I know, the raffle took place months ago but the drawing got a little more time-consuming than expected. It's my first time drawing in comic-book style with cellshading and crosshatching. Also, I had said that I would like to draw a uniform of some sort. The image and its subject were then highly inspired by a great animated short film called "Paths of Hate", that Howl has discovered at that time. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjXr9Nj5ZbI
At first I had a hard time figuring out what to do with the arms and hands so I asked Howl if I could put something in his character's hands. It turned out to be a bayonet that he's slightly hiding behind his body while the other hand/paw reaches in front of him, ready to grab his enemy. The black hole and the cracks in his face indicate the emptiness inside a person that can only think of destroying their enemy. You can also see that scene in the film. And what remains in the end? Nothing.
howling-blackpaw
