Artists vs. writers, changing of the times

[abysslord]

http://www.the-gutters.com/comic/377-richard-clark

I've thought about this a lot too and wasn't sure if it was just ME being older and realizing if I like "book A" and it's written by Joe Smith, then maybe I'll like "book B" by Joe Smith. When you're a kid it's just like "Wow that was good." To the older readers here, did you follow creators back in the day if they jumped titles?

I was out of comics when the creators names started appearing on the cover. Were people clamoring for that or did the companies thing it would help sales?

I like how it's writer/artist and then I guess the inker? Colors are very important, but they seem to be the unsung hero for comics, which leads me to one of my favorite gutters:

http://www.the-gutters.com/comic/372-david-namisato

[Perry]

When I was younger, I followed artists more than writers. If a style caught my eye, I bought everything I could find from that artist. George Perez, John Buscema (and later Sal) were artists that could just have drawn names in a phone book and I would spend weeks tracking those down. Money was no object. Didn't care how many extra lawns I had to mow.


Hell, honestly, it would have taken me a lot longer to try DC comics again if it were not for Neil Adams and Gene Colan (Though Jim Aparo certainly helped).

However, that was during the classic cover years where the interior artist usually drew the cover as well. Made it a lot easier to follow my favorite artists just by cover glancing. I miss that.


Now that I am older, I certainly lean more to the writing side, and I think age has something to do with that. Though of course there are older buyers that still tend to lean more towards the look of the book.

As for it helping sales? I know I will tend to buy something I usually would not have tried, if a writer I enjoy is on the book. So I guess it helps sell at least one more copy.

[torchsong]

Mainstream books: Character first, plot/story second, creator(s) third
Indie books: Plot/story first, creator(s) second, character third

If it's a Captain Marvel (Shazam) story, I don't care who's involved, I'm likely to pick it up. Ditto Supergirl, Legion, etc. Beyond that, it needs to have a compelling story, and yes, the writer plays a role in that, but I don't know that I'd necessarily go into a book knowing it'll be brilliant just because a particular author wrote it.

This isn't to say I don't have favorite creators. I do. I just don't pick up books solely because they're working on them.

[boshuda]

Back in the bad old 90's I followed artists like a puppy dog. I was not alone - it's probably the main reason why Image sold so well out of the gate.

Now I follow no one. I might take a look at a book if a writer or artist I appreciate is on it, and it can be a point in its favor, but I'll still pass if the book's concept and/or characters do nothing for me. It like an actor. I like Jason Statham - he's making it cool to be a bald guy, but if he did a romantic snooze-fest I would pass.

[Trev]

First artist I distinctly remember was Kirby. I was NOT a fan as a kid for some reason. Maybe because I was reading in the late 70's during the 'bad' Kirby years, don't know.

First artist I followed to a book was Byrne with FF and Alpha flight from X-Men. Back then there seemed to me to be 'marvel house' and Byrne. I can recognize a lot of others from that period now, but as a kid it all looked like Romita to me except for Byrne.

I didn't even acknowledge DC until Crisis.

[exharrison]

Mainstream books: Character first, plot/story second, creator(s) third
Indie books: Plot/story first, creator(s) second, character third

If it's a Captain Marvel (Shazam) story, I don't care who's involved, I'm likely to pick it up. Ditto Supergirl, Legion, etc. Beyond that, it needs to have a compelling story, and yes, the writer plays a role in that, but I don't know that I'd necessarily go into a book knowing it'll be brilliant just because a particular author wrote it.

This isn't to say I don't have favorite creators. I do. I just don't pick up books solely because they're working on them.

Pretty much the same way I've been. I've always wanted to support my favorite characters, especially growing up. Now that I've gotten older and have different time demands, I don't support the character as readily as I used to, though. Of course, if you buy a book because you love the character, but the story is bad...are you supporting the character or the bad story more?

[torchsong]

Of course, if you buy a book because you love the character, but the story is bad...are you supporting the character or the bad story more?

I've dropped books with characters I love when the story goes south. Good example: I refuse to read/own anything involving Dark Mary Marvel, so I never bothered with Countdown, and only grudgingly tolerate Final Crisis. If anything, my love of the character may make me *more* demanding that the story be good than if it were unfamiliar territory.

[Perry]

Of course, if you buy a book because you love the character, but the story is bad...are you supporting the character or the bad story more?

I've dropped books with characters I love when the story goes south. Good example: I refuse to read/own anything involving Dark Mary Marvel, so I never bothered with Countdown, and only grudgingly tolerate Final Crisis. If anything, my love of the character may make me *more* demanding that the story be good than if it were unfamiliar territory.

But, and not trying to play "chicken or the egg" here, but wasn't it either the art or the writing that originally got you into enjoying said characters in the first place? How can you find characters you enjoy without first having been shown how good the writing or art can be?

