DC Comics: The Sequential Art of Amanda Conner

Birds of Prey (1999) (Single Issues) #47-49

by Amanda Conner (Illustrations)

Acclaimed artist Amanda Conner, currently illustrating and cowriting BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE, is the focus of this new hardcover collecting some of her greatest work for DC Comics!

This spectacular new hardcover features SUPERMAN: LOIS LANE #1, BIRDS OF PREY #47-49, JSA CLASSIFIED #1-4, SUPERGIRL #12, the GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY WEDDING SPECIAL, plus stories from SECRET
ORIGINS 80-PAGE GIANT #1, THE JOKER: LAST LAUGH SECRET FILES #1, WONDER WOMAN #600, numerous covers and more!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Art, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2012

About the author

Amanda Conner started out in comics working small projects for Marvel and Archie while working as an illustrator for New York ad agencies Kornhauser and Calene and Kidvertisers. working a number of launches and campaigns such as Arm & Hammer, PlaySchool and Nickelodeon.

However, loving comic books and cartooning the most, Amanda found herself working for Marvel on their Barbie line (much of Amanda’s covers inspired designs for the line of Barbie toys), Disney line which included the Gargoyles books. At the same time she was illustrating “Soul Searchers & Co.” for Claypool Comics and worked on other Marvel projects, such as Excalibur for the X-Men line and “Suburban Jersey Ninja She-Devils”.

During an assignment for Crusade (‘Tomoe’) she and Jimmy Palmiotti became a real team as penciller/inker.

Amanda then moved on to do what is probably one of her best known works. She did several years as penciller on the hit series “Vampirella” for Harris Comics and drafted 24 issues. While illustrating “Vampirella”, Amanda worked with the top writers in the field, Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Warren Ellis.

Continuing to expand her horizons, Amanda illustrated the best-selling crossover “Painkiller Jane vs. the Darkness”, and went on to work on “Painkiller Jane” #0 (the origin book). She also wrote and illustrated a story for “Kid Death and Fluffy”.

Since then, Amanda has worked on many of the top titles in comics such as “Lois Lane”, “Codename: Knockout”, and “Birds of Prey” for D.C. Comics Vertigo line, “X-Men Unlimited” for Marvel, co-created “Gatecrasher” for Blackbull Comics, and “The Pro”, an Eisner nominated creator owned book for Image Comics with Jimmy Palmiotti and Garth Ennis. Recently she worked on the highly publicized Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre series with Eisner winning creator Darwyn Cooke.

Amanda’s work can also be seen outside the comic book community in such places as ABC’S Nightline, the New York Times, Mad Magazine, the new sci-fi Stan lee “So You Want to be a Superhero” series and the upcoming Disney Underdog movie character designs for film and television, character designs for the Los Angeles Avengers stadium football team and is featured in a Biography magazine commercial on A&E. Amanda does spot illustrations in “Revolver” magazine each month and has had a huge success with the JSA Powergirl miniseries in previous years, each issue going into 3rd printings.

She continuously produces cover work for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and an assortment of independent titles.

With PaperFilms co-founder Jimmy Palmiotti, they are currently working on the highly received Harley Quinn series and other Harley Quinn related titles for DC Comics, in addition to several upcoming DC related projects. Garnering national attention and sales results, the team continues to receive accolades for their work on these titles. The new relaunch of Harley Quinn for DC in the Rebirth line garnered an estimated 250,000 copies ordered.

Reviews

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this hardcover collection of Amanda Conner’s work around this time last year and I will be honest, until Jimmy Palmiotti tweeted about it a couple weeks ago I had forgotten about it. It was well worth the wait though, as the oversized hardcover is a beautiful compendium of Amanda’s work peppered with notes from some of her high profile colleagues and peers. The presentation is wonderful and there is a great amount of insight into the progression of Amanda’s career and the perception of her artwork from the point of view of her fans, editors, peers, and herself. It’s not just a collection of pretty images.

I will be the first to admit that if you are not already a fan of Amanda Conner, this book may not be for you. It won’t change your mind if you don’t already see what makes her an amazing artist. Art is subjective and everyone has different tastes. There are folks who think Rob Liefeld is the pinnacle of comic book art. That’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to critique art on their own individual criteria. That having been said, this is a fine collection of amazing artwork and if you are a comic book fan it is something that you should proudly display on your shelf.

