Zatanna at the Garrick Theatre

Get ready for an enchanting experience as the mesmerizing Zatanna Zatara takes the stage for a two-night-only engagement at London's iconic Garrick Theatre! Known for her spellbinding performances that blend magic and illusion with captivating storytelling, Zatanna promises to leave audiences spellbound. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with wonder, laughter, and a touch of the supernatural as this beloved sorceress showcases her extraordinary talents in the heart of the West End. Don't miss your chance to witness the magic live!

[Workflow: Started with several images prompted in Tengr, and NightCafe, and then combined portions of those together for the final image. Re-used the "Two Nights Only" vector logo I made previously to add to the stage's backdrop screen. Used Affinity Designer for the spiral wand effects, and other minor clean-ups and additional paint texture applied done in Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

The Jar of Dragon's Flames, Part 1: "The Thief of Flames"

[another imagined John Constantine comic book cover for DC Comics. This two-part storyline is proposed to be written by Brian Azzarello with interior art by Goran Sudzuka and variant covers by TrUzApalOOza.]

Title: The Jar of Dragon's Flames

Starring: John Constantine (The Trenchcoat Magician)

Publisher: DC Comics

Synopsis: When a mysterious jar containing the flames of a dragon is stolen from a secret society, John Constantine is hired to retrieve it. But as he delves deeper into the world of black magic and ancient curses, he discovers that the jar's true power is not just its ability to unleash fiery destruction, but also its capacity to manipulate the very fabric of reality.

• Part 1: "The Thief of Flames"

John Constantine is hired by a mysterious client to steal a jar containing the flames of a dragon from a secret society. But as he infiltrates the society's headquarters, he realizes that the jar is more than just a simple container - it's a key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. As Constantine navigates the treacherous world of black magic, he must confront his own demons and make a choice between his own morality and the temptation of ultimate power.

• Part 2: "The Blaze of Reality"

Constantine's quest for the jar has awakened a powerful force that threatens to destroy the very fabric of reality. As the flames of the dragon begin to spread, Constantine must use all his magical prowess to contain the blaze and prevent a catastrophic outcome. But as the stakes grow higher, Constantine begins to realize that the jar's true power is not just its ability to unleash destruction, but also its capacity to manipulate the very fabric of reality. Can Constantine find a way to stop the flames and restore balance to the universe, or will he succumb to the temptation of ultimate power?

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Adventure

Target Audience: Mature Readers (16+)

Page Count: 32 pages (2-part storyline)

Format: Full-color, 6.625 x 10.25 inches (standard comic book size)

[Workflow: Starter images of the dragon, John, and background creatures in Tengr AI. Combined images together, added more light reflections, flames, sparks, and demon skulls within Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Lois Lane Metropolis Reporter

I fed Tengr AI a base image sketch and my inputs to create the starter image of Lois Lane.  Brought image into Affinity Photo for artifact clean-ups, embedded the logo, applied another painted texture layer, and merged in Superman flying through the sky.

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Constantine's Gambit: A Game of Vampires

In the dimly lit, crumbling tenement apartment building on the outskirts of New York City's Lower East Side, a sense of foreboding hung in the air like a miasma. It was a place where the living and the dead coexisted in an uneasy dance, where the walls ran thick with the secrets of the damned. At the heart of this eerie domain was John Constantine, a man with a reputation for being as ruthless as he was cunning. A vampire, or so the whispers went, with a taste for blood and a talent for manipulation. But Constantine was no ordinary creature of the night. He was a being of darkness, with eyes that burned like embers from the depths of hell. And he was not alone. A vampire bat, its leathery wings beating softly in the shadows, watched with cold, calculating eyes as Constantine went about his business, collecting debts and exacting revenge on those who dared to cross him.

