...On a little known comic book title called Dark Dominion.

Back on June 29, 2013, I attended Wizard World NYC. As I mentioned in a previous journal about my experience (which was mostly very positive), I found the show to be much smaller in scale and scope than New York Comic Con (coincidentally coming up this Thursday).

In fact, Wizard World's list of comic creators, writers and artists appearing for signings was rather sparse. And of those attending the show, there was only one who stood out to me (my apologies to all the others): J G Jones.

Now many of you may know the name, and many of you may not.

I first came to know of the artist for his brilliant cover works for DC. He provided the cover art for the entire 52 issues (published weekly) of the series 52. You may have seen the iconic cover to the first issue in which J G Jones rendered an unforgettable image: We bear witness to the foreground... Superman's strewn cape has been pierced through the back in the middle of the "S" by Wonder Woman's sword, while her Lasso and Batman's Cowl and Cape hang lifelessly on the golden hilt. In the background, under the cover of heavy black-grey clouds, Renee Montoya, Animal Man, The Question, Will Magnus and Steel stand gravely, as a sliver of sunlight cuts through those thick clouds unlike a beacon of hope, onto the iconic costumed articles of our missing heroes; an ominous image and very symbolic of the great mystery which is the heart of this series.

You may also know J G Jones for the explosive covers and interiors he illustrated for Mark Millar's Wanted. How can you not?

Or, if you're a fan of the classic Vertigo series: Y: The Last Man, J G Jones painted a number of iconic covers including the classic cover to the first issue where Yorick Brown is on his knees fitted in a straight jacket as his faithful monkey Ampersand hangs on his back. I happen to believe, Yorick Brown on that cover looks suspiciously like the artist himself. Yorick is depicted with alabaster skin, boyish looks, and crowned with a crew cut styled from the 50's and 60's, which peaks in triangular fashion over the forehead reminiscent of a short brim on a kiddie baseball cap. If you don't believe me Google images J G Jones and Y The Last Man issue 1 and see for yourself.

While you are at it, do a search for the skeletal corpse of the Astronaut he rendered for the series in issue 15 which I think is fantastic.

For those still clueless on the guy, check out his amazing art on his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JGJonesArt

Anyway... enough of my jabbering and let's get to the business at hand.

So what I have for you are the very first graded and signed pro works of the man. J G Jones first worked for an indie label called Defiant back in 1994. His work debuted on a little known horror-occult-supernatural title called Dark Dominion, written by Len Wein (creator of Wolverine, new X-Men, Swamp Thing), and co-conceived by fellow comic's genius Steve Ditko (creator of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, The Question, The Creeper).

We are first introduced to J G Jones artistic brilliance in issue 7, and sequentially in issues 8 and 9 before he moved on to another comic called Rant by Boneyard Press (which I will discuss in another Journal).

So these three beauties (see pic) are the first ever graded by CGC for Dark Dominion 7, 8, and 9, and are also the first Signature Series grades of their kind.

But lamentably, once again (see Curse of the Spawn 9), CGC failed to note in Dark Dominion 7 its key significance: that it is J G Jones first pro comic book work. And that's really sad since I had a CGC witness overhear my conversation with J G Jones regarding this comic and his acknowledgement that it was indeed his first pro comic book work.

Anyway... What's a fella to do?

But nonetheless, I'm happy to bring a first to the CGC and to my fellow collectors.

Thank for reading.

Happy Collecting!

SW3D

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