Continuing Visions of Lorelei, a 13-part artistic event that celebrates the recent publication of Lorelei: Sects and the City, a Mature Readers graphic novel that reintroduces the soul-stealing succubus.
This is a very special piece. And yes, there’s a story to go with it.
During my talks with Frank Thorne about his cover art for Lorelei, Vol. 2 #2 (see yesterday’s Vision for that illustration), I mentioned my dissatisfaction with current artists whose styles were all flash and no substance, and who’d apparently never taken an anatomy lesson. I preferred old-school artists like Thorne and Tom Sutton and Ernie Colon—artists whose work I’d grown up idolizing. I wanted to feature them in the new Lorelei, to remind comic fans of what good art was. Then Thorne asked:
“Have you spoken to Gray Morrow?”
Spoken to him? I hadn’t even considered him! (Not to mention I had no idea how to get ahold of him.)
“Well, here’s his number,” Thorne said. “Give him a call. I think this is something he’d be interested in.”
So I called. And Morrow was interested. Mainstream publishers had turned their backs on artists of his generation, but here was some small-press guy telling him he was exactly what he was looking for. That couldn’t be right, could it?
“Do you mind if I ask you something?” He wanted to know why I’d be interested in hiring someone like him. He wasn’t one of those flashy artists.
I told him the same thing I’d told Thorne: about my dislike of flashy styles, of wanting to remind people what good comics art looked like, of wanting to show my appreciation to the people whose work I’d admired.
There was absolute silence on the other end. Then:
“Thank you.” It was humble and heartfelt, and I could almost see him smiling.
What followed were a half-dozen sketches; when I suggested combining elements of them, Gray got right to work and provided the finished art in no time at all—hating the design of Lori every step of the way. 😀 (“There’s too much hair! That blouse is ridiculous—and so is that collar! It’s all too busy!”)
The most amazing part? He was suffering through the late stages of Parkinson’s Disease, his drawing hand shaking so badly some days that he had to use both hands to do his work. You’d never know it from this illustration.
Although we discussed the possibility of further projects, I never got to work with Gray again—he died in November 2001—but I’ll always appreciate the time and effort he put in to making Lori look her best.
