Posted By Dan Greenfield on Oct 13, 2025 | 4 comments

MORRISON MONDAYS: Inside the 2025 Bill Morrison Sketch Book…

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When editing Bill’s MORRISON MONDAYS column this week, I audibly gasped when I got to his Catwoman sketch, hence why I focused on it for the headline. But he’s got tons more great stuff to show off. You’ll really dig this. — Dan

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By BILL MORRISON

For many years, while working at Bongo, and then for a few years at DC, I thought about putting out a sketchbook like many of my cartoonist pals routinely do. But somehow, I never found the time to put one together. Once I became a working freelance artist with an annual schedule of comic convention appearances, however, I made it a priority to produce a sketchbook every year. The first one premiered at Comic-Con International San Diego in 2024, and I followed it up this year with my second one, featuring a superhero theme.

Because I was too busy getting ready for San Diego and several other cons this past summer, I didn’t do a preview of the new book here at MORRISON MONDAYS, so I decided why not do a postview? (Is that actually a thing? I guess it is now!)

So, in keeping with the theme of this here website, here are 13 drawings from my latest sketchbook!

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PAGE 6

In a previous column in which I showed a limited edition print that I did for The Incredibles, I mentioned some rough sketches I submitted that were rejected. My thinking at the time was that I wanted to capture the mid-century vibe of the movie and do realistic illustrations of merchandise that may have been produced if The Incredibles had actually premiered in the 1960s.

This is one of those sketches, based on the Ideal Batman play set from 1966.

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PAGE 7

This is another one, based on the Ideal Batman Captain Action costume.

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PAGE 11

Not long after the release of Batman Begins, I created a limited edition Simpsons print titled “Bartman” (though my title for the print was “Bartman Gets Going”), based on the Season 18 episode, “Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times.” This is one of my concept sketches, and the one that I took to finish.

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PAGE 12

This looks like one of my Bongo Radioactive Man covers, but it’s actually a prop design for the Simpsons Season 7 episode, “Radioactive Man.” It appeared in the opening scene in which Bart and Milhouse are arguing over which atomic-powered superhero is better, Radioactive Man or Radiation Dude.

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PAGE 13

And if you haven’t already guessed, this prop design appeared in the same scene.

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PAGE 14

What would She-Hulk look like in the Simpsons universe? This question was posed by a fan, and this was my answer.

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PAGE 15

Similarly, a fan commissioned me to draw a “Simpsonized” Vampirella, and this was my solution.

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PAGE 20

I’ve always loved the look of the Golden-Age Catwoman, and here she is, drawn in my own style.

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PAGE 25

These sketches of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and some Star Wars ships were drawn for a limited edition print that’s still in progress.

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PAGE 26

I love King Kirby’s Big Barda, and this charity auction prelim for a color illustration was pure pleasure to draw!

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PAGE 28

This is a prelim sketch for the cover of Simpsons Super Spectacular #3. Make Mine Bongo! ’Nuff Said!

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PAGE 29

Here’s a cover drawing for Bartman and Radioactive Man, a special ashcan-size comic that was packaged with an issue of Hero Illustrated. It reprinted “Lo, There Shall Come… a Bartman!!” from Simpsons Comics and Stories #1.

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PAGE 32

Finally, we end with a pin-up drawing for the center spread of an early Futurama calendar. Leela’s costume was inspired by Princess Leia’s “slave” outfit from Return of the Jedi, mixed with a Barbarella vibe.

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