#194: THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 out next week From: @DeclanShalvey from Declarations
Studio NI
DECLARATIONS 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. Bonjour, Decolytes. I’ve returned from my trip to France, having done a signing in Paris, and a couple more in Nice [where I was visited by a very special reader, see below], getting a chance to see some of the French Riviera.
I’m happy to say the break while busy, has recharged me somewhat. I did have some work to do while away, but the change of scenery, talking with readers, etc …it all did me the world of good. there was of course, plenty of work waiting for me when I got home, too. Here’s my Worklog:
—My BARONESS one-shot with Joëlle Jones and Mike Spicer is out tomorrow! I’ve seen the finished PDF and it looks fantastic, VERY happy with it. Amazing wok by Joëlle, so much mood and delicate rendering, backed up with Mike’s sumptuous colours. No letterer for this one obviously, being a silent story. I think it works great though, this issue is a real feather in my cap and it’s success has nothing to do with me, all down to the art.
…oh, and my interview on Talking Joe will be live tomorrow!  -I’ve laid some more groundwork with PROJECT ARCA. My collaborator is working on a fantastic cover and I’m going to reach out to my editor Heather Antos this week to look over the pitch, nail down the rest of the creative team and work out a schedule to move forward. Feels good to be working on something very different to everything else on my plate. -I took a handful of head-shot commissions for my French trip, a couple I previously posted in Declarations #193, here’s the rest…  France commissions For the signing in Les Fictionnautes, I did 10 free sketches for the store, for them to hand out to customers. It was a nice treat to reward some of their regulars, I think.
I also did some sketches at the signings, mostly rough remarks in books, but some looking for fancier drawings. Happy to oblige!  France sketches Would like to say thanks to Michael Derny of DiableBlanc Comics for setting the whole trip up for me, the great staff at Central Comics in Paris as well as Guillaume of Les Fictionnautes in Nice. It was wonderful to se more of the county as it’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper visit. Hope to go back again sooner rather than later. Here’s a short video from the Paris signing…  -A couple of new covers have been released, here’s a quick rundown…
My variant cover for SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2. Great to draw Punisher again, and was a fun experiment to try out the ‘Negative Man’ effect.
My variant cover for CYCLOPS #4. I was tying to channel my inner Chris Bachalo with this one.
My variant cover for BABS: THE BLACK ROAD SOUTH #6. The fantasy genre isn’t one I’ve played in much, but when Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows ask, one must abide. Very happy with the end result considering it’s a little outside my wheelhouse.
-When in France I took the opportunity to pick up the Panini French translation hardcover editions of my ALIEN run with Andrea Broccardo [also featuring Danny Earls]. So satisfying to see these collected in lovely hardcover format, of course I also drew a section of the second volume so I’m even happier to see those pages collected in this format. I heard a rumour these two stories may be collected into one edition soon …a rumour I hope is true as they are one big story and would love to have it all on one volume. -I’ve been struggling with the concept behind a creator owned series I’m planning but having had a bit of time to myself while traveling, I think I’ve cracked it. I need to make some time to work it all out on paper [which is hard as I’m currently juggling a handful of writing projects] but I’m very relieved to have worked out the core concept, finally.
-And then, I saw Project Hail Mary at the cinema last weekend and loved it. Has definitely recharged my love for new meaningful and exciting sci-fi right at the moment I needed it. If you haven’t seen it yet, get to it.  -Fellow Eclectic Mick Will Sliney has launched a new YouTube show via Marvel Comics calles Marvel Illustrated. His first show is talking about DAREDEVIL. How actually dare he.
The incredible Matteo Scalera has launched a Kickstarter for his much awaited THE FOURTH FATHER. It’s smashing through it’s goals which is fantastic to see, but if you haven’t, have a look at the campaign, this book looks incredible and there’s only TWO WEEKS left tin the campaign. I’ve pledged to the deluxe, hardcover 11x14 edition, collecting the original scans of the pages. Can’t wait to get my mitts on it.
I’m going to Croatia! I’ll be attending the Zagreb Comic Con in a couple of weeks. Creators such as Mirko Čolak, Gaby von Borstel, Fernando Dagnino, Dirk Wood and more will be there. I’m very happy to be going, I was meant to go last year but I had to pull out last minute over a family bereavement. I have no idea what to expect to be honest, but should be fun.
