Kelley Jones: Knightfall/Quest/End Covers

**ishydee** · 03-11-2011, 12:57 PM

Curious on everyone's thoughts on Jones' run of covers on (almost?) all the Knightfall single issues for Batman and Detective. I found some of them to be quite outstanding and almost iconic (Batman 497 comes to mind).

Do you guys have a favourite from this run?

Was this the longest run of covers done by a single Bat-Artist? If so, what are some theories behind how a decision to pick an artist comes to a head, considering the magnitude of this arc at the time.

Thanks

**keilthetarheel** · 03-11-2011, 01:09 PM

As you said, they were great. Iconic would not be an exaggeration.

Here's a great one:

Click image for larger version.

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**Mat001** · 03-11-2011, 01:51 PM

His run during the trilogy was over a year, which he did every cover except for the variant for #500 and the "KnightsEnd" variants. In terms of his overall work on the Bat books, he did three years on both covers and interiors. It might be one of the longest during the 80's and 90's, but it has been broken up by other artists who filled in. Like Jim Aparo's covers during "Legacy". If you count the trilogy and his regular run, he had the longest run in a good long while. Five years, save for a few fill-ins by other artists.

**stk** · 03-11-2011, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by ishydee

Curious on everyone's thoughts on Jones' run of covers on (almost?) all the Knightfall single issues for Batman and Detective. I found some of them to be quite outstanding and almost iconic (Batman 497 comes to mind).

Do you guys have a favourite from this run?

Was this the longest run of covers done by a single Bat-Artist? If so, what are some theories behind how a decision to pick an artist comes to a head, considering the magnitude of this arc at the time.

Thanks

Kelley Jones is my favorite Batman cover artist, bar none. He even surpasses Aparo as a Batman cover artist for my taste, and he's the only one who does.

Practically the entire way through Knightfall and its sequels, I was thinking, "this story isn't that great," but I kept buying every issue for the Kelley Jones covers and wishing they would put him on interiors in a regular Bat-book.

When they did finally put him on Batman with Moench, I loved it. I wished he had been able to ink himself (no offense to Beatty, who is great; but my favorite Jones art is when he inks himself), and I wish Batman could have stayted in the pre-Knightfall costume for Jones' issues... and I wish there could have been more Catwoman. But overall, I loved the run.

**kevink31593** · 03-11-2011, 04:33 PM

The cover to Batman 491 is my favorite Kelly Jones Knightfall cover. This wasn't the first Batman comic I ever bought, but it WAS the issue that got me hooked on comics and collecting seriously.

**SJNeal** · 03-11-2011, 05:28 PM

It's too hard to pick your favorite child!!!

Ok, maybe that's overstating it a bit, but I do love me some Kelley Jones, be it covers or interiors. The "Knightfall" ones are my favorite only because they feature Bruce & Co. as opposed to AzBats.

**El Sombrero** · 03-11-2011, 07:21 PM

I usually don't like his work, and often outright dislike his interiors to the point where they ruin the comic book for me, but his cover art during this period was totally awesome and really made the event. This is probably my favorite:

Really captures the "larger than life" threat of Bane, just an insane visual.

**Captain Jim** · 03-11-2011, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by El Sombrero

I usually don't like his work, and often outright dislike his interiors to the point where they ruin the comic book for me, but his cover art during this period was totally awesome and really made the event.

I agree completely. He was much better on the covers than the interiors.

**Ned McDodd** · 03-11-2011, 11:14 PM

when i think about the Knightfall event, i'm always reminded of this cover from Kelley Jones. (I love his art in general a lot)

**Kunoichi** · 03-12-2011, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ned McDodd

when i think about the Knightfall event, i'm always reminded of this cover from Kelley Jones. (I love his art in general a lot)

This is one that I will never forget.

**GRANT!** · 03-12-2011, 04:20 PM

Sam Keith actually did two covers during Knightfall.

This one was rather spiffy.

One of the first comics I purchased.

**GRANT!** · 03-12-2011, 04:48 PM

I always liked this one (and the scene of Bane chucking Batman off the roof was pretty insane).

And the theme continued on for two more issues...

**byron lomax** · 03-12-2011, 04:51 PM

This one is my personal favourite:

**El Sombrero** · 03-12-2011, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by byron lomax

This one is my personal favourite:

Wow, I've somehow never even seen that, despite being a fan during the Knightquest period and checking up the covers online. That's really awesome.

Also, the rat one deserves at least an honorable mention: