TRADING CARD - Forge

I think Forge should always be at the mansion building stuff for the team -- upgrades to Cerebro, the Blackbird, Danger Room and creating cool new tech.

Inventor, shaman, adventurer -- all these words describe Forge, whose myriad talents have proven their worth time and time again in battle at the side of the X-Men -- and are now put to the test in his new role as X-Factor's government liason!

TRADING CARD - Polaris

I really enjoyed recreating this card -- probably because it was so much easier than they usually are!

Polaris's powerful attraction is more than her beauty! It could be the pull of her mutant magnetic abilities -- or maybe the appeal of a woman dedicated to the fight for justice!

TRADING CARD - Havok

Havok has had some bad luck with costumes. His original had goofy head-gear and this biker jacket and head-sock isn't a whole lot better. Why did everyone have that thing on their head back in the 90s? It's so impractical and serves no purpose. His face, ears and hair are all showing -- that's not a mask!

The once-impulsive brother of the X-Man Cyclops has matured into a seasoned, capable leader in his own right -- as the head of the crusading band of mutants known as X-Factor!

TRADING CARDS - Cannonball

Cannonball has such a weird power set. He can fly as a human rocket and he's invincible while he's flying... and he's also immortal or something.

Growing up in remote coal mine country, Sam Guthrie never guessed he'd someday blast into action as the super hero Cannonball, let alone that he was one of hte immortal mutants known as the Externals.

TRADING CARDS - Boomer

X-Force has some of the most outrageous costumes in the 90s -- shoulder pads, belts, glasses and this costume even has her name running down the side of her leg.

Boomer can't seem to stop making noise - whether it's the sound of her time bombs exploding r her tireless talk of cute guys, rad new malls, and the lousy fashion sense of other super-types!

TRADING CARDS - Warpath

I usually have a soft spot for 90s era costumes, but I'm definitely glad that Warpath has moved past this. 

Warpath who had blamed the X-Men for his brother's death, has put aside his misplaced bitterness to join the fight for mutant survival. He is a formidable warrior with a proud and noble heart.

TRADING CARDS - Shatterstar

I never thought I'd be posting a drawing of Shatterstar to my blog...

Trained as a warrior 100 years in the future, Shatterstar now lends his considerable combat prowess to the fight against mutant oppression. He came from the future seeking allies and has found a family in X-Force.

TRADING CARDS - Cable

I don't know why there are so many time-traveling mutants from dystopian futures and I don't know why so many are related to Cyclops and Jean, but Cable is my favorite from both categories.

I was actually always worried about recreating this card. When I first started this project it seemed very intimidating -- it doesn't match my style at all. But the purpose of this whole project is to push myself to try new techniques and effects. I found it a lot of fun to work on after I committed to it.

Raised in the distant future, Cable traveled through time and space to bring his paramilitary techniques to our era to aid in the struggle for mutantkind's survival.

TRADING CARDS - Domino

I wonder how they decided she would have 'good luck' powers.

Little is known about the woman called Domino - in fact, the members of X-Force, who thought they were her teammates, were really dealing with an impostor! The true Domino was the captive of the villainous Dr. Tolliver! But now she's broken free and has resumed her duties as a member of the mercenary squad called the Six Pack!

TRADING CARDS - Shadowcat

I guess she was phasing through some electronics and that's why the tv is blowing up? I really tried to simplify the background on this one, while still getting the colors and the overall effect.

Growing up smart in the Chicago suburbs, Kitty Pryde always knew she was different. Little did she realize that she was a mutant and would lead a life of adventure in Europe as Shadowcat with the super hero team Excalibur.

TRADING CARD - Phoenix

When I saw the next card was Phoenix, I assumed Jean Grey but it's actually Rachel Summers. I often forget that a few others have had the powers of the Phoenix force. But let's be honest... Rachel and Jean have more than a few similarities.

