John Buscema: More than a Jack Kirby Clone
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John Buscema is one of the all-time great illustrators in Marvel Comics' history. He worked on over 200 issues of Conan comics and had celebrated runs on Avengers under three different writers: Roy Thomas, Steve Engleheart, and Roger Stern. Yet there are critics who will say he's simply a clone of Jack Kirby. I believe this accusation is unfair and in this episode we look at Big John's history and techniques. We pay close attention to the evolution of his artwork including key turning points in the Silver Age and on Silver Surfer #4.
Important note: the Magik 2-panel spread observation was made by journalist Frank Santoro here: www.tcj.com/joh...
This might be heresy to some, but from a technical perspective Buscema might actually have the edge over Kirby. Buscema wasn't as wildly imaginative as Kirby, but his Savage Sword of Conan work is something to behold.
WORD...
Not heresy. Buscema was more technically skilled because he had more training and a more varied career. I think Kirby's art is more fun to study, but as comics moved out of the bright and hopeful early 60's and started reflecting the grittier reality of the 70's and 80's, the art needed to be more realistic to match that reality, and John Buscema led the way for a great deal of that.
I would say Walt Simonson is more of a natural heir to Kirby than Buscema. There are no true clones of Jack.
Big John was THE Michelangelo of comic books, period!
No, you’re right. Buscema is a better artist than Kirby on a technical level. Way better grasp of anatomy, perspective, light and shadow.
Agreed. Buscema is the superior artist in all respects.
And please note Buscema ability to draw horses, something no artist can do today.
Horses are quite difficult to depict competently. Glad you mentioned John Buscema's ability to draw them. And draw them well.
I swear I've never seen horses like the ones he drew in any other place.
James Baxter!
Indeed. He did some amazing equines in "Warriors of the Shadow Realm." Here he was inked by Rudy Nebres and painted by Peter Ledger.
I understood that reference.
Kirby clone? That is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard.
... I agree brother. Kirby? I could get his dynamism and approach to action. But his figures totally suck. Every one looked like an animated metal statue. WTF.? Can never understand this view of people comparing the two. To me the mount Rushmore of comic artists would be. Neal Adams, Big J Buscema, Gil Kane. Many can be the fourth but I favor John Byrne. Nuff said..!!!
A clone of Jack Kirby?
*This is starting to sound like a bad comic book plot!*
Clone? Weird label
yes true. Buscema is god
Exactly. Buscema was never Kirby's clone. Jack Kirby drew like an amateur child. Buscema drew like Rubens.
Stan Lee seems to have been the kind of person who'd rather pretend they never did something wrong than apologize.
That’s seems fair enough in some cases. I forget who said this but one person who knew Stan said: “Stan really is a good guy, he’s just not a great guy.”
My take on that story is different
There’s an adage “the axe forgets, the tree remembers” it’s entirely likely he wasn’t pretending, John remembers because it was hurtful towards him, Stan could have forgotten he’d been an ass by lunchtime
I never thought of him as a Jack Kirby clone, so this is interesting.
Check out his artwork on Stan Lee's version of Superman published by DC Comics in the early 2000s. Would like to see more of his artwork on Superman.
Me neither. Jack was an influence on everybody, but I've never heard of Buscema being referred to as a Kirby clone.
Barry Windsor Smith was the obvious Kirby clone on Conan. From issue #1 to 24 you can see his style transform from Kirby to the beginning of his more ethereal style.
Even fewer have ever thought of him as a Dolly The Sheep clone, but that's no excuse to pass up a spicy video headline! 🐑✏
Nor did anyone else!
The story with Stan Lee really makes Stan seem like J Jonah Jameson.😀 Great video. Love Buscema’s artwork.
"Crap. Crap. Mega crap. I'll give you $200 for all of them."
"That seems a little low."
"Take them someplace else then."
in a way he was the real life version of J.J.J
@@toma8283 oh yeah, stan was parodying himself writing jameson
What halfwit ever called John Buscema a "Kirby clone?!" There's no question Buscema was following Kirby-style layouts in his early years at Marvel but that was a favor to Stan (who wanted those layouts to be the house style), not any kind of limitation of JB's. Check out Buscema's Conan and Silver Surfer to see him in his own style.
.............yeah that's what the video said. I cannot tell if you're arguing with comic tropes or if you're just echoing the points he already made.
@MemphoWrasslin1 I think he commented before he even watched the video.
