I think pushback, whether it’s from a co-writer/editor/licensor etc, is really important for stress-testing and justifying ideas and on every project I’ve worked on, the end result has always been enhanced by that bit of friction.

DEC: [You managed to skirt around giving me a small compliment there but I’ll look past it] Beyond this first arc, can you see telling more stories with this character, in this world?

RORY: Absolutely. I’m starting work on the second arc at the moment.

DEC: If you can, sell your new RED SONJA series in a sentence or two.

RORY: After answering an old ally’s plea for aid, Red Sonja must protect the last descendent of an ancient bloodline from a revolutionary movement that threatens all of Hyboria.

Red Sonja: She Devil With A Sword is a thrilling back-to-basics adventure that harnesses the richness of Sonja’s world while remaining completely new-reader friendly.

Red Sonja: She Devil With A Sword is out May 6th. FOC is April 13th

THUNDERCATS

It’s very nearly time. THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 is out next week. A 30 page opener for this exciting new crossover, written/drawn by myself, with colours by Igor Monti [IMMORTAL BATMAN] and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry. It’s my first full comic in just over a year and was a lot of fun to draw something big and bombastic again. I hope all toy Decolytes all pick it up next week.

Here’s some brand new preview pages from the issue.

This was a ridiculously fun issue to do. To write a bit crossover event has been a huge challenge, but to also dip my toe in on the art front has been a real treat As I say to anyone who asks, it really reminds me of that childhood feeling when you get to play with your toys, but you also get to borrow your friend’s toys and see what happens when they fight. Great fun.

Above is my cover for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 and below is my cover for THUNDERHAWKS #3, part 9 of the crossover event. I’ve just wrapped the next cover …colouring all that silver armour is very fun, I must say.

MUMM-RA

Lettering pass for Issue one is all done, FOC was last week. Got to read the finished PDF and I’m extremely happy with the final result. Between THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 and this [Part 1 and 2 of the event] we’re launching this crossover strong, I think. Artist Rapha Lobosco is currently working on Issue 2. Here’s a peek at Page One…

Danny Earls continues to hand in some great cover work. Above are his inks for Issue 4. I particularly love all the cosmic effects in this one.

Also, an early peek at John Amor’s stunning cover.

I just inked my cover for #4 last night, will be colouring it tonight. Here’s a peek from the drawing board…

OUT SOON

April 1st

BARONESS #1 [W]

ALL-NEW SPIDER-GWEN: GHOST SPIDER #9 [VC]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #1 [C]

April 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 [W/A/C]

April 15th

MUMM-RA #1 [W/C]

April 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #1 [VC]

May 06th

CYCLOPS #4 [VC]

May 13th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2 [W/C]

May 20th

MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2 [W/C]

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE [VC]

PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4 [VC]

May 27th

THUNDERHAWKS #2 [VC]

APPEARANCES

Zagreb Comic Con, Croatia, April 17-19th

MCM London, May 22nd-24th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

I say bonjour, Decolytes as I bask in the Parisian air on St. Patrick’s Day, of all days. I just attended the Paris Manga Sci-Fi show last weekend, which was great fun. Everyone was very nice and I was kept busy drawing all weekend.

I am eating my weight in lovely croissants while also chipping away at some writing work in the evenings. Had a fun day to myself in the city yesterday and am doing a signing here *checks time …in a couple of hours! Off to the South of the county tomorrow for a couple of signings in Nice week, then back home …have some covers that need doing.

Did get a lot done in the last couple of weeks in order to make the time for all this absurdité, here’s my Worklog:

• Finished THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS pages

• Wrote second draft for PROJECT SILENCE outline

• Wrote lettering script for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1

• Lettering edits THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1

• Colouring notes for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1

• Writing THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2

• Outlined MUMM-RA #3

• Pencilled/inked/coloured EXTRACTION #5 cover

• Pencilled/inked/coloured Marvel cover

• Roughs/pencilled/inked/coloured Ahoy cover

• 2x Podcast interviews

-Was a bit of a scramble to get everything done before my trip, I was spread thin trying to hit a handful of deadlines …different projects all needing to be in around the same time, was tough. Did manage to pop up to Dublin to see Charles Soule who was over for Dublin Comic Con, as well as a catch-up with some of the Irish heads.

-Image Comics/Skybound released preview pages for my one-shot G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Sssilent Missions – BARONESS #1 with the Joëlle Jones and I’m very happy to show them off here, complete with the excellent Mike Spicer on colours..

Man, this turned out great. I did a fun interview on the Talking Joe podcast about the issue, I’ll have a link in the next Declarations when it’s going live.

-I had a big back-and-forth of notes with my editor on PROJECT SILENCE. It’s the bit I find the hardest, dealing with various story notes, especially at the start of a project. You want to get moving but if you don’t nail things down properly first, you’ll end upworking on a mess for months. I do get more frustrated during this stage, but I also know that the story will be a hell of a lot better because of the process. I’ve now done a new draft of the outline that is a much stronger version. I’ll be writing the first script pretty soon.

-I’ll be at MCM London in May [22-24th], with plenty of amazing guests like Pepe Larraz, Martin Simmonds, Marc Laming, Jock, Kevin Eastman, Lee Garbett, Joe Kelly, Humberto Ramos and many more. Joëlle will be among them too[!], so it’ll be a great chance to get us both to sign the aforementioned BARONESS issue.

-I saw this variant of mine for INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #5 online, so spotlighting here. If I’m offered a cover for a book with X in the title, I rarely say no.

-Did a good few drawings at the Paris show, here’s a selection of them…

And here’s my favourite of the weekend, a HELLBOY

Have more sketching to do at the three signings over the next week, so prbably more where this came from in the next Declarations.

