Brian Hitch: Evolution of Art

[Brian Braddock]

Just been in the attic and came across an issue of 'Action Force' #2 (that's the UK version of 'G.I.J.OE' for anyone who wasn't aware) from 1988.
Turns out this is one of the 1st jobs Hitch ever got and it's amazing to think that the guy who drew this eventually, over the course of time, worked on his art (somewhere in the middle of his career, adopted an 'Alan Davis' type style, eventually making it more realistic) and honed it into the the brilliance that we see in 'The Ultimates'.

To any aspiring artists out there - this should give you hope. Work on your style, strive to improve and never stop believing.

As you can see, the style and quality couldnt be more different:-

(Selected pages scanned from 'Action Force' #2)

 

[Brian Braddock]

 

[UK_Stu]

Hey, I remember that issue of Action force, I think I may have had it too. I had no idea it was drawn by Hitch though, until you raised it here.

 

[Red]

It's Bryan Hitch.

 

[Darthphere]

I may be alone in this, but ive never seen an "Alan Davis" style in Hitch's work today or in the past.

 

[gildea]

I actually quite like those pages, apprently hitch was 16 when he started!!

Hitch these days is the love child of davis and perez.

Darth look at the fight between sabretooth and wolverine drawn by davis at the end of mutant massacre, you can see where hitch was influenced in that.

 

[Brian Braddock]

I may be alone in this, but ive never seen an "Alan Davis" style in Hitch's work today or in the past.

How about these - taken from 1997's 'Collossus' one shot:-

Still can't see ant Alan Davis?

 

[Darthphere]

No, I seriously cant.

 

[Brian Braddock]

.....Wow, I thought it was pretty easy to recognise. Oh well.

Anyone else?

 

[Darthphere]

All I see are similar facial expressions that arent just exclusive to Alan Davis or Bryan Hitch.

 

[Zeu]

So?

Every artist has old drawings he/she´d give an arm to be able to destroy, I know I´d take special pleasure in incinerating anything I did prior to 1996.

 

[Darthphere]

So?

Every artist has old drawingd he/she´d give an arm to be able to destroy, I know I´d take special pleasure in incinerating anything I did prior to 1996.

Ummm what are you talking about?

 

[Brian Braddock]

So?

Every artist has old drawings he/she´d give an arm to be able to destroy, I know I´d take special pleasure in incinerating anything I did prior to 1996.

Yeah. Have to admit I'm a tad puzzled by this post too.

From the tone I'd say that perhaps he thinks I'm having a pop at Hitch's early work.

Well far from it, Zeu - the point of the thread is to show to any aspiring artists who think they'll never be good enough to draw professionally that having a bit of faith in their talent and constantly striving to evolve and improve is the way to go.

Not to give up.

You want to bash me for that?

 

[Darthphere]

I can see similarities, but I see those same similarities in about 10 other artists.

 

[The Question]

 

[Brian Braddock]

I can see similarities, but I see those same similarities in about 10 other artists.

And who would they be?

 

[Brian Braddock]

Lol.

 

[Bullseye]

Not only has Hitch improved his art; but many of today's artists for Marvel and DC have improved their art. Compared to some of the work these artists did in the 90's; you would think that a different artist was drawing.

 

[Elijya]

How about these - taken from 1997's 'Collossus' one shot:-

that Meggan looks like an Amanda Conner

 

[Darthphere]

Most of those facial expressions look like Kevin Maguire, the master of facial expressions.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Here's a very interesting link at Alan Davis' site. Obviously he can't just come out say a name but he gives the impression that he knows there are people out there who have copied his style.

http://www.alandavis-comicart.com/Creditdue.html

It's perhaps a bit clearer as to whom Davis is reffering when taking into account Hitch's own words (taken from A Conversation With Bryan Hitch By Alexander Ness 09.12.03):-

" Alan Davis and Mark Farmer, for reasons of their own, at that time decided to single me out as though I was the only person in comics that had ever both been influenced and swiped from others in the field."

"I think increasingly that I would probably have matured more quickly had I not been so heavily influenced by Alan Davis"

 

[Brian Braddock]

Most of those facial expressions look like Kevin Maguire, the master of facial expressions.

Well, at least we can agree on 1 thing :-

Kevin Maguire is indeed the master of facial expressions.

 

[Wams]

Hitch has come a loooooooong way.
Same goes for Travis Charest who use to ape Jim Lee.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Hitch has come a loooooooong way.
Same goes for Travis Charest who use to ape Jim Lee.

Lol. So true.

And Paul Pelletier who took off Dale Keown (who took off John Byrne).

 

[Zeu]

Yeah. Have to admit I'm a tad puzzled by this post too.

From the tone I'd say that perhaps he thinks I'm having a pop at Hitch's early work.

Well far from it, Zeu - the point of the thread is to show to any aspiring artists who think they'll never be good enough to draw professionally that having a bit of faith in their talent and constantly striving to evolve and improve is the way to go.

Not to give up.

You want to bash me for that?

What I meant to say uis that Brian Hitch probably would give an arm to destroy those earlier pages.

An artist is always evolving and growing, I have yet to find one artist who isn´t embarrassed when confronted with his first pieces.

I know I have a portrait I did for a girl in the 80s I´d sell my soul to be able to destroy