Rooftop Batman

I started this image from a NightCafe image prompt, then finished it up in Affinity with artifact clean-ups, updating the bricks with a new texture overlay and more clouds.

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Lilitha Summons a Demon - Expanded Edition

Lilitha was once a skilled sorceress who delved too deep into the dark arts, seeking power and knowledge. She made a pact with a powerful demon, trading her soul for unimaginable power. Now, she uses her abilities to fight against evil and protect the innocent.

[Original Workflow: Bing Co-Pilot images brought into Affinity Photo for final hand edits, revised version used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. For version 2 I cleaned up AI glitches, added proper shadow for the demon, new layers for extra smoke, flames, and dust.]

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Batman Standing in Old Downtown Gotham City

As the full moon cast its silvery glow over the crumbling rooftops of downtown Gotham, Batman stood upright and scanned the fog-shrouded streets with his eyes. The rain-soaked pavement shone like a dark mirror, reflecting the faint light of the city's distant skyscrapers. The smell of damp earth and decay was in the air, a familiar perfume that only Gotham could produce. The Dark Knight's foot rested casually on the concrete gargoyle, his stone wings outstretched like a sentinel guarding the city's secrets. The brief flutter of bats in the moonlit sky was the only sound that broke the silence, their leathery wings flapping in unison as they danced in the wind. It was a night like any other in Gotham, but Batman's instincts told him something was wrong, a feeling that grew stronger with each passing moment. The crusader's eyes narrowed and his mind filled with possibilities as he contemplated the darkness, his presence a beacon of hope in a city that often seemed to devour itself.

[Workflow: I took the last image I created and tried Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. I cleaned up AI artifacts and layered in some rain and fog FX for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

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Batman Standing on Rooftop Gargoyle

I reimagined Batman standing on a rooftop gargoyle by tracing over a panel originally drawn by Luciano Vecchio from DeviantArt. I made some creative adjustments, including adding a detailed gargoyle, flying bats, and gave him a batarang along with applying various color Fx. To facilitate comparison to the source drawing, I've included a side-by-side image of the original and my reworked version.

• Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]
• Super-rez link [11" x 17" poster version]

London Burns (continued)

I took the last image I created and tried Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. I had to fix a few things and redo the canvas look with final edits in Affinity.

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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.]

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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.]

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The Skulls of Paris

John Constantine slumped against the cold, damp stone wall, his back pressed against the macabre display of skulls that seemed to stare back at him with empty, bony eyes. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the flickering torches that lined the walls cast eerie shadows on the walls of the Paris Catacombs. The weight of the city's secrets seemed to press down on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched by unseen eyes. The whispers of the damned echoed through the tunnels, and Constantine's gut told him that he was getting close to something - but what, he had no idea. This was his kind of place - a place where the living and the dead blurred together, and the line between reality and madness was thin indeed.

[Workflow: JC created with Copilot prompt, then I sourced a catacombs image from the web, masked merged together with other Fx work, laid on some damaged photo distress.]

Shadows of the Demonic Soul (Jason Blood / Etrigan)

In the dimly lit corridors of an opulent 1800s mansion, Jason Blood stands resolute, a flickering candle lantern casting eerie shadows that dance across the ornate walls. His expression is a tumultuous blend of determination and dread, as he grapples with the insidious presence of the demon Etrigan lurking within him. The weight of centuries of conflict presses heavily on his shoulders, each heartbeat a reminder of the struggle for dominance between his human soul and the malevolent force that yearns to break free. As the air thickens with tension, Jason fights for his identity and the essence of his humanity, knowing that the line between salvation and damnation is perilously thin.

[Workflow; Start image from Tengr, jumped into Affinity Photo to add the lantern's lighting Fx, colored his hair to match his white streak and red hair, pulled in an image of Etrigan lurking in his subconscious, some more texture layers for painted style.]

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

Stalking the Stranger [The Lost and Found: Uncovering Hidden Comic Book Treasures]

Inspector Marat abruptly halted at the closed, office door. The Chief of Detectives was waiting to see him. Beads of perspiration dotted Marat's forehead like a pox that was spreading fast. He hesitated. He didn't want to knock. He didn't want to enter the Captain's office. He didn't want to hear what the Captain had to say.

