You and Doug H. are blending very well, if this page is any indication of what's to come. Please thank him for me personally, for not redrawing your distinctive touches such as the shape of J'onn's head or Batman's mouth.
Your Batman is close to becoming damned near definitive, John. I love the heavy blacks that you arrange on his cape and cowl.
That pick-up truck in unreal! Uh...as in fantastic, wonderful, superb etc. Did you use any photo references when you did it? If you didn't, you are officially a freak of nature.
I have to say JB that I think only in the past few years have I really started to appreciate your background work. It is always there and always amazes me by its depth or detail. You also choose complex angles which is fun. I am truly jealous of that skill-whether it's a computer terminal or a dark, garbage strewn alley. I am impressed.
An amazing fact is that a few times you used white background as an effect or a gag, but some fans at the boards and such remember it as an unforgiveable sin. People seem to have a short memory and I don't think they can appreciate how well-rounded your art is. I think people are just too used to seeing the new styles of art . Either that or they are jaded punks. Well, it is probably one of the two.
Those inks are really great. I'm impressed with what a smart match Doug Hazlewood is turning out to be. Can't wait to see it in color! (Um, Greg? That's your cue, buddy )
An amazing fact is that a few times you used white background as an effect or a gag, but some fans at the boards and such remember it as an unforgiveable sin. People seem to have a short memory and I don't think they can appreciate how well-rounded your art is.
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It becomes part of the Litany of the Expert. If a "fan" can make a sweeping statement about something or someone, he can appear Wise to those more uninformed, or at least more gullible, than he.
There have, indeed, been periods in my career when the backgrounds became minimalistic and even sparse. These are by far the exception to the rule, but for some a single example is enough to create a damining charge. "Byrne never does backgrounds!"
A very recent example of this kind of "thinking" can be found in the reaction of some microbrains to the current JLA arc. "Another vampire story? Doesn't Byrne have any other ideas?" 30 year career, 4 vampire stories, 2 not written by me. But logic is not an issue for the people who make these charges. All that matters is sounding like they are "in the know", when really, they only prove how much they are not!
I've always enjoyed the Byrne "floating heads." I'm sure others have a differing opinion of this. Backgrounds aren't ALWAYS necessary. However, it isn't like you draw 22 pages of this.
I think I'm going to be in the minority here - I like Ordway's inks better. Perhaps after they are coloured, I'll change my mind.
For the record, I'd rather have the pencils coloured and uninked. It looks wonderful in Busiek's Conan book - one of the best looking books on the stands, IMO. Also IMO, no inker (JB included) has been able to improve on Byrne's pencils. I mean, compare 'em - the pencils are so rich, and inks seem flatten them out. Even Ordway flattens them out, and he's got one of the most stunning lines out there.
Indeed not. In fact, there are times when the moment demands the figures be in isolation, so that the backgrounds do not distract from what is going on. Here's a prime example, from someone whose skill in visual storytelling is rarely called to question:
The Mischeivious Mike N. (Login ArgentFox) Byrne Victim
Re: More DPatrol Inks
April 2 2004, 11:24 AM
Only four Vampire stories? Let us see -
Captain America vs Baron Blood
The first Superman meets a Vampire story (I can't remember the name of that vamp right now, morning brain)
Hawman 26
Current JLA story
Your older vampire stories were better. *duck*
Actually, that Captain America story was pretty sweet. The look of revulsion that Cap had when he decapitated the Baron was haunting. Of all the Stern/Byrne Cap stories, this is the one that stays with us 23 years after publication and periodically gets referenced by other books - Union Jack mini, Exiles.
Mike Nebeker - Super Genuis Good Judgement comes from Experience and Experience comes from... Bad Judgement.
It's interesting, in the top-right panel, the way Batman's jaw is rounded, and the lines defining his cheeks, remind me alot of Paul Pelletier. I was ready to chalk it up to the inks, since I coulda sworn Hazelwood has worked with PP in the past, but I couldn't find anything to back that up.
I'm intrigued how someone (Pelletier) can draw inspiration from another artist, make it his own, and you can occasionally catch a glimpse of that quality in the inspiration's work.
John, looking at the nice Kirby work you posted, brings up a question. What is the number in the right hand corner for? I see this all the time in older book, but I have no clue what they mean.
I remember the blank pages in Alpha Flight with Snowbird's fight. Back then as a kid it didn't bother me a bit. I reasoned then, as I do now, that John did for the story. I mean, anyone who thinks he would do that for any other reason....I dunno. The sheer volumn of his work proves he isn't trying to get away with being lazy or something.
>.Captain America vs Baron Blood
The first Superman meets a Vampire story (I can't remember the name of that vamp right now, morning brain)
Hawman 26
Current JLA story<<
How do we factor in the short story JB illustrated in Giant Size Dracula #5. Not really a Vampire story, really - more just a straight horror tale; was the woman in it a witch or something? But it appeared in Dracula. So...
John, looking at the nice Kirby work you posted, brings up a question. What is the number in the right hand corner for? I see this all the time in older book, but I have no clue what they mean.
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Back in the day, the stories carried some kind of "production code" number. I have never managed to decode them, but they are there on most first pages and, in the case of the page above, first pages of individual "chapters".
If you look at the first issue of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN you will see the stories have the same "code" as AMAZING FANTASY, indicating they were originally done for that title (and making the dramatic change Stan and Steve made to the origin, in the second story, even more curious.)
That page is from Marvel Classics Comics #9, adapting Dracula. The art is credited to Nestor Redondo, but probably inked (or fully illustrated) by his "studio". The pertinent thing about this page is the leg on Jonathon Harker in the top large panel. Notice the knee down is a different style. Seem familiar?
This message has been edited by Dave_Pruitt on Apr 4, 2004 1:31 AM
Wow, finding that is the work of a complete-ist. And then to have it signed even? That puts the "atic" on the end of your "fan" status.
I knew from the signature that it had to be JB's work in some way or other -- and I keyed on that flared pant-cuff to convince myself the drawing may be his. It never occured to me the leg may be the only bit he did.
How often did JB get asked to do such small jobs, I wonder?
How often did JB get asked to do such small jobs, I wonder?
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Not often! Probably my smallest "job" ever was spotting a single black, about half the size of your little finger nail, on a cover that Bob Layton inked.
)