Agreed. I think it was more for click-bait.
Spaceknight79 I would just like to say I love your choice of avatar and name. I am a huge ROM fan!
FAIL. John Buscema learned the ropes of MARVEL stoyrtelling from Kirby, has any artist working there in those years was required to do. Buscema hated superhero comics and there's plenty of interviews stating as much. Thus, Buscema laid out superhero comics the way Kirby would have done. Not as a favor, but because that was the way to do it, if you wanted to work for Marvel Comics. Silver Surfer was as Kirbyesque as the next Superhero book. As a matter of Fact, any artist at the time played second fiddle to Kirby in any capacity: Stan Lee reportedly tried to bring him back to work on Silver Surfer because Buscema ones were not selling and Kirby felt very strongly for the character, but by then the damage was done. Kirby was leaving Marvel for DC's greener pastures.
I was a HUGE fan of John Buscema's work on Conan. I was an avid Conan The Barbarian and Savage Sword collector back then. From around '82 to '84, I collected as many issues and illustrated magazines as I could. Especially the B&W illustrated magazines were a big deal to my young self back then. The artwork was super detailed, and the stories were usually teeming with adult themes. Just what a boy on the verge of becoming a teenager wanted to see back then.
I was a big collector of the same stuff , and recently went back and got every issue from 25- 100
Who the Hell ever described John Buscena as a "Kirby clone". I'll watch this just to find out who made that ridiculous statement!
I was gonna right the same exact thing you did. Kirby clone? Wtf
Beginning of the video, dude.
"What few detractors exist claim that he's a Jack Kirby clone. There aren't many of them."
Maybe Steve Rude... but he's not that famous haha.
V PAUL Bartilucci Yeah I don't get it either. His style is very different from Kirby. I guess his few detractors need to have their vision checked.
Agreed.
The thing I like about buscema's anatomy is that it's strong and dynamic, but it's not as grotesque as many other modern comic artists
I agree.
He drew Conan perfectly, not a grotesque parody of a body builder. Big John drew his characters through a lense realism that sold these fantastic stories to the reader.
Jimbo Jones Yeah, I hate it when Conan is drawn like a chronic steroid abuser. Yes, he is big and muscular, but not to such extreme proportions.
@@truefanforum3273 Howard wrote Conan as a large individual with a broad chest and iron thews, how that translated as Ronnie Coleman to the extreme I will never know
Jimbo Jones I don't know either. And sadly I think some people are stuck with that image of Conan as how he should be. Thankfully the modern Conan looks like his more classic build.
And he used them very well in page space. Look at that splash of all the Avengers baddies talking, it really guides the eye across each one of them.
Kirby clone! That must be the most ridiculous statement made about Buscema. Buscema's style is nothing like Kirby does not even resemble it a bit. He was an academic artist and his style was more akin to artists like Burne Hogarth, Hal Foster and Alex Raymond. Although he is not strong on the writing level he is much higher than Kirby in artistic level.
Buscema was an actual illustrator. Kirby hacked out so much to make a buck and gets so much undeserved credit, that everyone just blames his every fault on "well Vinnie's inks ruined these masterpieces." Buscema never had to make an excuse for weak art on on an inker.
@@brentandrew2419 really dude?
Not even.
You know what you're talking about. Spot on, and kudos.
Imagine Frank Frazetta but with the discipline to maintain a monthly title.
No one ever: "John Buscema is a clone of Jack Kirby!"
Comic Tropes: "Hold my beer."
well, this is one of bigger stupidity I hear ever in my life.... Even if title is click bait... this is stupid.... Buscema is one of best artist ever, unfortunately he live in time when quantity was more important than quality. Warm up drawings on pack of comic pages which Buscema often draw, are something which Kirby never be able to draw, no matter how he try....
If you watch the video, this is addressed. Maybe don't take titles too literally.
Never have I ever heard anyone refer to John Buscema as a Kirby Clone. Not a single person.
I've been reading comics for a hell of a long time and have never heard ""John Buscema is a clone of Jack Kirby!""
@@heavysystemsinc. Addressed on an issue that never existed in the first place.
I've known comic editors, was involved with the Museum of Comic Art in NY and I've NEVER heard anyone saying this before.
This is not a widespread belief or discussion in the industry by any stretch of the imagination.
"Who created the comics, Stan Lee or Kirby?" THAT is a widespread discussion in the industry with several views, people screaming from both sides.
