Superman, Art Deco, and Thou - Tom Grummett

During the early-to-mid '90s, Tom Grummett was easily the best artist DC had on staff. Nobody then or now could draw beautiful women half as well as he did (and still does), few had the swagger and confidence his linework exuded, and not too many could match him for making the big DCU heroes look as iconic as they deserve to. He had a pretty long run working on the myriad Superman titles of the era, and most of the time his art stood head and shoulders above the rest. (At least until DC decided it'd be a great idea to let their absolute worst inker, Denis Rodier, take a chain-saw to Grummett's work. Not a pretty sight, that.)

So when Byron Hamm of Statue Forum set up a Grummett commission list, I had to get on it. The prices were reasonable, the samples shown were of Grummett's usual high standard, and this was a rare opportunity because the man doesn't do commissions often. It was kind of now-or-never. Originally, I'd imagined asking for a female character, but a disastrously bad experience with one of Grummett's fellow Superman veterans spurred me to request an art deco-themed Superman piece. To say he rose to the occasion would be an understatement, and he most certainly has not lost his touch on Superman.

EDIT: Great Krypton, we finally have a proper full-size scan! Sorry it took so long.