|
Post by cobaltviper on Apr 13, 2022 12:03:44 GMT -5
Being an artist, I will give my perspective mostly from the drafting table.
In no specific order...
Peter David- He breathes new life in failing titles. (Hulk, X-Factor, Aquaman). Essentially re-creating the characters. And, I love his dry, witty humor.
Frank Miller- Without him, there would be no Wolverine. Also, his own noir titles introduced me to another world.
George Perez- I didn't like everything he created, but he created my desire to draw comics.
John Byrne- His early work was fascinating. Not just the heroes, but the supporting cast. Everyone looked different. Even though the hairstyles, fashion, faces and builds dated the characters, which is usually a no-no, it was authentic and powerful. But, after his run on X-Men, he was either stretched really thin, or he got really lazy. Probably the prior.
Chris Claremont- His writing also tends to date the characters by adding pop culture icons into the stories, but it made you feel as though it were actually happening.
Neal Adams- This guy blew me away with his stint on Batman. It was realistic and dark. The facial expressions and body languages were so dynamic. I'd always wanted an original piece by him until I met him at Megacon. He was so rude and nasty to me that I just walked away. But, I still can't deny his talent so he remains in my top ten.
Greg Capullo- From X-Force to Spawn to his stint on Wizard magazine's 'Crash Course' instructional comic art segment, I have followed him and his guidance for decades. Showing dimension and style in everything he does, I can recognize his art at a glance. His art is cartoony to an extent, but he knows how to bring it to the table with perspective, accuracy and fluidity.
Alex Ross- When I first read Marvels, I couldn't describe the breath-taking, hyper-realistic panels. I never even thought painting a comic could be a thing. He did even better with Kingdom Come. It truly reimagined comic art forever. Of course there were fantasy artists doing pin-ups, but not panels. Just thinking of the pages where the original Human Torch came walking toward the crowd, or Giant-Man stepping over a building in Marvels, made me believe I was there.
John Buscema- I've never seen more versatility and dynamics in such a simple style. There's a lot of Frazetta in his work. Especially, his women; He truly captures their femininity.
Scott Lobdell- He truly captures humanity at its best. His writing is very light-hearted and classically nostalgic to the heroic age. He's also a nice guy. He's actually commented on some themed art I did for my Instagram, so I may be a bit partial.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2022 12:06:57 GMT -5
None of them make top 10. Corben, Williamson and Stevens make top tier but outside the top 10. Claremont, Giffen, and McKean are second tier for me. I really don't like much of what Johns has done and if it weren't for riffing of the giants whose shoulders he stands on, he'd have nothing to contribute to the industry. Brandon Graham is an interesting creator, he's done some interesting sci-fi stuff for Image, but I find his narrative gets lost in the clouds of his ideas and in the end there's no real story told. Most of what I read form him was the Prophet revival circa 2012-2013, but he did curate the Island anthology from Image as well. His stuff has a very Euro-sci-fi vibe, that seems to channel artists like Moebius or Druillett. but nowhere near as good. There was a lot of critical buzz around Graham's Prophet, some going so far as to say it was the best sci-fi comic of the new century until things like Descender and others dropped. The buzz has largely fizzled now and I am not sure what he's worked on for the last 5 or so years. -M
|
|
|
Post by berkley on Apr 13, 2022 15:28:45 GMT -5
Day Thirteen ChoicesBrian Bolland, Brian K Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, Bryan Talbot, Brian Azzarello. That Brian guy Jim Rugg says exists and writes his comics? Yup it’s all about Brian. Or is it? Do any of these Brian’s make your list or is it a sad day like Brian’s Song. Are you all going to add yet another person who doesn’t draw to your list? Does Bendis’ decade of dominance get him in? Are Saga, Paper Girls, Y the Last Man, Ex Machina, and Runaways enough for someone to choose BKV?
Playing catch-up:
Bolland: No. He's really good technically but his work leaves me cold.
Vaughan: No. Not sure I've read anything.
Bendis: No. I've read very little, don't quite see what all the fuss is about.
Talbot: I'll say No for now. Luther Arkwright is one of the best single works ever done in comics, and that almost gets him in, but I feel I should read something else before including him.
Azarello: No. Have read very little but disliked that little pretty strongly (basically the WW arc where Orion was guest-starring).
|
|
|
Post by berkley on Apr 13, 2022 15:37:29 GMT -5
Day Fourteen ChoicesIt’s Strip Sunday! And bonus Alan time too. Are Charles Schulz or Milton Caniff on your list? How about Alan Davis or Alan Grant? Did you pass on Alan Moore? Are you a closet big Al Gordon, Alan Brennert, or Alan Kupperberg fan? Schulz: I'll say No, even though I would probably rate Peanuts as one of the all-time great strips. I could see myself changing my mind about this one later, especially if I keep the news-strips separate. Caniff: Yes, certainly if the strips are a separate list and probably even if they aren't. Haven't read Terry and the Pirates but the writing and art on Steve Canyon are phenomenal. Alan Davis: No. Never been a fan of his style. Alan Grant: No. Know the name but can't quite place what he's done off the top of my head. Al Gordon: No, I think I recall not liking some of his work as a fill-in inker on MoKF. Alan Brennert: No, not famiar with him at all. Alan Kupperberg: No, I thnk I remember finding some of his stuff OK back in the late 70s but far from top ten status
|
|
|
Post by Trevor on Apr 14, 2022 8:09:55 GMT -5
Day Seventeen Response and Wrap—Up
Corben would be in if I had space for more than one mostly ‘just’ artist. Enjoy Claremont on some stuff, but never a huge fan. Johns would be in the running if it was writers only. I really want to pick Stevens, and in a better world where he lived longer he’d have a large enough body of work to make it easy. Love McKean but haven't seen enough of his stuff yet to put him that high.
