You probably recognize his work, especially if you’ve been paying attention to some of Dynamite Comics’ flagship books over the last decade. Italian painter Lucio Parrillo has a way of capturing both the sensuality and strength of women such as Vampirella, Red Sonja, and Dejah Thoris in every detailed stroke on his masterful covers. The publisher is celebrating the prolific artist’s work with a limited edition painted Vampirella cover on Indiegogo. The campaign was so successful with fans that it has been extended for another 30 days.

Lucio Parrillo

Parrillo discussed his relationship with Dynamite and their top female badasses along with why Vampirella may be his favorite.

“I’m very proud and happy to work for Dynamite. It’s been about 10 years that I’ve been doing covers for Red Sonja, Vampirella, Dejah Thoris and many other great books,” the artist said.

While Parrillo has found success with Marvel and DC as well as some of the gaming community’s biggest names like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, he feels a special connection with Vampirella, which made the current Indiegogo cover even more appealing for him.

Lucio Parrillo

“The work I feel best about is on Vampirella because I grew up studying the art of Frank Frazetta, the first Vampirella cover artist,” he explains. “I dreamt of being a Vampirella cover artist after him. It’s been a great experience to see how many people around the world are supporting my art and this Dynamite project.”

Parrillo’s style comes from years of studying different art forms, genres, and time periods, and his mastery of painting techniques is evident in each piece he churns out.

“I grew artistically studying the artists of the past and frequenting the museums of Paris, Rome, and Florence,” Parrillo said. “My style blends 19th-century classics with a modern twist. Traditional painting techniques are more rare in today’s market, with so many going digital, and I think that is a part of what attracts my fans to me.”

Recently his art was collected and celebrated in The Dynamite Art of Lucio Parrillo, a deluxe hardcover art book reprinting logo-free versions of some of his pieces on oversized high-quality paper. The tome consists of 200 pages of some of his most popular versions of Dynamite characters and features more than 150 covers as well as process pieces, signed editions, and more.

Doing the limited cover goes beyond just wanting to paint more Vampirella. People around the world have been affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, with comics and the art community taking a huge hit. Using his connection to Vampi to garner support only makes sense.

“Vampirella is one of my favorite characters that I love to paint,” Parrillo stated. “Because of the situation in the world with the coronavirus, we need your support more than ever. Thank you very much for your support!”

To support the campaign and grab a few special Parrillo pieces, click here. Check out the artist’s cover for Vampirella (Vol. 5) #10, which hit stores this week.