Stone #2 Comic Book (pristine, unread)

This was bought in an image bundle from a comic shop late last year where it was bagged and boarded new. Stored properly. Stone #2 is part of a four-issue miniseries titled Stone: The Awakening, published by Image Comics (under Avalon Studios) in 1998. It was created and written by Brian Haberlin and Whilce Portacio, with art by Portacio and Gerry Alanguilan. Plot The story follows a man named Stone who is essentially a living elemental. He is a "Fringe-dweller" or an Earth spirit awakened from a long slumber. The series blends Filipino mythology with modern urban fantasy, as Stone navigates a world that has forgotten his kind while battling both ancient magical enemies and modern societal threats. Popularity and Niche While not a mainstream powerhouse, it was a cult hit within a specific niche. • The Creator Appeal: Whilce Portacio was a superstar artist (one of the original Image Comics founders), and his involvement gave the book high visibility among "art-first" collectors in the late 90s. • The Style: It is highly regarded for its detailed, action-heavy pencil work, which was the hallmark of the 90s Image era. • Legacy: It has enough of a following that a remastered "Stone Omnibus" was successfully crowdfunded and released recently (2022), proving there is still a dedicated audience for Portacio’s work on this character. Collector Context Stone was part of the Avalon Studios wave. While it didn't reach the heights of Spawn, it is remembered for bringing Filipino folklore into the Image universe. • The Niche: It is highly popular with collectors of "90s Prestige" art.