Design the look for a modern super-hero's first novel.

Bystanders

Phillip Murrell

I am a fifteen year US Army officer. My field is Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) with three combat deployments. I have been married for 11 years and have three children (two boys and one girl) who are 10, 8, and 5 years old. I love stories in all mediums (novel, film, TV, comics, video games) and I enjoy high adrenaline activities (skydiving, white water rafting, roller coasters). I have written all four books of the Bystanders saga and will publish them as I recoup my investment for each individual book.

Colberton has a vigilante, named Votary, attacking the criminal element that operates in a city with a limited police force. A social climbing reporter, Claire Kennedy, is determined to discover the identity of this would be hero in order to boost her station's ratings and her own clout with her boss. Her investigation will quickly reveal that real life vigilantes do not reside in the fantasy worlds that comics and films allude to. Death and trauma affect not just Claire, but the other residents of Colberton. They include the police officers, paramedics, surgeons, criminal bosses, and teenaged fans of Votary. All of them will experience the lasting effects associated with over-the-top battles in the back alleys and residential streets. During it all, Votary will keep his identity a secret, even from the audience.

My target audience is people who enjoy super-hero, fantasy, sci-fi novels, comics, and films.

I give a lot of latitude to the color scheme, except for when it comes to Votary's dark gray armor. Colors I especially like are gray, purple, and blue.

Votary is the super-hero in my story. He needs to be the primary focus of the cover. Votary's identity is a secret from everyone, including the reading audience, so his armor needs to fully encapsulating and not give indication of gender. I do not want any stock images used. Only original artwork. The following are excerpts from the book that describe him:
Votary stands between Claire and her aggressors. He is completely covered in a thick, gray armor. It appears rigid, but his fluid movements illustrate an unearthly technology. There are two mammoth pods connected to his shoulders that are a lighter color gray. Although he is armored, he appears to be average height, but heavy. The armor clearly gives him upwards of three or four hundred pounds. There are no weapons that are visibly hanging off from him, but he has numerous compartments integrated into his armor. They hide his various gadgets.
Votary pulls out two metal escrima sticks from leg compartments in his armor and beats the four hoods mercilessly.
His helmet is dark gray, but has a computerized face shield that somewhat resembles a cross. It is not a pronounced cross, but Claire sees it when she focuses.
On inside of both forearms are subdued keys that Votary uses to activate weapons integrated into his armor.
I prefer Votary to be kneeling over the ledge of a building in a classic super-hero pose as he watches over the city, but I give the artist latitude in this area to find a dynamic pose. I do want him to hold his pair of batons. I do not care about the background colors or where my name and title go.

No stock imagery will be used. All images must be original. I've attached covers in the style I like.