_{[Art by David Alegre]}

[Update: GameSpot put together a video showing off the event. They even featured Oil Man Unchained for a second. Surprising!]

Few games have inspired as much "fan art" as the Mega Man series. That's in large part due to its expansive, iconic and diverse cast that has come to popularize the series over the past 25 years. These days there are hundreds of different Mega Man bosses, each with their own distinct styles. Their existence sends a message to artists that there is room for any and every idea they may come up with for the Mega Man world, and nothing sparks creativity like permission to imagine. 

That "rules free, room for everyone" philosophy is probably why the recent Mega Man Boss Battle gallery showing was such a success. If you're in the San Francisco area, definitely check it out. The rest of you can experience the show in your own home with limited-edition canvas prints, including the piece I came up with. Full disclosure -- I'm not taking any profits from the thing. I'm giving them all to the colorist and the touch-up artist. So if you want a weird piece of Oil Man art in your house and to give them some money, now's your chance.

There's also work by Skullgirl's Alex Ahad, Dtoid alumni Ashley Davis and Mikey Turvey, Heads Up Hot Dog's Diego Garcia, Super Crate Box's Paul Veer, pixel-master Josh Grilli, and many more. All that talent assembled in one place? So great!

Mega Man Boss Battle [Gauntlet Gallery]