American Indians Go Graphic

Jeffrey Veregge (1973–2023) was a visionary Salish artist and enrolled member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Fusing Coast Salish formline with pop culture iconography, his signature “Salish geek” style redefined what comic covers, characters, and narrative could look like when deeply embedded in Native ways of being. His striking and highly identifiable work appeared in Marvel titles, museum exhibitions, and large-scale installations. Veregge’s art was bold, joyful, and deeply rooted in Pacific Northwest Indigenous aesthetics—offering expansive, future-facing visions of what “Native art” is and can be. His imprint on the comic industry is permanently entrenched, and his legacy continues to inspire artists, fans, and communities across the world. Veregge created many variant covers for comic books including a few shown here: Avengers #38 Black Panther (2018), Captain America #25 (2019), Immortal Hulk #40 (2018), Marvel’s Voices Indigenous Voices #1 Ghost Rider (2020), Marvel’s Voices Indigenous Voices #1 Moonstar (2020), Sinister War #3 (2021), and Thor #9 (2020).  Widowmakers Red Guardian Yelena Belova #1(2020). Courtesy of Lee Francis IV, Ph.D.  

Veregge, Jeffrey (Port Gamble S’Klallam Nation). “Sisters.” In Moonshot Volume 3. Edited by Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo Nation) and Elizabeth LaPensée (non-Native). Avani, an imprint of Inhabit Education Books Inc., 2020. Courtesy of Prof. Courtney Lewis. Label written by Emme Payne. 

The electric neon palette in “Sisters” provides a futuristic feel as readers follow three sisters collecting clams on a deserted planet. The sisters move in triangular and ovoid shaped rovers, drawn from Salish patterns; the combination of these patterns and pop culture coloring constitutes the art style coined by Veregge as “Salish geek.” “Sisters” provides insight on land degradation and harvesting of resources, important topics in current climate change conversations.