Graphic Novel Reading Group discussion

I have a love/hate relationship with Alex Ross's art. It IS beautiful, but the faces tend to look the same and I don't really get a sense of movement from his art. They look like nice paintings, but since we're talking about superhero comics, I think it's important for the characters to look like they could leap into action at any second. With Ross's work, everyone looks like they're posing more often than not.

My personal favorite artist is George Perez. I could look at that man's drawing all day. I remember during my first trip to a comic book store, I decided to buy Batman: Year Three specifically because the covers were so pretty. I didn't know much about Perez at the time, but that art was so eye-catching I had to have it. (Of course, then I got home and realized the interior art was by someone far less talented, but anyway.)

Oh, and JLA/Avengers. The amount of detail Perez put into that is staggering.

If you like Perez, check out his latest, Sirens, from Boom! Studios.

Artists I can enjoy (sometimes regardless of how so-so the story is):

John Byrne
Mike Mignola
Bill Sienkiewicz
Frank Robbins
Gene Colan
Matt Wagner
Mike Grell

Fever Moon: The Fear Dorcha
Al Rio and Cliff Richards made an awesome job.

In terms of art, I believe the one graphic novel that I loved above all others for it's art is Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. Art by Lee Bermejo. I've never read anything else that Bermejo has drawn so I do not know if it is just that one graphic novel that is impressive among his works.

I have some vague recollection that I was impressed by the artwork in Ministry Of Space. Art there was by Chris Weston. Not sure I've read anything else he illustrated.

I've also, most of the time, liked the illustrators who have worked with Matt Hawkins. Though I might not always end up liking the actual stories. This is mostly Aphrodite and Tales of Honor, but to a lessor extent Think Tank. Stjepan Sejic is the fella who drew the stuff in Aphrodite and I've liked other work by him.

Unfortunately, unless the work is also written by the artist, it is hard to find their work specifically when looking through what I've read. Since everything seems to only search the first name listed. At least on the shelves.

I like the noir feel of Sean Phillips' work.

My favourite artist is Emma Rios. There is no artist who does motion as well as she does. Her books have a real sense of movement, even when characters are standing still. And she also does mood and tension well, and the work is just plain gorgeous.

Stephanie Hans has a ridiculously beautiful style. It's painted, which means it takes her a long time, but it's just beautiful.

Jamie McKelvie's always fantastic. He has the best eye for fashion in all of comics, and he's a master of expressions.

For me, Byrne is part nostalgia. His X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight were part of that golden 10-14 age range when comics really take hold.

I like his clean lines. A dynamic style that has a sense of motion to it. He seemed to have more varied body types and faces that he used than many of his contemporaries.

Art-wise, I can't think of too many disappointing Byrne books. When he writes for himself, that can be a different story. Only writing of his I can say I really thought were top-notch were FF, the early Alpha Flight, and Next Men.

I've only read two works by John Byrne. One was recommended to me but I kept putting it off once I realized it was one of those stylized ones. Ones where everything is black and white except for small splashes of color, mostly of blood. Ended up giving it 5 stars. It was one of those ones he both wrote and drew. Not sure if you would be interested in it or not. I see you've only read one book in the Buffy/Angel universe. Angel: Blood and Trenches is about Angel fighting in WWI.

The other Bryne book I read I gave only 1 star to. And it was one he only wrote, someone else illustrated it. Not sure, really, what Byrne's artwork is like, since I've only seen that one book he did himself.

Superman: The Man of Steel, Vol. 1 is the one he wrote but didn't draw. Not sure what I might have otherwise rated it, but I had just completed a Superman book set in an alternate universe that I gave 5 stars to. Then read Byrne's version. And something about it pissed me off enough to rate it only 1 star. Still, it doesn't really fit the thread except as an example of something Byrne wrote but didn't illustrate. I'm in a minority on that book, though. Most, as in 1760 people (40%), rated it 5 stars. Only 236 (really 237, I've never gotten around to marking it read) rated it 1 star.

Then again, I'm also in the minority for his Angel book. Majority rated it 3 or 4 stars (80%, 40% for each rating).

Byrne was one of the best artists of the '80s, up with Frank Miller and Bill Sienkewicz. X-Men, Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, Sensational She-Hulk - all fantastic work. Clean, dynamic, expressive, just great. And that's not me being nostalgic, because I was already in my 20s before I read more than a few isolated issues here and there. He's just a hugely talented artist.

Scott wrote: "Byrne did draw Man of Steel.

I enjoy anything he does. He and I seem to want the same things out of comics, and his work just always seems to hit the right notes with me.

And as with Robert, his..."
Oh, ok. Did think it odd that he wasn't listed as the artist on it. I had no problem with the art fot it, just the writing.

Robert wrote: "If you like Perez, check out his latest, Sirens, from Boom! Studios.

Artists I can enjoy (sometimes regardless of how so-so the story is):

John Byrne
Mike Mignola
Bill Sienkiewicz
Frank Robbins
G..."

Thanks for the rec!

I like Alex Ross quite a bit. I agree that there isn't a very good sense of motion with his art, but I'd say that is forgivable considering how beautiful it is.