Marat fidgeted. His fingers trembled as he raised his hand to knock at the door. If the Captain wanted to take him off of the strange case of the Strangler, there was nothing Marat could do about the Captain's decision. Ten women were dead — strangled! Last night, the murderer had followed his usual M.O. When the sun another woman was lifeless and the case was still unsolved. The killer continually escaped Marat even though Marat knew the Strangler almost as well as he knew himself. He didn't know the man's name, but he knew the Strangler's thoughts, his moods, and his methods. It was as if the murderer were Marat's own shadow. He seemed to be within reach of Marat's grasp, but he
couldn't be captured! The case was a mystery to Marat and to everyone connected with it. There was no doubt that the killer was a madman; but in his madness, he was cunningly clever. He left no clues, no tracks, no evidence. As well as Marat knew the killer, the killer knew Marat. It was as if the two men shared the same brain. How could a man catch his double in flesh, soul and spirit? That was the problem! That was why the killer was still on the loose!

"Come in Marat," called the Captain from inside of his office. "Calm yourself, Inspector, and come in. I know what you're thinking. Don't worry. I haven't summoned you here to take you off of the strangler case!"  Slowly, Marat turned the door nob. Swiftly, he pushed the door open. Boldly, he stepped into the Captain'ss office. The Captain's words had given him new life, new courage, new hope. He would not be taken off the case. There was no longer any reason to be worried or fearful. 

Quickly, Marat closed the door behind him. Instantly, his eyes scanned the room. Marat was a good policeman with extraordinary powers of observation. When he spied the attractive, young, policewoman seated near the Captain's desk, he knew that the mademoiselle was going to be his partner and tempting bait for the Strangler. "I can tell by your face that you've put two and two together," said 'he Captain as he addressed his subordinate. "Yes! I know what is in your mind," replied Mara stoically. "The girl is very beautiful. The Strangler will not be able to resist her, but I'm against the scheme even though it is a cunning plot. I always work alone!"

"In the old days, I would have catered to your whim, but this is a difficult case!" answered the Captain coldly. "As closely as you've examined the clues, I too have examined them. drawn my own conclusions. You haven't been the same man ever since the night you found your lifeless wife and her dead lover in your quarters when you returned home. Their suicide pact didn't free you from the evil hold she had on you. Part of you died that night. You are not the same detective you once were. You need help to solve this case!"  Sadly, Marat nodded in agreement. The Captain was right. Finding his wife and her (over had almost turned him into a madman. For a long while, his mind had teeter-tottered on the brink of insanity. He did need help to solve the strange case of the strangler. 

Later that night, the policewoman decoy slowly sauntered through the shadowy side streets and alleys of the city while Marat watched and waited. As she passed a dark corner, it happened! The Strangler grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the shadows. She couldn't see his face, but his hands were around her neck choking the breath out of her lungs. Her vision was clouded. She couldn't even scream for help! Where was Inspector Marat?

Then, a single shot rang out and echoed through the silent streets. The hands around her neck loosened. Someone moaned behind her and a body dropped at her feet. The girl turned to see the Chief of Detectives standing behind her. In his hand was a smoking revolver. On the alleyway floor, was the lifeless body of Inspector Marat. "He was mad," explained the Captain. "He couldn't solve the case because he was chasing himself. His wife betrayed him and it made him hate all women. The ironic thing is — that Marat never guessed that he, himself, was the Strangler. He was two men -- one good, one evil! Now the strange cage of the strangler is finally solved!"

• story author uncredited
• title header illustrator uncredited
• image of Mara be attacked provided by TrUzApalOOza.
• story featured in Monster Hunters #8 (November 1976) 
• published & copyrighted by Charlton Comics

Disclaimer: As the original publisher is no longer in operation and has not issued digital reprints, this collection serves as a valuable archive of these classic tales for the benefit of researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts. By making these stories available, I aim to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of comic books, while also acknowledging the original creators and copyright holders.

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.

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