Choices so far by day
Frank Miller
Neil Gaiman, Jack Kirby
Moebius, Jacques Tardi
Carl Barks, Paul Pope
any Buscema, Hernandez, Kubert, or Romita
Alan Moore, Grant Morrison
Berkeley Breathed, Bill Watterson
Neal Adams, David Mazzuchelli
Art Adams, Mike Allred, John Byrne, Paul Chadwick, Geoff Darrow, Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, Walt Simonson
Gerry Conway, Paul Dini, Steve Gerber, Russ Heath, Denny O’Neil, Roy Thomas, Bruce Timm, Marv Wolfman
Darwyn Cooke, George Perez
Warren Ellis, Jeff Lemire
Brian Azzarello, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Bolland, Brian K Vaughan, Bryan Talbot
Alan Brennert, Milton Caniff, Alan Davis, Al Gordon, Alan Grant, Alan Kupperberg, Charles Schulz
Ross Andru, Steve Ditko, Gil Kane, Todd McFarlane
Ed Brubaker, Jack Davis, Garth Ennis, Frank Frazetta
Chris Claremont, Richard Corben, Keith Giffen, Brandon Graham, Geoff Johns, Dave McKean, Dave Stevens, Al Williamson
Bill Sienkiewicz, Wally Wood, Bernie Wrightson
Daniel Clowes, Katsuhiro Otomo, Gary Panter, Chris Ware
Simon Bisley, Jonathan Hickman, Stan Lee, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Rick Remender, Matt Wagner
Hal Foster, George Herriman, Walt Kelly, Gary Larson, Alex Raymond
Kurt Busiek, Matt Kindt, David Latham, Bob Layton, Jim Lee, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Quesada, Jim Shooter, Tim Truman, Mark Waid, Barry Windsor-Smith
03-28-22, 12:27 PM
Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
04-19-22 | 02:52 PM
#351
Thread Starter
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
One thing that’s great about the hobby is that as good as comics were in the 70s, or 80s, or 50s, or whatever era was your favorite, they’re only getting better and better. Maybe not in cost per page/hour of entertainment, but the art and storytelling are so much more varied and beautiful today. There is something for everyone out there.
04-19-22 | 04:22 PM
#352
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
One thing that’s great about the hobby is that as good as comics were in the 70s, or 80s, or 50s, or whatever era was your favorite, they’re only getting better and better. Maybe not in cost per page/hour of entertainment, but the art and storytelling are so much more varied and beautiful today. There is something for everyone out there.
Most modern writers have overcomplicated things. They forgot that comics are supposed to be entertainment. Most modern writers try to impress you with how smart they are. And the whole decompressed storytelling just stretches stuff out WAY too long for me. I'm not a fan of a lot of modern artists, either. There are certainly some I like, but not nearly as much as I like John Romita Sr, John Buscema, or Gil Kane.
For me, my favorite era is the early to mid 70's. Comics had substance, but they hadn't overcomplicated things, and comics were still an all ages thing, so the entertainment factor was insanely high. And I love the art from that era.
But that's just me, and I started buying comics in 1974/75.
04-19-22 | 04:55 PM
#353
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
I mean, that's just because you're an old fogey. 
04-19-22 | 05:11 PM
#354
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Marvel in the 60s and 70s absolutely destroyed DC by pushing the boundaries of what comics should be. Unfortunately they became the Marvel of the late 80s and 90s while DC/Vertigo (more Vertigo, really) and the Indies innovated and evolved the artform.
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John Pannozzi (04-19-22)
04-19-22 | 05:14 PM
#355
DVD Talk Legend
04-19-22 | 05:21 PM
#356
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Disagree. Comics can be smart, avant-garde, creative, envelope-pushing, abstract, insert any other likewise adjective here, and still be just as entertaining as your everyday enjoyable 4-colors tales of derring-do.
Marvel in the 60s and 70s absolutely destroyed DC by pushing the boundaries of what comics should be. Unfortunately they became the Marvel of the late 80s and 90s while DC/Vertigo (more Vertigo, really) and the Indies innovated and evolved the artform.
Marvel in the 60s and 70s absolutely destroyed DC by pushing the boundaries of what comics should be. Unfortunately they became the Marvel of the late 80s and 90s while DC/Vertigo (more Vertigo, really) and the Indies innovated and evolved the artform.
And there's too much adult content that just doesn't need to be included in comic books. Not mainstream comic books. Why are comic books dying? Because kids never get into them! They aren't apprpriate for kids anymore (and haven't been for a long time). I prefer the writing when it's an all ages thing - it forces writers to be clever and hint at stuff rather than graphically showing it.
