CGC Signature Series Creator Spotlight: Denys Cowan

Artist: Denys Cowan

Next CGC Signature Series deadline: June 6, 2025, is the deadline to submit your books for the next Denys Cowan Private Signing. Go here to learn more about the upcoming signing.

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Creator origins:  Denys Cowan, founder of Milestone Media, is a pioneering artist and producer whose work has shaped comics and animation alike. With credits on titles like Static, Hardware, The Question and Black Panther, Cowan helped bring bold, diverse storytelling to the forefront. He directed and produced the hit animated series Static Shock, led animation at BET with projects like the Black Panther series, and helped launch The Boondocks. Beyond comics, Cowan has created iconic visuals for albums, films and magazines, including cover art for GZA’s Liquid Swords and the Django Unchained graphic novel.

Top picks: Some of Cowan’s most popular work includes:

• The Question #1 (1987) – first issue
• The Question #17 (1988) – first appearance of Rorschach in regular DC
• Detective Comics #599 (1989) – first appearance of Henri Ducard
• Deathlok #1 (1991) – first issue
• Marvel Fanfare #60 (1991) – classic Black Panther cover
• Eternal Warrior #4 (1992) – first appearance of Bloodshot
• Blood Syndicate #1 (1993) – first team appearance of Blood Syndicate
• Hardware #1 (1993) – first appearance of Hardware
• Icon #1 (1993) – first appearance of Icon and Rocket
• Static #1 (1993) – first appearance of Static
• Worlds Collide #1 (1994) – DC and Milestone Universe crossover
• Shaft #1 (2014) – first comic appearance of John Shaft
• John Wick #1 (2017) – first issue

CGC Comics Registry highlight: You can find more inspiration and ideas by browsing Signed Milestone Media Comic Books & Magazines, by CGC Comics Registry Member iMagCollector, featuring examples of comics and magazines signed by Cowan.

Auction highlight: An Eternal Warrior #4 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Denys Cowan sold for $228 in a Heritage Auctions sale in February 2022.

Did you know? Cowan is also featured in Robert Kirkman’s “Secret History of Comics” in the episode titled “The Color of Comics,” which focuses on the history of Milestone Media.

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