Back in 2001, shortly after coming out of retirement, I was contacted by Wildstorm/Image Comics about taking over the STAR TREK franchise. Although I wasn't overwhelmed at the prospect (I'm not a hard-core Trekker by any means), I thought it might help get my name back out in the fan circles.

As is their custom, Paramount Studios, the license holders, demanded that art samples be provided prior to their approval of the creative team.

To my utter dismay, I heard back from the editor that Paramount had rejected my art samples, citing that my likenesses were not close enough.  Well, needless to say, I told them that they could pass on me and I moved on to create the IRON MAN: Bad Blood mini-series for Marvel with my pal, David Michelinie. All in all, a better deal for me than a Star Trek comic gig.

So--if any of you can't tell who these characters are in these samples--there's a job waiting for you as an executive at Paramount Studios.