"was John Buscema a Jack Kirby clone?"
No, that doesn't exist on any relevant number beyond, maybe, his 2 bar buddies who said that when they've had more than enough drinks.
He shouldn't present as an issue that needs his enlightenment.
He could just make a video about John Buscema and we'd be more than happy with. I like Comic Tropes so i am putting this as just a slip.
Everybody does that once in a while.
Say what they may, JB was the guy who literally drew the book on "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way"! One of my favorite artists.
Frazetta will always be my all time favorite Conan artist, but Buscema was still in a class of his own though.
Buscema drew gritty 70s comic book action. Fluid kinetic fight scenes and sword-fighting scenes. No one could draw a "rage face" like him, with the trapezoid jawline!
That raging trapezoidal jaw face was a trait of both Sal AND John's work.
@@kuahmelallah True, but John was dynamic in his use of it. Sal always looks like the same thing over and over. I could never get enough of John's work. Sal was never my thing, even back in the Gold Key days.
@@jeffeppenbach it's a matter of inner with Sal. I loved him on Rom, Eternals, and Thor, but the style grated on me in Spectacular.
@@jeffeppenbach Yeah I wasn't a big fan of him as a kid reading Spectacular Spiderman... he got on my nerves after a while (sal). Then again I didn't like McFarlane either.
@Chris: Are you SURE you didn't just DREAM that someone somewhere said Buscema was a Kirby clone?
Been a comics reader since 1976, and spent almost a decade as a comics pro & still speak to plenty of other comics pros and have never heard anyone utter this absurd premise. GREAT episode, though! I loved it! John Buscema was awesome!
John Buscema's art was always accessible when I was a kid and even more so now and I am in my 50s! I didn't like Jack Kirby's style until much later in my teens. Great channel Chris!
I'm the same. I didn't appreciate Kirby's art until recent years. I was always a Buscema fan from the 70's.Great video.
@@NavarinoDC... Same here well I didn't appreciate Kirby's style until later after my death. Bleh. To me yeah I give him credit for giving comics (Marvel) at its Renaissance in the 60's a new kind of pop and a lot of creative juice to Stan Lee's ideas. But to me I see him as basically the right guy at the right time. As an artist he never really steared my boat...
2:02 Minor correction: that painting on the right, 'Christina's World', is not by NC Wyeth, but by his son, Andrew Wyeth.
James Hutchings you beat me to it
The Wyeths seemed to decline with each generation. N C was fantastic. Andrew so so. Jamie not at all.
@@keythdanielsen8316 Thats because of the poison of Modern Art.
Definitely not a clone, he was just the only one worthy to succeed Kirby
Exactly. I mean, can you even *picture* a Kirby Conan?
(Actually, now I think of it, Barry Smith's is as close to that as you'll ever get...)
Couldn't wait until he was off FF and Thor (Buscema).
@@kenlieck7756Now imagine a Rob Liefeld version of Conan.
"Man Comics"
"Hobo News"
Gotta love the Greatest Generation™!
John Buscema art reminds me of my childhood!! One of the best comic book artists ever!!!
Buscema was a legend as a Conan artist. But Alcala was also great 😊
Alfredo Alcala was an incredible artist on Conan.
I think Buscema defined how Conan looks in popular consciousness as much as Frazetta did.
That 80's era Avengers is one of my favorite eras. The art was fantastic it is how I picture the Avengers should look. Tom Palmer other great did amazing work on it. Palmer was another great who deserves a lot of credit.
I don't feel Palmer has ever gotten the credit that is due him. So much better that Sinnott, whom everyone falls all over themselves praising. A great inker can improve can improve whomever he inks, good or bad. Look at Sinnott inking Wilson on Marvel-Two-In-One to see that just isn't so. Sinnott just phoned it in the last 20nyears of his career.
@@keythdanielsen8316 I would say Sinnott on Fantastic Four is comparable to Dick Giordano on Batman. They gave their respective books a consistent look no matter who was pencilling. Do Byrne's issues are better than Keith Pollard's, but there's a consistent look to the issues.
... No doubt. The AVENGERS never looked better than under Buscemas pencils. Even slightly better than my all time favorite Neal Adams.
@@ClashUP64 So untrue. The Avengers survived Buscema (with really good inks by Klein and Palmer) but soared under Adams.
