Best Artwork of All Volumes?

[TheGoatLantern]

Pelletier drew too, I dunno, round? I saw a lot of Gary Frank in him so I never really felt his work.

[Ωmega Man]

His stuff was particularly good right around the Three of a Kind arc with Wally and Conner Hawke as well as his issues during Emerald Knights. He did the GL/Sentinel 3 part mini also and drew Jade amazingly well. I eventually followed him over to the Flash around issues #140-155 during the Dark Flash saga. I hated seeing him get scooped up by Marvel, but I enjoyed his Black Bolt during War of Kings.

I completely get what you mean with the roundness. While his art does seem more realistic when compared to Humberto Ramos and Todd Nauck, it's still easy to put Pelletier in a category with those guys with some of his characters having larger more expressive eyes and hardly a square jaw in the bunch. His Impulse managed to look like almost everyone elses' at the time [see big eyes, hair, and feet].

Seeing Pelletier AND Eaglesham back at DC gives me hope one of them will draw Kyle again soon. It's a crime against fans to not bring Banks out of semi-retirement for something GL related.

EDIT: Also, let's not forget that most of these guys work was also benefiting from colors by MOOSE. He stuck with the franchise for YEARS and left sometime after Rebirth. He set a new standard in the way people color Lanterns and you just have to tip your hat for the guy.

~KL~

[sundrop]

Originally Posted by The Kid Lantern

EDIT: Also, let's not forget that most of these guys work was also benefiting from colors by MOOSE. He stuck with the franchise for YEARS and left sometime after Rebirth. He set a new standard in the way people color Lanterns and you just have to tip your hat for the guy.

~KL~

I totally agree with this, and thanks for pointing it out.

[Trey Strain]

I like offbeat stuff like Joe Staton and Pat Broderick. And I'm a fan of Banks, Pelletier and Eaglesham. But the best was probably Gil Kane inking his own pencils. When Joe Giella inked Kane, the lines were too thin. Giella was great for a sketchy type artist like Infantino.

[EmeraldGladiator]

I did really like Broderick's stubbled grey templed Hal of early Vol 3 it gets the bronze behind, 1) Ivan Reis, and 2) Darryl Banks, honorable mention to EVS.

[Star-Lantern]

Broderick's work is really hit or miss for me. Sometimes his stuff looked incredible, and other times it was totally ugly. And his women were sometimes just unattractive when I think they were actually supposed to look good.

I feel the same way about Ethan Van Sciver, including the part about the women. Sometimes some of the stuff he does is really breathtaking, while other times it's either too noticeably off, or so overdone it becomes unappealing. He strikes me as the kind of person who primarily learned to draw looking at 90s comic books, and not really drawing from life. That's not necessarily bad, per se, but it can cause some drawbacks. He's obviously very skilled and can do impressive things, but then there are sometimes these massive flaws that seem like someone who has been drawing for as long as he has and at his level should have worked out by now.

From Broderick's period, I prefer M.D. Bright. I think he was more considerably more consistent and I like his general style more. And from Van Sciver's, I think Ivan Reis is an overall stronger artist.

I was looking at some of Daryl Banks' GL work again about last week and he really was incredible. One of the better Green Lantern artists, in my opinion. Pelletier was great, too.

[CeltiC5-27]

I haven't ready too much GL before vol.4 but if I had to rank some of the artists from Johns run I would go:

1. Ethan Van Sciver
2. Ivan Reis
3. Carlos Pacheco
4. Shane Davis
5. Doug Mahnke
6. Phillip Tan
7. Mike McKone

[EmeraldGladiator]

Shane Davis is pretty good I am picking up his creator owned book right now, and I am surprised I forgot about Pacheco, I love his work but don't initially think of him as a Green Lantern Artist, love Avengers Forever and his Superman/Batman arc. He doesn't break into my top 4 but is very good.

[CeltiC5-27]

Originally Posted by EmeraldGladiator

Shane Davis is pretty good I am picking up his creator owned book right now, and I am surprised I forgot about Pacheco, I love his work but don't initially think of him as a Green Lantern Artist, love Avengers Forever and his Superman/Batman arc. He doesn't break into my top 4 but is very good.

Yeah I really loved what Davis brought to GL in his short run.