The Goodwin-Simonson Manhunter run. I never get tired of looking at that work.

I wish I could remember the name of this book. It came out maybe 5-10 years ago. It was black and white, and the art was amazing. I always said I could almost hear the rain falling when I was reading the book.

It was about a policeman, or maybe private investigator, that died, and was brought back to investigate the supernatural. Or something. (No, not RIPD :) ). I probably picked it up by seeing it in Previews, so, while it wasn't totally mainstream, it wasn't real indie, or self-published.

I really enjoyed it, but I lent it out, and I guess I never got it back.

Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?

Alex Ross' Kingdom Come was pretty awesome (I loved Marvels as well) and Olivier Copiel's House of M is one of my faves. I'm a huge fan of Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans run in the early 80's. I still feel that Perez's pencils and inks on the Terror of Trigon from issue #1 of the direct market version of The New Teen Titans is some of the best art you'll ever see in a comic book.

I really loved these books, in terms of Art+Story:
- Kingdom Come
- Moon Knight, Vol. 1: From the Dead
- The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act
- Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth
- Batman: Hush
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
- Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again
- Saga Deluxe Edition, Volume 1

These are all different, but all can stand on their own!

Dustin Nguyens art is pretty awesome. He has done a bunch of Batman and other work for DC. Check him out.

David Aja in Hawkeye.

Just read Black Science #1 &Black Science, Vol. 2: Welcome, Nowhere So wondrously illustrated & there were times when the colours melted my brain

Well, Alex Ross arts are beautiful. Not to forget, Mike Mignola, Guy Davis, Matteo Scalera, and Dave Gibbons are also masters of their craft IMHO.

I just must mention some manga:

Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)
- all of the characters (not just some, but all) are drawn more than good. Not to mention that artist (illustrations) is the same as the author (and the manga is quite interesting, if not more than quite interesting (I do detest thi(e)s word(s) tho), and definitely hillarous (if you like black comedy! (I do, a lot)).

Pandora Hearts - do not confuse it as a good manga. I do not think it´s a good manga, quite the opposite - it´s bad (literally speaking) but the art (illustrations) are nice! They even get better as the story "progresses" (okay, I do not think the story progresses at all, it´s a lame story, in my opinion, drawn to much of the Mr. Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, no matter how small the minor/major (somehow) characters/monsters are (and I really hate stolen charactes/historical persons or mythological creatures in any story, no exceptions)

Vampire Knight - do not bring out the story (as it is a tragedy and more people than not dislike it, but it is a good story) - art is beautiful

I´ve read a lot of manga but those mentioned take all the glory (and I´m talking only of the beautiful art, not the story).

Eileen wrote: "I have a love/hate relationship with Alex Ross's art. It IS beautiful, but the faces tend to look the same and I don't really get a sense of movement from his art. They look like nice paintings, ..."

I think they tend to look the same because he is using himself and a few personal friends for drawing reference...They say artists tend to make their characters look a lot like themselves.

Dan wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I have a love/hate relationship with Alex Ross's art. It IS beautiful, but the faces tend to look the same and I don't really get a sense of movement from his art. They look like n..."

Yeah, I noticed in the extra stuff in the back of "Kingdom Come" that he listed his character inspirations, and often, more than one character was inspired by the same person. I think he needs to make some more friends. ;)

While I felt like the storyline in The Last of Us: American Dreams (Neil Druckman, Faith Erin Hicks) was weak, the art was really nice. It was almost like a post-apocalyptic kids' cartoon.

David McKeane did some amazing cover work in the 80's and 90's. I love his mixed media collaged stuff.

I actually wanted to read the Saga series without knowing anything about it because Fiona Staples' art just appealed to me immediately (I worked in a bookstore doing shelving at the time and kept having to shelve this, catching glimpses of the art that just stuck with me). I still haven't grown tired of it.

Shaun Tan.
Everything he makes leaves me speechless.
If you don't know him please check The Arrival, The Lost Thing, Tales from Outer Suburbia, Rules of Summer.
I don't know if I can suitably number him among graphic novelists, but he's a master artist and a master storyteller so – well I just did.

I like Jeff Lemire's art a lot though he does a ton more writing these days

I like Jeff Lemire's art a lot though he does a ton more writing these days

Gabriel Rodríguez's work in Locke & Key dazzles me. I read that he was an architect before he became an illustrator and they Keyhouse just comes alive. And there's so often something subtle going on in the background of his panels, he keeps me constantly alert.

Stylized comic book/graphic novel illustrations are a subjective sort of thing based on the individual's taste. There are those who like realistic art. There are those who like cartoony art. Those that read noir or crime stories like the feel of noir art heavy on darkness. And obviously those that like romance stories love art this makes the character comes across as handsome and beautiful.

The primary characteristic I look for in comic art is visual storytelling ability. It can be a pretty as all get out, but if it doesn't convey the narrative and maintain the narrative flow it is bad comic book art. It can be stylistic, cartoony or near-photo-realistic as long as it has good panel to panel and page to page storytelling.

Jeff Smith's art on Bone, RASL, and other stuff is cartoony, but a masterclass on visual storytelling.