John Buscema, a Jack Kirby clone? That's the first time I've heard of it! Yes, some Marvel cartoonists did their best to mimic Kirby (Jim Steranko, Barry Windsor-Smith [early artwork] Herb Trimpe) or at least stole Jack's practically trademarked "Kirby Krackle" but for the most part the only thing John borrowed from Kirby was hyping the "drama" in super hero comics and even Co-"Wrote" a book about it with Stan Lee!
I think his CONAN artwork represents his best work! I was a huge fan, especially whenever he drew half naked, beautiful and buxom women! I'm shocked that he didn't mention inker ERNIE CHAN, who I think inked more of his work than anybody else and deliciously so, in my opinion! When ever the Cimmerian was in the desert, you felt the heat, or in a jungle, you imagined mosquitoes were biting you. And when he saw one of those women, your heartbeat sped up faster just as Conan's probably did! What an artist!
Your N.C. Wyeth shot is actually his son Andrew.
I really enjoyed the video (despite my smartassery above). Buscema was the deluxe model of Marvel artists. Interesting to see his early work. And look at the way he draws hands (see the crying Vision image), very expressive.
Came here to say this
The pages where John inked his own pencils shows more of a Hal Foster influence than anything else. Graceful lines, great anatomy, and really good composition are what Buscema's work was all about. He's very influential to artists that are grounded in realistic drawing, and not just style for style's sake.
Stan Lee doesn't remember anything, even leaving Kirby out in the cold!!
To be fair, Jack Kirby was free to leave anytime he wanted to, which he eventually did when he went to work for DC. Unfortunately, none of the Titles he created for the Distinguished Competition were big sellers.
@@captainaction-5091 And the powers-that-be at DC really badmouthed him the whole time. Small wonder why he left.
Come on man! You didn't talk about his Tarzan comics.
Especially those 1st couple of issues where JB inks himself. VISCERAL! SAVAGE!
Loved the cover of the first issue of Marvel's Tarzan, which was a re-creation of the cover of All-Story Magazine(1912), which featured Tarzan's first appearance.
Big fan of John Buscema and Conan the Barbarian. I used to collect the Marvel Treasury Editions back when I was a kid, and I'm happy to say I've still got issues#15, 19, and 23, all of which featured Conan and John Buscema's amazing artwork. And I also met John Buscema and got him to sign the books, years later. I also tracked down Barry Windsor-Smith and got him to sign Marvel Treasury Edition # 4, which also featured Conan and his incredible artwork. Loved the Conan Comics from that Era, those are some of my favorite Robert E. Howard Stories.
Sal Buscema! His brother! Best Namor ever drawn...besides Bill Everett that is....
Sal is underrated
I was going to ask if there was going to be a followup piece on Sal (unless I missed one somewhere). My favorite Hulk artist ever, especially when he inked his own work, but even when he had Ernie Chan turning the Hulk into an Asian.
As much as I love Kirby-tech, I did like John's medieval Valhalla (and similar touches throughout that story such as Loki's drinking horn), which kind of pointed the way to Walt Simonson's later superb run on Thor.
Sal's work on Spectacular Spiderman, especially when paired with J. M. Dematteis, remains one of the moodiest, most cinematic pieces of comic storytelling ever.
Don't know who got the idea in your head that "Buscema is Kirby clone" is an opinion worth mentioning but I guess It illustrates how absolute minority idiots somehow get their dumb opinions mentioned these days. Never heard of this before.
Seems to me a "clone" wouldn't be leagues better than the original. John is one of the greatest ever.
In terms of draftsmen skills yes, but kirby is what ll cool j is to rap a revolutionary artist. Buscema is like eminem an evolutionary artist. Buscema is cool and is my favorite comic artist, but kirby's influence is just huge with buscema being a clear example of that. The marvel way to draw comics is the KIRBY WAY.(not screaming just emphasizing my point).
Kirby was better because he innovated and invented. Buscema may have been a better artist in a technical sense, but not a better storyteller.
Make no mistake, I've always loved Kirby's FF stuff from back in the day. I do appreciate the energy and fun in his drawings.(and his incredible speed) But when I put their best work side by side, well...Buscema for the win! :)
@MemphoWrasslin1 Sal's a better cartoonist than his brother John.
Both are better than most current talent today.
Buscema better than Kirby? Can't stop laughing.
Great topic! Love John Buscema! I started reading Conan when he was on the title, so I always thought of him as THE classic Conan artist. Of course, a no-prize is due to Barry Smith, the original Marvel Conan artist!