Giffen is giving me pause. I love a lot of his writing and art over so many decades now, but not sure if I've ever thought of him for a top ten. Take him and his work and impact for granted I'm afraid. I'm a Brandon Graham neophyte but can see him entering the picture someday. But all no for now.
My list so far: Frank Miller Jack Kirby Carl Barks Alan Moore Mike Mignola Jeff Lemire
|
|
|
Post by Trevor on Apr 14, 2022 8:23:16 GMT -5
Day Eighteen Choices
I want to get to some people who can draw like anything.
I want to know if Wally Wood, Bill Sienkiewicz, or Bernie Wrightson are in your top 10. Three monsters who can probably draw great monsters.
|
|
|
Post by badwolf on Apr 14, 2022 9:33:27 GMT -5
Day Eighteen ChoicesI want to get to some people who can draw like anything. I want to know if Wally Wood, Bill Sienkiewicz, or Bernie Wrightson are in your top 10. Three monsters who can probably draw great monsters. Bill & Bernie for sure. Wally is a possibility.
|
|
|
Post by Cei-U! on Apr 14, 2022 9:40:47 GMT -5
Day Eighteen ChoicesI want to get to some people who can draw like anything. I want to know if Wally Wood, Bill Sienkiewicz, or Bernie Wrightson are in your top 10. Three monsters who can probably draw great monsters. I like all three artists but I wouldn't put any of them in my Top Ten.
Is this survey ever going to mention any more Golden/Atomic Age creators? Because at least four slots on my list are reserved for a specific quartet from that era.
Cei-U! I summon the oldies but goodies!
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 14, 2022 10:01:12 GMT -5
Day Eighteen ChoicesI want to get to some people who can draw like anything. I want to know if Wally Wood, Bill Sienkiewicz, or Bernie Wrightson are in your top 10. Three monsters who can probably draw great monsters. Wally Wood - Yep. Woody absolutely is in my top ten. Dude could do absolutely everything. Bill Sienkiewicz - No. But he's up there. Bernie Wrightson - See above for Sink. Top Ten (Comic Books): Gaiman, Moore, Barks, Cooke, Ellis, Brennart, Ennis, Brubaker, Wally Wood Top Ten (Comic Strips): Watterson, Breathed, Caniff, Schulz, Al Williamson,
|
|
|
Post by MDG on Apr 14, 2022 10:28:11 GMT -5
Wally Wood: A great artist and maybe one of the top 10 or 20 most influential comic artists, but not in my top t0 Bill Sienkiewicz: He's developed into a fine illustrator and painter, but as a comic artist his ideas often got in the way of storytelling or at least didn't add to the storytelling. Bernie Wrightson: If you'd've asked me any time in the last century, he'd definitely be on my list. Now, not top 10, but I still love his work . To bring things up to date:
Comic Books: Kirby, Ditko, Xaime Hernandez (also, even though I was going to keep my list stable, I replaced someone who started in the 30s w/ someone who started in the 80s. Neither one has come up yet.)
Comic Strips: Watterson, Caniff, Schulz
|
|
|
Post by EdoBosnar on Apr 14, 2022 10:52:51 GMT -5
No for Sienkiewicz although I like much of what he's done (but disliked other stuff). Wood and Wrightson, hmmmm, really tough, but I'm going to say no for now because - like Kurt - I'm kind of waiting for a few other creators to show up, including at least one who got his start in the Golden Age.
My tally so far: Sal & John Buscema, Moore, Perez, Simonson, Byrne, and Brennert.
|
|
|
Post by tarkintino on Apr 14, 2022 11:29:09 GMT -5
Wally Wood: Foundational bridge between serious and satirical art of the Golden and Silver ages, and his work for Gaines will always be a historical standout, but no, he's not in my top ten. Bill Sienkiewicz: No. He elevated his status with his painted work above everything else in his career, but he's not among the medium's best painters, so at best, he might be in a top 60 list. Maybe. Bernie Wrightson: No. I was never that impressed with him, though I appreciated his contributions to many of DC's great horror titles.
So, as it stands, my list reads as follows:
John Romita Sr. John Buscema: Neal Adams Denny O'Neil Roy Thomas Marv Wolfman George Perez Charles Schulz Gil Kane
|
|
|
Post by MDG on Apr 14, 2022 11:45:04 GMT -5
Bernie Wrightson: No. I was never that impressed with him,
|
|
|
Post by tarkintino on Apr 14, 2022 12:10:29 GMT -5
Oh. I had the same reaction to many of the "top ten" choices of others in this thread.
|
|
|
Post by Duragizer on Apr 14, 2022 14:34:54 GMT -5
Richard Corben — No.
Chris Claremont — I liked his X-Men collabs with Byrne and Cockrum. Outside those, I've found his work atrocious. Not even Tom Grummett's beautiful illustrations could make X-Men Forever readable.
Geoff Johns — The perfect exemplar of everything wrong with fanboys-turned-pros. Everything's he contributed to the medium is the equivalent of a mother bird's regurgitated food.
Al Williamson — Solid artist, but no.
Dave Stevens — Loved The Rocketeer, but not that much.
Dave McKean — No.
Keith Giffen — Ambush Bug's awesome, but no.
Brandon Graham — Not familiar with him.
Wally Wood — Much as I like "Superduperman", no.
Bill Sienkiewicz — I only know him for his inking work on Sal Buscema's Spectacular Spider-Man run. Frankly, I found the combo a muddy disaster.
Bernie Wrightson — Loved his Frankenstein adaptation/sequel, but not too familiar with him otherwise. Gotta read more of his stuff.
|
|