SRFI#1041: Forty is a Magically Ordered Number

Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #1041 - Incredible but true! Forty is the only number in the English language whose letters are in alphabetical order! It’s a linguistic marvel! Are you speechless?

[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration.  Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer activity to finalize the magazine layout I previously created (logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.)]

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SRFI#845: Your Whole Life is a Lie: This Everyday Citrus is Sweeter Than You Think!

Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #845 - You Won't Believe Which Fruit Has Less Sugar: Lemon vs. Strawberry Showdown!

[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration.  Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer activity to finalize the magazine layout I previously created (logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.)]

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Superman, Batman, Mister Miracle, and The Flash in Front of the Hall of Justice LEGO Set.

Does anyone remember the late 1970s/early 1980s, when you watched reruns of Super Friends on TV and then made your own LEGO sets to go with it? 

[Workflow: Nano banana for base image, rest of human work within Affinity for fixing the instruction manual, adding the four LEGO set characters, adding laser beams to Superman, adding the fire from the table, and adding The Flash running so fast we see him blurred across the screen. Additional background cleanups as needed.]

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Pete Transformed into They Live Alien

I created a possible YouTube intro screen for Pete Bickford's (mostly) weekly ComicBaseTV livestream channel. Pete is even wearing Roddy Piper's clothes from the cult classic THEY LIVE movie.

[Workflow: Nano banana for helping provide elements to expand the poster, then everything else done by hand in Affinity for fonts, face mapping, poster merge, etc.]

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Hi-rez image (Metropolis Poster) link [2160px tall]

my source image to be altered

source for metropolis poster

SRFI#49: The Straight Truth About the Hump

Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #49 - Despite its hump, a camel has a straight spine.

[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration.  Lots of Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer activity to create the magazine layout, created logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Peanuts Homage - Charlie Brown in 3D Reading a Comic Book

Charlie Brown in 3D was created while in a Slack discussion forum with Robbie Weinberg.

[Workflow: I fed Peanuts sample art into Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create a 3D version. I then imported it into Affinity Photo to clean up a few issues found while creating the background elements (poster, toys, etc), and I also used Topaz Gigapixel to upscale some elements of the image flow as needed.]

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trade dressed image (currently unused in CB2026)

ComicBase Splash Loader Screen: Mystery Comic Store

I created a variant splash loading page for the new ComicBase 2026 that features a young Pete Bickford standing outside his local comic book store.  The art credit for the program is attached below.

[Workflow: Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the base look. I then imported it into Affinity Photo to clean up a few issues found while creating the background elements (books, poster, sky, etc), and I also used Topaz Gigapixel to upscale some flow as needed.]

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trade dressed image as seen in CB2026

uncropped original virgin image

lilyisthatyou - HALO digital CD release custom cover art

I took the existing CD digital single cover work for "HALO" and made several small enhancements using my Affinity Photo + Designer tools.   Buy your copy of the music over at lilyisthatyou's music/merchandise site.

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Dasha - What Happens Now?

The stock album cover for "WHAT HAPPENS NOW? (Deluxe)" was a simple image of Dasha sitting on a horse without any album text, so I made text labeling adjustments, including adding her belt buckle from the back cover to her outfit. Be sure to grab your copy over at Dasha's promotional site.

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Maren Morris - Dreamsicle

The stock album cover for "DREAMSICLE" felt a bit lacking for my iPod needs, so I made some minor adjustments. I expanded the image footprint to incorporate the missing title for the music CD, enhancing its overall appearance and ensuring it looks complete on my device.  Go buy your copy over at Maren Morris' own promotional site.

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Tweaked cover art for Karley Scott Collins' album artwork for 'Write One' (version 2)

I took the "WRITE ONE" CD album cover art and fed it through a few image prompts to get some ideas, then took the pieces I liked from 4 different generations and then spliced them into the minor updates within Affinity Photo. Be sure to grab your copy of her music over at Karley Scott Collins.

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Heartless by Julia Cole

The stock digital EP cover for "HEARTLESS" didn't quite inspire me, so I made a few minor adjustments. I added some layered text and a sunburst effect to enhance its visual appeal. Be sure to grab your copy over at Julia Cole's promotional site!

