Mind-Blowing Art Inspired by 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (Exclusive)

Tom Hardy’s titular hero stares down a fleet of maurauders in the cover image for ‘Mad Max: Fury Road — Artists Inspired,’ a new collection of artwork that was curated by director George Miller. Click through to see some more exclusive images.

“She has such a strong look and intense makeup that really resonated with me. I knew I had to paint her the instant I saw her,” writes artist Tara McPherson, who operates New York’s Cotton Candy Machine boutique, of the character Furiosa, played in the film by Charlize Theron.

“As a kid growing up during the Cold War, 'Mad Max’ was the scariest movie of my youth — precisely because the bleak, dystopian future it painted felt the most horrifyingly plausible,” writes Jim Lee, noted comic artist and co-publisher of DC Entertainment. “The stories still make me worried for our collective future, but you can’t turn away.”

“The dystopian future that’s been defined by the 'Mad Max’ films is ripe with visual dynamics and begs many questions about where our present world is going,” writes Gilbert “Beto” Hernández, co-creator of the indie comic 'Love and Rockets.’ “If we’re lucky, it’ll remain as something cool or frightening in movies and comics and TV shows. If it comes true….”

“My folks took me and Jeff Clark to see 'Mad Max’ at the midnight movies at the Southwyck Cinema in Toledo, Ohio, in 1982. Jeff and I were both 12. It felt dangerous and exciting,” writes Paul Pope, an award-winning illustrator whose credits include Batman and Spider-Man. “It wasn’t until almost 20 years later that I learned what the whole point of a dry nitrous fuel injector is, and another 10 after that until I learned that thing on the hood of Max’s car is a super-charger.”

“For this new film, I was fascinated with the religious connotations. The iconography and tribalism based on a belief system with a central metaphor of the machine…. With water playing a part in the story, I painted this piece with washes of water.” —David Mack, a writer-artist whose work includes Kabuki Graphic Novels, 'Fight Club,’ and 'Daredevil: End of Days.’

“'Mad Max’ was spoken of in hushed, secretive tones in my primary school yard. Did I know? Had I seen? Don’t let the grownups find out! I did know. That it was Australian, like me, made it all the more real and possible. I needed a steel boomerang!” —Nicola Scott, whose credits include 'Superman,’ 'Birds of Prey,’ and 'Star Wars.’

“A grocery store in a dirty, desert town. California’s a–hole. Back when they still rented VHS’s near the checkout. Black leather jacket, sawed-off shotgun, helmet, kneepads… the cover to 'Mad Max.’ It was the promise of the coolest movie I could ever see but wasn’t old enough to rent,” writes Lee Bermejo, who has illustrated 'Joker,’ 'Luthor,’ and 'Batman’ books. “I waited YEARS for it. It didn’t disappoint.”

This skull-bedecked steering wheel, complete with appropriately inspirational message, serves as the back cover to 'Mad Max: Fury Road — Inspired Artists.’