Renato Guedes Super-title Annual Covers

Over on the DC blog, Matt Idelson has revealed the covers for this summer's super-title annuals all done by Superman artist Renato Guedes. Here is the link: http://dcublog.dccomics.com/2009/06/08/renato-guedes-tackles-covers-for-action-superman-and-supergirl-annuals/

I love Guedes' work, especially on covers which usually have an 'old school' movie poster feel. The Supergirl Annual #1 cover, in particular, is fantastic. That is one intense and powerful Kara we are looking at there. Here is the description of the annual:

And on 9/2 we have the SUPERGIRL ANNUAL, by Sterling Gates, Fernando Dagnino and Raul Fernandez, gives readers a look into the lives of the two ladies of the Superman family — Supergirl and Superwoman. What’s a day like for Supergirl in her secret identity? Also, what drove Superwoman to become the threat she is now?

Dagnino did a serviceable job on last issue so I expect the inside art to be fine.

I am very happy to hear that we will finally see some more of Linda Lang. She has only been seen in one panel of the title and that was half a year ago! 'Linda Lang's first day' sounds like a fun story. And I love the classic 'opening up the shirt to reveal the S-shield' bit on the cover. That pose has been done ad infinitum with Clark/Superman so why not with Linda/Supergirl.

And, hopefully, more light will be shed on Superwoman's origins in the other story. It looks as though Lucy may have faced off against some Amazons in the Amazons Attack storyline. Maybe that caused her to side with Daddy against super-powered beings.

I really like Guedes' art and have always enjoyed his take on Supergirl. I thought I would post his Supergirl concept pics from when he was taking over the title during the Bedard issues. I posted these last August too.

These pictures caused the standard forest fire on the net with people complaining that his Supergirl looked fat, old, and ugly. That was the exact opposite of what I thought! I thought she looked young, healthy, and beautiful. And his line work is so spectacular.

Oh ... and let's not forget that Guedes was the first to put her in the bike shorts (see lower left). And yes, there was an inferno about them back then too. He suffered the same slings and arrows that Jamal Igle has.

I really think this his is an excellent take on Kara. I would definitely definitely try to get a commission from Guedes if he was at a convention I was attending.

The other covers are also striking.

Here is the cover for Action Comics Annual #12. I figure those are Thara's parents on the cover as we learn more about her back story. And he makes the Flamebird and Nightwing 'power suits' look formidable.

And this is the cover for Superman Annual #14 which covers some of Mon-El's past.

Looks like it will be a great summer over in the DCU!