-I also did a good bit of walking yesterday. Old TIME BEFORE TIME alum Geoffo met me for tea and walked me to the Bastile monument, and then as far as the Louvre. Which, was sold out! I didn’t think to get a ticket beforehand. Bollocks. So I went for a bit of a walk and wandered by the Notre-Dame Catherdal and had a look inside. Absolutely amazing, and a big inspiration for PROJECT VATICA.

I then went in search of the location where they filmed Duncan MacLeod’s moored houseboat in HIGHLANDER: The Series …and I found it! Now this is culture.

Follow your dreams, kids.

Agus Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!

THUNDERCATS

THE FOC for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 was yesterday so the day beforehand I made this terrible video to give people a nudge.

Of course all you Decolytes have pre-ordered it, I don’t need to worry about you lot now …DO I? First full comic I’ve drawn in a year, I keep having to remind myself. Don’t want that happening again!

Speaking of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1, I finished all the art for the issue of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS [before my trip] as well as the lettering draft. That was a lot more work as that’s where I actually did the dialogue for the issue. I drew the book from an outline, to script afterwards. Not how I usually work, but it suited this project, especially as I needed to get drawing as soon as possible.

So it’s all being put to bed today with the last lettering notes now in, Igor Monti has finished colouring my pages and they look so great. Really leaning into the spectacularness of it all, big bold colours, shiny metal costumes, etc.

I’m nearly finished writing the script for Issue 2 for artist Drew Moss to take over the book, I can’t wait to see how he’ll jam with the imagery I put down in the first issue. Drew is finished on THUNDERCATS #25, colours for the last issue of the main book series are by Andrew Dalhouse, here’s a peek at the first page. Looks great, very happy to end the series on such a high note.

I’m about to dig into the script for Issue 3 of the series to try get a little ahead. Here’s a peek at Eric Canete’s fantastic cover for the issue. Really appreciate him working on this while basking in the glow of his current work on ABSOLUTE BATMAN.

Remember; everything kicks off in THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS: ROAD TO WAR #1 by Ed Brisson, George Kambadis and Elton Thomasi, in stores tomorrow, including a sneak peek at my pages for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1.

MUMM-RA

I’m taking a breath on this for a short moment so I can get ahead on the main crossover book and while artist Rapha Lobosco is working on the early pages of Issue 2. Got the colours in from colourst Roshan Kurichiyanil and both myself and Rapha are very, very happy with them.

Feck it, here’s an advance peek at the first page…

Here’s another advance look, this time at John Amor’s magnificent cover for Issue 3

As well as my own less-significant cover.

I should be back on this by the time the next Declarations is out. I’ve really been enjoying this darker, more supernatural area to write in, so eager to dive back in.

OUT SOON

Mar 18th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS: ROAD TO WAR #1 [VC]

MARC SPECTOR: MOON KNIGHT #2 [VC]

March 25th

THUNDERCATS #25 [W/VC]

April 1st

BARONESS #1 [W]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #1 [C]

April 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 [W/A/C]

April 15th

MUMM-RA #1 [W/C]

April 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #1 [C]

May 20th

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE

PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4

APPEARANCES

Signing, Central Comics Paris, March 17th

Signing, Fictionnautes Nice, March 19/20th

MCM London, May 22nd-24th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

I’m pretty stretched at the moment, but the sun is starting to shine and it’s helping my overall mood.

I’m in a mode where I’m writing four books in different stages [from outlines to actual pages] while doing covers and drawing pages. It’s a lot, I think what’s nagging at me is that it’s hard to feel like you’re making much progress on any one thing as you’re trying to nudge everything along. I’ll be finished drawing a book soon though, so I’m hoping I can get a good go at pushing each project through more before I start on my next solo project. Have a bit of travel booked for a couple of months so that’s always good for me to get my thinking hat on and make more writing progress. In the meantime though, my Worklog:

• Finished MUMM-RA #2 script

• Roughs for indie cover

• Writing, PROJECT ARCA

• Full outline for PROJECT SILENCE

• New outline edit for THUNDERHAWKS X SILVERHAWKS #2

• Pencilled/inked THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS pages

• Pencilled/inked/coloured Marvel cover

• Pencilled/inked/coloured THUNDERHAWKS #3 cover

• Pencilled/inked/coloured MUMM-RA #3 cover

• Coloured THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 cover

• Podcast interview

• Lettering notes for THUNDERCATS #25

-Just handed in more THUNDERHAWKS X SILVERHAWKS #1 pages, it’s all taking a bit longer than I was planning for, but that’s what happens when you are also doing scripts and covers, I guess. Just finishing the last pencils today and then inking. Should have the book wrapped by the end of the week.

-Have committed to a UK show in a couple of months. I had told myself at the start of the year that since I did a chunk of US shows in 2025, I should try go to other countries in 2026 and weirdly, that’s how things have happened to work out, with France in a couple of weeks and another show in a European country I haven’t been to before in April.

-I saw a bad resolution version of this cover online, so I’m posting a better version of it here. It’s for SPIDER-GWEN: THE GHOST SPIDER #9. My first time drawing her, it was fun and always great to do any kind of Spider-cover. Tried to do something that was a mix of design-heavy but also with a dynamic pose. Happy with the colours too.

-I’ve handed in a proper detailed outline for PROJECT SILENCE. This will be a very different project, nothing Thunder-related. More in line with the feel of TERMINATOR, in a way. Challenging but also with an art team I very much trust to pull it off. Now that the particulars are worked out, I’m looking forward to getting stuck in though I expect the outline will need another draft before that happens as it has to go through editorial and a licensor.

