The 9 Akazaya vs Kaido

Tribute to One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, illustrating the 20-year determination of the Nine Red Scabbards (Akazaya Kunin Otoko), featuring their fated foe Kaido. 

Characters featured in this piece:
Kinemon, Denjiro, Ashura, Kikunojo, Izou, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, Raizo, Kanjuro, and Kaido (Dragon)

Standard Size: 18x12 inches

-Offset and Laser Printed
-Full-page bleed design
-Toki's Prophecy
-Kozuki Seal + Kinemon's Rebellion Symbol
-Names of each Samurai (and the traitor)

Artist Comments:

This is my first One Piece project not featuring Luffy or any of the strawhat pirates! For the past 10 years, I've gotten to enjoy, and lament through the story of 9 samurai. But in this past year, Oda was able to develop this story into their respective climax--and it broke my heart. I enjoy a great tear-jerker, but I was heavily moved by the pain, trauma, loss, despair, continuous failures, and betrayal that these 10 men have faced thus far, so I wanted to do my best to portray their collective struggles and determination into 1 illustration here- Their final showdown against Kaido to avenge their fallen lord, Kozuki Oden.

My 3 biggest challenges with this piece were adapting to a new grunge style of lineart drawing and detailing, illustrating every scale on Kaido's dragon body (that I had to wash out into the distance) and color screening each character individually for pleasing value composition. 

Elapsed Time: Est. 60 hrs
Clip Studio Paint; Wacom Cintiq 22HD