José Delbo is an Argentinian born artist who published his first work at the age of only 16. Inspired by the American cowboy westerns, he moved to the States and began work on classics like Billy the Kid, Judge Colt and the Lone Ranger. Then in the 70’s, he brought a host of television shows to comic book form with titles such as the The Twilight Zone, The Brady Bunch, Hogan’s Heroes, Buck Rogers, The Monkees and the Mod Squad. Back in the 80’s, long before the modern superhero dominated the big screen, he worked for the likes of DC and Marvel Comics and penciled the published adventures of Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, The Transformers and The Thundercats.
Manchester City FC is an English Premier League club initially founded in 1880 as St Mark’s West Gorton. It officially became Manchester City FC in 1894 and has since then gone onto win the European Cup Winners’ Cup, seven League Championship titles, including five Premier League titles (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021), and six FA Cups. Manchester City FC is one of 10 clubs comprising the City Football Group and counts New York City FC and Melbourne City FC among its sister clubs. Under manager Pep Guardiola, one of the most highly decorated managers in world football, the Club plays its domestic and UEFA Champions League home fixtures at the Etihad Stadium, a spectacular 55,000 seat arena that City have called home since 2003. Learn More
THE DROP
Delbo’s newest series of artworks is inspired by the concept of football heroes. In collaboration with Manchester City FC, the collection depicts City’s five captains as superheroes, bringing together football and comics in rare digital art. The artwork illustrates the transition of the captains, each with their own unique superpower – shifting effortlessly from the conformity of the pre-match line-ups to the flare of on-pitch play. Audiences revere the superheroes that represent Manchester City as they battle for the biggest honours in Football.
1/1 AUCTION, LIMITED EDITIONS & COLLECTORS-ONLY RAFFLE
The winner of the Heroes of Manchester auction will also receive, as an exclusive benefit, the first edition of Heroes of the Pitch. The first editions of the remaining artworks have been reserved for the José Delbo Family collection.