[Workflow: I created the vampire, buildings, and JC during separate prompt sessions in Tengr, and the bat from a NightCafe prompt.   Combined everything into a single image, added a fog layer, spectral glare behind the bat, and the font work. Hand-fixed up AI artifact issues from the various source images during final edits in Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [2871px wide]

The Dark Side of John's Cigarette Habit

As the acrid smoke of the underworld swirled around him, John Constantine stood tall, his worn leather trenchcoat flapping open like a dark wing. The stench of brimstone and despair hung heavy in the air, but the cynical mage barely flinched, his eyes fixed on the burning pyre before him. His left hand cradled the cigarette, the ember glowing like a tiny, defiant star amid the infernal chaos. The flames that danced around him seemed to flicker in time with the rhythm of his slow, deliberate drags as if the very fires of hell itself were drawn to the rebellious spark within him. And yet, despite the apocalyptic backdrop, Constantine's gaze remained calm, his expression a mask of world-weary resignation. He was a man who'd faced the abyss and emerged with a few scars, a cigarette pack of Mayfairs, and a healthy dose of skepticism. As he exhaled a plume of smoke, the darkness seemed to writhe and twist around him, as if the very fabric of the underworld was trying to claim him as its own. But Constantine just smiled a wry, mirthless curve of his lips, and took another long, slow drag on his cigarette.

[Workflow: Started with a basic image of JC from image prompts in Tengr, hand-fixed up AI artifact issues, then used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. Generated some of the flames with Nightcafe prompts, and the wings with Tengr.   Merged and layered in all the pieces into a single image. Added cigarette and smoke, added a swirling layer of hellish smoke, enhanced the flames, and added sparks/ember Fx for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

Constantine Stands on the Dark Rail

As the dimly lit industrial train yard outside Chicago swallowed the darkness, John Constantine stood defiantly on the worn railroad tracks, his eyes locked onto the swirling vortex of hellish sunburst energy before him. The air was thick with the acrid stench of brimstone, clinging to his throat like a noose, while the distant rumble of the approaching train grew louder, its headlamp casting an eerie glow on the rusting behemoths of steel that loomed in the shadows.

With a sweep of his wrist, Constantine's worn leather trench coat fluttered open, revealing a twisted, blackened crucifix adorned with strange symbols and gemstones. It hummed with dark energy as he held it aloft, the relic serving as his focus for the arcane arts. The demon, its grotesque form writhing in agony, clawed at the energy beam searing its flesh, letting out a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the night.

The train's horn blared a warning, a monstrous beast hurtling toward him with deadly precision. The engineer's frantic attempts to brake were futile against the massive weight of the locomotive. Yet Constantine's gaze never wavered; he poured every ounce of his arcane power into the ritual, the air around him crackling with energy as the train bore down.

At that moment, the framework of reality seemed to tear asunder, the boundaries between worlds blurring. The demon's screams crescendoed, mingling with the train's horn, a cacophony of impending doom. But Constantine stood firm, a solitary figure against the tide of darkness, determined to vanquish the horrors that lurked beyond.

As the train thundered closer, he felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him. This was just another day in the life of a man who had made a pact with the devil himself, and he would not let it end here.

[Workflow: Started with a basic image of JC standing with his arm raised forward from image prompts in Tengr, then used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. Added relic to hand, created fire bolts, and Fx, created the inbound train lights approaching, digital sign inlay, texturing for a painted canvas impression for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

Trio of John Constantine AI Image Creations

Here are a handful of quick Tengr image prompt creations with only some very minor AI-glitch corrections by human hand.

Portrait of John Constantine

John Constantine smoking a cigarette in London.

[Workflow: JC's starter image from my Tengr prompt, masked in a background of London, canvas texturing, along with masking and AI artifact clean-ups in Affinity.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

The Trench Coat Magician's Escape as London Burns

John Constantine's trenchcoat flapped wildly behind him as he sprinted down the London street, his eyes fixed on the pavement ahead. The sounds of chaos and destruction echoed through the air, and the acrid smell of smoke and brimstone filled his nostrils. But it was the sight behind him that sent a shiver down his spine - a demonic dragon, its scales glinting like black diamonds in the fading light, breathed fire across the rooftops of the buildings, sending flames licking at the windows and doors. The dragon's eyes, like two burning coals, seemed to bore into Constantine's back, and he could feel its malevolent gaze urging him to run faster. His tie flapped wildly in the wind, and his hair was disheveled, but Constantine's face was set in a determined grimace as he fled from the inferno. He knew that he had to get away from the dragon, and from whatever dark forces had summoned it to the streets of London. But as he ran, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being herded towards some unknown fate, and that the dragon was just the beginning of his troubles.

