CGC Signature Series Creator Spotlight: Joe Jusko

Artist: Joe Jusko

Next CGC Signature Series deadline: July 18, 2025, is the deadline to submit your books for the next Joe Jusko Private Signing. Go here to learn more about the upcoming signing.

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Creator origins: Jusko’s career has spanned more than 45 years, having worked for almost every major comic book publisher — most memorably the multi-award-winning 1992 Marvel Masterpieces Trading Cards. In addition to his work at Marvel over the years, Jusko has produced art for many other companies and characters, including DC Comics, Crusade Comics, Chaos Comics, Innovation Comics, Harris Comics, Wildstorm Comics, Top Cow Productions and Byron Preiss Visuals, just to name a few.

His 2005 fully painted graphic novel based on Lara Croft, the heroine from the Tomb Raider video game series, won a Certificate of Merit from the prestigious Society of Illustrators, into which he was inducted in 2007. Jusko is currently painting new covers for The Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library.

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

• The Hulk! #24 (1980) – a painted cover featuring Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk
• Marvel Graphic Novel #36 (1988) – comic adaptation of the film Willow
• Silver Surfer: Judgment Day #1 (1988) – Galactus vs. Mephisto
• Freddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Street #1 (1989) – first comic appearance of Freddy Krueger
• Deathlok #1 (1990) – first appearance of Deathlok (Michael Collins)
• Lost in Space Annual #1 (1992) – classic cover
• Marvel Swimsuit Special #2 (1993) – Rogue cover
• Vampirella Halloween Special #1 (2006) – variant cover by Joe Jusko
• King-Size Conan #1 (2020) – variant cover by Joe Jusko
• Amazing Spider-Man #73 (2021) – limited edition variant cover by Joe Jusko
• Savage Sword of Conan #1 (2024) – premiere issue

CGC Comics Registry highlight: Joe Jusko contributed extensively to Marvel’s The Savage Sword of Conan. He was one of the main cover artists, creating memorable painted art for numerous issues. You can check out the series in the CGC Registry, with user jlebrun208’s set, Savage Sword my Goal, which won the Best Set Type Award from 2021 to 2024.

Auction highlight: A Captain America #1 Hero Initiative Edition graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 with a sketch and signature by Joe Jusko sold for $750 in a Heritage Auctions sale in April 2022.

Did you know? Jusko began his career in 1977 at the age of 17, providing the cover art for Heavy Metal magazine.

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