Overhyped Artists.
Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg
I will give Kirby the respect that he is due (as I do to many of the other greybeards in the comic biz). His art was amazing FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. If he were a new face in comics today (meaning right now kind of today), he would not make it as that art style has died out.Draco wrote:Cue Driftxodacia81 wrote:Yeah. That's some balls he's got, huh? I've NEVER heard Kirby spoken about like thatx-omatic wrote:Tim wrote:Oh...yeah...thanks Jay...I almost forgot...
Jack Kirby
![]()
You are kidding right???
No other artist has had as much impact on comics as Kirby. He created and produced more in a month than many artists do in a year. The man created excitement in comics and made them fun again.
You are calling the creator of the Avengers, Black Panther, Captain America,Daredevil, Eternals, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Tales of Suspense, Tales to Astonish, and X-Men Over rated.![]()
![]()
If he drew comics today, I would not buy them and I may be going out on a limb here but I don't think that many of us would buy them either. That ship has sailed but the art style has been placed on a pillar. Back in the day, Kirby was king. Today there are so many talented artists out there and Jack's art style could not stand up to it.
I don't think that there are many of us here on the board that were around when 'comics were dull and unexciting' so to say that "The man created excitement in comics and made them fun again." is second hand knowledge based off research. I seem to remember Topps doing some 'Kirby stuff'... now $.25 fodder. Jack is REALLY in the spotlight because he was the poster child for getting screwed over by Marvel and others on owning his art and ideas and not being paid accordingly for them. Kirby would have a great idea but he could never own it because it belonged to 'the man'. Personally (keeping in mind I am no longer 'young' by many standards), even I don't remember when comics were dull and Kirby revitalizing the industry, I just remember him being there and me enjoying Captain America (side note: does anyone have a copy the Captain America issue that had the 'Mad Bomb' ? It is among the first comics that I remember as a young young child and I am looking for a copy... if anyone has one or has a lead on one, PLEASE let me know).
I don't think that Kirby is OVER rated. For his time in comics, he really was the King. But like I said, that time has passed so to even include him in this thread is a bit pale. The man is a legend and therefore untouchable IMO. I am not a great GREAT fan of his art but I appreciated it when I was a kid. But today, I wouldn't buy it.
Now stick with artist from the 90s up to current ? LOTS of bad artists out there and we all have opinions... opinions are like @ssholes, everybody has one and they all stink. I've got my artists whom I would LOVE to break their fingers and others I am eager to walk up to at a convention and say 'thank you for what you have done for comics'. Artists can be the same way.
Art in comics has come SUCH a long way. Just look at the first Spider-Man issues or the first Batman issues... the art was HORRID. But we have had great artist on both since then, only improving all the time. I have to sit back and really shake my head in disgust sometimes these days at what actually gets printed in todays books. Marvel is especially bad at hiring 3rd graders with a dull pencil to draw a popular book out of the blue.
No matter what though... I can tell you that I hate HATE Rob Liefeld's work but when you sit down with the guy.... one of the nicest guys on the planet and SO much energy pours out of him, really positive energy. It is what keeps me from totally ripping on the man for the atrocities that he has committed against mankind in comics.
And as a counter to all this, thereby balancing the cosmos once again... I give you: viewtopic.php?p=529010#529010
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
Yeah thats right dude, but i think in the context of What Xomatic wrote he meant the useage of that character in the Silver age.Knightt wrote:With all due respect, Chris... Captain America was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.x-omatic wrote:You are calling the creator of the Avengers, Black Panther, Captain America,Daredevil, Eternals, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Tales of Suspense, Tales to Astonish, and X-Men Over rated.![]()
![]()
Now STFU and get back to the Du section.
Who let him out anyway



I trade as Dead Universe Comics in the UK, which is no surprise to those who know of my legendary Dead Universe habit.
140 boxes and counting !!!
Follow us on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Uni ... 1695270458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
140 boxes and counting !!!
