The artist Eric Drooker is probably best known for paintings that have appeared on many "New Yorker "magazine covers since 1994. Those covers, which often portray Drooker's native Manhattan in all its wonder, humor, and menace, reflect his deep love of the city he began exploring as a boy. Inspired by social-realist art of the first half of the 20th century, Drooker is also the creator of three graphic novels: "Flood! A Novel in Pictures" (1992), "Blood Song: A Silent Ballad" (2002), and "Howl: A Graphic Novel" (2010). His friendship with the late poet Allen Ginsberg led to several projects, including, most recently, Drooker's animation for the 2010 film Howl, starring James Franco.