Chris Sprouse
@chris-sprouse.bsky.social
Cartoonist, husband, cat dad. Co-creator of Tom Strong and Ocean. Also the illustrator of Star Wars, Legion of Super-Heroes, Batman, Black Panther, Superman, Supreme and many other comics. VA native, OH resident. https://sprousenet.wordpress.com
Daily cat photo: I love it when Willy makes this face when he's being a lap cat...
February 13, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Daily cat photo: I love it when Willy makes this face when he's being a lap cat...
4) All of the front and back covers for the various older collections were also left out, including the rarely seen cover for the 3rd Tom Strong Deluxe Collection (the helicopter backpack image), a book that was never even published in the US. It was used years later in a Wildstorm tribute book...
February 11, 2026 at 9:17 PM
4) All of the front and back covers for the various older collections were also left out, including the rarely seen cover for the 3rd Tom Strong Deluxe Collection (the helicopter backpack image), a book that was never even published in the US. It was used years later in a Wildstorm tribute book...
3) Some other stuff left out of the Compendium books: all the character designs and extra material published in the back of the original 6 books that collected the original series. A few of my favorite character model sheets are attached here...
February 11, 2026 at 9:17 PM
3) Some other stuff left out of the Compendium books: all the character designs and extra material published in the back of the original 6 books that collected the original series. A few of my favorite character model sheets are attached here...
2) The 2nd book completely skipped the ABC A-Z material (sample shown here). ABC A-Z series, written by Peter Hogan (my partner on a lot of the later TS stories), was supposed to serve as an overview and introduction to the ABC books for new readers...
February 11, 2026 at 9:17 PM
2) The 2nd book completely skipped the ABC A-Z material (sample shown here). ABC A-Z series, written by Peter Hogan (my partner on a lot of the later TS stories), was supposed to serve as an overview and introduction to the ABC books for new readers...
1) Received my copies of the Tom Strong Compendium Book Two today. Both handsome volumes are pictured here. They collect almost every bit of Tom Strong ever published, including the ABC Sketchbook and the 6 page Wizard insert I drew. But I'm me, so I have to note that they missed a few things...
February 11, 2026 at 9:17 PM
1) Received my copies of the Tom Strong Compendium Book Two today. Both handsome volumes are pictured here. They collect almost every bit of Tom Strong ever published, including the ABC Sketchbook and the 6 page Wizard insert I drew. But I'm me, so I have to note that they missed a few things...
Sketches submitted to DC Comics. I would have been happy drawing either!
February 11, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Sketches submitted to DC Comics. I would have been happy drawing either!
Some new art of mine was published today, a variant cover for Action Comics #1095 featuring Superboy. This piece was drawn right after the Batman/Superman: World's Finest cover I shared recently. Inks by Karl Story & colors by Dave McCaig. pencils shown, sketches in the comments...
February 11, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Some new art of mine was published today, a variant cover for Action Comics #1095 featuring Superboy. This piece was drawn right after the Batman/Superman: World's Finest cover I shared recently. Inks by Karl Story & colors by Dave McCaig. pencils shown, sketches in the comments...
Daily cat photo: Jimmy!
February 11, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Daily cat photo: Jimmy!
Daily cat photo: took a long break, but let's start this up again w/a pic of our little pride snoozing together this past freezing cold weekend. Ms. Furbs is nearest to the camera (on the pink blanket), with her brothers Jimmy (blanketless) and Willy (asleep on the blue blanket)...
February 10, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Daily cat photo: took a long break, but let's start this up again w/a pic of our little pride snoozing together this past freezing cold weekend. Ms. Furbs is nearest to the camera (on the pink blanket), with her brothers Jimmy (blanketless) and Willy (asleep on the blue blanket)...
7) ...to thank him again for that lunch, the inspiration and for his kindness. Condolences to his family.
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
7) ...to thank him again for that lunch, the inspiration and for his kindness. Condolences to his family.
6) ...he was just a normal guy who lived in the same kind of VA suburbs I did, working out of his house, using the same pencils I used, doing this weird little job I wanted to do so badly. He made it real for me--I knew then that I could do this. Sadly, I never got to meet Sal as an adult and pro...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
6) ...he was just a normal guy who lived in the same kind of VA suburbs I did, working out of his house, using the same pencils I used, doing this weird little job I wanted to do so badly. He made it real for me--I knew then that I could do this. Sadly, I never got to meet Sal as an adult and pro...
5) ...to meet one on one with this dumb kid he didn't even know for a 2 hour portfolio review. He talked to me like I was an equal and never belittled or condescended or seemed like he didn't want to be there. And more inspiring than the comments on my art was the fact that...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
5) ...to meet one on one with this dumb kid he didn't even know for a 2 hour portfolio review. He talked to me like I was an equal and never belittled or condescended or seemed like he didn't want to be there. And more inspiring than the comments on my art was the fact that...
