This is Dream of the Endless, of course. The face was once Johnny Depp, but I doubt you can tell any more. (But would anyone look like Dream does?) The skin and eyes were recoloured. The whole face was stretched out a lot, and deep shadows added in strategic spots to create the appropriately gaunt look. The hair was done from scratch, as were the chest and cloak. The ruby was made using the same texture I used for the diamond effect for my Emma Frost piece, and then smudged, burnt and dodged a lot. The text is taken from the prologue to Season of Mists, in The Sandman #21. I think it's the best description of Dream that Neil Gaiman ever wrote. And the same section also has fascinating descriptions of most of the other Endless... So there will be more of these. Eventually.
DD: Strange thing... I started working on this a long time before I saw WH's villains pics, and devised the layout and concept at that time. Then this piece sat on the shelf for a while cause I couldn't get a few bits to look right (mostly the hair and chest). When I saw WH's series, it sort of raised an eyebrow cause of the similarity. When I finished the piece, I considered changing my approach so as to not appear to be ripping him off, but decided it'd be better to let the work stand on its own.
WH: Thanks again! You'll be glad to know that the second of these, Delirium, is enqueued at C2F. I'll post it here after it's come up there. My usual clique of previewers has given it good reviews.
You done did real good "B" your very right that it's hard to tell who it was & the story's a good touch too. It also reminds me of the WH's vilian series.