[Workflow: JC's starter image from my Tengr prompt, then layered in the dragon from Nightcafe prompt, and I found a nice flamethrower image for the fire breath.  Depth-of-field, fire and particle layers, canvas texturing, and other clean-ups in Affinity.]

Hi-rez image link [3227 px wide]

The Botanical Breakthrough with Pamela Isley

As Pamela Isley stood in her bio-plant growth lab, her eyes scanned the lush, vibrant foliage surrounding her. The air was thick with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft hum of machinery, a familiar backdrop for her work. Behind her, a row of container-grown plants stood tall, their leaves a deep shade of green and their stems strong and sturdy.

[Workflow: Tengr image prompt to start, finished with shadowing, trees in window, and lighting Fx inside Affinity.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

The Skull of Simon Magus: A Constantine Story

As John Constantine puffed on his cigarette, the acrid smoke curling around the skull of Simon Magus in his grasp, he gazed out into the fog-shrouded streets of London with a mixture of disdain and fascination as a massive, horned demon slowly emerged from the swirling mist, its eyes glowing red with an otherworldly hunger.

Hi-rez image link [3264px wide]

Demons and Drafts (with John Constantine)

As the sun dipped below the London skyline, John Constantine held a mug of cold British lager, savoring the crisp taste and the fleeting sense of relief that came with another day of outwitting demons and evil warlocks. Standing tall in the crowded pub, his worn trenchcoat flapping open to reveal a rumpled white shirt and a pair of scuffed boots, he gazed out at the room with a mixture of disdain and amusement, the dim lighting and raucous chatter of the patrons a welcome respite from the darkness that lurked just beyond the edge of reality. John surveyed the room and announced "Cheers, mate! Let's get smashed!" to the few patrons conscious enough to understand his words.

[Workflow: I started with some Tengr input images, took the pieces I wanted, and merged them into the final image.   Artifacts cleaned up in Affinity with various Fx, color tweaks, and other adjustments for the finished look and feel.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Migraine of the Damned and a Pint of Trouble (John Constantine)

As the sun dipped below the London skyline, John Constantine slumped in his chair at the outdoor cafe bar, one eye fixed on the amber liquid in his pint glass with a mixture of disdain and desperation. The bitter taste of the British lager was a poor substitute for the whiskey he'd rather be drinking, but it would have to do. The sounds of the city's nightlife hummed in the background, a cacophony of laughter and music that only served to grate on his already frayed nerves and continued to amplify the head-pounding migraine he woke up with. But it was the figure lurking in the shadows that really caught his attention - the devil himself, horns gleaming in the fading light, his presence a constant reminder of the deals that had been made, and the debts that still needed to be paid. Constantine's gaze flicked towards the devil, his expression a mask of disdain, but a spark of curiosity flickered in his eyes - what did the Prince of Darkness want now?

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Tromping Through the Streams of Paradise Island

A few quick Tengr images that I created with Wonder Woman stomping through some streams and creeks that crisscross Themyscira (Paradise Island). Some minor clean-ups of the original AI images.

The Two-Headed Tumble with John Constantine

As the darkness fell over the city, casting a shadowy gloom over the deserted streets, John Constantine lay on his back, his eyes squinting against the gentle drizzle of rain. It was 7pm on a chilly autumn evening, and the only sound was the distant hum of traffic and the patter of raindrops on the pavement. He was sprawled across the corner of a deserted Chicago sidewalk, the intersection a lonely and foreboding place. As he lay there, he felt a strange sensation, as if the shadowy image of a two-headed dragon was overlaying his own form, its scales glinting in the faint streetlights. The dragon's heads were twisted in opposite directions, one gazing up at the sky with a fierce intensity, the other staring down at the pavement with a cold, calculating gaze. The concrete beneath him was cracked and shattered, a testament to the incredible fall he'd taken just moments before. Now, as he slowly sat up, rubbing his sore head, Constantine couldn't help but wonder what other supernatural surprises the night might hold. Behind him, the neon signs of a liquor store, a game shop, and a cheap $5 store cast a gaudy glow over the deserted streets, a reminder of the mundane world that lay just beyond the realm of the supernatural.

