The X-Men Artists
Oct 7, 2008 15:48:17 GMT -5
Post by Batman on Oct 7, 2008 15:48:17 GMT -5
This here is a place to profile and discuss artists on the X-Men and its spin-offs (such as Wolverine and the New Mutants) leading up to an X-Men Artists Mini-Showdown.
What is a Mini-Showdown? Here is the thread where Mini-Showdown's were proposed and discussed. Here is the Batman Artists thread from the first Mini-Showdown. Here is the nomination thread from the Batman Showdown.
This thread should give those who haven't read the X-Men books, or who just don't know the names that go with the art, examples of the work of each significant creator to make their decisions on. Once this thread has run its course, I'll post a nomination thread, and anyone who is interested can submit a nomination ballot to determine seeding. The nomination ballots do NOT need to incude a certain number of artist--just include the ones that you find exciting enough to warrant it. I'll decide the size of the showdown once all of the nominations are in.
I'll profile all of the artists to significantly contribute to the X-Men legend from their inception in 1963 through about 1986 or so. Anyone else who would like to profile somebody or just comment is encouraged to do so. Profiles of more recent artists would be particularly appreciated, (as I ain't gonna do 'em.) (Mr. Little handled a lot of that last time 'round.)
So, the first artist to profile here would definitely be the artist who co-created the X-Men, a man who also happens to be one of the biggest legends in comic book history:
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby drew the first eleven issues of the X-Men, and continued to handle layouts until issue 17 and cover art until issue 25.
In those eleven issues, he co-created lasting characters like the original X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, The Beast, The Angel, and Ice Man,) Magneto, the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mastermind, Toad, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch), the Blob, the Juggernaut, and the Sentinels, along with better-forgottens like Unus the Untouchable and the Vanisher.
The art in those issues was marked by the striking design and dynamic action that one can always count on from Kirby. But it would be an exaggeration to try to claim that it is among his best-remembered, most acclaimed work. In my opinion, Kirby's best stuff came in the late sixties, after he dropped the X-Men and other assignments to concentrate on Thor and the Fantastic Four. Then again, "he was a great artist, but I don't think he really did his best work on the X-Men" is a refrain you'll hear a lot from me in this thread. In my opinion, the same can be said of Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, and Dave Cockrum, just to name a few.
Some of the best Kirby X-Men covers:
(This last was inked by another comic-book great, Wally Wood.)
Some great examples of Kirby's interior art on X-Men:
Kirby profile in the Great Comic Book Artists thread.
Kirby profiles on wiki and lambiek.
What is a Mini-Showdown? Here is the thread where Mini-Showdown's were proposed and discussed. Here is the Batman Artists thread from the first Mini-Showdown. Here is the nomination thread from the Batman Showdown.
This thread should give those who haven't read the X-Men books, or who just don't know the names that go with the art, examples of the work of each significant creator to make their decisions on. Once this thread has run its course, I'll post a nomination thread, and anyone who is interested can submit a nomination ballot to determine seeding. The nomination ballots do NOT need to incude a certain number of artist--just include the ones that you find exciting enough to warrant it. I'll decide the size of the showdown once all of the nominations are in.
I'll profile all of the artists to significantly contribute to the X-Men legend from their inception in 1963 through about 1986 or so. Anyone else who would like to profile somebody or just comment is encouraged to do so. Profiles of more recent artists would be particularly appreciated, (as I ain't gonna do 'em.) (Mr. Little handled a lot of that last time 'round.)
So, the first artist to profile here would definitely be the artist who co-created the X-Men, a man who also happens to be one of the biggest legends in comic book history:
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby drew the first eleven issues of the X-Men, and continued to handle layouts until issue 17 and cover art until issue 25.
In those eleven issues, he co-created lasting characters like the original X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, The Beast, The Angel, and Ice Man,) Magneto, the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mastermind, Toad, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch), the Blob, the Juggernaut, and the Sentinels, along with better-forgottens like Unus the Untouchable and the Vanisher.
The art in those issues was marked by the striking design and dynamic action that one can always count on from Kirby. But it would be an exaggeration to try to claim that it is among his best-remembered, most acclaimed work. In my opinion, Kirby's best stuff came in the late sixties, after he dropped the X-Men and other assignments to concentrate on Thor and the Fantastic Four. Then again, "he was a great artist, but I don't think he really did his best work on the X-Men" is a refrain you'll hear a lot from me in this thread. In my opinion, the same can be said of Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, and Dave Cockrum, just to name a few.
Some of the best Kirby X-Men covers:
(This last was inked by another comic-book great, Wally Wood.)
Some great examples of Kirby's interior art on X-Men:
Kirby profile in the Great Comic Book Artists thread.
Kirby profiles on wiki and lambiek.