Inktober 2025 – Day 21 : Blast – Dark Art
“Blast” suggests an explosion, a release of energy that can’t be contained. While my work usually dwells in the quiet shadows, there is a specific kind of tragic violence in comic book heroes that appeals to me. For Day 21, I chose Cyclops—a leader cursed with a gaze that destroys everything it touches.
Scott Summers lives in a world of permanent red. He is a walking weapon who has to constantly restrain himself, and that suppression is a heavy burden. I wanted to capture the moment he finally lets go.
This piece required breaking my usual monochrome rule. You simply cannot render the kinetic energy of an optic blast in grayscale. I used vibrant alcohol markers to lay down the classic blue and yellow of the 90s era suit, but the focus is the beam. I layered reds, oranges, and yellows to create a searing, hot core that explodes into the foreground.
The ink work here is deliberate and bold, mimicking the heavy line weight of bronze age comics. I positioned him in a crouch to show the physical recoil—the sheer force pushing him back as he unleashes the blast. It’s a study in controlled chaos. It’s not just a superpower; it’s a scream of energy from a man who spends his whole life holding his breath.
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