When it comes to collecting, one of the biggest things fans endeavor to get their hands on are comic sketch covers. Especially when those covers come from a meticulous artist like Nelson DeCastro. As DeCastro prepares to be a special guest at the SpiderWeb Art Gallery booth during New York Comic Con, now is the perfect time to track the history of this prolific artist.

Born on February 17, 1969, DeCastro has often cited John Romita’s run on The Amazing Spider-Man as his primary artistic influence. Although he adds that creators Caravaggio, Joe Jusko, Frank Frazetta, and Simon Bisley also inspired him to tranform his talent into a career. After studying at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, DeCastro created artwork for Mucky Pup’s 1987 album Can’t You Take a Joke? and their 1989 album A Boy In A Man’s World.

In the early ’90s, DeCastro officially broke into the comic industry doing airbrushed cover work for Dark Horse Comics’ Insider and RoboCop: Prime Suspect. He later wrote and illustrated the anthology Dark Horse Presents, where he introduced his horror character Eudaemon. This character later starred in a three-issue solo series, which DeCastro wrote, pencilled, inked, and provided airbrush-painted covers for. He went on to pencil, ink, and provide painted covers for Marvel Comics’ Ghost Rider series, as well as providing interior work for DC Comics’ Team Superman Secret Files and Origins. 

DeCastro continued to work for Marvel on such titles as X-Men: The Magneto War, Generation X, Black Panther, X-Force, Iron Man, Ant-Man’s Big Christmas, Generation X, Marvel Knights, Elektra, Inhumans, Doctor Spectrum, Ultimate Nightmare, and Ultimate Galactus Trilogy. At the same time he freelanced for DC on Birds of Prey, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, Superman: The Journey, Green Lantern Corps, and Action Comics. 

In his later career, DeCastro worked on Astonishing Tales: The Thing, War of Kings: Savage World of Skaar, Incredible Hercules, and Iron Man: Iron Protocols for Marvel. DeCastro currently teaches a Drawing for Cartoonists course at Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts. More recently he has illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game. 

Between his lengthy runs on The Inhumans and Action Comics, as well as his meticulous cover paintings, it’s no surprise that DeCastro’s work is a favorite among collectors. Those attending NYCC 2018 will have the chance to meet DeCastro, have their pieces signed and possibly snag one of the sketch covers he is creating exclusively for the show. You can read more about DeCastro’s NYCC special here on Scoop.