Does Alex Ross' Art Belong in Comic Books?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ย. 2023
- Alex Ross is one of the biggest names in the comic book industry. But what's so interesting about him is that he is primarily known as a cover artist rather than a comic book artist, even though he has created several comics over the years such as Kingdom Come with Mark Waid and Marvels with Kurt Busiek. Despite most fans' acknowledgement of his artistic prowess, the question of whether his realistic art style works as comic book art is a huge topic even today. This video tries to blend both sides of the argument to create a narrative that will make us appreciate comic book art styles a bit more.
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It doesn't belong in a comic book. It belongs in a museum. Also, he's the only person that really draws a believable version of Captain marvel.
Thanks for the comment! Well, I think art can belong both in comics and in museums. I'm pretty sure there have been quite a lot of comic art exhibits over the years featuring art by comic creators.
Which Captain Marvel?
@@LastBastian fawcett comics
@@ryanfitzgerald9833 I meant DC or Marvel? Man CM or woman CM?
@@LastBastian DC is not the one that created Captain marvel they just sued his creators to their knees then acquired them. Those creators were fawcett comics. And that's why he lives in fawcett city
Ross feels like a hybrid - modern talent mixed in with the golden age of comics style. If that makes any sense - got yourself a new sub. His work can be framed and put up on a wall unlike many artists today. Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much!
There are more artists of high caliber nowadays, some who have more fluidity than old Ross.
@@giulyanoviniciussanssilva2947like who? Would love to check them out.
he made alot of the characters look very believable despite the campy outfits.
When I bought Kingdom Come I was so amazed by the new take on non-hyper-muscular versions of the heroes I grew up with. Seeing them that way made the focus on their personalities easier and it made the fantastic seem more possible. As if I was forced to see them as people that I might meet one day. It sort of stripped them of being so "other" and made them more relatable.
they are still hyper muscular but their bodies are drawn like the golden age of comics and silver era physique bodybuilding where it isn't too huge and to shredded unlike modern comics and movies.
he made alot of the characters look very believable despite the campy outfits.
Whether or not it belongs, his World’s Greatest Super-Heroes is what got me into comics in the first place, for which I will always be extremely grateful.
Awww... that's really sweet to hear. I think we are all grateful for our first comics.
Though the style has its detractors, it's not really an issue with the style itself. I think the real reason we don't see more of Ross's work inside comics is that each drawing takes a lot of time. There is no way one can do all the drawings required to make a comic book and stick to the schedule that comics require if they put that much effort into the drawings. This is why we generally see a lot of covers and non cannon graphic novels featuring Alex Ross's work. If the style lent itself to supporting the pace of a regular series, I have no doubt we would see more of his work.
Yeah, you definitely have a point. It's just not feasible for someone to draw art that detailed and realistic for monthly comics. It'd be insane!
So true and it also makes his art so much special.
The style itself works if the storyline is about golden age comics or very humanitarian stories. A big world ending event doesn't really suit it unless it focuses on narrative and character studies than flashy fighting.
Yeah on his TH-cam channel he talks about how it takes him double the time than other artist.
As an Alex Ross fan, I actually agree tremendously with your opinions. He inspired me to ditch the idea of moulding every piece of fabric correctly to the musculature of the characters’ bodies. This gives a sense of realism to my work (though I have a far less realistic style overall compared to Ross).
he made alot of the characters look very believable despite the campy outfits. The style itself works if the storyline is about golden age comics or very humanitarian stories. A big world ending event doesn't really suit it unless it focuses on narrative and character studies than flashy fighting.
When i was at the height of my comic book obsession, around 95/98/2000, comic book movies had'nt really taken off. There was no MCU. Alex Ross art was the closest thing to seeing super heroes in an ultra realistic light.
he made alot of the characters look very believable despite the campy outfits. The style itself works if the storyline is about golden age comics or very humanitarian stories. A big world ending event doesn't really suit it unless it focuses on narrative and character studies than flashy fighting.