And yeah Pacheco also had just a few issues on GL but I really enjoyed what he did and I'm a big fan of his Hal.

[KilowogsDisciple]

Originally Posted by CeltiC5-27

Yeah I really loved what Davis brought to GL in his short run.



And yeah Pacheco also had just a few issues on GL but I really enjoyed what he did and I'm a big fan of his Hal.

That's some terrific art, I wasn't familiar with that artist before (definitely checking him out, thanks!).

There are so many great GL artists. I can't choose between Reis and Sciver. Mahnke was really good too, imo.

For the Corps, I'm a HUGE fan of Pasarin.

Please understand, I'm just now collecting the 80s and 90s GL comics, so I'm not as familiar, and I've not even started pre-80s.

[Lundonj]

Based on the original post, I agree, I think volume four has been the strongest overall as far as quality throughout the series, but a few Hall of Famers (Gil Kane, and Neal Adams, and Mike Grell) make the second volume a solid contender. The second volume suffers due to being around longer, offering more chances for less than top tier talent.


But Reis is awesome, EVS, and I like the mention of Shane Davis, despite the short time on the book. Pacheco was solid, and I got used to Mahnke, who is really good, just a drop off (to me) after those top three.

[KilowogsDisciple]

Originally Posted by Lundonj

Based on the original post, I agree, I think volume four has been the strongest overall as far as quality throughout the series, but a few Hall of Famers (Gil Kane, and Neal Adams, and Mike Grell) make the second volume a solid contender. The second volume suffers due to being around longer, offering more chances for less than top tier talent.


But Reis is awesome, EVS, and I like the mention of Shane Davis, despite the short time on the book. Pacheco was solid, and I got used to Mahnke, who is really good, just a drop off (to me) after those top three.

I think Mahnke had some huge shoes to fill. Still, seeing his name on a GL or GLC trade sure doesn't deter me from buying. Same with Pat Gleason; neither are Reis or Sciver or Kane or Adams...but still very good imo, and more than worth checking out.

I'm just really getting into Shane's work, that guy has a LOT of talent!

[Lundonj]

Originally Posted by KilowogsDisciple

I think Mahnke had some huge shoes to fill. Still, seeing his name on a GL or GLC trade sure doesn't deter me from buying. Same with Pat Gleason; neither are Reis or Sciver or Kane or Adams...but still very good imo, and more than worth checking out.

I'm just really getting into Shane's work, that guy has a LOT of talent!

Gleason, to me, is highly underrated - he has a specific, stylized (not as 'realistic') look, but I like it. And he is one of the few really good modern artists with 'action' scenes, he can throw a sweet comic panel punch. A lost art with a lot of guys trying to draw mini non-action posters in every scene.

[KilowogsDisciple]

Originally Posted by Lundonj

Gleason, to me, is highly underrated - he has a specific, stylized (not as 'realistic') look, but I like it. And he is one of the few really good modern artists with 'action' scenes, he can throw a sweet comic panel punch. A lost art with a lot of guys trying to draw mini non-action posters in every scene.

You make me think of Reis with the last (I do love his art, though). Gleason is far from a dealbreaker for me, really good artist. And of course I've seen lesser work from guys like Reis and Lee. It's just when they're completely ON (the early JL with Johns comes right to mind), I'm can't get enough. I am a heavy admirer of what Lee did with Batman, though I can't say the story thrilled me. That's one of the few novels I keep around just for the art.

[Deadpool]

Can we agree overall, Volume 5 is probably the worst?

[KilowogsDisciple]

Originally Posted by Deadpool

Can we agree overall, Volume 5 is probably the worst?

I'm actually waiting for the 3rd Omnibus to come out in a couple of months (though I've been keeping up on the last few issues of GL and the annual). Tan isn't my favorite artist, but he's alright. I think his main problem is that some of the best ever GL artists preceeded him, and they were mostly INCREDIBLY good imo.

[Deadpool]

Originally Posted by KilowogsDisciple

I'm actually waiting for the 3rd Omnibus to come out in a couple of months (though I've been keeping up on the last few issues of GL and the annual). Tan isn't my favorite artist, but he's alright. I think his main problem is that some of the best ever GL artists preceeded him, and they were mostly INCREDIBLY good imo.

Oh, Tan's awful. Awful awful awful.

