Michael Wm Kaluta has been associated with Madame Xanadu from her first appearance in Doorway to Nightmare No. 1 in 1978.
In addition to the five Doorway covers and a Madame Xanadu one-shot that make up the character’s early appearances, Kaluta also contributed a pin-up to 1982’s DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest No.20.
The art is well-suited to being turned into a half-page ad for the return of DC’s anthology line. Colour and layout by me.
DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest No. 20 cover by Joe Orlando.
The published pin-up in the digest.
Scan of Kaluta’s original art.
New colour.
House ad layout.
Related
Time Warp No. 5 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
Time Warp was a science fiction anthology series published by DC Comics in 1979 and 80. Each 64-page issue had stories by seasoned pros and newcomers…
Time Warp No. 4 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
As ever, I'm a sucker for a Time Warp cover drawn by Michael Wm Kaluta. How the trumpet player ended up with demons/angels on a rock in space is…
The Shadow No. 1 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
The early 70s enjoyed a renewed interest in pulp magazines, and Conde Nast owned more than one popular character which would appear in comic books.…
Time Warp No. 6 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
Time Warp lasted five issues in 1979-1980 before DC Comics cancelled it. But it's well-remembered among a certain era of readers for its imaginative…
I asked Michael back in the early 90s – he didn’t recall. One theory was Madame Xanadu’s appearance is based on fan Jo Jensen.
Ah well.
I don’t… recall… asking about the origin of Madame Xanadu’s look, Sparky. But thank you for the new info. 🙂