For over a decade, Mike Del Mundo has been one of Marvel’s most original visual storytellers. With grace and power, Delmund is an artist who refuses to sit quietly on the shelves with concept-driven covers and inspiring interiors. Now, for the first time, fans have the opportunity to hold the definitive collection of his groundbreaking works in their hands.
Mike Del Mundo’s Marvel Art is a deluxe art book published by Marvel Press in collaboration with Marvel. The Tome is set to collect unprecedented sketches with his most iconic covers, unusual artwork and a high-end, 224-page coffee table book. And there are bibliography, from Kang and Thor to the strange academy to the whole new X-Men. Why Wait: Be notified when this kickstarter comes live.
But Mike Del Mundo’s Marvel Art is more than just a retrospective. It is the appearance under the hood of a great working artist. In addition to the main volume, the companion sketchbook offers readers an unusual opportunity to explore Delmund’s creative process in real time, combining his raw thumbnails with finished pieces. This is a dual experience that reflects Del Mundo’s edited conceptual approach itself. It’s all part of a bigger experience than Delmund would like.
“I hope they enjoy it as much as they enjoy it,” Del Mundo told AIPT on a recent Zoom Chat. “There’s a lot of stuff I could cover. Only ideas that I can flip through for a few days are in the air.”
My dream has come true
Delmund acknowledges that the ideas of the Marvel Art Book once felt like a distant dream.
“Maybe that wasn’t the goal,” he said. “Maybe it was something I didn’t think would happen.”
However, after working with Marvel for many years and working with publisher Hank Canalz on Clover of Three Worlds, the dream began to become concrete.
“We had a little conversation,” Del Mundo said. “And (I) jokingly said, “Hey, we’ll do an artbook with you guys, right?”
The book follows previous installments of Clover’s Marvel Art of… Series. However, Del Mundo’s Edition introduces something new to this format. This is a complete sketchbook that lets readers follow creative paths from ideas to execution.
“You can open it with the main book and see the process,” Del Mundo said. “I think that’s really cool.”
Mike Del Mundo’s ever-evolving style
Delmund’s career began with a splash. His cover was running in the X-Men legacy and quickly turned to similar eyes from fans and editors. Known for combining surrealistism, symbolism and emotional storytelling, he has become the go-to name for a project where heroes demand more than punch the villain.
That evolution, he says, wasn’t about changing styles for itself.
“I act like a creative director for each project,” Delmund said. “It’s not about consistency. It’s about what the story needs. Sometimes the graphics look works best. Sometimes it’s more painterly.”
The range can be seen in more books such as Electra and the Avengers. His visuals are adapted and morphed to the tone and theme.
“I won’t give up on the cover,” Del Mundo said. “I’ll continue until I find that spark.”
And the sparks sometimes come from the simplest places where he walks his dog.
“I let go of my head,” Del Mundo said. “I’ll come back and sketch until I find the diamonds rough.”
Sketching, Surrealism, Storytelling
For Del Mundo, Sketchbook mates are more than just a behind-the-scenes extra. That is essential.
“With X-Men legacy, it’s like doing 15 sketches per cover,” says Del Mundo. “Some people later changed to other covers. But many of those ideas weren’t used. Now fans can see them. Sometimes flipping through the thumbnails is more exciting than seeing the final cover.”
These early iterations speak to what Del Mundo values most: concepts.
“Even when I’m tired of old jobs, ideas always go on,” Del Mundo said. “That’s the part that continues.”
And when he pushes boundaries as often as Delmundo, things prove to be challenging, even for artists.
“Sometimes I ask myself: Do I do this literal or it gets weird,” Del Mundo said. “But then I remind myself: this is my language. If it feels right, I’ll go with it.”
From covers to comics etc.
While he was celebrated with his cover, Del Mundo has also built a reputation for strong interior storytelling, particularly with titles such as Elektra and Weirdworld. Still, he is the first to admit that a series of successive works are beasts.
“The cover is one image,” Delmund said. “But interior? You need to keep the characters consistent across all panels, manage and pacing the layout, like solving a jigsaw puzzle.” That said, Del Mundo feels he’s adding that if it’s very challenging, “it’s fun because it’s difficult.”
He also praises his artistic versatility for pressure and time constraints.
“Many of my style came from strict deadlines,” Del Mundo said. “I found shortcuts, but those shortcuts have become language.”
The language continues to evolve with the world of Imprint 3, owned by Jonathan Hickman’s creators, working with three months. There, Del Mundo works closely with Hickman, Nick Spencer and fellow artist Mike Huddleston.
“We’re all on the same wavelength. We don’t have ego. We just make great stories,” Del Mundo said. “It’s lunch and lunch from other things I’ve done.”
Legacy, influence, future
Looking back at the body of a work shot in Mike Del Mundo’s Marvel Art, the artist singles the X-Men legacy, saying it has particular meaning.
“The book changed everything for me,” Del Mundo said. “I was married so I didn’t think I could take it. But I did, and its first cover – the Legion’s face made from collages of other artists – Marvel loved it. Then they let me do my thing.”
Looking ahead, he doesn’t worry about his job being “there.” He wants to continue to add to the language of comics.
“Every artist, from (Jack) Kirby to (Mike) Mignola, brought their voices,” Del Mundo said. “I want to do the same thing.”
When asked what advice he would give to artists trying to find his voice, Del Mundo said he values personality.
“Don’t give up on the original idea,” Del Mundo said. “Trust your gut. Stay on your gun, work hard, and don’t become someone you don’t like.”
That mantra, the creativity of humility, is exactly why his work resonates. It’s not just style. It’s about vision, tenacity and the belief that all great ideas deserve an opportunity to take shape.
The final puzzle piece
Of course, it’s not a Mike Del Mundo release without any twists. In addition to prints, stickers and signature versions, the Kickstarter campaign also includes puzzles. Yes, it’s a literal jigsaw puzzle.
“This is a logical form of art,” Del Mundo said. “You want to put it together, hold it and frame it. It’s going to be a part of you.”
Just like his cover, which has remained in fans’ minds long after the matter returned to the long box, Mike Del Mundo’s Marvel Art offers an opportunity to connect an incredible career. And perhaps, it will inspire some ideas of your own.
Mike Del Mundo’s Kickstarter Campaign for Marvel Art will soon be live. You can find it on Instagram and @deadlymike on Twitter or view prints and products at mikedelmundo.com.
A non-edited edition of this interview will be aired on the AIPT Comics Podcast, so stay tuned!
