Johnny wants the David Bowie Sketchbook!

My Bowie book and I attended the Small Press Expo a few weekends ago with visions of Ben Katchor and Joost Swarte dancing in our heads. Alas, they go into the “ones that got away” file, but I was really pleased with the sketches I ended up scoring…

Nate Powell: I really like the idea of Bowie’s singing radiating outward from his mouth like a mutant’s sonic superpower or something.

Tom Scioli: As the artist of Godland and The Myth of 8-Opus, Tom is really the first full-time superhero artist from whom I’ve gotten a Bowie sketch. The best part? When I asked him about it, he actually said “I’ve always wanted to draw David Bowie but the opportunity never presented itself.” Yes, sadly, Bowie is not ACTUALLY a Kirbyesque cosmic entity, though he plays one on stage.

Lilli Carré: Lilli was maybe the most relentlessly (and needlessly) self-effacing artist in my Bowie sketchbook to date, as you can see from the disclaimer she felt it necessary to include. But gosh, look at that hair! She’s my favorite hair artist in comics.

Lauren Weinstein: Lauren was super gung-ho about drawing Bowie, and about the drawing she eventually came up with in particular. “This is the best thing I’ve ever drawn,” she insisted. “No, really, this is the best thing I’ve ever drawn.”

Matt Wiegle: The “I’m Afraid of Americans” video comes to life! I’ve known Matt for a long time so maybe he recalled that I’ve been a huge Nine Inch Nails fan for a long time, and that in fact it was Trent Reznor’s enthusiasm for David Bowie that got me to buy my first Bowie record, Earthling, back in college. Or maybe he’s just awesome.

Dustin Harbin: Dustin seemed to treat drawing in the Bowie sketchbook like some kind of honor. I think he lived up to it!

Jim Rugg: Jim was maybe the most in-demand artist at the show–when I initially approached him to do a Bowie sketch he had a queue of three other sketchbooks to go through first–and I’m really grateful he took the time for me. The most androgynous and sexy Bowie yet? And yet another appearance of the ever-popular “pirate Bowie” look, which actual Bowie sported during a grand total of ONE photo session. (He had pinkeye or something.) I’ve since discovered that much of the Bowie-centric episode of Flight of the Conchords revolves around Bowie’s enthusiasm for eyepatch use, so maybe that explains it.

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