The acclaimed writer and artist of Mage has signed on as cover artist for DC Comics’ relaunched Green Arrow. The new series focusing on emerald archer Oliver Queen, set to be written by movie writer/director Kevin Smith, is tentatively slated for January release.

“I’m doing the 12 issues that Kevin is doing,” Wagner said. “I don’t know what plans are after that. I think Kevin would like to see the series keep going.” Plans are for a minimum 12-issue maxi-series that Smith will write. After that, the series may go on hiatus until Smith comes back for another run, or it may continue ongoing.

Wagner stumbled on the job by accident. “I was talking to [Editor] Bob Schreck one day and said, ‘If you have any cover gigs, I’d be interested.’ He said, ‘Well, I have this 12-issue thing with Kevin..’”

Actually, Wagner will do at least 13 covers. He’s also painting a cover for Wizard #113, on sale December 20.

Smith, a longtime Wagner fan who once teamed with the artist on a short story in Oni Double Feature, is happy with Wagner’s addition to the team. “It’s sort of an Oni Press homecoming with Green Arrow now,” Smith said. “Matty provided art for our first comics effort, [Green Arrow artists] Phil Hester and Ande Park did the art on the Clerks: Lost Scene book there, and Schreckles edited all our stuff. I’m glad we were able to keep this project as a family affair.”

And as much as Smith is a fan of Wagner’s work, Wagner is of Smith’s. “I like his work as a whole,” Wagner commented. “I particularly loved ‘Chasing Amy’ because it revolved around comic artists. When they had scenes with the two artists sitting at their drawing tables bickering back and forth, well, I’ve been there. I’ve lived that.” -Jim McLauchlin