Alex Ross does Justice to superheroes that most other media but especially live action and movies cannot or better yet refuse to. He does this blend with most Heroes that accurately captures a realistic look to their costumes while still honoring in a faithful manner The Source material with its design
its how i want the heroes to look like in movies
he made alot of the characters look very believable despite the campy outfits. The style itself works if the storyline is about golden age comics or very humanitarian stories. A big world ending event doesn't really suit it unless it focuses on narrative and character studies than flashy fighting.
His work belongs anywhere and everywhere.
Alex Ross uses Gouache...., very hard to work with....,
He is up there with Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejeo and Julie Bell.....,
Also his style has shades of Burne Hogarth.....,
Those artists were My Starting point Along with Kirby and the Marvel Artists of that age the...., 70's.....,
Alex Ross did Beautiful work in Marvels and Kingdom Come..,
Yeah, definitely astonished by his technical skill when it comes to painting. You know, if I'm gonna be honest, I've yet to become familiar with a lot of the classic American and European painters of the past. I really have to dive in to some of their work someday.
It's about time someone said something like this, it perfectly tells the best of Ross's art style. As well as how House styles won't always suit certain comics; I can't imagine seeing Kingdom Come if it looked more like a Curt Swan comic.
AHHH thank you very much for your compliment! Was wondering if people would be interested or accepting of my take. Turns out a lot of people enjoyed the video today. Anyway, thanks for your continued support as always!
his work belong to be in a museum right next to the great painters of renaissance.
Definitely.
Yes, his artwork absolutely does belong in comic books, whether or not it appeals to any specific individual. No one denies his artwork is generally great. Plus the more variety of comic book artwork styles the better. The worst thing you can do is push everyone towards one style.
Exactly! That was my conclusion at the end of the video.
@@spectacularlysentimental Yea, I typed up that comment towards the start of the video. It's the same conclusion. But I didn't want to waste that effort, so I posted my comment anyway 😅
@@SonGoku-tp8gb Well, it seems like we have the same kind of takes when it comes to this stuff. That's nice. Hahaha!
@@spectacularlysentimental yea for sure!
He also designed the best spider-man costume.
It belongs in comics because he loves and understands the medium. It also belongs in museums because it's strong enough to be loved by those outside of sphere of comics fandom.
he made alot of the characters look very believable despite the campy outfits. The style itself works if the storyline is about golden age comics or very humanitarian stories. A big world ending event doesn't really suit it unless it focuses on narrative and character studies than flashy fighting.
They have videos that state when Alex Ross does a cover the comic sells more than it would with other recognized artists. I don't think he is the only one that has that effect, but he is in a small group of artists whose names/works on cover and internally defenently sells more... He knows were his art works and doesn't do just any job. Like any world class actor/actress, it isn't just the talent they possess but the projects they undertake, and often they are only presented with works they will be less likely to turn down.
Thanks for the comment! You're definitely right on that one. Especially as he's gotten more popular (and also older), he doesn't do just any job anymore, since he's in a safe financial position. Honestly, good for him! And I'm glad he still makes some passion projects once in a while.
I'm glad that super recognized artists in the industry don't have to depend on comics for their livelihoods that much, and they are free to pick and choose the creative projects they take on. Kinda wish more of them worked on more stuff though. Hahaha! But they definitely do deserve a break.
2:05 he made Robin look like a badass here. that's hard to do
AWESOME videos man, I'll be watching your content exclusively for the next week lol.
Thank you so much for the support, Enrique! Hope you enjoy the channel, and stay tuned for my upcoming video, which became WAY BIGGER than I ever imagined it could be. It's kind of a definitive video covering modern Black Widow, if you're into that stuff. But if you're not, no problem. There's quite a lot of stuff on this channel for you to enjoy.
One of my favorite up and coming comic channels
I'm glad this channel's finally picking up some steam, and I I'm thankful that you're a part of it!
I love listening to you while I work on my own comics! You insight is great, and the calming music lets me focus on your words too. Great video!
Thank you so much! It means a lot, Jonah. And good luck with your comic in-progress!
Hes a GOAT PERIOD
Alex ross' rendition of the classic spider-man suit is Beautiful
Most people know Alex Ross from Marvels and Kingdom Come, which are seminal works.