@MemphoWrasslin1 that's what i've always thought ! (though i think buscema is a much better artist)... agree with you re bws too...
Barry Smith eventually became a great artist but I'm unimpressed with his early work.
To my mind, Buscema is an illustrator and Kirby is visceral.
Both brilliant in their way.
Great episode, too.
Have you done Steranko?
Another fantastic video! Looking forward to seeing you at the convention!
Always loved John Buscema(especially his Avengers work), though I personally prefer his under appreciated younger brother Sal Buscema. His panel to panel work was amazing, especially during his runs on Incredible Hulk and Spectacular Spider-Man.
MemphoWrasslin1 how long was he on Sub Mariner?
MemphoWrasslin1 I always thought the Bill Mantlo & Sal Buscema Incredible Hulk run was under appreciated and deserved the same recognition as the Peter David run.
@@treyurbach2550 Agreed, and it was always at it's best when Sal inked himself with those electrified razor sharp line work of his.
Sal was great on Rom
Moon Dog now ROM is a book that NEEDS an omnibus or two
Buscema is, to me, the definitive Marvel artist. His designs are classic and are among my favorites ever. His versatility was second to none, and his dedication to the craft was legendary. "Under Siege" is arguably the greatest Avengers story of all, and was even adapted into Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes.
On a sidenote, Superman:Blood of my Ancestors was an excellent story in and of itself. It tells a Conan-esque version of an ancient Kryptonian, Superman's ancestor. Most important of all, it gets into the Jewish roots of Superman by adapting the story of Samson, a great influence on the character himself. A great read, if you can find it.
Great video! I really like this channel. 😎✏️
To me his and neil adams were the comic book artists of the 70's
Don't forget Gil Kane.
*before the Crusty Bunkers alums and Byrne bubbled up in '78
Totally forgot about gil kane! Loved his morbius art on marvel team up.
I grew up with John romita Spider man and sal buscema Hulk.
JB is one of my favorite comic book artist, along with Neal Adams, Jim Lee and George Perez. I love both his runs on the Avengers but Silver Surfer #4 may be his all time work
Joe Sinnott was John Buscema’s best inker, followed by Tom Palmer.
Yup
I did like Ernie Chan as well. Nice textures!
for his conan work alfredo alcala added something special... i found chan's inks a bit too crude though ...on the superhero side i think palmer started out doing a real good job but his inks went through changes and lost some of that fine line detailed look that does buscema's pencils justice... still high level art from them though
1987 Bonnev
Where super hero comics are concerned, I'll agree. Jie Sinnot's inks improved everyone he worked over, but I can't imagine his inks on something like Conan. I think Ernie Chan and Alfredo Alcala gave Big John's pencils a roughness that the genre needed.
@Doc Reasonable wow...didn't like chan myself but i thought alcala was perfect for conan...liked mccleod as well...
Cover Art for Silver Surfer #4. 'Nuff said.
Excited for the new episode. I've been waiting for this one. I'd guess the book "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" might be mentioned. Still have my copy from when I was a kid. Loved his Hulk art the most probably.
I loved that book in my youth. It is such a good art instruction book. I believe that I have owned two copies of that so far.
Buscema's Conan is the standard on which I judge all others.
His Savage Sword of Conan work is absolute genius.
As an aspiring artist in my youth I poured over the pages of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way and knew of John Buscema for many years. I thought of him as workman like but nothing truly incredible until I saw his second run on the Avengers. Just great art with Tom Palmer on inks that gave the Avengers a sense of importance again. Much thanks for the episode. It's a well deserved tribute to an industry giant.
James Fowler I still have my copy of "How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way." Back in the day when you had to mail a parent's check and wait and wait by the mailbox.
@@rumblehat4357 That's pretty cool. I can't say I remember how I got my copy. Some great advice on the basics. Seemingly simple yet I never was able to master them. Buscema made it look effortless like magic.
I’ve read through John Buscema’s work on the Avengers several times. Love the collaboration with Roger Stern and Tom Palmer. When I imagine the Avengers, it looks like Buscema’s and Palmers renditions.
Buscema's Conan was the first I knew and for me thats his best work.
With Ernie Chan inks
Cannot feature that
Chan's links were very much like either of the Buscema brothers....not the same, but very similar
20:24 that definitely looks like Gene Colan art.
Because it is. Wolverine issue 9. Pencil and ink by Gene Colan. Color by Mark Chiarello !