I am a huge fan of Amanda’s work and I love this collection. It’s occupying a place of honor next to the cover art collection of Adam Hughes’ work and I like to think that as an artbook is is definitely one of the better examples of the format because of the insight that those who have worked with Amanda can offer into what makes her such a powerhouse of creative energy. Seriously, it is a gorgeous book and I was so happy to see it arrive in the mail.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good collection of Conner's art, and does a good job of showcasing how her style evolved over the years. It's hard to clearly separate a response to the stories and to the art that illustrates them, but since Conner's work is the purpose of the volume the reader has to remember that she was limited by the material she was given to illustrate, so it's not fair to complain about stories that are left hanging. The art is at times a little too soft-around-the-edges for my taste, but there are usually details and backgrounds that add to the story and serve to bring the narrative into better focus. I especially liked the Green Arrow/Black Canary wedding story and the Birds of Prey issues. The book is introduced by the late Darwyn Cooke and concludes with a good Wonder Woman story that Conner wrote and illustrated herself.

[Robert Bussie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Amanda Conner's art style. The way she draws faces and body language is very expressive: anger, humor, excitement, sadness, fear, and annoyance comes through loud and clear. So, when I saw this book I had to pick it up. It showcases some of the amazing artwork she has done for DC comics. It is far from complete, but shows a good cross section of her work.

As a big fan of her art style I enjoyed seeing how her art progresses from her early work in the Lois Lane comic to her more recent work with Supergirl, Powergirl, and the Black Canary.

However, this book is not a portfolio on Amanda's art work. It has actual comic book stories. Some stories are only a few pages while others are up to four comic issues long. Some of these stories are just sections of a larger story. This is where the problem lies. The stories are highly uneven in quality. I enjoyed the stories with Supergirl, Powergirl, and the Black Canary (even though the Black Canary story ended on a cliff hanger: not cool). But the stories with Wonder Woman is disjointed and feels like it is missing pages. Then there are short three or four page stories that seem like advertisements staring the Karate Kid and the Joker. I get that these are meant to be humorous, but they are more annoying than funny.

So, should you get these for the stories? Should you buy it for Amanda's art work? Yes, if you find the book cheaper than cover price of $29.99. I found the book new for $7.00 dollars at a used book store.

In the end I would recommend this book to die hard Amanda Conner fans. For the casual comic book reader and fan of Amanda's art their are better stories in trades of Powergirl, Vampirella, and Harley Quinn.

[Flutterby Mind · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars: Not going to find a place on my shelf.

For the sake of full disclosure I do not follow any of the Marvel/DC series or even try and keep their universes straight. So this is a review for people like me.

This is a collection of stories illustrated by Amanda Conner, but with no added commentary to provide any insight or context. This means that the book is disjointed, to say the least. Added to that there is no clear separation between one story and and the next, so it is not always clear when things have finished for that episode.

If you are really interested is the stories (I bought it for the artist), you’d be better hunting them down in their original context. And I hope there are better book that shows off Amanda’s art.

[Burton Olivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conner is one of the best comic artists ever.

[David Matheny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that Amanda Conner has a DC essential and Ed Benes and Al Rio do not. Is truly a crime against us comic readers. This book is mid for any old school comic fan.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My one great problem with any collection where a good many of the stories end with "To Be Continued" is that you are forced to hunt down the succeeding issue. (My other problem with this collection is a matter of a story that features an aspect that is increasingly seen in 'poor taste.') But other than the quibbles, the stories are told and illustrated with a good amount of sensitivity.
You actually get to see a progression in how Ms. Conner's art evolves from a sort of "Archie" flatness to fuller textures.
It's great to see the work of a woman in what has been such a boy's club for too long.

[disclosure side note: a friend of mine has an editor credit on the "Wonder Woman" short)

[Michael Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was slightly misled by the title of this book. I thought it would be like most other art books, featuring things like sketches, covers, interiors, etc. In actuality it just reprints assorted comics drawn by Amanda Conner.
The reprints cover a decent span of time, so it's cool that you can see how her style changed. Unfortunately lots of the comics are out of context, you have no way of happening what came before, or what will happen after. On top of that there were quite a few that I already own and have read. If you're looking for a more standard art book, check out Art of Amanda Conner, published by IDW.