Anything belongs anywhere that it finds an audience who support it. I LOVE reading his painted comics, and will go for painted comics (realism like Kingdom Come or abstract like Batman: Night Cries) every time over standard inked books. They just look amazing and that's half the appeal to me.
Great analysis! Impressive.
Yes it does.
Except for Alex' strange artistic preferences like making Batman's cowl blackest darkest black while Robin's brightest green , even though they are supposed to be same color, alos for some reason he didn't make trunks for Batman or Superman satine.
Other than that it is all great.
And your comparison doesn't hold any weight as an arguement because Johnson made his comics After DC allowed to show batpenis, not in 90s when blood was still mostly avoided, let alone decapitations, even Vertigo didn't regularly go into hardcore gore as much as creators nowdays can do even in cartoons. DCAU creators could never get away with anything that Justice League Dark War shown. Unless it was robot or Clayface or something like that ie without any blood.
you have a very enthusiastic voice, and your essay portrays the emotion you feel for the subject beautifully. keep it up man!
Thank you very much! It's taken a lot of work to come from the place I started, so I'm glad you appreciate it. Still, I'm sure there's ways for me to improve, since I pale in comparison to a lot of the great comic book youtubers out there who are extremely gifted and talented.
@@spectacularlysentimental we all start somewhere, and if you’re already writing and narrating so eloquently, you’ll reach your goals in no time! there’s more to come!
@@vedutk8156 Thank you! I hope you're right. Hahaha!
The first time I came across Alex Ross art was in Dynamite's Project Superpowers.That was the day I became a fan of him.But I agree with your points and his artstyle is not for everyone.But it's really awesome to watch.I just wish that he would do more public domain superheroes.Cuz his style suits those characters.
It would definitely be cool to see him do some public domain characters.
Kingdom Come is one of the best graphic novels ever.
it really needs an adaptation
I rage clicked because of the video title… The very idea! To question! This better be good.
So, Mr. Chris, may I ask if you thought it was good or not? Thanks for checking it out either way.
You´re talking about comicbooks in general, as if american superhero comics were the only thing there is. This type of realistic and painting-like art is common in European comics (since ages ago btw, even if European comics have existed for longer than american comics, if you didn´t know). But personally, I agree with you: Alex Ross style can work great in superhero stories... With the right project. And he can draw good action, just not right for an action-filled plot, with like 16 different action scenes. Superman: Peace on Earth is on of my favorite one of his.
You know, you're definitely right on that. Thanks for pointing it out. Even though I have read a good chunk of comics (including some foreign ones that have painting-like styles), my perception of comics in the video is mostly within the scope of the standard American superhero comic, which although popular, doesn't even begin to encapsulate the whole spectrum of comics out there.
yes it works perfectly
Kingdom Come changed the way I viewed the genre.
Travis Charest is another monster.
add movement lines of daniel johnson and alex ross's comics are perfect
to be honest and truly honest
if a buff guy flew down from the sky wearing 60's superman costume we wouldn't laugh at him
I think you need to understand the difference between a photorealistic artist who uses paint to capture an action moment vs a cartoonist who uses pens to exaggerate action to convey movement. Daniel Martin Johnson is not the best example to juxtapose that against Alex Ross. He's a cartoonist, not an artist. There is a difference. But you bring up an interesting question of whether it belongs in comics. It's tough to say since the artform is a cartoonist medium, not an artists one. Ross' stuff belongs in The Louvre. But comics should bless their lucky stars they have Alex Ross. How lucky for comics that a fan just happens to be an artist. He's very special to comics and it wouldn't be the same without him.
Epic Intro. Thank you for this Video!
Thank you so much for checking it out. It means a lot!
Alex Ross's work has been the museums and countless art shows. His medium is comics & media; as he will also illustrate tv icons, movies and even anime ( G-force)! Let's not forget he also has Illustrated Comics as well karma from his legendary Kingdom Come series to even doing solo books on superman, wonder woman, and batman. Even if his art isn't as stylistically dynamic as the aforementioned illustrators mentioned in this video, his art captures a finesse of how these beings would be in real life. I am forever glad for his work because he brings a greater sense of life to each masterpiece that has painted.
where does that bunch of panels from 4:39 come from?
