Hey, gang- hope you’re having a \S/uper Superman Day. Today- Friday, April 18 is Superman Day in honor of Action Comics’ first issue on April 18, 1938. To celebrate the big blue boy scout’s first appearance, today’s post features my latest Superman sketchcover, plus- I’m taking you for a quick visit to Metropolis, IL – the official home of Superman.
I’ve been going up to Metropolis since 1999. It’s about 3.5hrs away from us and just north of Paducah, KY across the Ohio River.
It’s more like the fictional Smallville, KS than the big city of the same name (the actual town came first), but it has a Super-Museum, giant Superman statue, and an annual Superman Celebration festival.
Metropolis also has an official Superman, Josh Boltinghouse, who dons the cape and tights and flies into town each June for photo ops, greeting visitors, and participating in events during the celebration weekend.
I first met Josh back in Metropolis back in 2004 when he was there with guest artist Cat Staggs. A few years later he ended up winning a national search for a new official Superman of Metropolis. There have been a few different official Supermen in Metropolis, but Josh has held the position the longest. I had the pleasure of acting with him in the costume contest one year…and I won fan favorite.
One year I was swore in as an official citizen of Metropolis by Josh and then Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel at the celebration. I was part of the first ever swearing in ceremony and it’s become a part of the celebration activities.
For about 11 years or so I was part of the Artists Alley/Writers Way up there each year (my first year as a guest artist was 2005- that’s writer Mark Waid, Official Superman/Scott Cranford, Lois/Margot Kidder, artist Steve Stanley, me, and Lois/Noel Neill in the bottom pic, and Noel, John Schneider, and me above it).
I’ve drawn a lot of different Superman illustrations, cartoons, and paintings over the years. One painting even hung in Mayor Billy’s office.
Many were created for the Superman Celebration or drawn while I was in town.
I also did two of their t-shirt/program/poster designs (line art by José Luis García-López) in 2012 and 2013.
And I even adopted our boy kitty Lex there on my way out of town after the 2015 celebration. He and his siblings had been abandoned during the celebration, and he was the last to get adopted. There’s an animal rescue/shelter in Metropolis called Project Hope Humane Society. Please help support them save animals in the Metropolis area if you can.
And now back to more of my art- in case you didn’t already know, I really enjoy drawing on sketchcovers.
Sketchcovers are variant comics with a blank cardstock cover you can draw on.
There are sooooo many different ones to work on, and there are a lot of Superman blanks to choose from.
I’ve drawn on a couple Supergirl sketchcovers, too. I did one for my wife Nicki, and one as a prize for the Supergirl Radio podcast. Nicki and I joined host Rebecca Johnson for an interview back at the 2022 celebration.
For this Superman sketchcover I used a shot of Josh that I took during one of the celebrations at the statue, and did one of my “Superkid” cartoon versions of Superman on the back.
I started off on a “Superman of Metropolis” blank from DC Comics. It had the white front cover and blue tinted back cover. I have a few tinted/colored sketchcovers but haven’t drawn on them yet. This was my first, and whenever I draw on any in the future I’ll probably just keep it black/white or monochromatic. The colors kinda die on them to me, and erasing any mistakes can be problematic. I was able to use an eraser for a few highlights on the back.
I was able to get a quick reference shot of Josh while I was walking by the statue a few years back. I started off the drawing in pencil, then worked in various markers for the colors, inked with a Pigma Micron pen, and then did the highlights with a white Prismacolor pencil and Gelly Roll pen.
Once I was finished I sprayed both sides with a light coat of Krylon Workable Fixative, and then scanned it.
The next Metropolis Superman Celebration is coming up soon on the second weekend in June, about a month before the new Superman movie by James Gunn.
The annual event is a (mostly) free event to attend, but if you’d like celebrity autographs, souvenirs, a footlong corndog, or glass of ice cold Kryptonite bring a few extra bucks to spend. It can be a quick day trip, or a weekend long one- all depends on you, your budget, and your schedule. It is a great event for families.
What to Expect…
Super Activities and Entertainment: Enjoy a jam-packed weekend filled with Superman-themed activities, including celebrity guest appearances, autograph sessions, and Q&A panels. Meet your favorite Superman actors, comic book artists, and creators!
Photo Ops and Costume Contests: Show off your best superhero attire and participate in our costume contests (adult/group, kids, and super-pets contests) for a chance to win prizes. Don’t miss out on photo ops with larger-than-life Superman and Lois Lane/Noel Neill statues, backdrops, murals, costume parade, and official Superman appearances throughout the event.
Artist Alley and Vendor Booths: Explore Artist Alley featuring renowned comic book artists and writers. Browse through unique merchandise, collectibles, and memorabilia from various vendors. Also be sure to check out the Metropolis Chamber Of Commerce gift shop for some great souvenirs, plus a free copy of “The Daily Planet” newspaper and the official event program. I definitely recommend stopping by the Chamber Of Commerce for one of the free program guides and newspaper. You can also find them around town at local businesses and hotels.
Live Music and Entertainment: Enjoy live music, performances, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the celebration. From bands to street performers, there’s something for everyone!
Food and Refreshments: Satisfy your cravings with a variety of food trucks and local vendors offering delicious treats and refreshments. I recommend the footlong corndogs and lemon shake-ups from one of the many food stands on Market Street, the burgers, shrimp, and Kryptonite at Fat Edd’s Roadhouse on Ferry Street, and the ice cream at Sissy’s Sweet Shoppe– they have a great shaded patio to sit and enjoy the celebration. (Click here for a list of other food options.)
Family Fun Zone: Bring the whole family for interactive games, kids’ activities, and crafts designed to entertain our youngest Superman fans.
The annual event is put on by the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Metropolis Convention & Tourism Bureau, along with several volunteers who work tirelessly each year to bring this \S/uper celebration to life. Be sure to follow the event on Facebook and visit their official website at www.supermanelebration.net for more details.
Hope to see you there- don’t forget your cape!