INTERVIEW DECIf you don’t already know, there’s a new RED SONJA series written by TIME BEFORE TIME co-writer/co-creator Rory McConville out soon. I’m really excited to see what Rory does on the book, so I thought I’d go straight to the source and ask about it…
DEC: A character like Red Sonja has been around for so long, with quite notable creators like Christopher Priest and Gail Simone doing prominent runs. For you, what was your ‘take’ on the character …did you find a way ‘in’ to work out how to write her in your own way? That to me, seems like the biggest challenge. RORY: Well, Dynamite had some general guidelines in terms of direction and certain elements from previous Sonja runs they were looking to incorporate which helped inform some of those decisions. I think it was Sonja’s sense of humour that really gave me the way ‘in’ to her character. l remember I was about halfway through my second draft of #1 when things fully ‘clicked; and I felt that I’d figured out how her voice. DEC: As far as I know, this is a genre you haven’t written in before, ie sword and sorcery/ fantasy. Was that exciting or more maybe more intimidating? RORY: A bit of both, for sure. I’ve read and enjoyed my fair share of fantasy but I wouldn’t consider myself as immediately at home in the genre as say something like sci-fi or crime. I think it’s really important to try your hand at genres outside your usual comfort zone though and it’s been a lot of fun getting the chance to stretch some different creative muscles.
DEC:How has it been working with Pablo deBonis? I wasn’t familiar with his work previously, but I really like it. Great character work, atmospheric environment, etc. he really establishes a believable world for this story. RORY: Pablo’s incredible. This was my first introduction to his work and I’ve been counting my blessings that our editor, Joe Rybandt, brought him onto the series. Every issue he turns in is better than the last. DEC: You’ve written plenty of projects before, but more recently you’ve collaborated with myself on TERMINATOR: METAL and TIME BEFORE TIME and working with some guy called Todd McFarlane on SPAWN. While working with such beloved creators on stories must be a huge honour for you *cough* how has it been to just develop a book on your own. Is it more freeing? Do you miss the pushback, or maybe editorial and the licensor fill that void? RORY: Yeah, definitely the latter. I think pushback, whether it’s from a co-writer/editor/licensor etc, is really important for stress-testing and justifying ideas and on every project I’ve worked on, the end result has always been enhanced by that bit of friction.
DEC: [You managed to skirt around giving me a small compliment there but I’ll look past it] Beyond this first arc, can you see telling more stories with this character, in this world? RORY: Absolutely. I’m starting work on the second arc at the moment. DEC: If you can, sell your new RED SONJA series in a sentence or two. RORY: After answering an old ally’s plea for aid, Red Sonja must protect the last descendent of an ancient bloodline from a revolutionary movement that threatens all of Hyboria. Red Sonja: She Devil With A Sword is a thrilling back-to-basics adventure that harnesses the richness of Sonja’s world while remaining completely new-reader friendly.
Red Sonja: She Devil With A Sword is out May 6th. FOC is April 13th 
THUNDERCATSIt’s very nearly time. THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 is out next week. A 30 page opener for this exciting new crossover, written/drawn by myself, with colours by Igor Monti [IMMORTAL BATMAN] and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry. It’s my first full comic in just over a year and was a lot of fun to draw something big and bombastic again. I hope all toy Decolytes all pick it up next week. Here’s some brand new preview pages from the issue.
This was a ridiculously fun issue to do. To write a bit crossover event has been a huge challenge, but to also dip my toe in on the art front has been a real treat As I say to anyone who asks, it really reminds me of that childhood feeling when you get to play with your toys, but you also get to borrow your friend’s toys and see what happens when they fight. Great fun.
Above is my cover for THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 and below is my cover for THUNDERHAWKS #3, part 9 of the crossover event. I’ve just wrapped the next cover …colouring all that silver armour is very fun, I must say.
MUMM-RALettering pass for Issue one is all done, FOC was last week. Got to read the finished PDF and I’m extremely happy with the final result. Between THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 and this [Part 1 and 2 of the event] we’re launching this crossover strong, I think. Artist Rapha Lobosco is currently working on Issue 2. Here’s a peek at Page One…
Danny Earls continues to hand in some great cover work. Above are his inks for Issue 4. I particularly love all the cosmic effects in this one.
Also, an early peek at John Amor’s stunning cover.
I just inked my cover for #4 last night, will be colouring it tonight. Here’s a peek from the drawing board…
OUT SOONApril 1st BARONESS #1 [W] ALL-NEW SPIDER-GWEN: GHOST SPIDER #9 [VC] TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #1 [C]
April 8th THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #1 [W/A/C]
April 15th MUMM-RA #1 [W/C] April 22nd THUNDERHAWKS #1 [VC] May 06th CYCLOPS #4 [VC] May 13th THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2 [W/C] May 20th MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2 [W/C] INGLORIOUS X-FORCE [VC] PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4 [VC] May 27th THUNDERHAWKS #2 [VC]
APPEARANCESZagreb Comic Con, Croatia, April 17-19th MCM London, May 22nd-24th
Thanks for reading. See you in two weeks. Dec.
© 2026 Declan Shalvey
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