Hi-rez image link [3142px wide]

The Devil's Dust: John Constantine's Last Stand

In the depths of Hell, amidst swirling clouds of devilish dust, John Constantine, the renowned occult detective from DC Comics, finds himself looking upward at the towering 20-foot demon known as Malgorthrax. Kneeling down, John's eyes blaze with determination as he channels his mystical powers. With a swift motion, he places his hand on the dusty ground, casting a spell that unleashes vibrant streams of purple and green plasma. The magical energy surges forth, striking Malgorthrax's hooven feet first, then spiraling upward until the demon is fully engulfed by hex fire.

[Workflow: Used Tengr + Nightcafe to generate separate pieces: demon, John, basic background, and some runic symbols.  Masked in additional layers such as the dust storm, pixel layers to create more dust, plasma particles, runic glow, etc.  Assembled everything within Affinity.]

Hi-rez image link [2563 px wide]

John Constantine casts a powerful spell outward...

Placing a Protection Spell (John Constantine)

John Constantine placed a protection spell on the room. I will probably use pieces of this one in a future creation.

Superman Holds Up a Collapsing Building

I created an homage cover based on Pablo M. Collar's original interior panel artwork.   I began with Tengr to kick things off, sourcing art from My Adventures with Superman #1 (August 2024).  I then expanded the image vertically and added more destructive details by hand, blending in other layers for special effects like dust clouds and falling debris. Finally, I created a variant cover layout to complete the production look and feel of an actual Superman Unchained #6 comic book.

 

John Constantine Taking in the Local Pub

My image of John Constantine taking a break in the local London pub was inspired by artist Moritat's panel image I saw in Hellblazer #2 (2016).

Moritat's inspiring image

Smoke and the Shadows in the Cemetery of Lost Souls (John Constantine)

As the sun began its slow descent towards the horizon, casting a warm, blue-tinged glow over the crumbling headstones within the Abney Park Cemetery, John Constantine stood tall, his eyes fixed on the statued gravestone before him. The angel, its features chiseled from marble, held a bow and arrow in its outstretched hand, its gaze seeming to pierce the very soul of the man standing before it.

The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the distant chirping of crickets provided a mournful accompaniment to the silence. A light foggy mist had begun to rise from the ground, shrouding the gravestones in a veil of mystery. The mist was so fine that it seemed to glow with soft, ethereal light as if the very essence of the dead was rising to greet the living.

As Constantine puffed on his cigarette, the flame casting a brief, golden glow on his weathered face, he noticed that the mist was illuminated by shafts of light that seemed to pierce through the fog like rays from the heavens. The light was so intense that it cast eerie shadows on the ground, making it seem as if the dead themselves were rising to claim the living.

"What's the story, angel?" Constantine muttered to himself, his voice low and gravelly.  As he spoke, the wind picked up, rustling the leaves of the nearby trees and sending a faint whispering through the air. Constantine's eyes never left the angel's face, his mind racing with the possibilities. He knew that in this place, where the veil between the worlds was thin, the whispers of the dead could be heard on the wind. And he had a feeling that this angel was trying to tell him something, something that would change the course of his life forever.

[Workflow: Used Tengr to generate a variation of a source Llovet image featuring John. Then used Google image searches to find all the other components to use as further elements. Composed these pieces of John, re-used cigarette+smoke+glow from one of my other images, refaced the grave marker behind John, added more trees, applied curves + HSL recoloring effects, fog pixel layers, ray lighting layer, bunches of masking work.  All final edits, and source image clean-ups were done within Affinity Photo.]

Image list:

1. final image of John smoking a cigarette in a graveyard
2. Gravestone Halloween image i used
3. Graveyard with trees
4. green rays that I overlaid with foggy/mist layer

Smoke and the Shadows in the Cemetery of Lost Souls 

.

.

.

.

.