Book ive always been curious about but never had the chance to read...

[CConn]

Kelley Jones...HIDEOUS artwork

Kelley Jones wasn't really that bad, actually. I mean, if you look at his actual artwork, it was actually quite well done.

His problem was he over-exaggerated Batman to an utterly idiotic extent.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

Kelley Jones wasn't really that bad, actually. I mean, if you look at his actual artwork, it was actually quite well done.

His problem was he over-exaggerated Batman to an utterly idiotic extent.

Yes, there's a difference between poor art and a poor style. My problem is people don't differentiate the two. Kelley Jones is not a bad artist, he just has a bizzarre style sometimes. If you'll notice in "Red Rain", his art is fairly normal but by the last book in the trilogy, he's gone into total exaggeration.

As I said, just because you don't like the style doesn't mean the art is poor. It means you don't like the style. And I say that most people aren't sophisticated enough to appreaciate the beauty of Jones' style.

 

[CConn]

Exactly.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Well speak of the devil! I was in my local comic book store yesterday and saw this very issue. I took it out the package and flipped through it but didn't buy it.

Anyway, speaking of Kelly Jones, I'm not that familiar with him. Any stories featuring his art that you guys would recommend?

 

[DocLathropBrown]

Well speak of the devil! I was in my local comic book store yesterday and saw this very issue. I took it out the package and flipped through it but didn't buy it.

Anyway, speaking of Kelly Jones, I'm not that familiar with him. Any stories featuring his art that you guys would recommend?

The only main story that Jones ever fully illustrated (that I'm aware of) is the Vampire trilogy, and his art is stunning in it. You get a very errie, really bizzarre look to go with the story. His art is even unsettling in some places.

The instant Batman is revived in book three by Alfred, I honestly got a chill, the art on Batman was so freakish. I really got unnerved.

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

kelley jones=over the top sometimes
from searching him up on yahoo...ive seen some ok ones...and alot of ugly such as this

 

[DocLathropBrown]

kelley jones=over the top sometimes
from searching him up on yahoo...ive seen some ok ones...and alot of ugly such as this

That's incredible. So gothicly absurd. Fascinating to look at.

 

[Mladen]

To you it may seem demonic and scary, but it just passes off as silly to me.

Just between you and me...
I don't like his ears.

Hahaha, yeah, I didn't actually mean he comes off as scary, but Jones definately draws HORROR stories rather than superhero stories. Somebody else said 'gothically absurd' which is more what I meant. Maybe its just me, but I like Bats being a bit over the top occasionally (personal preference, I'm sick of too-serious batman crime stories, just SOMETIMES I want to see him beat up some glow in the dark aztec mummies, and Kelley is perfect for that stuff).

Its ALWAYS the ears! I personally DESPISE the short little kitty ears guys like Lee draw him with. (Also, I don't like Jim Lee's artwork in the slightest... so each to his own )


Mr Socko: I know he did some excellent issues of Sandman for Vertigo back in the day (Pretty sure it was in the 'Seasons of Mist' storyarc).
He draws a mean Morpheus:

There's some other books mentioned on his wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelley_Jones

 

[Mladen]

What issue was it? Since I was referring to the latest Detective--the one with Scarecrow (art by Tom Mandrake). There's this one splash page in which a flock of crows attack a group of Arkham guards--good stuff. As for Don Kramer being generic well I can't argue with you there.

But then again, Paul Dini's stories are short, simple arcs so Don Kramer's art fits in real well. They're not life-changing stories, so why should the art be? That was my problem with Alex Ross. His work tends to exaggerate a simple story too much. Art and story shouldn't distract from one another.

The artists on Tec and Batman may be generic (Kubert, Kramer), but to me it's good enough. Kramer's art compliments the story pretty well.

I don't like how he draws Batman though. However, I do enjoy his Joker.

Ever notice how Kramer draws ALL of his male characters with ugly bird noses (ala Penguin?). My problem isn't that he should be amazing, but that all of his characters look the same, and he consistently screws up basic anatomy (if it was intentionally abstracted I wouldn't mind, but there you go).

Last iss I read from him was that Joker/Christmas story, as well as the previous two he did which were Riddler and Penguin stories.... Wish I could remember the issue numbers. I've stopped buying Detective for the moment since DC spurted out a trade pb so quickly for the previous batch, that I'll just wait for the next one. I've heard good things about the Scarecrow tale you mentioned.

J.H. Williams III work on 821 (facade issue... know its a while back now, but it came to mind as a good example). Really good and John Kalisz's colors were inspired in that issue. Feel free to disagree, I just like what the man does with an outline.

Totally agreed on Alex Ross' sequentials since they're impossible to read at anything but a snail's pace (and some of his panel arrangements are atrocious), but respect to his pinups. His work on Uncle Sam was probably best since its a story which carries a lot of weight and SHOULD be read slowly.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Thanks for the information, fellas.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

Tim Burton?!?

 

[Mladen]

Tim Burton?!?

Robert Smith

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Tim Burton?!?

Heheheh

 

[Rockbottom]

Totally agreed on Alex Ross' sequentials since they're impossible to read at anything but a snail's pace (and some of his panel arrangements are atrocious), but respect to his pinups. His work on Uncle Sam was probably best since its a story which carries a lot of weight and SHOULD be read slowly.

Meh i think everything Ross draws looks ridiculous apart from his Joker. VERY VERY talented but he is in the wrong game imo, super hero's dont need to look realistic to the point they look plain stupid.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Must disagree. I dislike Ross's Batman, but just about all of his other drawings are amazing. His Batman rogue's gallery is stunning. I love his Capt Marvel. Ironically, I don't like his Batman, but his Superman is my favorite version. Much of his Justice League is amazing besides his Flash and the woman who dresses in black with the leggings(name is blank at the moment). And his Spider-Man is beyond amazing(pun). His Rogue's gallery:

 

[CConn]

Oddly, his Joker is probably the one character design I like the least by Ross.

Despite the complaints of making Batman look "chubby", I think Ross does a great job with most aspects of the character. The strong, square jaw, the sleek, well-defined cowl, the big-ass bat symbol across his chest, etc.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Oddly, his Joker is probably the one character design I like the least by Ross.

Despite the complaints of making Batman look "chubby", I think Ross does a great job with most aspects of the character. The strong, square jaw, the sleek, well-defined cowl, the big-ass bat symbol across his chest, etc.

That's my biggest complaint, the chubby look. That and I think the utility belt is way too big So I don't really hate it, just dislike it in most shots. There's a couple I like it in, but not a lot.

As for his Joker, I love love love those black and white drawings of Joker in the mirror. I just hate that he never draws him in purple.