[boshuda]

I think you can enjoy a comic character even with bad writing and/or art. If it's your first exposure to that character it may color your love of them, but if it's just another story of a character you like, I don't think it will hurt you that much. I also think it's possible to create a collage of a character from numerous poorly told stories that transcends those stories and creates a cool character in your mind.

[ctowner1]

I tend to lean more towards writers than artists, but will certainly buy books on the strength of the art alone, if the art is good enough. For example, there's no way I'd be reading Batwoman if it weren't' for JHWIII on the art. Same thing for Flash and Brian Buccellato's art (although there the art isn't as good, but the writing is a bit better, plus I like the character more).

I think in general, a decent to great artist can really elevate an ok written book into something special. But I think you need a great writer to elevate an ok drawn book into something special.

I have a core set of books I buy b/c I've been buying them for 40+ years, and I will keep buying even if the art/writing is bad, b/c I'm collecting them. But aside from those, everything else has to make it on merit.

And, of course, there are certain characters I'm predisposed towards, and therefore willing to buy even if the writing/art combo isn't as good as others (Flash is an example). Similarly, there are characters I'm not particularly interested in, but will buy if the art/writing combo is good enough to get me on the book.

e
L nny

[torchsong]

But, and not trying to play "chicken or the egg" here, but wasn't it either the art or the writing that originally got you into enjoying said characters in the first place? How can you find characters you enjoy without first having been shown how good the writing or art can be?

"Art and writing" =/= "Artist and Writer"

When I was a kid reading Shazam, I didn't know C.C. Beck from J.J. Evans. I was reading Shazam. That was all. Same with the Teen Titans, Supergirl, Batman, etc. I didn't know, or care, who was doing the writing or the artwork. I only knew it was a comic book, and I liked comic books. More to the point, I liked this dude running around in big red long johns in comic books.

That carried on into my teenage years. I didn't really care that it was Carmine Infantino on the Supergirl book. Or Jim Aparo on Batman. And while, yes, George Perez' work on Teen Titans certainly made me remember his name, it wasn't his name that was getting me to buy the book. Or Wolfman's. It was amazing stories starring the characters that were in my sisters' books way back when.

Taking it back to the first post - it's never been artist vs. writer for me - it's good comics vs. bad comics.

[Perry]

When I was a kid reading Shazam, I didn't know C.C. Beck from J.J. Evans. I was reading Shazam. That was all. Same with the Teen Titans, Supergirl, Batman, etc. I didn't know, or care, who was doing the writing or the artwork. I only knew it was a comic book, and I liked comic books. More to the point, I liked this dude running around in big red long johns in comic books.

Understand the "kid" aspect. Your lucky. For me I was still, even at an early age, turned off by bad art (or what I considered as such). I soooo wanted to like the Flash, but just couldn't get past the Carmine Infantino art. I knew of the character and enjoyed him in Justice League, but could never get the title the FLASH as all those pointy nosed people really irked me (that is what I remember. Not the artist, just his pointy nose style). I missed out on so much, I know.


Same with Marvel's INVADERS. WWII era Cap ... with Namor and Human (robot) Torch!!! Oh yeah!!!! I want that!!!!
And then, to see Frank Robbins art.

[ctowner1]

Same with Marvel's INVADERS. WWII era Cap ... with Namor and Human (robot) Torch!!! Oh yeah!!!! I want that!!!!
And then, to see Frank Robbins art.

One of the first instances that I recall of my being aware of the artist was when Cap shifted from Sal Buscema's great art to Frank Robbins, around 1975, when I was 13. I HATED that. And when Kirby came on board around 1976? I was ecstatic!!

e
L nny

[SpideySavestheDay]

Back in the bad old 90's I followed artists like a puppy dog. I was not alone - it's probably the main reason why Image sold so well out of the gate.

Ditto. Grew up loving GI Joe and later Spider-man. I got caught up with the artist fervor that was the Marvel to Image transitions. Looking back at my early days of collecting, I think was never interested in DC because I perceived their art as substandard. Even the allure of McFarlane, Larson, Lee, etc at Image couldn't hold my attention for long. All the stories, Spawn and Spider-man, no longer interested me.

Today it is all about the story even for characters I dearly love. I love Snyder's Batman and Johns' GL probably because they make the character interesting. Slott's Spider-man is not bad but I can't find that boyhood love for the same character with his story lines.

To bring this ramble back to the original point, art was the factor for me collecting comics as a child. Today it is the story.

[exharrison]

Of course, if you buy a book because you love the character, but the story is bad...are you supporting the character or the bad story more?

I've dropped books with characters I love when the story goes south. Good example: I refuse to read/own anything involving Dark Mary Marvel, so I never bothered with Countdown, and only grudgingly tolerate Final Crisis. If anything, my love of the character may make me *more* demanding that the story be good than if it were unfamiliar territory.

The unfortunate side effect is that dropping that book can lead to it being canceled and as a result, they may not try another title with that character or feature them in another book for quite a while. You don't want to support that creative team, but you also don't like not having your favorite character around. When creative teams kill characters...