-Once this crossover issue is done I’m going to be getting ahead on covers/scripts [he says, again] and working on some small commissions ahead of my trip to France, working on some scripts while travelling. When I get back from France, I imagine I’ll start writing PROJECT SILENCE and PROJECT LAZARUS.

-Was shown this image online recently, supposedly from a promo banner for some Spider-Man: Brand New Day licensing material. Noticed a more movie-looking version of my Boomerang design… looks like it might be in the movie…? We’ll see.

-Joëlle Jones shared pages from our BARONESS one-shot with me. I’ve never written anything for Skybound before so I’m too chicken to show a peek here but the pages are amazing. So much tonal work gone into every page, beautifully rendered set pieces… wow. Can’t wait to show them off, but wait I shall.

-Here’s my cover for TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #2. If you recall my cover for #1, between them both you might better notice my general approach to the series [bolder compositions, obscuring the main character, limited colour palette, etc]. Again, very glad with the freedom that editor Jamie Rich has given me with these covers and this might be my favourite one. Here’s the full composition, factoring in the partial cover wraparound.

-I’m chipping away on writing pages for PROJECT ARCA, the main creator owned project that’s currently in the works. Hard to do alongside paying work/deadlines so while this will take a while to come together, I’m glad I have something personal that’s being worked on alongside everything else. Would really like to clear some time to make more progress on this, though.

-The excellent Joe Palmer, who was the original artist and co-creator of TIME BEFORE TIME has a new series coming out from Oni Press in May called DESTINATION KILL.

I got to get a look at this a long time ago as Joe was getting ready to pitch it, I’m so glad to see it’s getting out into the world. Joe is a truly original voice, and we need more books like this out there. Here’s a quote from the press release.

Oni Press has revealed Destination Kill #1, a four-issue dystopian action thriller written, illustrated, and hand-lettered by British cartoonist Joe Palmer (Time Before Time). The 40-page debut arrives May 13, 2026, with a $5.99 cover price and a lineup of high-profile variant covers.

Set in the year 2125, Destination Kill unfolds in a London reshaped by the all-powerful corporation Overcon. The company’s robotic workforce handles everything from serving drinks to dispensing medication, while Central City is rebuilt into a gleaming corporate stronghold. As Overcon celebrates the one-year anniversary of its Paradise Loop, a transatlantic train capable of reaching New York in under 60 minutes, tensions erupt.

Displaced human workers, pushed aside by automation, flood the streets armed and ready to strike during the gala celebration. Caught in the middle are Gina Serene, an overworked detective struggling to stay afloat, and her ex-partner Lance Wingman, now a private investigator. Together, they stand between a corporate empire and a city on the brink of violent upheaval.

And some absolutely banging preview pages.

-I was offered a gig last week and I was about to send a “sure, I’d like to do a cover” reply when I re-read it and realised I was being asked to draw the actual book. Glad I had another read of the e-mail before replying! It was a cool gig but nothing I could consider as A) I’m booked up for the rest of the year on a DREAM gig but also, B) that I still just want to draw stories that I write. There are definitely some exceptions out there [for some day in the future] but deciding to pretty much only draw for myself has been a path that has really paid off for me. I can’t see me changing that approach any time soon, until the inevitable day comes where my brain is rattled from writing and I just want to draw for a while… I’m sure it’s coming. I mention this not to gloat, but to remind myself that I’m very lucky to be in such a unique position and I’m trying to stay the course on doing work that’s more personally fulfilling, be it work for hire or creator owned.

THUNDERCATS

I was hoping to be finished drawing THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 by now but as I was saying above, I’m juuuuust wrapping it up this week. Just have the last handful of pages to ink, really. Was slowed down by a couple of covers that needed to be handed in.

The FOC just passed last week for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS: ROAD TO WAR, a prelude one-shot that sports a variant cover of my hand-drawn logo for the project. I love that I got to design this for the the crossover and even more so that I got to do it by hand. Get it.

Dynamite announced that THUNDERCATS artist Drew Moss will be joining me on THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS from Issue 2.

From the PR:

On Thursday, Dynamite announced regular ThunderCats artist Drew Moss will join writer Declan Shalvey on the second issue of ThunderCats X SilverHawks, the flagship of the three miniseries comprising the crossover event between the titular teams. Shalvey took both writing and art duties on the premiere issue. “I felt it was the right opportunity to invest into the franchise a little more. Why let Drew have all the fun…?” he said in a statement. “I was also looking to write and draw something again, not having drawn a whole comic in nearly a year. The planets aligned, I guess, or Third Earth specifically aligned.”

Moss added, “I am really excited to be working with Declan again and with these characters I grew up with … Drawing the ThunderCats for two years and now getting to work with the SilverHawks too is a dream come true!”

“Drew and I launched this book together and he has built this larger saga with me brick-by-brick over the last couple of years,” Shalvey continues. “I knew if I was going to do art duties on the first issue of this big crossover series, there is no one else who deserves to draw the rest more than Drew. I’m very excited to see what Drew will do on an event-level book like this and it’s so cool to be drawing a series with him, and not just writing for him.”

There really was no one else who could do this book with me, Drew has been with me every step of the main series so it makes total sense to have him on this apex crossover event for the line. Will be an honour to share this book with him not just as an artist but as a co-artist.

He also finished his work on THUNDERCATS #25 , I just did the lettering pass before posting this Declarations. I can’t believe we did a 25 issue run together [with a little help from our friends Stephen Mooney, Joe Mulvey, Alice Leclert and Dave O’Sulivan].

I’m currently writing his first issue [#2] while he takes a breath, then I’ll be going over my pages [for #1] and fleshing out the script. I worked a little looser on this issue by mostly ‘writing’ in the layouts.