04-19-22 | 05:33 PM
#357
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Hint at stuff? Comics in the 70s/80s were basically super wordy. Like look at Claremont's titles, it's all words all the time. And I'll admit there are times when I read older comics and I wish the plot was stretched out just a little bit... like reading the original Kree/Skrull War, you're hit by how short it really is.
For all ages stuff, DC and others are putting out some great stuff that is all but ignored by comic shops because comic shops aren't the target audience. But I'll say even in my youth, stuff like New Teen Titans, Uncanny and Legion had not-all-ages appropriate stuff, and it was great. And the cool thing about living in the present is that even if you think all modern comics are trash, older comics are pretty accessible, much moreso than ever before.
For all ages stuff, DC and others are putting out some great stuff that is all but ignored by comic shops because comic shops aren't the target audience. But I'll say even in my youth, stuff like New Teen Titans, Uncanny and Legion had not-all-ages appropriate stuff, and it was great. And the cool thing about living in the present is that even if you think all modern comics are trash, older comics are pretty accessible, much moreso than ever before.
04-19-22 | 05:36 PM
#358
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
And there's too much adult content that just doesn't need to be included in comic books. Not mainstream comic books. Why are comic books dying? Because kids never get into them! They aren't apprpriate for kids anymore (and haven't been for a long time). I prefer the writing when it's an all ages thing - it forces writers to be clever and hint at stuff rather than graphically showing it.
Kids want to read exciting, visionary, adventurous tales. And they totally are. And it aint from DC or Marvel.
But there's room for both floppies for kids and more mature, diverse works for adults.
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John Pannozzi (04-19-22)
04-19-22 | 05:37 PM
#359
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Decompression is by far the worst trend in modern comics. Today's comics also seem more artist-driven in my eyes. Way too much storyboarding, a technique largely intended for planning other mediums, has crept into graphic storytelling.
04-19-22 | 05:47 PM
#360
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
The Direct Market and demise of the spinner racks were the beginning of the end of "Look Kids! Comics!" The Big Two are squarely interested in pursuing older readers, which is why comic books are getting their assess POUNDED by Manga.
Kids want to read exciting, visionary, adventurous tales. And they totally are. And it aint from DC or Marvel.
But there's room for both floppies for kids and more mature, diverse works for adults.
Kids want to read exciting, visionary, adventurous tales. And they totally are. And it aint from DC or Marvel.
But there's room for both floppies for kids and more mature, diverse works for adults.
If the big two don't find a way to appeal to kids then the precarious position they're on will be lost, and they'll be gone within the next quarter century. They won't survive with the tiny number of readers they pick up each year. They lose more than they gain.
But, you're right - there IS room for both types of comics. They just don't make enough really good all ages comics anymore.
04-19-22 | 05:54 PM
#361
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
I honestly don't think comics as monthly floppies will make it out of the first half of this decade. DC is already on the way out, Marvel will eventually follow suit.
04-19-22 | 05:55 PM
#362
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
My favorite title from the last 25 years is Spider-Girl/The Amazing Spider-Girl. Tom DeFalco absolutely NAILED the writing. He really got the characters right, and made old school NON decompressed comics that were fun and adventurous, and really well written. And Pat Oliffe and Ron Frenz did a great job with the art. It was an all ages comic that was mature enough for adults to enjoy, but non-explicit enough for kids to read.
If the big two don't find a way to appeal to kids then the precarious position they're on will be lost, and they'll be gone within the next quarter century. They won't survive with the tiny number of readers they pick up each year. They lose more than they gain.
But, you're right - there IS room for both types of comics. They just don't make enough really good all ages comics anymore.
If the big two don't find a way to appeal to kids then the precarious position they're on will be lost, and they'll be gone within the next quarter century. They won't survive with the tiny number of readers they pick up each year. They lose more than they gain.
But, you're right - there IS room for both types of comics. They just don't make enough really good all ages comics anymore.
https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-a...bookscan-2020/
For my part (and sorry for digressing in this thread) I've been reading comics to my son since he was little, but man when you read things out loud you can see just how wordy even the 70s/80s/90s comics are. But all three of my kids just adore manga.
But yes, I don't see a huge influx of kids spending 4 bucks a pop on monthly issues you can only find in comic book stores anytime soon. Heck, I have the disposable income and the interest and I don't even do that regularly any more.
Last edited by fujishig; 04-19-22 at 06:02 PM.