Let me answer that question: Yes.
There, now you don't need to watch the video.
He makes a killing selling the originals.
It fits as much as Panty and Stocking fits anime, just depends on how you prefer your comics look
Idk man when I read kingdom come I didn’t think Alex Ross art sucked at all. I was 15 when kingdom come came out he was loved at the time and no one hated him. I think this is just age difference
I think your criticism come more from the medium used to create the art than any technical aspect of the pieces. Ross’ watercolors don’t offer the same sort of motion indications you can get from the pencils, ink, & coloring method used by most of the industry. What sets him apart the most is also what puts you off from his style.
Hey Daniel. Thanks for the comment and checking out the video, as it's much appreciated!
You're right to indicate that Alex Ross' watercolors don't offer the same sort of motion as the standard comic style does, but I didn't say it was a bad thing at all. I actually conclude the video by saying something that ties into your comment. I conclude by saying that what makes Alex Ross' art different makes it special. There is no such thing as a perfect ideal style, as different stories will require different styles. I say in the video that his style has been perfect for the books he worked on!
The title, thumbnail, and initial part of the video might make it seem like it was a negative video; but I actually really like Alex Ross' Art and think it belongs. Anyway, sorry if I bothered you with such a long comment. Hahaha! Have a good day!
Well laid out discussion. I can see citing Marvels and Kingdom Come, as they are Alex Ross' mostly highly-regarded works by most. However, I would add that Justice might be a better example of pairing art-to-story as it was very reminiscent of the classic Super Friends cartoon. Despite being labeled animation, the great Alex Toth was limited by the technology of the age and the result might appear (to use your terminology) static. Ross' style and obvious familiarity and respect for the era really added to the nostalgia of the miniseries.
But, I appreciate you taking the time to make and post the video. Until hearing your case, I had dismissed those who didn't like Ross' interior work as snobs who didn't feel comics were worth the highest quality art, or that art could overshadow story. You are absolutely right- they are two elements that have to blend for the best resulting whole.
Glad you enjoyed the thesis of the video. I really appreciate it, man.
Idk who this is but yeah that looks pretty good
Bottomline - no his art does not belong in comics. At least not in monthly comics. Not because if his realism or his artistic talent - nobody denies that he's wildly talented and his art is incredibly well done. The reason I say that is simple mechanics - there is no way to do Alex Ross slart as the main artist of a monthly comic book because he can't produce it fast enough. Maybe if it was a comic that came out once a year he could do it... but he is human and can produce fast enough to do the interiors of a monthly in that style.
damn underrated this vid is so good
Glad you enjoyed it. Hahaha!
Absolutely, Alex Ross' art is brilliant.
yes
YES HIS WORK BELONGS IN BOTH WORLDS HANDS DOWN!! THE SAME DEBATE WENT ON WITH STERANKO'S EYEBENDING WORK IN THE LATE 60S & BARRY SMITHS WORK ON CONAN IN THE EARLY 70S ❤❤ ❤ ALL 3. BY THE WAY
Yes...yes it does.
The reason why precisely Paolo Rivera is the best of both worlds, both realistic and kinetic, yo can feel the movement on his figures
You should do one for Ryan Ottley’s art
Its so beautiful
You can’t make an argument against this being in a book. Reading Marvels is the only way I can get through the 60’s era comics.
Have you considered text to speech voiceover?
I really like Alex Ross but mainly his cover artwork. When "Marvels" or "Kingdom Come" was released, his style was fresh and new. But by now there are a lot of artists with a similar style e.g. dell Otto. I really like a beautiful cover what do not prefer this artstyle for the interior artwork. Just like Adam Hughes. I just love his cover but when he pencils a whole story then it is not my favorite artwork.
I liked his comic art in the last Fantastic Four that he drew, because he has an accurate anatomy, but he works with colors in a more surrealist way, which made him looser, more plastic, more appropriate for the comic book media.
