I was sent a cover sketch for an issue of X-MEN. It featured our heroes in the middle of Magneto's exploding volcano lair -- only they were really tiny. I thought it would be more dramatic if we pushed in closer on the action, so that's what I drew and sent in.

This prompted a call from an angry Shooter. "NEVER change the sketch!! Draw EXACTLY what we send you!!"

I was made to redraw the cover, without payment.

Not long after, I was sent a MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE cover sketch. It was pretty lame, characters all looking wimpy and weak. But I drew what I was told to draw, and sent it it.

A few weeks later I flew into NY for a con. By then, the 2-IN-1 cover had been inked, by none other than Walt Simonson. Shooter showed it to me. "See? Simonson really saved your ass!"

Walt, on Shooter's order, had redrawn the cover as he inked it, IN EXACTLY THE WAY I WOULD HAVE.

This was one of my earliest encounters with Shooter's Whim of Iron -- what applies THIS week will be completely forgotten NEXT week.