The Wizard of Oz #4 - Pulp Fiction Comics Exclusive Variant Cover

I've created an imaginary variant comic book cover for IDW Publishing this time. Inspired by the original 1957 Classics Illustrated Junior #535 - The Wizard of Oz, painted by Dik Browne.

[Workflow: Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) prompts for base pieces. Affinity Photo collaged components, logo, issue headers, designed the barcode, layering FX, sunflare, and shadows, and inserted creator credits. Additionally, I used Topaz Gigapixel to upscale various elements of the image flow as needed.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

final trade dressed cover art for IDW 

virgin cover art

working photo layers

new Oz logo

Dik Browne's 1957 Oz cover

initial sketch

color testing sketch

new modern CIJ logo

ComicBase Splash Loader Screen: DieMund's Deadly Book Exchange

Another variant splash loading page for the new ComicBase 2026 that features a young boy named Peter running away from a creepy comic book thief!   I then created a behind-the-scenes (BTS) and VHS tape image to go with it.

[Workflow: Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the base look. Affinity Photo to finish the store logo, background elements, fog, add moon, lamp+glow, etc. Topaz Gigapixel to upscale some flow as needed.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

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.)]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

 

The Girls of Scooby Doo (Daphne + Velma)

Daphne & Velma are the girls of Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine van, as seen in a local Indianapolis park, which has been temporarily set up for the annual Halloween season.

[Workflow: Nano banana for base image + human finishes for van logo, lighting, background merger]

Hi-rez image (Daphne 1) link [2160px tall]

Hi-rez image (Daphne 2) link [2160px tall]

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

Batman with Gargoyle Statue

Batman with Gargoyle Statue

[Workflow: Nano banana for base image + minor human finishes]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

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.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Statues of Red Tornado, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman

Statues of Red Tornado, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman.

[Workflow: Nano banana for base image + human finishes for logos, water bubbles, lighting, and background mergers]

Hi-rez image (Red Tornado) link [2160px tall]

Hi-rez image (1970s Aquaman) link [2160px tall]

Hi-rez image (1940s Wonder Woman) link [2160px tall]

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.]

Hi-rez image (Pete Lives) link [2160px tall]

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]

ComicBase Splash Loader Screen: Stranger Things Halloween Comic Book Store

I created another variant splash loading page for the new ComicBase 2026 that features two young kids dressed up for Halloween.

[Workflow: Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the base look. I then imported it into Affinity Photo to finish the store logo, added an octo-creature, fixed other background elements, and I also used Topaz Gigapixel to upscale some flow as needed.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

trade dressed image as seen in CB2026

uncropped original virgin image

splasher loader as seen during ComicBase startup

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.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

trade dressed image (currently unused in CB2026)