PAUL POPE – PULP HOPE at the Philippe LaBaune Gallery
Article by Brian Quinn (MRDRfly) 2025

What: Paul Pope + Pulp Hope (gallery exhibit in association with Felix Comic Art)
Where: Philippe Labaune Gallery, 534 West 24 th Street, Ground Floor, NY, NY 10011
When: June 19, 2025- July 26, 2025
Gallery Hours- Tuesday- Saturday 10am – 6pm
Contact- tele- (212) 229-2400 info@philippelabaune.com

https://philippelabaune.com/show/philippe-labaune-gallery-paul-pope-pulp-hope

“Paul Pope + Pulp Hope” exhibition marks Pope’s first solo show at the Philippe Labaune Gallery, in association with his art dealer Felix Comic Art. The exhibit coincides with the release of the updated monograph “Pulp Hope 2” (published by Archaia, 2025), which covers Pope’s 30 plus years as a comic book cartoonist and commercial artist.

Paul Pope, 54, provided close to thirty pieces (22 of which are on public display) for this exhibit, offering a “taste” of his career’s output, rather than focusing in on any specific timeframe or project. A page from his wildly successful “Batman Year 100,” alongside perhaps a lesser known mainstream story for “Web of Spiderman,” a smattering of stand-alone pages from his indy comics, commercial illustrations, several gorgeous homages to titans like Moebius and Hugo Pratt, and my favorite, several pages from a fight sequence from “100%.” The cherry on top; a small portrait of Pope’s girlfriend hangs high in the corner of the back gallery, untouchable (and not for sale).

Although expertly framed and lit to perfection by the gallery, it is important to note that nearly everything on display is work that was produced for reproduction. Illustrations and comic pages come in all sizes (mostly large; Pope started drawing his comic pages on 19” x 24” sheets of Bristol early on, and never looked back), some with the drawings spilling out over the borders, others scarred from where artist tape ripped up some of the surface, and my favorite, Pope’s handwritten notes to production staff on what to do with the lettering or ideas for the word balloons later on.

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Paul Pope joins the likes of Mike Mignola, Frank Miller & Will Eisner, all of who have had exhibits at this fine gallery. The Philippe Labaune Gallery should be lauded for their efforts, not only for making this particular exhibit come into existence, but also providing a prestigious home in New York City for art shows focused on comic book creators.

Highlights of the exhibition include a 4 page sequence from Pope’s Vertigo mini-series “100%” featuring a rare action sequence from the sci-fi romantic story. Pope pretty much captures the raw intensity of MMA fighting, a sport that would blow up in popularity soon after the publication of this series. Pope expertly captured the raw violence with his gestural brush marks, keeping backgrounds simplistic to keep all the attention on the fighting figures.

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Pope’s selection of comic pages is particularly interesting, especially when you consider that two pages come from books featuring quite possibly the two most famous American characters today; Batman and Spider-man. The Batman page shows Bruce Wayne recovering in one of his hideout locations, his costume destroyed, laying on a pile on the floor. The Spider-Man story Pope produced only showcases the “super villain” created for this tale, not in a bombastic dynamic full page splash, but rather, a tiny figure making his appearance in a urban setting. Paul Pope has had a few gigs working with the big two (Marvel and DC Comics) but for the sake of this exhibition, he decided to add pages that are a bit more subtle than you might expect from American comics.

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The Philippe Labaune Gallery commissioned Pope to produce an homage to Jean “Moebius” Giraud’s pterodactyl riding hero, ARZACK, for this exhibition. Unlike the majority of pieces that were originallyproduced for purposes of print, this large drawing is flawless in its linework and design. It displays an artist at the height of his skillset, who continues to experiment with his linework and textures. It makes me genuinely anxious to see the work he is working on right now, that we will hopefully see released in 2026.

