And issue #12 was one of the great influences on my young life – an issue entirely devoted to the mano-y-mano battle between Prince Acroyear and his treacherous outcast brother, Shaitan.

When I was at Comic-Con 2006 and saw the original inked cover of issue #12 at one of the booths, I immediately determined that it was not something that I wanted to buy. But it was imperative that I photograph it – an imperative to which I did submit.

The helpful, sympathetic fellow at the booth, which sold primarily original art from comics and illustrated media – said I was not the only one whose bells rang at the sight of that cover.