Alissa
Interesting correlation Kittaine - but the Darkness link doesn't work for me. So, being the helpful moddy, I dug up this link to Darkness issue #7.
Wow... "Darkness" has a lotta babes... and yes, the postures and subject matter of both pictures are very similar.
This is just my guess, but I don't think Vargo was influenced by the comic in this particular instance, although it's not outside the realm of possibility, since both deal with Gothic subject matter. One or both artists may be aware of each other's work, but whether there is a direct cause and effect...? The cover art artist is Dale Keown, if I'm getting my on the fly reference work complete, and the Darkness cover art was published in 1997, says our Kittaine.
Vargo's Emperor card was originally based on (and titled) Dracula, hence one man shown with only three attendant women, not the harem of babes like Darkness. But, the girls in Darkness look very similar in body posture and placement to Vargo's Dracula. [Interesting to see how the lack of the steps in the Darkness cover really crowds up the ability to stack your models, and more effectively deal with space on the canvas].
Seated figures on thrones, particularly men, and yes above 5 steps, are seen again and again in the Vargo deck (5 swords, King Swords, etc) so I *wouldn't* think that it was the Darkness cover gave Vargo the inspiration to place his Dracula and wives with this prop.
And, more importantly, a close look at the Emperor card itself will show it bears an artist's signature, and date. I got my magnifying glass out, and still couldn't tell if it was "93" or "98". 1993 would pre-date the Darkness graphic novel by several years, I believe. And would likely point to Keown's being possibly influenced by Vargo's work, which is my gut instinct (no reason why).
Of course, '98 would be the year *after*... and the possibility of Keown's influence would be more plausible.
Wow... "Darkness" has a lotta babes... and yes, the postures and subject matter of both pictures are very similar.
This is just my guess, but I don't think Vargo was influenced by the comic in this particular instance, although it's not outside the realm of possibility, since both deal with Gothic subject matter. One or both artists may be aware of each other's work, but whether there is a direct cause and effect...? The cover art artist is Dale Keown, if I'm getting my on the fly reference work complete, and the Darkness cover art was published in 1997, says our Kittaine.
Vargo's Emperor card was originally based on (and titled) Dracula, hence one man shown with only three attendant women, not the harem of babes like Darkness. But, the girls in Darkness look very similar in body posture and placement to Vargo's Dracula. [Interesting to see how the lack of the steps in the Darkness cover really crowds up the ability to stack your models, and more effectively deal with space on the canvas].
Seated figures on thrones, particularly men, and yes above 5 steps, are seen again and again in the Vargo deck (5 swords, King Swords, etc) so I *wouldn't* think that it was the Darkness cover gave Vargo the inspiration to place his Dracula and wives with this prop.
And, more importantly, a close look at the Emperor card itself will show it bears an artist's signature, and date. I got my magnifying glass out, and still couldn't tell if it was "93" or "98". 1993 would pre-date the Darkness graphic novel by several years, I believe. And would likely point to Keown's being possibly influenced by Vargo's work, which is my gut instinct (no reason why).
Of course, '98 would be the year *after*... and the possibility of Keown's influence would be more plausible.