Above is an advance look at my cover for THUNDERHAWKS #2. I am trying to create a consistent feel across the covers while also spotlighting each main character for the mini. So each character gets a cool hero shot, while I use the futuristic city and its colour scheme to knit the covers together as a set. The next cover is in the bag, looking to do the cover for Issue 4 before I hit the road.

Lastly, I believe Vol 3 of THUNDERCATS will finally be out on May 13th. This one was delayed quite a while unfortunately, so I’m glad to see it get a new release date.

MUMM-RA

While MUMM-RA is a THUNDERCATS book, it is also it’s own mini-series and deserves it’s own spotlight here.

Series artist Rapha Lobosco has handed in all his pages for Issue One and it looks fantastic. Looking forward to showing his stuff off here.

Danny Earls’ fully coloured cover for #2 was released a week or so ago to great applause, so I wanted to again show the inks for his next cover.

Danny’s work is always great in final but I really do love his stuff in black and white so happy to show it here.

Also released with Danny’s cover was John Amor’s cover for Issue 2, I wanted to show it without all the title dress as I love the use of space in this piece.

I’ve been a fan of John’s work for a long time after finding him on Instagram a year or so back. He’d reached out about THUNDERCATS covers a while back but all the slots were filled up by editorial. He reached out again with a MUMM-RA concept right around when we were working out this new MUMM-RA book. It felt like good timing [which is how most of the behind-the-scenes stuff works] so I tried again with editorial and it panned out okay. Doesn’t often happen so it’s great when it does. John just handed in his next cover and it’s SO great, even heavier on the atmosphere.

While I’m at it. May as well show my own cover for Issue 2.

I’ve finished the script for said issue, if it’s not clear from the covers, we get a better look at the Ancient Spirits of Evil. I’m really enjoying writing something a little darker in this corner of the ThunderVerse and I’m looking forward to seeing what Rapha does with the rest of the issues. I feel a full mini-series for this character has been very much justified, especially as I dig into the story more. Here’s more in the issue, from the earlier PR…

Elsewhere in the crossover, Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living #2 by Shalvey and Rapha Lobosco sees the sorcerer awakening on Second Earth. Stuck in a cycle where he is both ever-dying and ever-reviving, Mumm-Ra must “make a pact with the Ancient Spirits to learn their magics, and discover the dark cost of immortality.” And in ThunderHawks #2 by Ed Brisson and Vincenzo Federici, the now-SilverHawk armor-clad ‘Cats make preparations to escape from the dystopian future they landed in and “it will take a massive diversion, considerable power … and a sacrifice that will rock the team and the entire comics franchise to its core.”

I’ll be starting on the next script as soon as I can, first I need to concentrate back on the main crossover.

Mar 11th

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #18 [VC]

Mar 18th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS: ROAD TO WAR #1 [VC]

MARC SPECTOR: MOON KNIGHT #2 [VC]

March 25th

THUNDERCATS #25 [W/VC]

April 1st

BARONESS #1 [W]

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #1 [C]

April 8th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 [W/A/C]

April 15th

MUMM-RA #1 [W/C]

April 22nd

THUNDERHAWKS #1 [C]

APPEARANCES

Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, March 14 & 15th

Signing, Central Comics Paris, March 17th

Signing, Fictionnautes Nice, March 19/20th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Greetings from the still very cold and very wet island of Ireland. Christ, January felt like two months. Well, at least there’s lots of work to keep me indoors. Here’s the latest Worklog:

• Reworked THUNDERCATS #25 script

• Coloured THUNDERHAWKS #2 cover

• Coloured Ignition Press cover

• Pencilled/inked/ coloured 2x Marvel covers

• Writing MUMM-RA #2 script

• PROJECT ARCA outline revision.

• Writing PROJECT ARCA script

• Pencilled/inked THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS pages

• Roughs; Marvel cover, Ignition cover, THUNDERHAWKS cover

-I’m about two-thirds of the way through my issue of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS, into the last stretch now. Should be finished by the time the next Declarations comes out, then I’ll be digging more into scripts for a few weeks.

-PROJECT SILENCE outline has been approved, which is great news. The creative team I wanted is also locked in so I’m really looking forward to get moving on this. I just need to take another look at that outline soon and flesh it out for a full mini-series before I start writing. This will effectively replace the workload space that I’d previously assigned for TERMINATOR.

-DC Comics released my variant cover for ABSOLUTE BATMAN #18 by Scott Snyder, Eric Canete and Frank Martin. I guess if Eric is doing THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS covers, then it’s only fair I do one for his book :P

Really though, I am very happy with this one, great to do a cover for a big hit book like this of course and as of late, I really appreciate that DC have encouraged me to go bold and design-y with the Absolute covers I’ve done.

-I just found out that Marvel are relaesing a STAR WARS: HIDDEN EMPIRE OMNIBUS [out tomorrow], with a Direct Market cover by myself [I did the coves for the original miniseries]. Here’s more info from solicits:

Written by CHARLES SOULE, ETHAN SACKS, GREG PAK, ALYSSA WONG & MARC GUGGENHEIM
Penciled by STEVEN CUMMINGS, ANDRÉS GENOLET, RAMON ROSANAS, MADIBEK MUSABEKOV, PAOLO VILLANELLI, ALESSANDRO MIRACOLO, RAFFAELE IENCO, LUKE ROSS, IBRAIM ROBERSON, MINKYU JUNG, NATACHA BUSTOS & MORE
Covers by PAULO SIQUEIRA & DECLAN SHALVEY

The epic trilogy begun in STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS and STAR WARS: CRIMSON REIGN concludes!

Collecting STAR WARS: HIDDEN EMPIRE #1-5, STAR WARS (2020) #26-36, STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS #27-34, STAR WARS: DARTH VADER (2020) #28-32, STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA (2020) #22-31 and STAR WARS: REVELATIONS (2022).

