Moebius Starwatcher Master Study - a Retrospective
In my last two posts, I talked about copying the masters—and shared an early look at my master study of Moebius’ iconic Starwatcher piece.
I wrapped up the study in May, but only now am getting around to sharing it here. (Hey, better late than never, right?)
Finishing the Study
Completing this master study turned out to be a real growth moment. It added some new tools to my belt and helped me better understand not just what made Moebius tick, but what I personally value (and don’t) in this kind of deep-copying process.
Side-by-Side Comparison
While making the study taught me plenty on its own, I wanted to go further and reflect on it with fresh eyes. Sometimes you can’t see what went sideways until you're staring down a finished piece.
And yes—there’s always the temptation to chase perfection. But from the outset, I chose to timebox the work. I wanted to go deep, not drown. These kinds of studies are rewarding, but I’ve got original work I want to make too.
Critique
One of the biggest wins for me was practicing with gradients—and playing with Perlin noise to mimic that lush, physical-media texture. That said, there’s still a certain digital sharpness I haven’t quite shaken. And while I managed to match some colors well, it’s far from a perfect recreation.
What really stood out, though, was the posture. I overlaid a yellow skeleton below to show how mine diverges from Moebius’ original.
That “slump” in the original figure totally eluded me. I couldn’t perceive it while I was drawing, but now? I can’t unsee it. It’s a powerful reminder: the underdrawing is the piece. If the bones aren’t right, everything else feels just a bit off.
And honestly, this connects with feedback I got early on with Treasure Blitz regarding anatomy and consistency. It's a cornerstone of good comic art, and something I clearly need to revisit when I can.
Closing Note
On another (and extremely on-theme) note: I just got the first issue of the new Métal Hurlant in the mail! Finally—some Moebius stories in English back in print, including The Airtight Garage. About time.