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John Pannozzi (04-19-22)
04-19-22 | 06:06 PM
#363
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Sure, if you're talking only about superhero stuff. But kids nowadays read a lot of sequential art, it's just not stuff you find in comic stores: Captain Underpants, Dog Man, Amulet, stuff by Raina Telgemeier, etc. Not to mention manga. Scholastic has their own imprint for comics (which includes Jeff Smith's Bone), and DC has an all ages and a YA line. Brian Hibbs in his Tilting at Windmills column does an annual look at the top bookscan titles:
https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-a...bookscan-2020/
For my part (and sorry for digressing in this thread) I've been reading comics to my son since he was little, but man when you read things out loud you can see just how wordy even the 70s/80s/90s comics are. But all three of my kids just adore manga.
But yes, I don't see a huge influx of kids spending 4 bucks a pop on monthly issues you can only find in comic book stores anytime soon. Heck, I have the disposable income and the interest and I don't even do that regularly any more.
https://www.comicsbeat.com/tilting-a...bookscan-2020/
For my part (and sorry for digressing in this thread) I've been reading comics to my son since he was little, but man when you read things out loud you can see just how wordy even the 70s/80s/90s comics are. But all three of my kids just adore manga.
But yes, I don't see a huge influx of kids spending 4 bucks a pop on monthly issues you can only find in comic book stores anytime soon. Heck, I have the disposable income and the interest and I don't even do that regularly any more.
And a lot of us are digressing on this one... (Which was inevitable in a thread about all time great writers and artists.)
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John Pannozzi (04-19-22)
04-19-22 | 07:00 PM
#364
Senior Member
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Sam Kieth is the man. I love his artwork.
04-20-22 | 08:06 AM
#365
Thread Starter
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Day Twenty-Three Response and Wrap—Up
Part of the appeal of Sandman was the change of pace and quite varied art styles. I’m not sure if Gaiman just got lucky or had studied each artist and knew what they could bring to their respective arcs and had it all planned out.
All fine artists, and a few that I go out of my way to find their work; Doran, Russell, and Vess. But none have enough work with deep personal attachments to make my top 10. The only possibility is likely Doran, if I ever read A Distant Soil and it becomes a top five or so book for me.
So again no additions to my list for now.
Frank Miller
Jack Kirby
Carl Barks
Alan Moore
Mike Mignola
Jeff Lemire
Bernie Wrightson
Matt Wagner
Part of the appeal of Sandman was the change of pace and quite varied art styles. I’m not sure if Gaiman just got lucky or had studied each artist and knew what they could bring to their respective arcs and had it all planned out.
All fine artists, and a few that I go out of my way to find their work; Doran, Russell, and Vess. But none have enough work with deep personal attachments to make my top 10. The only possibility is likely Doran, if I ever read A Distant Soil and it becomes a top five or so book for me.
So again no additions to my list for now.
Frank Miller
Jack Kirby
Carl Barks
Alan Moore
Mike Mignola
Jeff Lemire
Bernie Wrightson
Matt Wagner
04-20-22 | 08:09 AM
#366
Thread Starter
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Day Twenty-Four Choices
Wandom Wednesday. No theme today, just ten creators who I hope everyone has heard of. Are any of the below in your top ten?
Gene Colan, Erik Larsen, Gray Morrow, Sean Phillips, Mike Ploog, Don Rosa, Steve Rude, Jeff Smith, Dave Stevens, Tillie Walden
Wandom Wednesday. No theme today, just ten creators who I hope everyone has heard of. Are any of the below in your top ten?
Gene Colan, Erik Larsen, Gray Morrow, Sean Phillips, Mike Ploog, Don Rosa, Steve Rude, Jeff Smith, Dave Stevens, Tillie Walden
04-20-22 | 08:13 AM
#367
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Don Rosa is close but I can't take up two slots and Barks makes it over him.
Jeff Smith is incredible and Bone is incredible but I don't think he makes my list either.
I could've sworn Dave Stevens was already nominated?
Jeff Smith is incredible and Bone is incredible but I don't think he makes my list either.
I could've sworn Dave Stevens was already nominated?
04-20-22 | 08:18 AM
#368
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
I can't say any of those creators really move the needle that much for me. Some fine artists but not enough to place in my top ten. Larsen likely would have had a much higher profile career if he hadn't jumped into Image so young. Savage Dragon was one of the better early Image books but that is damning it with faint praise.
04-20-22 | 08:31 AM
#369
Thread Starter
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
And same thoughts on Rosa/Smith.
04-20-22 | 08:41 AM
#370
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Gene Colan, Erik Larsen, Gray Morrow, Sean Phillips, Mike Ploog, Don Rosa, Steve Rude, Jeff Smith, Dave Stevens, Tillie Walden
Of that list, Steve Rude is the closest for me but not break into the top 10.