-The good people at BAD IDEA sent me THE ENDS, the latest by David and Maria Lapham, looking for a blurb. I am a huge fan of past Lapham work such as STRANGE BULLETS, SILVERFISH, YOUNG LIARS and more. This new edition is a trade paperback of the series complete with extra scenes, alternative endings, etc. It’s dark, it’s complicated, it’s compelling in all the ways that make the Laphams great. Here’s my blurb.

“THE ENDS by David and Maria Lapham is yet another thrilling tour de force from the creative pair. A generational story about love and hate, the slow boil that rises as one pushes against the other and the stark outcomes involved when it finally froths over.”

-I also saw that the launch page for a campaign I contributed to has launched. I provided a variant cover for BIXBY GRANT: FANGS & BRIMSTONE. The writer Patrick Coyle approached me at NYCC last year and showed my the series he had been releasing via Kickstarter, and I was very impressed [especially with the art by Gonzalo Martinez & Arthur Hesli]. He reached out about doing a cover and it was something I was able to take on. You can go to the launch-page here where I believe the previous issues will also be available.

-I’ll be in France next month for the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, on 14-15th of March. I last attended the show 4 years ago so it’ll be nice to be back again. I’ll be doing a signing at Central Comics in the city a couple of later [Mar 17th], then two more down south in Nice at Fictionnautes [Mar 19/20th]. A whole week away in France is exactly what I’ll need after wrapping up this THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS issue, so very much looking forward to it.

PROCESS

I’ve mentioned that I’ve been working on covers for an Ignition Press series…? Well that book has been made public, wanted to show how it came together.

The covers are for TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY, a new miniseries written by Ande Parks, drawn by Ronan Cliquet based off the original Extraction novels. I quite enjoyed the movies and was keen to take this on. Ignition had a specific brief for the covers but were also very open for me to create an identity for the series. I’m always eager to work on projects like that. For me, the issue was doing covers for a known IP, but not use an actor’s likeness, while also creating some kind of identifying elements that will catch the readers eyes. There is no symbol to use, no recognisable likeness or character design/costume to lean into …so I had to make one. I decided that with each cover, I would limit the colour scheme to a spectum of yellow, red and a dark blue. I would obscure the main character’s face and would make the compositions as bold as possible. I felt I wanted to channel my PUNISHER cover work on something like this. My goal being that with each issue that comes out, you can tell this is an EXTRACTION cover. I tried to take my limitations and flip them in order to create identifiers of some kind.

Thankfully editor Jamie Rich at Ignition was into my approach, which I think will be more obvious as future covers re released. Each cover has been a delight to work on, deliveing full mood.

Something different about these covers is that the format is a little wider for Ignition, having a slight wraparound [more album/2000AD sized, I guess]. The comics are still in US format though so their cover art wraparounds to cover a sliver of the back cover, the rest of the back being a graphic element. It means I’m drawing slightly wider so I have to lay out my compositions that’ll work as both a regular US format cover and a slightly wider composition. As you can see, I composed the image to fold behind Tyler’s ear, so the bullets and sparks carry over onto the back section.

Here’s a scan of the pencils and inks.

And finally, here’s the un-cropped version and the solicits for the issue, out April 1st.

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #1
(W) Ande Parks (A) Ronan Cliquet (C) Declan Shalvey
IGNITION PRESS
StockID: 173075 SKU: 81019628023601011

Experience the early days of Tyler Rake in this new prequel series- debuting ahead of the new Extraction film on Netflix!Mercenary in hiding- Tyler Rake- thought he was starting over. But his story- is just beginning...Working as a bouncer in one of Sao Paolo’s most popular nightclubs- Tyler’s world is about to be upended when a tussle with a connected drug dealer goes horribly wrong forcing him to take on a job he never wanted in order to stay hidden.Original writer Ande Parks (Daredevil- Green Hornet) reunites with his best-known franchise- Extraction- to exploring the early days of its star with artist Ronan Cliquet (Nightwing) and colorist Ronda Pattison (Deluge- TMNT)!

THUNDERCATS

Full steam ahead on the o'l’ Thundera train. Tomorrow, THUNDERCATS #24 is out and it’s a special issue with wonderful art by David O’Sullivan. Here’s the gorgeous preview pages…

Drew Moss is working on the last half of THUNDERCATS #25, his final issue. I’d like to show something here but it’s all too spoilery.

Here’s a glorious peekat Danny Earls’ inks for MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2. The colours are great but wanted to show off how much work Danny is putting into his inks.

Speaking of MUMM-RA, I’m currently working on the script for Issue 2, looking to wrap it up tomorrow. Below is a page of Rapha Lobosco’s art from Issue 1. There’s a lot of big and weird stuff in this book and Rapha is really working well with it. Less super-hero inspired then the regular ThunderCats stuff, definitely more of a horror vibe with this series.

If ayowne wants to help spread the word, Dynamite made these fun THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS promo banners. Use ‘em!

As for that particular book, I’m in the final leg of my 30 page issue so am eager to get to the finish line. I’ve seen the first 10 pages gloriously colured by Igor Monti. I’ll start writing Issue 2 later this week. It’s all coming together quite nicely.

Dynamite announced yesterday that THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS will feature a new character designed by myself. Chromioum is a new addition to the SilverHawks that featured prominently in my issue of THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS, though will first debut in ROAD TO WAR #1. He’s fun to write and fun to draw. A real treat to be able to add to the SilverHawks mythos a little too.

And as a final peek, here’s a look at Eric Canete’s glorious cover for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2.

WOW.

