OAO Greatest Comic Book Artist Nomination Thread

[Steviekick 0]

The Comics/Lit folder has been kind of active again, so why not we decide who the greatest comic book artist is. We will find out who the greatest sequential artist is. I'm putting these little caveats on it:

 

• It's for the primary artist, i.e. penciller, that gets nominated. Jim Lee can get the nod, but Scott Williams doesn't count. This isn't a knock against inkers, most comics are sold/known for the penciller. It'll also make it easier to ignore them for now.

• A note on painters: Alex Ross counts because his work is comic art that just happens to be painted, like it Marvels. The Hildebrand brothers don't count because they paint posters and such.

• When you nominate someone, number them to make it more list like, and give two examples (just the titles is fine) of their best quality/known work with it.

• To make this a cool list, remember to nominate artists who would be deserving of such a title. No Rob Liefeld! (Just kidding...you know what I mean).

 

Let the fun begin...

[Kardo 0]

Alex Ross (I have two of his posters framed in my room)

- Batman: War On Crime

- Marvels

- Kingdom Come

 

Mark Bagley

- Thunderbolts

- Ultimate Spider-Man

 

Jim Lee

- Batman

- X-Men

 

Craig Thompson

- Blankets

- Goodbye, Chunky Rice

[starvenger 0]

Man, how do you choose just one? Here's some nominations from me (that Kardo didn't mention):

 

- George Perez (Avengers, Teen Titans, Crisis, some Marvel/DC crossover). Quite possibly the best team book artist ever.

 

- Jack Kirby (Avengers, FF, X-Men, New Gods). I've never been fond of his faces, but his rendering of characters and scenes was amazing.

 

- Darrick Robertson (New Warriors, Transmetropolitan). I wanted a dark horse (and another New Warriors artist) in the mix...

[Steviekick 0]

- John Romita, Jr (Amazing Spider-Man, Inc. Hulk): He has a really cool stylized look that you just know is his

 

-Jae Lee (Inhumans, Fantastic 4 1234): Has a really surreal and dark look. I love how he uses negative space.

 

-Frank Miller (Daredevil, The Dark Knight Returns): Can do a good job with traditiohnal comic book art as well as his gritty urban look like in Sin City.

[pochorenella 0]

Is it OK to second the nominations? My favorites have already been mentioned.

 

- Jack Kirby. The King. Can't say enough about his greatness.

- George Perez. THE greatest team artist ever without a doubt.

- John Romita jr. The best storyteller on the face of the planet.

[Betty Houle 0]

1) Jack Kirby (the King) - FF, New Gods

2) Neal Adams - X-men, Avengers

3) Steve Ditko - Spider-man, Dr. Strange

4) Joe Kubert - Hawkman, Sgt. Rock

5) Frank Miller - Daredevil, Sin City

[Cran Da Maniac 0]

Will Eisner--The Spirit

 

Eduardo Risso--100 Bullets, Batman

[Steviekick 0]

-Neal Adams (Batman, X-Men): amazingly simple and clean portrayals of the classic super hero

-Dan Jurgens (Superman): One of the greatest artists of the modern Superman era. Also very dependable.

[HellSpawn 0]

-Todd McFarlane. Spawn, Spider-man, Amazing Spider-man

 

-John Buscema. Savage Sword of Conan

 

-Frank Miller. Sin City, Daredevil, Dark Knight Returns

 

 

and I got a comment about tandems... Byrne for example, looks way much better inked by Terry Austin and they mixed like a single unit, same for McFarlane & Greg Capullo, or way back for John Buscema & Ernie Chan.

[pochorenella 0]

and I got a comment about tandems... Byrne for example, looks way much better inked by Terry Austin and they mixed like a single unit, same for McFarlane & Greg Capullo, or way back for John Buscema & Ernie Chan

 

Agreed on the John Byrne opinion, but he also did some of his own inking on Fantastic Four IIRC, and it was very good.

John Buscema I've always liked but I can't remember who he mostly teamed with in the inking dept. except for Tom Palmer on Avengers. He had a great run on FF IIRC, who was the inker there?

[Dr. Tom 0]

I don't know if he's still active, but...

 

Mark Texiera (mid-90s era Ghost Rider, Wolverine)

[Steviekick 0]

-Mike Deodato (Avengers, Thor, Hulk): He has a really cool style that emphasizes the larger characters in a way that makes them look more powerful and grotesque. His costume designs rock, too. And after taking a break from comics in the late 90s, he's come back and his average person looks much better.

 

- Ed McGuiness (Thundercats, Superman): He may not be the best known, but he has a really great cartoon like quality to him.

[thuganomics 0]

Let's see....

 

1. Tom Grummett (Superboy, Power Company, Robin)

 

2. Barry Windsor-Smith (Conan, Rune)

 

3. John Buscema (Conan, Silver Surfer, every other Marvel title circa 1970)

 

4. Al Williamson (Flash Gordon, half of the EC library)

 

5. John Cassaday (Capt. America, Planetary, Desperadoes)

 

6. Milo Manara (Click, Butterscoth, Sandman: Endless Nights)

 

7. Moebius (Silver Surfer LS, Airtight Garage)

 

8. Steve Epting (El Cazador, Crux, Avengers)

 

9. Jay Anacleto (Aria, Marvels II)

 

10. Mike Wieringo (Flash, Tellos, Fantastic Four)

 

Is that enough?