From the Philippe Labaune Gallery

Philippe Labaune Gallery is thrilled to showcase the works of Paul Pope in a special exhibition running in conjunction with the release of the American artist’s new art book, Pulp Hope 2: The Art of Paul Pope, Archaia. Created in collaboration with Felix Comic Art , the show will present original pieces from various publications including: Batman: Year 100, Battling Boy, THB, Heavy Liquid, as well as homages to European artists such as Hugo Pratt and Moebius, alongside Pope’s personal works. Paul Pope is a singular force in contemporary comics—a “comics destroyer”, he pushes the boundaries of traditional comic art.

His distinctive style brings together the dynamism of Japanese manga with the narrative depth of European Bande Dessinee, and the spirit of American pulp. Pope has consistently oscillated between high and low culture, East and West, traditional draftsmanship and a punk-rock sensibility. Trained in printmaking and painting, and possessing adept technical skills as well as a breadth of knowledge that would rival any classically trained art historian, Pope’s stories, often set in dystopian or mythic worlds, are deeply personal explorations of identity, rebellion, and survival. “There’s a longing in the characters for connection, for understanding,” he says. “Even if they’re in some dystopian world or dealing with cosmic forces, it always comes back to something human.”

Pope blends a manga awareness with a European attention to mood and form. Moebius, Hugo Pratt, and Enki Bilal are clear touchstones. Like them, Pope is more interested in evoking a feeling than hitting plot points. “When I do something, I want it to be timeless,”. “I don’t want to chase the zeitgeist—I want to create something that will feel relevant in 10 or 20 years.” The exhibition coincides with the release of Pulp Hope 2: The Art of Paul Pope, a comprehensive 300+ page art book. This volume offers an expansive look into Pope's artistic journey, featuring previously unpublished works, personal sketches, and insightful commentary that illuminate his creative process and influences. It serves as both a retrospective and a testament to his enduring legacy on comics.

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Next up for Paul Pope, you can expect the first of many trade volumes collecting his Scifi classic “THB” due out by 23 rd St., in November 2025, and “Battling Boy 2” should be out some time next year!

Discover the indie sci-fi epic that broke new ground in graphic novels with Total THB, Volume 1.

Mars is a planet divided. In the north, the bohemian Plutonium City teems with music and art. In the south, the people of Velo City are stifled by an oppressive bureaucracy with a tightening grip. And it is in Velo City that we find HR Watson, the sheltered daughter of a wealthy industrialist, and THB, her loyal but mysterious bodyguard who can expand from a tiny rubber ball to a nine-foot-tall humanoid with just a splash of water. To HR, THB is a novelty—a strange new toy of dubious value. But when she finds herself in the crosshairs of her father’s enemies, HR will quickly discover the true extent of THB’s power.

Over thirty years since its debut, the world of THB continues to inspire loyal readership and critical acclaim. Now for the first time, New York Times–bestselling author and Eisner Award–winner Paul Pope’s sprawling, self-published vision is gathered in three definitive editions, featuring remastered art and exclusive new material.

From Imprint Publisher 23rd St.

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‍PAUL POPE is an American artist/designer living and working in New York City. He has been working primarily in comics and screenprinting since the early '90s, but has also done a number of projects with Italian fashion label Diesel Industries and, in the US, with DKNY. His recent collaboration with Errolson Hugh/Acronym for Nike’s AF1 debuted spring 2017. His media clients include LucasArts, NBC, Disney, Cartoon Network, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Conde-Naste, Kodansha (Japan), Sapporo (Japan), Dargaud Editions (France), EMI Canada, The Grateful Dead Estate, and The British Film Institute. His iconic Batman: Year 100, a science fiction take on the classic Batman origin tale, appears frequently on many Top 10 Batman story lists. In 2010 Pope was recognized as a Master Artist by the American Council Of The Arts. His short science fiction comic strip Strange Adventures (DC Comics)--an homage to the Flash Gordon serials of the '30s-- won the coveted National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award for Best Comic Book of the year. He has won 5 Eisners to date. His latest book, Battling Boy, debuted at #1 on the New York Times best-seller list, his third book to hit the NYT Top 10.

https://paulpope.com/

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