Born in one possible future, where mutants are killed or imprisoned, Phoenix fled into the past, returning to our era. Now, alongside Excalibur, she fights to ensure that her nightmarish future never comes to pass!

TRADING CARD - Nightcrawler

I had a lot of fun with this card. I am trying to push myself to try new techniques and methods while drawing and coloring instead of solely relying on my geometric shapes. I think the two styles work well together to create some interesting effects.

Shunned by normal humans due to his outward appearance, Nightcrawler is proof that one's goodness must be measured by thoughts and deeds.

TRADING CARD - Professor X

Hover chair!

Professor X may possess the greatest mutant mind on Earth! But his awesome mental powers are nothing compared to the greatness of his dream -- a dream of peace between mutants and humans -- the dream his X-Men fight for every day!

TRADING CARDS - Sabretooth

The X-Men are all about second chances -- Magneto, Emma Frost and even Sabretooth. It's still hard to believe they let this psychopath on the team.

Striking with all the savagery of his prehistoric namesake, Sabretooth leaves a bloody trail wherever his mercenary talents take him - which is usually straight into trouble!

TRADING CARDS - Revanche

Okay, I know nothing about this character. She is card #8 and I skipped her originally because I have no idea who she is. Now that I'm getting back in to doing these card recreations, I thought I should go back and fill in the gap before going too much further.

Revanche who's name is French for "revenge", appears to share the memories and powers of her fellow X-Man, Psylocke!

The artist for this card must have really loved curly hair - those curls are epic! They were also a ton of fun to draw, so I don't really blame him.

TRADING CARDS - Jean Grey

Cards like this one make me wonder what kind of instructions the artists had for creating them. Here we have Jean kneeling in a field of teal (maybe the same place Bishop was hanging out) while missles are being fired at her. It's kind of cool, but super random...

From the moment the X-Men team was formed, Jean Grey was its compassion, its warmth and its grace. Ever since, those qualities - and her commitment to Xavier's dream - have only deepened with time!

TRADING CARDS - Storm

Storm is definitely a powerful and respectable X-Men character, but honestly never really one of my favorites. I think a big part of that was just how she spoke in the cartoon. It was always so over-the-top and grandiose that I didn't get in to it as a kid.

One of the most powerful X-Men Storm wields the awesome forces of nature with skill and wisdom - the same qualities that have earned her the leadership of the X-Men's Gold team!

TRADING CARDS - Archangel

Anybody remember when I was working my way through the X-Men trading cards from the 90s? There are four or five more that I have in various states of completion, so I thought I'd pick up where  I left off. Angel has had some very different looks. I like the more classic look with the feathery wings and blue and white costume, but he's also pretty cool with blue skin, metal wings and a blue and magenta costume.

The carefree Angel was a founding member of the X-Men - but the archvillain Apocalypse transformed him into Archangel. He now struggles heroically to control his savage nature!

TRADING CARDS - Bishop

Bishop apparently comes from a future where the mullet is still in fashion. But seriously... Bishop has a really cool mutant power and was overall a good enough member of the X-family until recently. I think Bishop (along with many other cool mutants) tend to get lost in the masses so it's always nice to see him pop up in video games and different things ... although video games tend to focus on him using guns despite having a much cooler mutant power. And I guess if we're being totally honest I'd rather have Cable included in something than Bishop.

Unable to return to the brutal future timeline he calls home, Bishop now uses his formidable fighting skills as a member of the team he once knew only as legend: the uncanny X-Men!

TRADING CARDS - Iceman

I actually don't own this card, so I had to borrow the image from Comic Collector Live. Iceman is an underrated X-man. He's about as cool as the Gold team got (pun intended) and he's super powerful, but I feel like he gets left off the team a lot. Or at least the main team.

A founding member of the original X-Men. Iceman's fun-loving personality has often stood in sharp contrast to his more driven teammates. But make no mistake - this feisty frosty X-Man is a hero though and through. 

He makes a solid #10 card - an important character but not hugely popular. I'd like to see him included in more big X-titles.