Every year at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the announcement of special projects gets fans and professionals alike buzzing around the con floor with excitement over the work of certain creators. This year was no exception, and one of those names was Fiona Staples. Already a ComicsAlliance favorite for her uniquely striking and simply cool-as-hell covers for Brian Wood and Rebekah Isaacs' DV8: Gods and Monsters, Staples raised even more eyebrows last weekend with her teaser art for Saga, the new ongoing science fiction series she'll draw for writer Brian K. Vaughan.

Below you will find a selection of artwork by Staples that will only increase your anticipation for Saga, which launches in 2012.

Besides DV8: Gods and Monsters, Staples other most high profile project is probably 2009's The Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor, also for WildStorm. She's also contributed memorable interior artwork and covers to such titles as Proof, 24Seven, Magus, Superman/Batman, Jonah Hex, Northlanders and Mystery Society.

It was that last title that put the artist on Vaughan's radar, with a little help from Steve Niles. Vaughan, who's worked with such great talents as Pia Guerra, Tony Harris, Adrian Alphona and Niko Henrichon, talked up his Saga partner in an interview with ComicsAlliance Editor-in-Chief Laura Hudson.
Steve Niles recommended Fiona; they had worked together on a book called Mystery Society, and as soon as I saw her stuff, I called her immediately. We clicked right away on the phone, and were like, let's do this thing.
Vaughan added that Staples is designing every element of Saga's world, and that her work is "spectacular." After inspecting the selection of art below, we're sure you'll agree with him.