Follow us on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Uni ... 1695270458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Cyberstrike
- Consider it mine!
- Posts: 5224
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:07 am
- Valiant fan since: Unity 1992
- Favorite character: Solar, Man of the Atom
- Favorite title: Unity
- Favorite writer: Jim Starlin
- Favorite artist: Jim Starlin
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Contact:
Pat Lee is considered one of the worst, if not the absolute worst, artist of Transformers in the franchises' history by the vast majority of Transfans on the planet. He can't draw Transfromers worth a damn.Draco wrote:Have to throw Pat Lee in here and i think he was the Lee who did Cyberforce new series.
That man can draw transformers but nothing else.
His take on Optimus Prime is too have Prime's chest bigger than Liefeld's Captain America (which isn't surpising considering he started at Liefeld's Extreme Studios doing pencils over Liefeld's layouts), and legs that look like they were inflated by a bike pump. It's pretty much the same with every other Transformer that stupid motherf**ker drew.

- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
Wow dude, that si amusing to hear as im not a TF fan at all and never gave a damn so did not realise so many shared my opinion.Cyberstrike wrote:Pat Lee is considered one of the worst, if not the absolute worst, artist of Transformers in the franchises' history by the vast majority of Transfans on the planet. He can't draw Transfromers worth a damn.Draco wrote:Have to throw Pat Lee in here and i think he was the Lee who did Cyberforce new series.
That man can draw transformers but nothing else.
His take on Optimus Prime is too have Prime's chest bigger than Liefeld's Captain America (which isn't surpising considering he started at Liefeld's Extreme Studios doing pencils over Liefeld's layouts), and legs that look like they were inflated by a bike pump. It's pretty much the same with every other Transformer that stupid motherf**ker drew.
Did you see the Superman/Batman he did.
Bruce and Tim were Korean i think.
Way good that .





I trade as Dead Universe Comics in the UK, which is no surprise to those who know of my legendary Dead Universe habit.
140 boxes and counting !!!
Follow us on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Uni ... 1695270458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
140 boxes and counting !!!
Follow us on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Uni ... 1695270458" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- superman-prime
- scratch 1 for the coog guys
- Posts: 23252
- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:27 am
- Location: phx az (east valley)
- Cyberstrike
- Consider it mine!
- Posts: 5224
- Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:07 am
- Valiant fan since: Unity 1992
- Favorite character: Solar, Man of the Atom
- Favorite title: Unity
- Favorite writer: Jim Starlin
- Favorite artist: Jim Starlin
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Contact:
Pat Lee can't draw robots or anything else worth a damn plus the fact that he has financially ripped off a lot of people as well hasn't helped his standing with a lot of people.superman-prime wrote:he can draw robots fine anything else umm not so good
Back to Kirby-when DC repirnted the Fourth World saga in TPBs a few years ago they reprinted them in black and white with gray tones. I didn't like the art, the reason is that Kirby intended the series to be in color and without the color it looks bland and quite honestly stupid. When I saw the DC's Millienum Edition of New Gods #1 and the recent omibus I was blown away by how great the art worked in color it came alive and showed how great the art was and still is.
There are some artists that color helps out and some that the color hurts like Alex Miline his art is great but his details get lost because the colorist on Transformers Spotlight: Arcee and Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron go crazy and bury the details and it really hurts it. The Transformers Spotlight: Arcee was the first comic book that the color actually hurt my eyes.
- Tim
- Confession... I liked Psi-Lords.
- Posts: 5361
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:34 am
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite title: Harbinger
- Favorite writer: Joshua Dysart
I would agree.Jay Tomio wrote: Back to Kirby. His historical significance to this medium is unquestioned , it cannot be questioned but if you're asking me if I want some guy to draw like Jack Kirby today and if I'd consider that awesome I'd say no.
I think of the Marvel Bullpen in the early 60's kind of like the Beatles.
The magic of what went down when they were together is something that will probably never happen again. Together, the synergy of the different creative personalitlies was perfect.