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Absolute Batman Versus a Flamethrower

I took a single panel from DC Comics Absolute Batman #5 drawn by Nick Dragotta with colors by Frank Martin. I made some alterations and enhancements to create a frame-busting wide-screen version of Batman fending off an attack from a flamethrower.

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

panel sourced from this page

Batman Kneeling in the Rain on a Rooftop in Gotham City.

I took a single panel from DC Comics Absolute Batman #5 , drawn by Nick Dragotta, and used it as an input source for a NightCafe image prompt to create a version of Batman kneeling on a rooftop.   I then found several images online and merged/masked them into the final picture with Affinity Photo.

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Batman versus Killer Croc

Batman versus Killer Croc

[Workflow: Original art by Jesús Hervás from Suicide Squad - Kill Arkham Asylum #1 (DC Comics 2024) ; minor edits with new words.]

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The Art of Storytelling: How a Single Panel Can Set the Stage for an Epic Superman Adventure

This panel tells a clear story: Superman is using his incredible powers to defeat an enemy, and he's not holding back. The beams of energy symbolize Superman's strength and determination, and the off-camera enemy reminds us that Clark is always ready to defend the innocent. The panel sets the stage for a thrilling action sequence, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next.

[Workflow: I extracted a single panel from a 2024 DC Comics book, added a colorful gradient background, cleaned up some unwanted elements, and blended in some new heat-vision beams to blast at a target off-screen.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Superman versus Doomsday

Superman versus Doomsday

[Workflow: I extracted a single panel from a 2024 DC Comics book, cleaned up some unwanted elements, and added a simple title.]

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The Tipsy Trickster: Hallucinations in the Fog

In the heart of London, where the fog clung to the cobblestones like a shroud, John Constantine found himself nursing a pint in a dimly lit pub, the kind where secrets whispered between the walls. The night had started innocently enough, but as the whiskey flowed, so did the shadows, twisting and curling around him like old friends. With each sip, the world around him began to blur, and the familiar faces of patrons morphed into grotesque caricatures, their laughter echoing like a sinister melody. It wasn’t long before a shimmering cloud of magic dust materialized before his bleary eyes, swirling with colors that danced like fireflies. As the line between reality and illusion faded, Constantine realized he was not just tipsy; he was teetering on the edge of a hallucinatory adventure that would drag him deep into the underbelly of the supernatural, where every sip could summon a new danger. Every shadow held a secret waiting to be uncovered.

[Workflow: A few NightCafe image prompts, merged in some magical mischief, and a distorted logo within Affinity Photo, since John is having trouble focusing his eyes.]

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Gaslight: John Constantine's Confrontation with Madness

John Constantine staggered through the haze of The Joker's laughing gas, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of manic laughter and twisted visions. The world around him warped into a surreal carnival of colors and shadows, but amidst the madness, his instincts kicked in. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a flickering sigil, the air crackling with unstable magic. As the laughter echoed in his ears, he channeled the chaos, weaving spells that danced like fireflies, determined to turn the Joker's deadly joke back on itself before he lost his grip on reality entirely.

[Workflow: A few NightCafe image prompts, brought into Affinity Photo and the added pentagram, fiery portal and extra smoke Fx.]

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Vigilante Vibes and Coffee Highs with Batman

After a long night of crime-fighting, Batman finds solace on a Gotham City rooftop, the city skyline illuminated by the moonlight. With the cool breeze rustling his cape, he takes a moment to enjoy a steaming cup of Bat-Brew. The rich aroma wafts through the air, providing a rare moment of comfort amidst the chaos below. As he sips the dark brew, he savors the bold flavors that fuel his relentless pursuit of justice. For Bruce Wayne, this simple pleasure is a reminder that even the Dark Knight needs a moment to recharge before facing the shadows once more.

[Workflow: Original art by Jorge Jiménez from Batman issue #153 (DC 2024);  a few simple panel edits and tweaks to set the mood.]

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