Ben Harvey was busy when Marvel reached out to him to create covers for the “One World Under Doom” comic books a little over a year ago. Working on multiple other projects at the time, the illustrator politely declined the opportunity. However, when Marvel insisted they could work around his schedule, Harvey relented. He is glad he did.
“I had no idea what I was getting into,” Harvey told the Local about the project. “It wound up being this huge event,” a multi-issue storyline with large ramifications for the comic book’s universe.
According to Harvey, “One World Under Doom” has gone to its third printing, an accomplishment that indicates just how popular the comic books are. With issue No. 9 — the final one in the 2025 event — releasing on Nov. 19, Harvey will be celebrating the release at Multiverse (8026 Germantown Ave.) in Chestnut Hill on Nov. 22 from 1-3 p.m. He will be signing comics, and the first 30 attendees to purchase the “One World Under Doom” comic also will receive a free Ben Harvey print.
A comics community
Growing up in Mt. Airy, Harvey said he always had “an urge to put things down on paper.” He credits his teachers at after-school art programs for encouraging him to pursue creative endeavors. Harvey attended The Art Institute of Philadelphia with a focus on 3D animation, but the desire to do comic book illustration was always present.
After college, in a “happy accident,” Harvey interned for a comic book illustrator and learned insights about the industry before eventually taking the leap and breaking into the field himself.
Having lived in Philadelphia his entire life (including currently in East Oak Lane), Harvey is appreciative of the community he’s made in the city.
“Philly’s a great providing town, especially for artists,” he said.
Harvey still keeps in contact with mentors from his youth, including local cartoonist Jamar Nicholas.
“I met him way back in the mid to early ‘90s when he was teaching at the Awbury Recreation Center,” Harvey said. “We’ve kept in touch since he’s been a real driving force in my career. He always inspired me to keep moving.”
Happy to be here
In addition to Marvel, Harvey has worked with multiple prestigious publishing houses such as DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, and Valiant Entertainment. Outside of the world of comic books, he also has provided illustrations for Wizards of the Coast’s Magic the Gathering x Marvel crossover and partnered with Epic Games to produce loading screens for the popular video game Fortnite.
Harvey said these high points of his career so far have typically been unanticipated.
“I guess you could say I’m just happy to be here,” Harvey said. “I never realized going into this [industry] I would be able to reach such successes with my work.”
With “One World Under Doom,” the work has not just ended in success, but also provided Harvey with “solid job training.”
“Throughout this whole ride with Marvel, as you do more and more of these covers for them, it’s a learning process,” Harvey said. “Looking at that first cover, issue No. 1 all the way out to No. 9, I feel like I’ve grown a foot between all that.”
Harvey said his work process is fairly simple — no need for long back-and-forth meetings; just give him a task and he’ll make it happen. The team at Marvel acknowledged this approach.
“I’m lucky to have the editorial team that I do here at Marvel. They are very supportive and kind, especially when you blow your deadlines,” Harvey joked. “It’s great to have support under me to help make the work shine through and make it almost flow onto the page. They aren’t overly curative when it comes to turning in your final renders.”
Multiverse event
Through conversations with others in the industry, Harvey was familiar with Multiverse, the local speculative fiction bookstore, and met Gralin Hughes, Jr., co-owner along with his wife Sara Zia Ebrahimi Hughes.
“The first time I went [to Multiverse], my fiance went to the shelves and looked for my books,” Harvey laughed. “[She said,] ‘Do you have any more of these?’ She points out the ones I’m on. I’m like, ‘Don’t do that. Be incognito when I go in these places.’”
Despite the lack of disguise, Harvey enjoyed speaking with Gralin Hughes and eventually the pair decided the release of the last issue of “One World Under Doom” would mark a great opportunity to have an in-store event.
Learn more at benharveyart.com.
Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.