I'm still at:
1. Jack Kirby
2. Frank Miller
3. Jaime Hernandez
4. Gilbert Hernandez
5. Joe Kubert
6. Alan Moore
7. John Byrne
8. George Perez
9. Steve Ditko
10. Stan Lee
Of that list, Steve Rude is the closest for me but not break into the top 10.
I'm still at:
1. Jack Kirby
2. Frank Miller
3. Jaime Hernandez
4. Gilbert Hernandez
5. Joe Kubert
6. Alan Moore
7. John Byrne
8. George Perez
9. Steve Ditko
10. Stan Lee
04-20-22 | 10:29 AM
#371
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
I've actually had a slight change of heart about Gene Colan. I really like his work when he was inked by Frank Giacoia. When he was inked by most others, no, but Giacoia seemed to be perfect for him. But he's not in my Top 10, or Top 20, or even my Top 30.
The rest of that list? No.
So, my list remains (for now)...
John Romita SR
John Buscema
John Byrne
John Romita Jr
Neal Adams
Gerry Conway
Marv Wolfman
George Perez
Gil Kane
Stan Lee
Cut from the list, but still great...
Sal Buscema
The rest of that list? No.
So, my list remains (for now)...
John Romita SR
John Buscema
John Byrne
John Romita Jr
Neal Adams
Gerry Conway
Marv Wolfman
George Perez
Gil Kane
Stan Lee
Cut from the list, but still great...
Sal Buscema
04-20-22 | 12:28 PM
#372
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Bone is one of my top 5 favorite series of all time, if not my favorite, so Jeff Smith makes my list even without the large body of work. I did recently contribute to his Kickstarter and can't wait to dive into his new series once it's complete.
The rest are all wonderful artists, although Colan is real hit or miss for me depending on the inker, and I was never a great fan of Erik Larsen (didn't his name come up already on Spider-Man day?). Phillips is hard to separate from Brubaker, but I'd probably enjoy Brubaker's work just as much with another artist. I don't know Tillie Walden at all. No on everyone not named Jeff Smith.
The rest are all wonderful artists, although Colan is real hit or miss for me depending on the inker, and I was never a great fan of Erik Larsen (didn't his name come up already on Spider-Man day?). Phillips is hard to separate from Brubaker, but I'd probably enjoy Brubaker's work just as much with another artist. I don't know Tillie Walden at all. No on everyone not named Jeff Smith.
04-20-22 | 12:33 PM
#373
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Bone is one of my top 5 favorite series of all time, if not my favorite, so Jeff Smith makes my list even without the large body of work. I did recently contribute to his Kickstarter and can't wait to dive into his new series once it's complete.
The rest are all wonderful artists, although Colan is real hit or miss for me depending on the inker, and I was never a great fan of Erik Larsen (didn't his name come up already on Spider-Man day?). Phillips is hard to separate from Brubaker, but I'd probably enjoy Brubaker's work just as much with another artist. I don't know Tillie Walden at all. No on everyone not named Jeff Smith.
The rest are all wonderful artists, although Colan is real hit or miss for me depending on the inker, and I was never a great fan of Erik Larsen (didn't his name come up already on Spider-Man day?). Phillips is hard to separate from Brubaker, but I'd probably enjoy Brubaker's work just as much with another artist. I don't know Tillie Walden at all. No on everyone not named Jeff Smith.
04-20-22 | 02:00 PM
#374
DVD Talk Legend
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Formerly known as Groucho AND Bandoman/Death Moans, Iowa
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Erik Larsen is someone I'll buy almost anything from. I know his art's an acquired taste, but I acquired that taste young. He makes my top 10.
Sean Phillips makes my list if I can count him and Brubaker as one unit.
I love Jeff Smith and Don Rosa, but I don't think they make my top 10. I think I'm over 10 now; I need to check and start cutting.
Sean Phillips makes my list if I can count him and Brubaker as one unit.
I love Jeff Smith and Don Rosa, but I don't think they make my top 10. I think I'm over 10 now; I need to check and start cutting.
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John Pannozzi (04-21-22)
04-20-22 | 03:11 PM
#375
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Play a game with me, who are your top comic creators?
Steve Rude drew 1990's World's Finest, which contained some of my favorite depictions of Superman and Batman (very sleek and Silver Age-y). Amazing artist. Not in my list though.
Spoilerized, this pic is hyuge.
Spoilerized, this pic is hyuge.
Spoiler:
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John Pannozzi (04-22-22)