LOOK AT THE MASK!

[KilowogsDisciple]

Originally Posted by Deadpool

Oh, Tan's awful. Awful awful awful.

LOOK AT THE MASK!

No disrespect intended, I personally think that looks kind of bad ass.

But hey, I don't know anything, I'm a newbie.

[Lundonj]

Originally Posted by Deadpool

Can we agree overall, Volume 5 is probably the worst?

To this point? Yeah, I can go with that. Worst to me in a string of really good runs isn't as bad as it sounds. And, while I think Tan isn't up in the realm of great GL artists, I don't hate him like some folks do. Pretty average at times, better on other pages.

I'm always careful about wishing an artist off a book, because I'm not sure if the one on the series will be better or worse.

For top ten DC book, I would think they would put a higher profile name in the hat or at least a new, up and coming artist.


-Don

[Lundonj]

Originally Posted by KilowogsDisciple

You make me think of Reis with the last (I do love his art, though). Gleason is far from a dealbreaker for me, really good artist. And of course I've seen lesser work from guys like Reis and Lee. It's just when they're completely ON (the early JL with Johns comes right to mind), I'm can't get enough. I am a heavy admirer of what Lee did with Batman, though I can't say the story thrilled me. That's one of the few novels I keep around just for the art.

Jim Lee is a hall of famer for sure, but sometimes art cannot save a bad story. Sometimes. But Lee has certainly elevated some mediocre tales.

[Space Cop]

Originally Posted by Lundonj

Jim Lee is a hall of famer for sure, but sometimes art cannot save a bad story. Sometimes. But Lee has certainly elevated some mediocre tales.

This is OT, but Lee's Harley variant for JL was my favorite cover for that month. I put in in my display case (I rotate out favorite or topical covers). He still has it as far as I'm concerned.

[KilowogsDisciple]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

This is OT, but Lee's Harley variant for JL was my favorite cover for that month. I put in in my display case (I rotate out favorite or topical covers). He still has it as far as I'm concerned.

That variant was killer. So is Lee, imo. But Batman "Hush" really didn't make it for me storywise, despite perhaps the hottest Catwoman and Ivy ever (not a fan of Halle Berry).

[Kane2814]

As much of a GL fan as I am, I'm realizing how much I disliked most of the regular artists, pre "Nu52". I thought it was all so mediocre. Stanton and Bright in paricular just really didn't do it for me. (and yes, Gibbon too) The "Tales of the GLC" had more interesting art most of the time (and yes, Gibbon too with Hollika Rahn)

I was so happy that Hal came back under the hands of EVS, Pacheco, Reis and Mahnke.. Tan sucked, but things are looking up now so...

[Space Cop]

Not sure why I didn't have Reis on my list. I have a poster from his Secret Files cover.



My three other GL posters (all in the hall to my den) are from Lee (Kyle) and Ross (Alan and Hal)

[Star-Lantern]

Ivan Reis is extremely good. There's no denying that. He's a strong contender for best Green Lantern artist of all time...

BUT I think the single best Green Lantern artist is Neal Adams. He was so influential that he essentially changed the way comics were drawn. And beyond that his stuff just consistently looks really good.

After him... Hmm...

I don't know. It actually may be Ivan Reis.

Green Lantern, to me, has a long history of having really good solid artists who do a great job that you can't complain about, yet somehow lack that extra "something" that puts them clearly over their peers and takes them over the top. Guys like Mark Bright, Doug Mahnke, Daryl Banks, and Paul Pelletier are all really good, but somehow I guess they lack something in their vision or style that puts them on the level of Neal Adams. I think Ivan Reis does, too, but he's probably the best really, really, REALLY solid guy that you can't complain about. I mean, he does amazing stuff, too, but some people like McFarlane, Adams, and, interestingly Kirby just have something extra in their imaginations that puts them a level above their peers. I actually think Liefeld does, too, which is where his popularity came from. He has something. His art was waaaay different for the time, and it was attention grabbing. He just lacked some technical skills that would allow him to manifest his imagination better. There are artists who have more technical ability, but way less of an interesting and distinct imagination. I always see being imaginative as better, because technical skills... you can just learn that. Some people are just innately imaginative and have different ways of portraying things and that's a tougher thing to learn, I think.