TERMINATOR

The final issue of TERMINATOR: METAL is also out tomorrow! That is the end of my time on the franchise and I had a great time on it. This last issue is drawn by Luke Sparrow, colours by Colin Craker. Here’s the preview pages, with letters by Jeff Eckleberry.

Huge thanks to Rory McConville for joining me on writing duties for this mini-series, it was great to work with him again. At the risk of repeating myself, I loved my time on this series. I wasn’t expecting a book about a murder robot to end up being a vessel to channel more emotional storyelling out of me but somehow it did.

Speaking of Rory, it was just announced that he’s taking over as the writer of RED SONJA in May along with artist Pablo de Bonis. Here’s info from the press release.

“Irish icon Rory McConville has been a rapidly rising star in comics, a key powerhouse in the revived scorching hot popularity of the Spawn mythos contributing to multiple titles, chronicling the latest cases of Judge Dredd, independent titles like Time Before Time and Write It In Blood, and has dipped his toes into the Dynamite pool co-writing The Terminator: Metal alongside Declan Shalvey. Now he’s jumping headfirst into the deep end by taking on one of the publisher’s crown jewels. Rory is joined in this bold new series by artist Pablo de Bonis (North End). The duo and the rest of the creative team are sharpening their swords, ready to present an all-new set of sagas starring the She-Devil.

“The fiery-haired heroine of Hyrkania finds herself caught in the middle of a spring of revolution. A turbulent movement is determined to reshape all of Hyboria in their image, and have no interest in sparing anyone in their way. The She-Devil must protect the last descendant of an ancient bloodline from their scourge. The person under Sonja’s protection, Aretha, is needed for a blood ritual, and Sonja sets out to try to free her from this cursed fate. Questions will arise through this latest quest that will shake the She-Devil to her core!

"I'm thrilled to be journeying to Hyboria for the She Devil's latest adventure," said writer Rory McConville. "As the series begins, Sonja is just trying to enjoy a quiet tankard of ale or three when an old ally's plea for aid pulls her into a revolutionary crisis on the brink of toppling the corrupt kingdom of Koth and unleashing dangers that could engulf all of Hyboria. I'm fortunate to be working with the incredibly talented Pablo de Bonis. When I first saw his pages, I knew readers were in for something special and I can't wait for them to join us on this quest."

This is great news, I can’t wait to see what he does with this. I was previously unfamiliar with de Bonis’ work but what I’ve just seen looks fantastic. Preview pages below.

I hope you Decolytes will get behind Rory on his new solo series, if I we’re not writing together, I’d still like to read more of his stories.

OUT SOON

February 18th

MUPPETS: NOIR #1 [VC]

THUNDERCATS #24 [W/VC]

TERMINATOR: METAL #5 [W/C]

STAR WARS: HIDDEN EMPIRE OMNIBUS Hardcover [DM ONLY] [C]

February 25th

GREEN LANTERN #32 [VC]

Mar 11th

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #18 [VC]

Mar 18th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS: ROAD TO WAR #1 [VC]

MARC SPECTOR: MOON KNIGHT #2 [VC]

March 25th

THUNDERCATS #25 [W/VC]

April 1st

TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #1 [C]

APPEARANCES

Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, March 14 & 15th

Signing, Central Comics Paris, March 17th

Signing, Fictionnautes Nice, March 19/20th

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

Welcome back to a jam-packed Declarations. It’s been wet and dull in Ireland but I’ve been too busy to be out in it that much. A big chunk of my time is being spent on pages, but lots of other stuff on the go too. This is chocoblack with news so let’s get going. Firsst, here’s my Worklog…

• Pencilled/inked PROJECT CLASH pages

• Coloured PROJECT PYRAMID #2 cover

• THUNDERCATS #24 lettering notes

• TERMINATOR METAL #5 lettering draft

• TERMINATOR METAL #5 lettering notes

• Finished script,PROJECT PYRAMID #1

• Colour notes, PROJECT CLASH pages

• Rough/ pencilled/ inked Ignition cover

• Rough/ pencilled/ inked THUNDERHAWKS #2 cover

• 2x written interviews, 2x Podcast interview

• 2x video promos

So yes, busy! A lot of big news in this Declarations, but let’s get this one dealt with first…

I’ve written a silent BARONESS story for Joëlle Jones! No shade on any artist I’ve worked with before, but I think this is the highest profile artist I’ve ever gotten to work with. This came totally out of the blue a few months back, Joëlle was on board for the issue but asked me if I’d be interested in writing it for her. Once I realised she was serious[?!], I happily accepted. I love silent stories and I’ve been fortunate enough to have written a few. This was a chance to do more OLD DOG-esque espionage while also getting to work with one of the best artists in the biz. Arguably because of that, this will be much better than OLD DOG

This was previously codenamed PROJECT QUIET. PR below…

Skybound and Image Comics, working alongside Hasbro, have revealed a new wave of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Silent Missions one-shots—this time putting Cobra front and center. The five standalone, dialogue-free issues will roll out weekly throughout April 2026, celebrating the franchise’s legacy of wordless storytelling with an all-star lineup of creators.

The original Silent Interlude in G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #21 famously redefined what comics could do without a single word of dialogue. Skybound revisited that legacy in April 2025 with a month-long Silent Missions event spotlighting Joe heroes like Beach Head, Jinx, Spirit, Roadblock, and Duke. Now, the spotlight shifts to the villains, as Cobra takes over Silent Missions with five brand-new one-shots.

According to Skybound Editorial Director Alex Antone, the success of the first event made a return inevitable—this time with Cobra’s rogues’ gallery unleashed by some of the biggest names in comics.

The event kicks off with Baroness #1, a tense standalone thriller from Jöelle Jones and Declan Shalvey, where the Baroness races to keep vital Cobra intelligence out of G.I. JOE’s hands—and possibly Destro’s as well. The issue arrives on April 1, 2026.

