Comicbook Suggested Reading List (4 Sherville)

[baquitania]

Sherville:

Wow an 18yr old "female" comicbook fan, what an anomalie you are, but welcome welcome... don't let the 10yr olds bug you, they don't even "see" you yet... Now on to your list...

Here are some of my favorites, starting with my all time fave, BWS or Barry Windsor Smith. Here is his site, "abandon all hope ye that enter..."
http://www.barrywindsor-smith.com/menu.html

If you can find some vintage (1980s) John Byrne, he is the man that MADE the X-men who they are today... here is a good fan site, click on the galleries and see some really incredibly consistent cover work...
http://www.acc.umu.se/~alpha/byrne/start.html

But for storytelling, you cannot beat Frank Miller... RUN do not walk, RUN to your nearest comicbook store and pick up RONIN and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS... I think they have these in large editions now, so they will be affordable...

Miller took his influences from Manga or japanese comics, and basically americanized them. He is brilliant as a storyteller, and an acquired taste as an artist, but his work will make you THINK and then DRAW, which is what all good comic artists should do...

Here is a fansite, a little hard to navigate, but one of the few with his images... http://members.nbci.com/sincity23/

As for recent influences in the industry, Jim Lee is the Man! And everyone has taken his new "outside the lines" inking to heart, here's one fan site with a good round up of just some of the titles he has done.. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/4396/jimlee.htm

Lucky for you I also found this, 2 images of his uncolored b&w work http://www.afn.org/~afn31010/jimlee.html (the guy who made this site also included a link to some B&W Barry Smith work, so Sherville, you can even try coloring the Master!)

My advice is to download these, print out a couple and try your hand. A warning though they are INTRICATE. MY general response to your coloring question is to use watercolor pencils. You will have more control, and you can just wet them for a nice smooth slick look. Let it dry and then layer another color right over it if you wanta add more...

Well off the top of my head those 4 guys should keep you pretty busy, please post some newly inspired work if the mood should hit you, hope this helps, all the best... Bobby

[sherville]

eeeeeeeeeee! I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself!! How can I thank you enough for posting these links? :)

hehehe an anomalie, no one's ever called me that before :p (I was always the Tom-Boy growing up, wanting to explore and have adventures rather than play dollies or Dress-ups) It's not so much that I collect and read comics, I just really love the art, of course I will open the paper on a Sunday and read the next installment of The Phantom and Torken. Heh, it's a funny thing, I walked by the Comic Shop the other day, but didn't go in, and noticed, as usual it was packed with boys.. but they looked like 25y/os! I guess boys will be boys :D

Out of all the links you gave me, I found Frank Miller to be the most inspirational. Not only did the drawing style grab me, but the inking was really nice, I guess that's because it's not the usual flat printed colour. I think he may become my new idol :D

The link to Jim Lees B&W pictures didn't work, but it's no problem, now that I have some names to begin with I will start looking everywhere for more of their stuff. Probably I will find some other good B&W images by someone else and then I can practice some inking on them. Thanks for the tip to use Watercolour Pencils, I have a small pack of them here so I can get started immediately.

As soon as I draw something half decent I will post it here for critque. Thank you so much for your help, I REALLY do appreciate it! :)

[Keith Russell]

Greetings:

Yes, Frank Miller is the man, but Ronin is not his best work. The single best piece of comic-book storytelling of all time is Elektra: Assassain by Frank Miller and Bill Seinkewicz (sp?).

I also really liked the ultra violent and sexy Hard Boiled by Miller and Geoff Darrow.

Miller's Sin City stories are also excellent, as was his Elektra reprisal; Elektra Lives Again, written and drawn by Miller, and coloured by the always amazing Lynn Varley (Mrs. Frank Miller).

Also, the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman and a host of other artists, especially A Season of Mists and A Game of You. Like Elektra, Sandman are 'adult' (Read: intelligent) comics--

--but, beware, they also do have adult situations and language.

Also, the most recent series by Joseph Michael Lisner Dawn: Lucifer's Halo is amazing.

But, my all time favourite comic-book artist is Richard Corben, whose best work is like nothing you've ever seen anywhere else--especially the process-coloured stuff from DC and Marvel.

Corben's work is mostly full-colour airbrushed art, and Corben is really, really good. His work is an acquired taste, lots of sex and violence (but Corben is an equal-opportunity artist; his men are just as naked and exploited as his women), but amazing, incredible stuff.

His first three Den series Den, Den II and Muvovum were outstanding--forget the Den segment from Heavy Metal--it did not do the character justice.

Later Den adventures, written by other writers than Corben, suffered from self-parody, and general silliness, but the earlier stuff is definitely worth a look.

Lastly, check out Masamune Shirow's work in Appleseed, , Ghost in the Shell, and the amazing Intron Depot.

From there, it's on to artists like Chris Moore and Syd Mead.

Way beyond comic books!

Keith.

[digistyle]

The first comic book artist who I really wanted to draw like was John Buscema (http://www.total.net/~iggyowen/). His work on the Avengers and Conan really blew me away.

Then there was the master of detail, George Perez (http://www.comicbookpros.com/perez.html). They guy's backgrounds were always great.

Neal Adams' (http://www.ameritech.net/users/bogie98/adamsfanhomepage.html) work on the Avengers [Kree/Skrull Wars] and Batman are still some of my favorites.

I also like Gene Colan's (http://www.ameritech.net/users/bogie98/adamsfanhomepage.html) work on Daredevil and Dracula.

Finally, there is the guy who's work always seemed to come bursting off of the page, the late Jack "King" Kirby (http://twomorrows.com/kirby/gallery.html).

I know I've left out numerous other artists who's work I have enjoyed and admired. Some of the linework featured in many Manga comics would take up a thread by itself.

BTW, at the comics shop I frequent, the ages are more like 30+!!:D

digistyle

[sherville]

Thanks to all for the info and the great links! I have comic links coming out of my ears (which is a good thing) :D
Thank you!!! :)

[baquitania]

Sherville:

That's what you GET for asking a bunch of "nerds", now ask us to suggest our favorite comic inkers, cause that's a whole seperate category... have fun with the links... Bobby