[Steviekick 0]

Great choices everyone! Keep them coming

[Steviekick 0]

1. Tom Grummett (Superboy, Power Company, Robin)

 

2. Barry Windsor-Smith (Conan, Rune)

 

3. John Buscema (Conan, Silver Surfer, every other Marvel title circa 1970)

 

4. Al Williamson (Flash Gordon, half of the EC library)

 

5. John Cassaday (Capt. America, Planetary, Desperadoes)

 

6. Milo Manara (Click, Butterscoth, Sandman: Endless Nights)

 

7. Moebius (Silver Surfer LS, Airtight Garage)

 

8. Steve Epting (El Cazador, Crux, Avengers)

 

9. Jay Anacleto (Aria, Marvels II)

 

10. Mike Wieringo (Flash, Tellos, Fantastic Four)

 

11. Alex Ross (Marvels, Kingdom Come)

 

12. Mark Bagley (Thunderbolts, Ultimate Spider-Man)

 

13. Jim Lee (Batman, X-Men)

 

14. Craig Thompson (Blankets, Goodbye, Chunky Rice)

 

15. George Perez (Avengers, Teen Titans, Crisis, some Marvel/DC crossover)

 

16. Jack Kirby (Avengers, FF, X-Men, New Gods)

 

17. Darrick Robertson (New Warriors, Transmetropolitan)

 

18. John Romita, Jr (Amazing Spider-Man, Inc. Hulk)

 

19. Jae Lee (Inhumans, Fantastic 4 1234)

 

20. Frank Miller (Daredevil, The Dark Knight Returns)

 

21. Will Eisner--The Spirit

 

22. Eduardo Risso--100 Bullets, Batman

 

23. Neal Adams (Batman, X-Men)

 

24. Dan Jurgens (Superman)

 

25. Mark Texiera (mid-90s era Ghost Rider, Wolverine)

 

26. Mike Deodato (Avengers, Thor, Hulk)

 

27. Ed McGuiness (Thundercats, Superman): He may not be the best known, but he has a really great cartoon like quality to him.

--------------------------------------

We have 27 on the list right now. Nominations end on Saturday morning, and the Round one brackets will be up later that day. Would you guys like sample images with the brackets?

[Guest Boomer Sprinklespax]

I haven't seen him listed yet, so I'll have to add Joe Madureira (he did X-Men and that Cliffhanger title, I think it was Battle Chasers or some such). Dude could seriously draw.

 

Also, Jim Steranko (Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.).

 

Also, Todd McFarlane (Spider-Man and Spawn).

 

Also, Steve Dillon (Preacher and the second Marvel Knights Punisher mini-series).

 

That's all I can think of right now.

 

Oh, both of the brothers Kubert should be added, IMO.

 

That is all.

[Steviekick 0]

With DTH's additions, we're up to 36...We just need 12 more and we'll start.

[Guest Boomer Sprinklespax]

A few more I thought up today...

 

Marc Silvestri (The Darkness and, I believe, Wildcats)

 

Chris Bachalo (Sandman and Generation X)

 

Steve Ditko (Spider-Man)

 

Leinel Francis Yu (Wolverine and Uncanny X-Men)

 

Frank Quitely (sp?) (Ultimate X-Men)

 

Mike Turner (Witchblade and Fathom)

[Sass 0]

I've been digging Ed McG's Superman over the last couple months. He kind've reminds me of Curt Swan's Superman who many fans thought at the time was too "overdone" in how big he looked.

 

I too thought Ed's Superman looked too "cartoony" for me but over time I have started to reconsider my stance on his Superman. It looks good.

[HellSpawn 0]

- Lee Weeks (Gambit 1st mini, Daredevil)

 

- Kevin Maguire (Jusitce League 80s, FKAJL)

 

- Greg Land (Sojourn)

 

- Michael Gaydos (ALIaS )

 

- Aron Wiesenfield (Team 7 1st series, Wolverine-Deathblow). Incredible detail.

Edited December 25, 2003 by HellSpawn

[Special K 0]

No one's probably heard of him, but whoever draws Blade of the Immortal (now on Dark Horse) Is IMO the best comic book artist ever, BY FAR. Simply lovely art.

 

As for U.S. art, I really like Bagley. Very clean lines, makes every character look like a million bucks. Great action scenes, without being too stylized.

[Guest JMA]

George Perez (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Teen Titans)

 

David Mazzucelli (Batman: Year One)

 

Alex Ross (JLA Secret Origins, Kingdom Come)

 

Curt Swan (Superman)

[Guest THE HEAVY METAL MANIAC]

I NOMINATE (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER):

 

1)MIKE GRELL

 

2)JOE KUBERT

 

3)WILL EISNER

 

4)WALLY WOOD

 

5)NEAL ADAMS

 

6)FRANK FRAZETTA

 

7)JACK KAMEN

 

8)STEVE BISSETTE

 

9)JOE ORLANDO

 

10)BERNI WRIGHTSON

 

11)MIKE KALUTA

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Not to get OT here, but Heavy Metal Maniac, weren't you just suspended for typing in all caps? For the love of god, please take the caps lock off. You're typing like a 13-year-old.