One last Sanjulian post. Promise. Years ago, while Justin Gray and I were writing Jonah Hex every month, I heard that Sanjulian was accepting commission paintings from his home in Spain. I reached out through his agent and told him I would love a Jonah Hex piece, preferably with a woman in the composition. In the back of my mind, I even thought that maybe, just maybe, I could convince DC to use it as a cover someday. About eight months later, a large cardboard tube arrived at my door, postmarked from Spain. When I carefully unrolled the painting, I was completely stunned. What emerged wasn't simply a commission, but a masterpiece. Sanjulian's rendering of Jonah was everything I could have hoped for: powerful, dramatic, and full of character. The richly textured backgrounds, the atmosphere, the depth, and the sheer craftsmanship on display reminded me why he was regarded as one of the true masters of illustrative art. And yes, I must admit I wasn't expecting the beautiful topless woman who also made an appearance in the piece. That was quite a surprise, and somehow it fit perfectly within the painting's timeless pulp sensibility. To this day, it remains one of the crown jewels of my collection. More than that, it serves as a reminder of an artist whose work transcended genre and whose brush seemed capable of turning imagination into something tangible and unforgettable. Sanjulian was one of the greats, and I feel fortunate to have a small piece of his legacy hanging on my wall. Rest in peace, Maestro. Your art will continue to inspire generations to come.

We lost another great. Sanjulian has passed away at age 85. I have been a fan of this man’s work since I was a young boy in the 70’s and am proud to have commissioned him once for a private painting which I will talk about more later today. His work and Frazetta’s were a huge influence in my career and we will never see a man of this talent again in our lifetime. Rest in peace.

A quick Sanjulian story. My friend Darwyn Cooke knew how much I loved the Clint Eastwood westerns. He also knew that, back in the 1980s, I had the privilege of working on marketing and poster campaigns for several of Clint's films, including Pale Rider. Those movies meant a lot to me, and Darwyn never forgot it. Wanting to give me something truly special for my birthday, he quietly reached out to Sanjulian's representative and commissioned the incredible painting you see here. When he presented it to me, I was completely floored. It wasn't just a beautiful piece of art. It was thoughtful, personal, and reflected how well he knew me as a friend. Today, it hangs in my living room, where I see it every day. Over the years, it has come to mean even more to me. It reminds me not only of the immense talent of Sanjulian, but also of the generosity, kindness, and friendship of Darwyn. Every time I look at it, I think of them both. I'd like to imagine that somewhere out there these two legends have found each other and are sharing the same space, swapping stories, having too many drinks and still creating wonders. Either way, this painting remains one of my most treasured possessions, not just because of its beauty, but because of the memories and friendship it represents. Rest in peace, gentlemen. You are both deeply missed, and neither of you will ever be forgotten.