Read more about Skybound’s Sssilent Mission event over on AIPT.

For all the other BIG NEWS, head to the THUNDERCATS section below…

-Some real progress made on PROJECT ARCA, the opening pages are pretty much all drawn, I need to do more work on the outline/script as soon as I can as it’s been a while since I properly worked on it. In the meantime though, we’re finally ready to start putting this package together. I can’t resist showing a little peek, but this is all I can tease for a while.

-Victor Santos, the writer/artist behind POLAR is releasing a new comic called SILENIO via his Substack.

I love the idea of putting out comics via newsletters, direct to an audience that’s invested in your work. There was a flurry of them for a while via the Substack dead, 3W3M probably being the most successful endevour in the long run but I’d like to see more of this. The quetion is how sutainable is it to fund making a comic via your newsletter readers? It’s something I’ve thought about doing here, but I lack the time/resources to really get behind the idea so I’m hoping creators like Victor find success with this approach. You can read the whole first issue below, give it a read and consider supporting.

-Happy to see my variant cover for Christopher Cantwell and Megan Levens’ STAR TREK: RED SHIRTS series is being used for the trade paperback. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet but have heard great things and am a fan of both creators, so make sure you order a copy, out in May.

-IDW sent me a comp of MUTANT NATION Vol 2 which collects the Turtles story I did with Drew Moss. I believe it’s out tomorrow, so keep yere eyes out fot that.

-I popped up to Dublin for an evening a week ago so I could see An Evening With The Fast Show. I was a die-herd fan of the 90s BBC sketch show, so seeing the cast live, chat about the show and see them resurrect some of the old bits [a hell of a lot of them, in fact] was a dream come true. This wouldn’t be one of the most well known sketches from the show but it’s one of my favourites.

-The trade paperback for the wildly visual crime story THE VOICE SAID KILL by Si Spurrier and Vanesa Del Rey is out now from Image Comics. As a way to lure you, dear Decolyte, hey have released the first 30 pages for free. Have a read, buy the book and then share with those who you think would be interested. Si is one of the most imagininative comics writers of our age and Vanesa is such a distinct talent There is no other book as good or interesting on the stands right now.

THE VOICE SAID KILL - first 30 pages

THUNDERCATS

Ohay. This is a big one. Finally, I can talk about this!

I’m writing/drawing my first event crossover.

As announced last week, my next big project is THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS

PR via ICV2

Dynamite Entertainment will launch a major editorial event crossing over the ThunderCats and SilverHawks properties with the launch of three comic miniseries in April. The three titles will each run five issues; the event will end in August. The event kick-off in April follows ThunderCats #25 and the set-up one-shot ThunderCats X SilverHawks: Road to War in March. The three first issues in April are:

ThunderCats X SilverHawks #1, written and drawn by Declan Shalvey, will feature 30 story pages in which Panthro launches a satellite over Third Earth that attracts the attention of three of the SilverHawks, who travel to investigate.

ThunderCats X SilverHawks: Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living #1, written by Shalvey with art by Ralph Lobosco, reveals the history of the archnemesis of the entire franchise in a story that interweaves with the larger narrative.

ThunderCats X SilverHawks: ThunderHawks #1, written by Ed Brisson with art by Vincenzo Federici, starts after events in the Road to War Special with the Lost team from ThunderCats: Lost in Time (see "’ThunderCats’ Blind Bag Special") trapped in the far future trying to get back to stop the imminent war in SilverHawks bionic suits.

This project was previously codenamed PROJECT CLASH.

Let me add some background. People have been asking about this crossover since we announced the new THUNDERCATS series a couple of years ago. Truth be told, myself and Drew Moss had been leaving little hints here and there but there were even more questions once Ed Brisson launched his SILVERHAWKS series with George Kambadais. This has been in the planning stages for quite a while, all worked out between ThunderVerse editor Nate Cosby, Ed and myself. My main objective with the THUNDERCATS series when I took it on was to establish a new status quo for our comic series, to indroduce and re-introduce these characters for both new and previously dedicated audiences. Because of that, I wanted space for the book to just be about the ThunderCats and not get things too muddled. I very much got to do that in the first year of the book and was very satisfied with that. In the second year, we got to really expand the scope, leaving room to introduce other elements and having a wider world to do things like the LOST book, the one-shots, etc. Having done that for a year, now really feels like the right time to do this crossover, with the main book soon hitting that coveted 25th issue milestone.

I am writing this 5 issue event miniseries and drawing the first issue at a bumper 30 pages. It is also part of a big 15 issue crossover event across three titles.

It’s been really fun to write/draw some more bombastic superhero stuff again, and I’m having a blast with it [though, it’s a lot of work, obviously], currently halfway through drawing it. I also got to design a new Lion-O costume for the series that you can see on my cover and in these preview pages, coloured by series colourist Igor Monti [who I’ve been looking to work with on something for a while].

How fun is that?

There’s a host of variants for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS by artists such as Lucio Parillo, Eric Canete, Ben Oliver and more. There’ll even be a ‘layouts variant’[!?] which will feature a cropped image of my layouts for the issue. I have to say… I think that’s pretty cool, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Don’t look too close at it yet though, don’t want to spoil the story for yourself.

Wait, didn’t I say the crossover went across three titles? Yes, in fact I am writing one of those titles called…

MUMM-RA: THE EVERLIVING! This will essentially be an origin story for Mumm-Ra, drawn by Rapha Lobosco, hot off the heels of his THUNDERCATS LOST run. I’m currently working on the script for #2 while Rapha is working on the first issue, which is looking great.

This project was previously codenamed PROJECT PYRAMID.

