Towards the end of the Bronze Age, Wonder Woman’s popularity was at a low, the book better known for The Huntress back-ups than the main feature. Gil Kane drew a number of pin-up-style covers for the book during this time, including this one for No. 306, cover dated August 1983.
But it was never published. Instead, two pieces of José Luis García-López’s art from the 1982 DC Style Guide – inked by Dick Giordano – were used instead.
Here is Kane’s version, restored and packaged as the cover that never was.
As published.
Scan of the original art from Heritage Auctions. Kane was fond of using felt markers to ink, and the pens of the day faded considerably over time.
A re-inking of the art was called for.
Re-created trade dress added.
First colour version.
Second version with the original WW logo.
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Nice work. But seeing that the artwork used on the final cover is from the 1982 DC Comics Style Guide printed a year earlier, I believe Kane was redrawing Garcia-Lopez’s design, and not the other way around.
You’re right, Adrian. Thanks for the correction, and I’ve updated the post accordingly.