#165:Athens Unbound

Had a little too much fun in Greece last weekend...

Feb 04, 2025

Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.

This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.

ALL THE LATEST

As this newsletter posts out to all you Decolytes I’ll be on my way home from the Pop Culture Festival in Athens, Greece. I got a lot done before flying out, here’s by workblog for the last two weeks…

inked and coloured a DC cover [below].
pencilled, inked coloured another DC cover.
Finished TERMINATOR #6 script.
Prepared and recorded an episode of TAPE DEC.
Outlined, wrote Terminator #9 script.
Wrote THUNDERCATS #14 script.
Did roughs for a Marvel, Dynamite, DC and Mad Cave cover.
Did rough and prep work for a pitch.
Attended the Athens show.

-As you can see above, I wrapped up my cover work for January and did all my roughs for February cover work. I wanted all the roughs locked in before my trip to Greece so that I could just jump into drawing when I got back.

-This cover was solicited last week but I haven’t seen it online yet. I am very very happy with it so wanted to show it here. It’s a variant for SUPERMAN: THE LAST DAYS OF LEX LUTHOR #3 written by Mark Waid with art by Bryan Hitch. It’s my first proper SUPERMAN cover [I loved doing the Absolute cover but there’s no beating the OG!]. Getting to do such a classic cover… Superman, Lex… Metropolis, etc… this was jut a dream come true and I hope I did it justice as I certainly tried. Look up!

SUPERMAN: THE LAST DAYS OF LEX LUTHOR #3 variant cover

-I’ve added another US convention for this year, returning to a show I haven’t been to for many years. That makes Four US shows for 2025 which I expect will be my max, along with one more European show, a UK signing and a couple of Irish appearances.

-As mentioned above, I’m currently on my way home from the Pop Culture Festival in Athens over the weekend. I had an absolute blast. As it turns out, a bit too much of a good time on the Thursday that I arrived. So much so, when visiting Relax Comics that night, I am told I drew this abomination on one of the shelves…

…something I have absolutely no memory of. Caspar Wijngaard described the act as he observed it back to me as if I was engrossed in act of making some kind of masterpiece. But alas, no.

The weekend was full of drawing, drinks and amazing food, the show really looked after us. I had some great chats over the weekend, with Caspar about how his hit book THE POWER FANTASY was going, talking with Jock about appreciating how lucky we were to be doing what we do, getting colouring suggestions from Stéphane Roux, a proper catch-up with Tula Lotay, comparing notes with Jim Mahfood about connecting with your audiences… crowdfunding and the like, Michael Dialynas showing me the amazing development work for his next project, talking with Erik Svetoft [tho not realising who he was until ater the show, D’oh!] getting to meet Tate Brombal and how he broke into the industry, getting to know the ledgendary John Higgins, the list goes on and on. Feeling very creatively energised after all that, while also physically exhausted.

I also ate a LOT of amazing food.

To top off the weekend, Dani brought a bunch of us to go see UK hip hop septuagenarian duo Pete and Bas. It was a surreal experience, made for an amazing night we’ll never forget. AIRHORN!

Everyone at the show was lovely. I did a few headshots over the weekend [below] and signed a lot of comics from the last 10 years of my work. Seems like people kept up with my stuff since my last visit, around eleven years ago.

Relax Comics [the retailer who was organising the show] made an effort to promote BOG BODIES ahead of the show so I happily signed more copies of that book than I was expecting. At one stage [in a quieter moment] when I was chatting with Jock, I chanced my arm and asked if he’d be interested in dong a variant cover for the next installment of OLD DOG. He replied “Sure, I’ll work it out right now!” which… he did!

Jock, working for his hero **Declan Shalvey**. Also pictured, Caspar Wijngaard, praying for his success

So, that should be something fun to see down the line! I’m including this info here in case I need to publicly shame him into submitting the cover down the line.

I had an extra day on Monday to be more of a tourist and saw some amazing sights, including an exhibition of Francisco Goya’s famous aquatints, as well as the Acropolis museum.

What an amazing few days.

ART DECO

The penultimate issue of MYSTIQUE hit stores just over a week ago and I hope you've had a chance to pick it up... because the original art is coming to the ART DECO web store this week!

The fourth issue is maybe the most action packed of the series. Mystique really showcases her new powers in this one and I got to draw her masquerading as some of the coolest mutants like Cable, Marrow, Angel and even the Juggernaut. There's a load of great examples from the series in this one, so I hope all collectors will take a look.

We will hold the public drop on Thursday, 2/6 at 1PM ET. But as always, newsletter subscribers will get a head start and you can access the art 24 hours early (2/5 at 1pm ET) with the code "MARROW"

Oh and one final exclusive! We've been focusing on Mystique over the last several months but I got a little extra time in Greece to do something for the Tcats fans. This Lion-O sketch is now available in the store on a first come, first served basis. Have at it!

TAPE DEC

I was a bit rusty back on the TAPE DEC but I have to say I really enjoyed this new ep with Eric Zawadzki. He’s someone whose work I really respect but never really found the time to connect properly. This show has been a great excuse to do so with him, as with others before.

We were initially to livestream on Thurs 23 just before we went live the power went out in my area due to Storm Éowyn but we were able to do it the following day, thankfully.

When we were actually able to make it happen, we covered a lot about his approach working on TIME BEFORE TIME and a lot about his new book with Deniz Camp, ASSORTED CRISIS EVENTS. I rave about it in the episode but I’ve since had the time to read all of the first five issues and jeeeesus christ, it’s something else.

Naturally, we managed to make it all about me by the end, where I agonised a little over my own creative decisions, but it was a great back-and-forth. Give it a watch and share it around, whynot.

MYSTIQUE

I know it uncouth to share reviews of my stuff here but I saw this wonderful spotlight review for MYSTIQUE #4. It’s nice to see some people are paying close attention to what’s happening in the book [especially by it’s fourth issue]and seems to see what I’m going for with the book.

Mystique #4 Review: A Top-Notch Spy Thriller in Iconic Marvel Fashion

The final issue is out later this month, but here’s an advance peek at a page from said issue, with stunning Matt Hollingsworth colours.

I already miss this book.

THUNDERCATS

Issue Twelve came out last week, marking a year of new THUNDERCATS stories from myself and Drew Moss. Below are some pages from the issue.

I’m enjoying the unique pleasure on cashing in on some story elements seeded from Issue One, just as we build up to the end of the third arc, and where my original plans take us. So much has been built in the past year, this book, CHEETARA, APEX, SILVERHAWKS and soon THUNDERCATS LOST. Talking about exciting stuff to come, too.

I’m currently wrapping up the script for Issue Fourteen, will then be starting on our next one-shot story that will be more Lion-O focused.

As ever, I like to give an advance peek at what’s coming up, here’s my cover for THUNDERCATS LOST Issue Three!

Channeling some DAREDEVIL here, I think.

TERMINATOR

TERMINATOR #5 is all done and out in a couple of weeks. VERY happy with how Joe Mulvey and Colin Craker look together.

I finished the script for #6, a week or so ago, the first issue of the second arc. The book takes a bit of a shift in the second half of the run, this one based a lot more during the War with the Machines. I think hardcore TERMINATOR fans were itching for this kind of material at the start, but it’s something I wanted to build towards, and it’s very cool to finally get there.

Variant covers for #7 were recently revealed, here they are,

TERMINATOR #7 variants by Edwin Galmon, Cat Staggs and David Cousens

And because I like to treat you Decolytes, here’s the main cover [by moi] for Issue Eight. This will be a weird and challenging issue. I’m both dreading and excited to write it.