I’m really enjoying broadening the scope of the Thunderverse and having the opportunity to really dig into a character like Mumm-Ra. I’ve been able to examine him a little in the main series, but there’s too much going on in that book, the character warrants his own book to examine more complexities. Getting to work with Rapha is a real treat too, I’ve known him for years and have seen his career blossom on books like JAMES BOND and the like. I was blown away by his work on the LOST series so to have him on MUMM-RA with me is such a delight.

We have some great variants for this book too, one of which is mine. Danny Earls is doing the main covers, the other variants are by brilliant artists such as John Amor and Erica D’Urso. There are ‘animation variants’ for the whole crossover too by the way, if youre into that sort of thing.

Lastly, there is one more miniseries that is written by fellow Thunder-writer Ed Brisson with at by Vincenzo Federici called, and this is a fun one…

THUNDERHAWKS

I’m just doing covers for this series though have obviously gone over the outline for how it relates to the main crossover book.

This series sees the LOST team trapped in a terrible future, trying to find their way home with some mysterious armour technology. The suits were designed by Alessandro Randali [with a small tweak on Neko by myself]. Must say, they’re a lot of fun to draw.

And for your benefit, here is a checklist for all the issues coming out over the next few months. It’s going to be a Thundersummer to remember!

This is a challenge unlike any I’ve had before. It’s scary, but also very exciting. Hats off to Dynamite Comics too, who are putting a lot of resources behing this project to make it something special.

If you’ve already read THUNDERCATS #23 last week, then you’ll see we’ve been seeding this for a while. Here’s the preview pages, just before the big reveal. Art by Drew Moss.

For eagle-eyed readers, I even teased what was coming on the cover, hiding in plain sight, solicited a few months ago…

Finally, here’s a podcast interview I did with Blerd Without Fear soon after the news broke.

Obviously, there’ll be lots more to show/talk about in the coming weeks, just glad I can finally share this as I’ve been talking around it for weeks. I’m developing a comics crossover with characters I loved as a kid, this is crazy and all very surreal.

Finally, THUNDERCATS #24 is all wrapped, with really gorgeous pages by David O’Sullivan. We’ve done something a little different with this one, I do hope people like it but they’ll definitely like Dave’s gorgeous pages, of that much I’m sure.

TERMINATOR

Issue Four of TERMINATOR: METAL come out last week. Here’s the preview pages by Rory McConville, Fabio Gallo, Colin Craker and Jeff Eckleberry. It’s a tense war-time story focusing on Resistence fighters making a desperate play to take out a Skynet base. As usual, everything goes according to plan and works out for the best.

OH. WAIT. THIS IS TERMINATOR.

Check out the preview…

I handed in my final lettering draft for METAL #5, so I can now officially say that I’m all wrapped on TERMINATOR. Between TERMINATOR and TERMINATOR: METAL we put together a 15 issue run on a book that I’m very proud of. The first trade is finally out now so if you haven’t checked out the book yet, now is a great time. I genuinely think this title has some of my best writing to date. Though really, that’s for YOU to decide.

Luke Sparrow is also finished on Issue Five and wow, way to end on a high note. Here’s another gorgeous page by Luke, with colours by Colin, of course.

OUT SOON

February 04th

MUTANT NATION Vol 2 [W]

GARGOYLES X DARKWING DUCK #1 [VC]

February 11th

THUNDERCATS: LOST IN TIME #1 [VC]

February 18th

MUPPETS: NOIR #1 [VC]

February 25th

THUNDERCATS #24 [W/VC]

TERMINATOR: METAL #5 [W/C]

GREEN LANTERN #32 [VC]

Mar 11th

ABSOLUTE BATMAN #18 [VC]

Mar 18th

THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS: ROAD TO WAR #1 [VC]

MARC SPECTOR: MOON KNIGHT #2 [VC]

March 25th

THUNDERCATS #25 [W/VC]

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

I’m just back from MegaCon Dublin last weekend, and a signing in Forbidden Planet Belfast yesterday. Met a friend from work at the show.

I’m pretty wiped, but gotta get back to the drawing board. Here’s my latest Worklog.

• Writing PROJECT PYRAMID #1 script

• Pencilling/inking PROJECT CLASH pages

• Pencilled/inked/coloured Ignition Press cover

• Wrote some press for PYRAMID and CLASH

• Attended MegaCon Dublin

• Signing Forbidden Planet Belfast

-I’ve mostly been keeping my head down at the drawing board while working on sequential pages for PROJECT CLASH. Been about a year since I’ve done so many interior pages and I’m doing my best to focus on that. I’m currently about a third of the way through Issue One.

-This week I want to do more writing work on PROJECT ARCA as the artist will need more material to work from soon. They’re nearly done with the initial/preview pages, will be moving onto colours and letters after that. I’ve very excited to have a creator owned project in the works. Still a ways off from revealing this but here’s a teaser…

-Joel Meadows is getting ready to launch a Kickstarter campaign for STRIPWIRE PRESENTS, collecting strips he published in his Tripwire magazine from years ago. I have a strip in there, done around the time I was working on 28 DAYS LATER, I think. Go to the launch page and click to be notified, there’ll be a lot of other [and better] artists with stories collected there.

Stripwire Presents [launch page]

-I’m nearly finished writing the first script for PROJECT PYRAMID, working with a new artist. Have known him a long time so it’s really cool to work on an actual book together. He’s already shared covers and layouts, very excited to see how the pages come out. He’s had to start drawing before I’ve finished writing the issue, I really don’t like it when that happens but I I can’t have him waiting on me when he could be working. I’m just finishing off the last pages today/tomorrow. This project will be revealed very soon. Here’s a peek at some layouts, for now.