Acclaimed Japanese comics artist and Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki has created a variant cover for the first issue of Marvel Comics' upcoming Werewolf by Night limited series.
The cover marks Okazaki's Marvel debut, with Werewolf by Night set to launch this April. The four-part limited series comes from the writing team of The Black Eyed Peas' Taboo and Ben Jackendoff alongside artist Scot Eaton. Okazaki's variant vividly depicts the classic Marvel horror character under a full moon.
"Takashi Okazaki is a master whose style and sense of design have a lot of fans at Marvel," said Marvel Editor Jake Thomas. "We were so honored to have Werewolf by Night be his first work with Marvel, but it is sure to only be the beginning. His character work and evocation of mood is unparalleled, so it was a real thrill to have him help premiere our new Werewolf By Night. And what an incredible job he did!"
"I’ve wanted to bring Takashi to Marvel ever since we first met during production of Afro Samurai, and we’re thrilled he’s finally found some time in his schedule," added Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski. "The way he illustrates characters to kinetically leap out of his art reminds me of so many of Marvel’s masters, and I knew he’d be perfect for covers here, as this Werewolf by Night image perfectly shows!”
Before crafting this variant cover Werewolf by Night, Okazaki made a name for himself through Afro Samurai -- an acclaimed manga series was eventually adapted into an anime miniseries, as well as an Emmy Award-winning television film.
Written by Taboo and Ben Jackendoff and illustrated by Scot Eaton with a main cover by Mike McKone, Werewolf by Night #1 goes on sale this April from Marvel Comics.