You just knew the guys at Howler Magazine were going to do something striking when it came to the cover of their premiere issue. Boy, did they ever.
The cover illustration, by Diego Patino, depicts a crazed, zombie-like Jurgen Klinsmann lording it over several Mexican internationals in the wake of the US national team's win over El Tri last month. Here's how Howler editors George Quraishi and Mark Kirby explain the inspiration for the incredible, if a tad violent, imagery.
The win, and the reaction to it, gave us an idea: What if we commissioned one of our favorite artists, Diego Patiño, to represent the victory as experienced by U.S. fans? Diego came back with this, a delightfully over-the-top illustration of the mild-mannered Klinsmann running riot in Mexico. It’s a comment on just how far (and how quickly) our imaginations and our love for a team can carry us, and what a potent brew that can be—something we were reminded of again after this past week’s loss, and then triumphant win, versus Jamaica, and the roller-coaster of emotions that accompanied them both.