4) I did, and when I became a professional comics guy, I realized that what he had done was cooler than it seemed to me at the time (and I thought it was very cool then). He must have been drawing several books that year and he took time out of what had to be an insanely busy schedule...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
4) I did, and when I became a professional comics guy, I realized that what he had done was cooler than it seemed to me at the time (and I thought it was very cool then). He must have been drawing several books that year and he took time out of what had to be an insanely busy schedule...
3) The adults set up a meet up for us and a few days later I hauled a portfolio of comic pages I'd drawn to a local restaurant. Mr. Buscema was incredibly nice and very patient with me in all my awkwardness and nervousness. He gave me a bunch of notes on my work and encouraged me to keep at it...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
3) The adults set up a meet up for us and a few days later I hauled a portfolio of comic pages I'd drawn to a local restaurant. Mr. Buscema was incredibly nice and very patient with me in all my awkwardness and nervousness. He gave me a bunch of notes on my work and encouraged me to keep at it...
2) I grew up in the Virginia suburbs and someone my mom worked with in the early 80s knew Sal, who also lived in Northern VA, and suggested I meet with him for some career advice (I was already hellbent on drawing comics for a living as early as my freshman year of high school)...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
2) I grew up in the Virginia suburbs and someone my mom worked with in the early 80s knew Sal, who also lived in Northern VA, and suggested I meet with him for some career advice (I was already hellbent on drawing comics for a living as early as my freshman year of high school)...
1) You may not see a lot of Sal Buscema's influence on my own art style, but I am thankful for the part he played in my comic art life. I don't think I've told many people the following story, but I had a wonderful lunch with Sal when I was in high school...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 AM
1) You may not see a lot of Sal Buscema's influence on my own art style, but I am thankful for the part he played in my comic art life. I don't think I've told many people the following story, but I had a wonderful lunch with Sal when I was in high school...
Daily cat photo: little Ms. Furbs!
January 23, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Daily cat photo: little Ms. Furbs!
2) The pics of my cats and my work are to help me find something positive and something I can be proud of to focus on for a couple of minutes. I'm doomscrolling and giving myself anxiety attacks constantly, just like most everyone else here, I would guess. It's nice to have have a second to breathe.
January 23, 2026 at 11:08 PM
2) The pics of my cats and my work are to help me find something positive and something I can be proud of to focus on for a couple of minutes. I'm doomscrolling and giving myself anxiety attacks constantly, just like most everyone else here, I would guess. It's nice to have have a second to breathe.
1) I'm pretty much posting just cat photos and comic art here. In case there was any doubt, though, I am disgusted by my government and often ashamed of my country these days. But I'm proud of the people standing up every day for what's right, helping wherever/whenever they can.
January 23, 2026 at 11:08 PM
1) I'm pretty much posting just cat photos and comic art here. In case there was any doubt, though, I am disgusted by my government and often ashamed of my country these days. But I'm proud of the people standing up every day for what's right, helping wherever/whenever they can.
Daily cat photo: here's little William on top of one of our cats' Cozy Cat Caves, his front row seat when he watches TV with us...
January 23, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Daily cat photo: here's little William on top of one of our cats' Cozy Cat Caves, his front row seat when he watches TV with us...
Sketches submitted to DC Comics for approval...
January 22, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Sketches submitted to DC Comics for approval...
Some new artwork of mine was published today, a variant cover for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #47. I drew this several months ago and had almost forgotten about it. Another variant cover I drew featuring one of these guys will be out soon. Pencil art below, sketches in the comments...
January 22, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Some new artwork of mine was published today, a variant cover for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #47. I drew this several months ago and had almost forgotten about it. Another variant cover I drew featuring one of these guys will be out soon. Pencil art below, sketches in the comments...
Daily cat photo: Jimmy loves playing with water. Here he is in our kitchen sink...
January 21, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Daily cat photo: Jimmy loves playing with water. Here he is in our kitchen sink...
Daily cat photo: my sleepy baby girl...
January 17, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Daily cat photo: my sleepy baby girl...
Daily cat photo: Willy was not happy when I dismantled and threw out my old broken desk chair a couple of weeks ago. He seemed so upset that I cut the old seat cushion off the broken chair and placed it on another old office chair. He's spent every day since on that cushion, so maybe I'm forgiven?
January 16, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Daily cat photo: Willy was not happy when I dismantled and threw out my old broken desk chair a couple of weeks ago. He seemed so upset that I cut the old seat cushion off the broken chair and placed it on another old office chair. He's spent every day since on that cushion, so maybe I'm forgiven?