I think his realistic art is very beautiful, but very rigid for a media It was by simply changing colors that he got the art right, he stylized the realism just enough to make it work, other than that for me it only works only on covers.
Yes
Alex Ross is static, like you said, and if it wasn't for his more iconic stories, he wouldn't have made it as more than a cover artist (which can be more lucrative, if less creative). So it's hard to pick him out as a favorite comics painter, when there are so many around the world who can tell a more proper story with similar techniques (Don Lawrence from the UK, on his series Storm, and Juan Giménez from Argentina, on Metabarons, are examples). But he can tell a story if he wants to, such as on his Uncle Sam mini-series for Vertigo, where it progresses as a series of snapshots of theatrical poses.
YOU COULD HANG IT, IN A, MUSEUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S, THAT GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES, IT IS THAT GOOD!!!
Can you do lee beremerjo?
I doubt I'll ever do a video fully on him, but maybe I'd mention him in a future video where I note one of his books. If I'm gonna be honest though, a good chunk of his work is way too edgy for my preferred taste most of the time. Hahahaha! He's definitely another talented creator though for sure.
how old are you?
I'm 19 turning 20 next month. I don't look like it all, right? Hahaha!
Yes..... I agree...... His recent Fantastic Four was actually very good, but there he was more playful and less realistic..................................... ciao
Yooo! Finally someone mentioned Full Circle! I had recorded a section about it in the video, but it broke the flow so I didn't end up putting it. I think that book shows that he is more versatile than most people think. He definitely experimented with that book, and it really did feel inspired by the early Lee and Kirby comics.
The comic not movie thing is really all american comics when you compare it to manga ive read shojo romance manga that had more energy than american stuff alex ross is just even further below that but i let him get away with it because of how great his art is
Fantastic video! Ross is an undeniably great artist but I think it’s fair to say he’s not a great sequential artist, or even a great storyteller. His role in Marvels, Kingdom Come, etc. is really more as an illustrator than a traditional comics artist. Sequential art is all about motion, dynamics, energy. I love Ross’ cover work but put his interiors up against someone like Kirby and there’s no contest in terms of storytelling.
NO WAY! Josh from Panels to Pixels liking my video?!? Appreciate it, man!
im the 760th liker and 102 commenter!
and 840th subscriber
Welcome to the channel!
The only comic artist that can actually draw unlike the rest of the 90 or so percent of comic artists that get there drawing skills just by copying and tracing poorly drawn comic art 😂😂😂😂
Daniel Warren Johnson is also overrated as hell.
No..its horrible. Its like dead image
Ironically i kinda agreed with most of the criticisms of his work UNTIL the static part, Ross’s art is a lot of things but “still” isn’t one of them… maybe the argument can be made they seem like photographs of a moment, instead of having speed lines to indicate motion, but his art is VERY dynamic imo just in a more 50’s - 60’s sense not pushing it to extreme manga/anime levels of modern day
Thanks for checking out the video and leaving a respectful comment despite our stark disagreement on the subject. I think it's a wonderful thing to discuss civilly despite differences.
I kind of get where you're coming from with mentioning his art being dynamic in a 50's - 60's sense, since his art is an ode to that time period. But personally, I think being able to change background elements (like Kirby does with speed lines and his famous dots) and contorting characters' faces and body structure is pretty crucial to giving dynamism to art, which is defined by google as "characterized by constant change, activity, or progress." Because Alex Ross' adheres to realism to a tee (except for his recent Fantastic Four: Full Circle), it personally looks like still photographs to me.
But don't get me wrong! It doesn't mean he doesn't belong in comics. Dynamism and movement isn't crucial to every comic. I argue later in the video that his art is great precisely because of its stillness and realism when paired with stories that need that kind of photographic realism. Anyway, I'm sorry for this dump of a comment. Hahaha! I really wanted to respond to this. But idk, what do you think? Anyway, have a good day!
@@spectacularlysentimental i definitely see your points, and agree even just adding SOMETHING to enhance the backrounds can increase the feeling of movement and i also love seeing different opinions so no hate i just love his art