Exploring a mythology that spans over twenty-five years, Hancock has created a cast of characters, a lexicon of symbols, and an evolving, non-linear narrative of epic proportion. Storytelling is at the root of the artist’s practice, drawing equally from the world of comics, film, art history, and religion. Engaging with a seemingly inexhaustible range of cultural influences and references, the artist has built a singular voice of legendary status. Through a practice of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and performance, he has established himself as an esteemed world-builder. Fantastical in nature, Hancock’s expansive narratives provide an entry point to examine many significant cultural issues, such as race, class, identity, politics, and power, all of which continue to shape the identity and legacy of America.

Good Grief, Bad Grief unites many of Hancock’s core characters: Torpedo Boy, a tragically flawed superhero that serves as the artist’s alter ego; the debaucherous and destructive bony Vegans; and Hancock, a depiction of the artist himself. These characters defy the traditional roles of hero and villain that we’ve come to expect from so many prominent myth narratives. Such polarities meld in Hancock’s Moundverse as we find his characters hold a far more complicated existence, one that oscillates between good and evil, often occupying both positions simultaneously. As a reflection of the artist, these characters grow and change overtime, modified by Hancock’s own lived experiences, emotions, and thoughts.