Comic Book Discussion Thread Vol. 10

[Big Burly]

I just don't like when the art starts off as the realistic, awesome kind then abruptly switches to the super-cartoony kind.


We went from this...

To this...

I agree that that can be a huge shift to digest. However, Walt Simonson is a legend. He can be an aquired taste, but his run on Thor was one of the best runs ever. His run on the FF was good as well.

He's getting old, so let a legend enjoy a run on a major title.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I guess its true what they say about Frost Giants...

 

[minute bull]

I understand the sentiment, but ass clown and Walt Simonson do not belong in the same fucking sentence. Not even the same fucking state.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

I just don't like when the art starts off as the realistic, awesome kind then abruptly switches to the super-cartoony kind.


We went from this...

To this...

The second pic is from Walt Simonson. I love his artwork back in the 80s but it just looks like crap nowadays when he reappeared in The Avengers A+X crossover issues.

Simonson was a fantastic storyteller back in the day. He is responsible for revitalizing Thor when he took over as writer/penciller and introduced classic characters and storylines such as Beta Ray Bill, the epic Ragnarok arc, the titanic Midgard Serpent battle, and so much more. In the upcoming movie Thor: The Dark World, both of Walt's creations, Malekith the Accursed and Kurse, will be prominently featured.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

Walt's craft has deteriorated. Happens to the best of 'em Whats weird is that he seems to be adding more, completely unnecessary detail, into his work now. By comparison, John Byrne used to include amazing background details and cityscapes but now you're lucky if you get more than a few faces on a page.

 

[minute bull]

Simonson doesn't mesh well with computer colorization. Especially now that the color adds the dimension and artists are going for more realistic portrayals. Back when the coloring was shit, pencilers created dynamism by line. Simonson's art is about energy crackling off the page. His technique birthed Rob Liefeld.

I realize this doesn't put Simonson in the best of light.

Where's my GD metamucil? My fucking hip is killing me.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I compared the art in Five Ghosts (Chris Mooneyham/Dark Horse) to Simonson and Dragon follow up by more accurately comparing it to Sal Buscema . I now know why I made the comparison orignally; it seems Walt's pencils have "evolved" toward a similar style to Sal.
Old School Simonson:

Mooneyham:

Buscema

New School Simonson

 

[Ocean Chief]

A new volume of Astro City started today. Still haven't gotten around to reading the old run though dammit.

 

[heavyarms21]

Random Thought , Southern California Comics in San Diego is a great comic book shop

 

[blink_man182]

I am loving Wolverine- Weapon X. Awesome dialogue and great art work.

 

[minute bull]

I am loving Wolverine- Weapon X. Awesome dialogue and great art work.

Savor it. It doesn't get better than that book.

For my money, only ASTRO CITY CONFESSIONS, the Batman story, and the short tale starring the Hanged Man are worth it.

 

[Cio]

Ordered myself a birthday present - The Age of Apocalypse Omnibus. Looking forward to FINALLY reading this epic slab of mutant goodness.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I am loving Wolverine- Weapon X. Awesome dialogue and great art work.

One of the best. Only Alex Ross can touch BWS imo.

I've got a lot of Astro City but I never ever read them. I only bought them for the Ross covers and once I opened them up the weak by comparison artwork kept me from reading them. I'll have to check out TGF's recommendations, I might even own them already?

 

[Anung Un Rama]

Cio made a glorious investment

 

[Gambitpool]

Don't you just hate those times when you have no money and a bunch of new comics are coming out.

 

[minute bull]

One of the best. Only Alex Ross can touch BWS imo.

I've got a lot of Astro City but I never ever read them. I only bought them for the Ross covers and once I opened them up the weak by comparison artwork kept me from reading them. I'll have to check out TGF's recommendations, I might even own them already?

I don't know if it helps but Brent Anderson is also the guy who drew GOD LOVES MAN KILLS, which I don't consider personally shit but I know others do. Initially it took me a while to like his work; I think it's helped tremendously by the likes of Geoff Isherwood and Bill Sienkiewicz. He did make me appreciate the spherical lens by which he composes all his artwork. He mimics the curvature of eyeball. Sometimes the proportions seem warped, faces mashed. I suppose that's done on purpose to draw focus or depict dynamic action.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I thought the art in GLMKs was great...hmmm? Maybe it was the darker palette?
I honestly think its just the disappointment of opening an Alex Ross cover and not having an Alex Ross interior. Even prime John Byrne would disappoint.

I've never heard anything but praise for Astro City. I'll have to give it another look.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I could spend the rest of my night googling Astro City covers. Amazing.

 

[minute bull]

At times overweening in its own earnestness (a little like Alex Ross himself), ASTRO CITY has got some great variations on classic origin stories. While operating using analogues or classic archetypes or what have you, Busiek and Ross came up with some seriously brilliant renditions of characters you with whom you're quite familiar. It's ASTRO CITY's depth that shits all over weak ass shit like WANTED.

I just wish the stories didn't move at a glacial pace. I think it was also an issue with tardy publishing.

 

[Anung Un Rama]