Separately, we get Stripperlla, The New Gods and Silly Love Songs.
- X-O HoboJoe
- Bradley is not unsupervised anymore.
- Posts: 22413
- Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:07 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1991
- Favorite character: Aric
- Favorite title: Shadowman
- Location: Adrift on the Seas of Fate
Fakkin' Silly Love Songs!Tim wrote:I would agree.Jay Tomio wrote: Back to Kirby. His historical significance to this medium is unquestioned , it cannot be questioned but if you're asking me if I want some guy to draw like Jack Kirby today and if I'd consider that awesome I'd say no.
I think of the Marvel Bullpen in the early 60's kind of like the Beatles.
The magic of what went down when they were together is something that will probably never happen again. Together, the synergy of the different creative personalitlies was perfect.
Separately, we get Stripperlla, The New Gods and Silly Love Songs.

I DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR ABSORB SOULS, DAMMIT!
- Drift
- ...and I am a Valiantoholic.
- Posts: 3308
- Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:08 am
- Location: Chasing my dreams inside my toybox
Oh Jack Kirby.
Galactus. The biggest threat the world has ever seen wears pink.
What the frell is up with those helmets?
Why did anyone give him a job outside of war books?
I respect the guy as a creator because he was involved with the birth of some of the greatest, most long lived and well recognised characters ever but as an artist? No.
Galactus. The biggest threat the world has ever seen wears pink.
What the frell is up with those helmets?
Why did anyone give him a job outside of war books?
I respect the guy as a creator because he was involved with the birth of some of the greatest, most long lived and well recognised characters ever but as an artist? No.
- Byrneout
- ...and in THIS corner...
- Posts: 2706
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:26 pm
- Location: Originally Hell's Kitchen, NY - *SKREE* that "Clinton, NY" *SKREE* - now Cincinnati, OH
In order:
1) Alex Ross
I've covered the "why" on this in other threads, but I'll briefly re-iterate it here - Mark Waid wrote Kingdom Come, JMS did what he had to do to keep Marvel from resurrecting Gwen Stacy, and once Alex learns to be quiet and less egotistical, maybe I'll change my mind.
2) Ed McGuinness
First, if a writer decides to base a plot point of a story aroudn the fact that people can't tell apart the faces of the characters you draw, there's an issue. Second, there are these awesome things called anatomy and perspective - learn how to use them.
3) Pat Lee
Being a bad artist is one thing. Being a con artist is even worse. Pay the "real Pat Lee's" and restore some small shred of dignity to your name.
4) Rob Liefeld
Take 2 and 3 above and put them together, you get Rob L. He has a superpower, though - he can cause me to stop buying any book just by making a guest appearance as artist.
5) John Byrne
Someone who needs to learn from Alex Ross' mistakes. Yes, he's one of the greats, and I love some of his work, but he seems to have moved from being a legendary comic artist to being a embittered comic critic who sometimes draws.
1) Alex Ross
I've covered the "why" on this in other threads, but I'll briefly re-iterate it here - Mark Waid wrote Kingdom Come, JMS did what he had to do to keep Marvel from resurrecting Gwen Stacy, and once Alex learns to be quiet and less egotistical, maybe I'll change my mind.
2) Ed McGuinness
First, if a writer decides to base a plot point of a story aroudn the fact that people can't tell apart the faces of the characters you draw, there's an issue. Second, there are these awesome things called anatomy and perspective - learn how to use them.
3) Pat Lee
Being a bad artist is one thing. Being a con artist is even worse. Pay the "real Pat Lee's" and restore some small shred of dignity to your name.
4) Rob Liefeld
Take 2 and 3 above and put them together, you get Rob L. He has a superpower, though - he can cause me to stop buying any book just by making a guest appearance as artist.
5) John Byrne
Someone who needs to learn from Alex Ross' mistakes. Yes, he's one of the greats, and I love some of his work, but he seems to have moved from being a legendary comic artist to being a embittered comic critic who sometimes draws.