After a 45 Year Career, the Hugo Award-Nominated Fantasy & Science Fiction Illustrator Behind James Cameron’s AVATAR, Gullermo del Toro’s HELLBOY & More Makes His Comic Book Debut — Returning to His Original Designs for the Celebrated Cosmic Toy Franchise

PORTLAND, OR (Oct 18th, 2024) – Oni Press, in partnership with global entertainment powerhouse The Nacelle Company, is proud to announce a major event in the history of the publisher’s growing stable of hit Nacelleverse series as Hugo Award-nominated, Locus Award-winning illustrator – and original POWER LORDS character designer – Wayne Barlowe lends his talents to January’s POWER LORDS #1 with his first-ever comic book cover!

Debuting with two distinct editions of POWER LORDS #1 by blockbuster writers Dennis Culver (Unstoppable Doom Patrol) & Matt Hotson (Power Rangers: The Return) and powerhouse artist V Ken Marion (Green Lantern) – as both an “open order” shelf cover and incentive, 1:50 “full art” variant featuring the complete detail of the artist’s unexpurgated painting – this Nacellverse milestone is a homecoming for Barlowe, who designed the Power Lords distinctive and enduring characters for the debut of the original Revell action figure line in 1983.

In addition to designing the enduring visual identity of the Nacelleverse’s farthest-reaching cosmic heroes with the POWER LORDS, Barlowe has forged a distinctive and influential path with a career spanning illustration and concept art across more than 45 years in film, fiction, and toys. Originally reaping renown for his Hugo Award and American Book Award-nominated masterwork, Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials, Barlowe’s talents soon transitioned from page to screen as he collaborated with some of the most renowned filmmakers of all time to forge the visual identities and environments for seminal science-fiction films, including James Cameron’s Avatar, Alfonso Cuarón’s Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire, Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy and Pacific Rim, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, and many more.

Notably, Oni’s POWER LORDS #1 will mark the first comic book cover Barlowe has ever created in his long and distinguished career and marks his singular return to the seminal toy franchise since the early 1980s.

“It’s been far too long since the POWER LORDS were put into cryogenic suspension,” said Barlowe. “I'm beyond excited by their auspicious reawakening and look forward to their continued adventures throughout the galaxy!”

In addition to Barlowe’s near-nonstop work in film and television, he is also the author of several novels (God's Demon, The Heart Of Hell). He has also written and illustrated a number of art books, includingExpedition, Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials, Barlowe's Guide to Fantasy, Barlowe's Inferno, Brushfire, The Alien Life of Wayne Barlowe, and An Alphabet of Dinosaurs. Expedition aired as the Discovery Channel's special "Alien Planet” in 2005.

THIS JANUARY, THE LEGEND OF THE POWER LORDS BEGINS ANEW! Enter an alien realm beyond imagination as the beloved toy icons return to fuel 2025’s most epic, galaxy-spanning cosmic adventure! When deep-space smuggler Adam Power comes into possession of the mysterious Power Jewel, he finds himself transformed into something far greater and more powerful than the sum of his parts—only to discover he’s been drafted into an eons-old battle between good and evil that could rend entire galaxies asunder! The next chapter of the NACELLEVERSE starts here as the POWER LORDS are reborn for a new generation!

Featuring galaxy-colliding covers by Dustin Weaver (Avengers, EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss), Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man), Wayne Barlowe (Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials), and Grey Williamson (Val-Mar: Gifted And Cursed), and more – POWER LORDS #1 ignites the next evolution for the Nacelleverse in comic shops everywhere January 2025!