I listed some names that popped into mind, but please suggest anyone you like.
Its hard to pick one, so I didn't pick any. I have a bunch of favorites for a bunch of different reasons. So I will just make a few comments.
I love Jack Kirby. I am sure you all know that by now. He is like George Harrison. George may not be the greatest guitarist of all rock and roll, but he is the standard that all other rock guitarists are compared.
Jack's anatomy may have been off, but he more than makes up for it with output, imagination, and energy. When Captain America punches a Nazi, its a nuclear eruption!
Jack's character design is only outmatched by one other on this list. And he was, as legend has it, the nicest guy. Fans would knock on his door and he would sit them in his room and he would talk with them as he worked AND his wife would bring down lunch! She said that they both loved it!
Steve Ditko is the misunderstood misanthrope of comics. I HATED his 80's and 90's art work with a passion. And it turned out so did he. He drew bad on purpose as he still held a grudge against Marvel, but needed the money.
When I finally went and saw his 60's stuff, I was blown away. His character design is the best. Look at all of Spider Man's early villains. Amazing! His artwork rivaled Jack's as far as energy and imagination. His Charlton stuff, which I have been hunting down, was fantastic.
Hell, I even admire his stance with his Objectivism.
George Perez is the number one super hero artist. Even more than Jack, his style is suited to costumed avengers more than anyone else. I couldn't see him doing a dark, gritty detective noir, but have him do a story about the Avengers kicking the snot out of space invaders, and you have a perfect marriage.
John Byrne is the second best super hero artist. But, he can do different genres. He does seem to suffer or shine depending on the inker.
John Romita Jr sucks.
Neal Adams was one of the first revolutionary in comic art. He brought back realism and darkness in a kitschy world. If not for him, I Don't think the Batman movies would have been made. Too bad his is a dick.
I really like John Byrne, but I'm not as fond of his later stuff. My absolute favorite is probably Alan Davis, though I also really, really like Carlos Pacheco and Salvador Larroca as well.
Former nickname Majestic
Have an ongoing V&V campaign that is now 34 years old
Alan Davis is the bomb diggity. Especially with Paul Neary. The inkers don't get enough love.
Also a fan of George Perez, especially when its a scene of 200 heroes/villains all slugging it out. It's awesome.
I think the solid ones like Neal Adams and the Romitas made stories more memorable and look good to this day. My own personal faves are outside of the normal list: Ron Wilson and Gene Colan.
Many people, especially John, knows I'm a big Thing fan, and I've always enjoyed the undercurrent of darkness and the fluidity of Gene Colan's art.
In my game world I have an NPC - Ron "Wicked" Wilson - who's an ex-boxer and owner of the Dynamite Gym where they host fan club meetings for Kid Dynamite, the local superhero.
John Romita Jr infuriates me. He drew some of my favorite Iron Man comics way back in the early to mid 100's. He had a clean, natural style that represented the human body very well.
Now he draws Minecraft minifig people. And honestly, they'd probably look better as 8 bit pixel monsters than as Romita art. What the hell happened to him?
He went from this: https://p.dreamwidth.org/abc20337d0df/-/pics.livejournal.com/retro_nouveau/pic/0008srbs
HUH?
Bill Sienkiewicz artwork always makes me want to vomit. I rejected every series he was dumped on, but I'm so glad that his style is unique because I'm hoping no one copies it.
John Byrne is cool and started up in my home town, Calgary.
RAMBLE
I like "pre-streaky" Bill Sienkiewicz's work on Moon Knight (but not enough to consider him a favorite)
For me personally, I'd probably pick "New Teen Titans"-era George Perez, Steve Rude generally, Nick Fury-era Jim Steranko, "Justice league" era Kevin Maguire, and Dave Stevens.
I know its heresy, but I never really "love loved" Steve Ditko or Jack Kirby's artwork per se, though I do really like their work and especially admire their respective artistic individuality and unique-ness. I suppose I feel the same way about Frank Miller's artwork.
I've never loved any of the three you mentioned either, Dan. I appreciate their uniqueness and that they brought things to the industry, but don't like any of them enough that I'd buy a comic just to get their art.
Former nickname Majestic
Have an ongoing V&V campaign that is now 34 years old
737A737B737862777A65160 wrote: ...I never really "love loved" Steve Ditko or Jack Kirby's artwork per se...
Not liking Jack Kirby is the only reason people get banned from this list by John.
(I think that's a joke)
Well, I did say that I liked his stuff. I just don't love it.
[Majestic sheepishly backs away...] :-[
Former nickname Majestic
Have an ongoing V&V campaign that is now 34 years old
Put my vote in for George Perez - the work he did on Teen Titans goes in the Never To Be Forgotten category - although every person on the list is absolutely deserving of their own plaque and/or place on the pedestal.? For further consideration, I'd submit that Golden/Silver/Bronze/Iron/Modern Age categories should be specified, as I'd argue that what qualifies as killer "good" from one era does not naturally translate to others.
That stated, I'd also bring up Jim Lee (big surprise), for his volumes of work over the last thirty years, although I'd retain his nomination for the Iron/Modern Age terms.? Another never-to-be-dismissed individual is Michael Golden; his Avengers Annual #10 is something I'd hand over to comics' noobs just so they could get a taste of the gold (quality-wise, not era) before we start to move on to more specialized participants.
In any case, interesting concept, polarboy - be interesting to see the follow-up for this.
242E282A30490 wrote:
...I never really "love loved" Steve Ditko or Jack Kirby's artwork per se...
Not liking Jack Kirby is the only reason people get banned from this list by John.
(I think that's a joke)
I don't ban you for that, I just realize that your opinions are worthless! 😉
Steranko had some good stuff