Cliff Chiang is one of the best artists in the business and has a special connection to Vertigo. Years ago, he was an assistant editor here and, truth be told, I basically took his job when he decided to leave and draw comics for a living! He’s an amazing artist and it’s been really exciting watching him grow into the superstar he has become in recent years.

While he’s very busy drawing WONDER WOMAN (one of the best NEW 52 books IMO!), he did make time to do the variant for issue #1 of THE NEW DEADWARDIANS. He immediately “got it” when I pitched him on the idea and said he wanted to do his version of a Penguin Classic book cover as drawn by Aubrey Beardsley. If you’re not familiar with Beardsley, you should look him up. He’s one of the enfant terribles of the Victorian/Edwardian era art scene and the perfect inspiration for this cover. Thanks Cliff!

Will Dennis