George Perez is on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of cartoony vs. realistic, but is also a master visual storyteller.

I have favorites on both sides of the spectrum and everywhere in between, but some of my favorites include...

-Joe Kubert (examples Abraham Stone, Tor, Fax from Sarajevo, Tex the Lonesome Rider, Hawkman and more)

-Moebius (examples The Incal, Arzach, Airtight Garage, Blueberry and more

-Darwyn Cooke (examples The New Frontier, The Parker adaptations, Twilight Children, Catwoman, more)

-Terry Moore (examples Strangers in Paradise, Rachel Rising, more)

-Linda Medley (Castle Waiting)

-Will Eisner (examples The Spirit, Contract with God, Last Days in Vietnam, The Dreamer, more)

-Wally Wood (examples Cannon, The Wizard King, tons of EC stuff, more)

-Milton Caniff (examples Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon)

-Collen Doran (A Distant Soil, Sandman, more)

-Matt Baker (examples Rhymes with Lust, tons of romance and jungle girl comics form 50s, more)

-Sean Phillips (examples Criminal, Sleeper, Fatale, The Fade Out, more)

-Carla Speed McNeil (Finder and more)

-Jim Steranko (Outland, Nick Fury, Captain America, more)

-Philippe Druiller (Lone Sloane, Nosferatu, more)

-Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)

-Gil Kane (Blackmark, His Name is Savage, Sword of the Atom, and much more)

-Jack Kirby (Fourth Word, Kamandi, Captain America Comics, Demon, Eternals, much much much more)

-Jim Starlin (Metamorphosis Odyssey, Dreadstar, The Price, 'Breed, more)

-Cary Nord (Conan, more)

all have different styles, all are superior visual storytellers

-M

My favorite illustrators tend to be the really offbeat/weird ones with like one exception.
Like, Taiyo Matsumoto is an impeccable illustrator his art just happens to be super not aesthetically pleasing to most people.

Junko Mizuno's artwork really amazes me and I adore it! It's so unique and it, along with the storylines, makes her comics a treat to read! Even if the story lines aren't your cup of tea, the art is nice to look at. Her regular artwork has such intricate details, and some of that carries over into her comics. I would describe her style as cute, psychedelic horror. Though the art in her comics is a bit simplified compared to her regular pieces.

Vaughn Bode, creator of the comic Cheech Wizard, has an artstyle I love as well. His art is very whimsical and a fresh take on the typical cartoon style. His marker skills were fantastic! While I enjoy his art/art style, I really don't like a majority of his comics or the content of them. I do admire how he was dedicated to sticking with what he wanted to do and not giving up or compromising on his dream. His son, Mark Bode, has a similar style and has worked on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics back in the late 80s up to the mid 90s.

Mike wrote: "The primary characteristic I look for in comic art is visual storytelling ability. It can be a pretty as all get out, but if it doesn't convey the narrative and maintain the narrative flow it is ba..."

Some great recommendations here. thanks.

The art by Sana Takeda for Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening is gorgeous. It is detailed and inventive.

Some examples:
https://images.app.goo.gl/a5LMRAR1PCJ...
https://images.app.goo.gl/LPbGtZ9RvsC...
https://images.app.goo.gl/okk1M3n8ykw...
https://images.app.goo.gl/9pbREofjeC1...


Carthago is a mess story wise but the art by Eric Henninot is beautiful.

https://images.app.goo.gl/A9DCbD1XKAb...
https://images.app.goo.gl/cjtkpzZnoG9...
https://images.app.goo.gl/xxLQCKUpvFD...
https://images.app.goo.gl/6NuMwY5NBom...


The alt-history Ministry of Space is a cool story and the art by Chris Weston is sumptuous.

https://images.app.goo.gl/EWJd1b4RTUA...
https://images.app.goo.gl/pfCR8cfU8tz...
https://images.app.goo.gl/3fqLNsZuEtU...
https://images.app.goo.gl/KMpmSRufGgC...


Michael Avon Oeming’s style looks simple and cartoony... until you try it. Then you see how deceptively complex it is, especially in Powers: Definitive Collection, Vol. 1.

https://images.app.goo.gl/tZWYLxnpoKm...
https://images.app.goo.gl/76komTvYysh...
https://images.app.goo.gl/uWSscxsxJHh...
https://images.app.goo.gl/VNZuEArUYzx...

Francois Boucq! He's known mainly in Europe, where he has literally become THE most popular graphic artist anywhere, but you can find some of his graphic novels translated into English (as well as 17 other languages) and available here. Also he took the top prize at Angouleme, which is accepted as the undisputed international "Oscars" of graphic works. Just look at some of his art online. I think you will be amazed.

Skottie Young (exaggerating in the best way; Oz), Alex Alice (watercolor!! ; Castle in the Stars), Rachel Smythe ( color and body posture, amazing movement; Lore Olympus)

I love the work Tim Probert's doing in his Lightfall series, Paco Roca's illustrations in the House were also quite memorable, and Juan Cavia's characters in Filipe Melo's book Ballad for Sophie were fantastic.