Righttttttt!👍🏽 But a great video.
Nice to see the spotlight shone on one of comicdom's finest illustrators! Fascinating to see his early ambitions and how the passion for drawing ran through it all. John was a Master!
I love the old black and white “SAVAGE SWORD” title‼️
Memories...Savage Sword of Conan. I miss that book.
I’m not even a comic book fan and I have volumes of John Buscema art. The best ever imo.
That how to draw comic book was one of my first looks in the comicsI love drawing when I was a kid so I got it from the library in my elementary school probably first grade(91') and somehow it disappeared and became a huge deal because I couldn't return I still don't know what happenedbut it was awesome because me and my grandfather ended up bonding over Captain America
I still have my first edition "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" and it's still how I do my superhero stuff.
No one ever called Buscema a Kirby clone. Kirby was a entertaining artist for someone with very little actual life drawing skills. Buscema could pass for a renaissance artist his skills were so good. Once he got comfortable with storytelling you saw how good he really was.
Buscema had his own style!!! better than Kirby if you ask me !!! ( No disrespect to the King)
Loved John Buscema! His brother, Our Pal Sal, was my absolute favorite artist. Especially his work on Captain America and The Defenders.
I like his work on Spectacular Spider-Man, which I’m currently re-reading.
Stan was the Man, Kirby The King and Buscema was The Way.
I never thought John Buscema was a Kirby clone.
*"Silver Surfer-"* #4 is one of John Buscema's most famous covers. Thor about to square off against Surfer.....classic cover. I have it as a wallpaper on my phone!
Dr Donald Blake - I use it as the background image on my iPad. That Silver Surfer cover is my favorite comicbook cover. I swear you can almost feel the moment of impact coming when Thor and Surfer collide.
nothing says "post-apocalypse" like a koi pond
“OHAI, you caught me calling Buscema a clone”
The sub mariner no.5.the introduction of tiger shark is a classic buscema issue.and my personal favorite.his work on the avengers is mind blowing.the issue titled deliver us from the masters of evil should go down in history as one of the best comics ever drawn.
Conan, what is best in life.....
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.
@@nickangelo116 👍👍👍😎😎😎
In that intro you sounded so much like Joel Hodgson in MST3K
Loved John Buscema and his version of Conan, which was the Best. Buscema also drew one of my favorite comicbooks of all time-Marvel Super Special No.1, Starring Kiss. This Story featured the origin of Kiss, and told how they were four ordinary guys who were transformed into Magical Warriors by Talismans from a lost Mystic Kingdom.They fought Doctor Doom(who was also after the Mystic Objects), and the Story also features guest appearances by the Fantastic Four and the Avengers.This issue was also infamous because supposedly Kiss band members had their blood drawn at the publisher's, and had the blood poured into the ink that was used to print the comic(I swear I'm not making this up). Anyway, I've always been a big fan of Kiss, Buscema, and Marvel, So I'm happy to say that I still have my copy of Marvel Super Special #1(along with issue #5, with artwork by John Romita) after all these years.
John buscema is Jack Kirby in cursive...
Buscema was better than Kirby. I'm just sayin'.
I prefer 'different' ;)
But, yeah, Buscema is more my taste.
Agreed. Buscema was just better.
Everyone's entitled to their ignorant opinion. Just sayin'
Kirby was more stylized. Which isn’t a problem, but I think that’s why people may say it makes his art less “flexible.”
I think Buscema took Kirby’s “look” and modified it to be more realistic. I was doing research on Thor earlier today, and the first few issues after Kirby left and Buscema joined, you can tell its Buscema, but it was modeled after Kirby’s “look.” Although his style did evolve over time
One thing is for sure. Big John Buscema was one of the most influential artists ever. If not the greatest Marvel artist of all time. Back then i didnt notice, but when i now look at Kirby' and Buscema's art. Kirby was definitely an influence on Buscema. You can see it in Buscema's poses and ocasionally in his scene layouts. The tricky thing is, Buscema had all the technical skill that Kirby lacked. And thus was the far superior artist. Anyway great vid, much appreciated. And here is to John Buscema one of the all time greats!
That Vision 'even an android can cry' panel is classic.
NO! By his own admission, Stan Lee did not Co-create Silver Surfer! Jack Kirby created it unbeknownst to him and he found him in the finished pages.
Stan didn't create any of the characters and I think it's pretty obvious.
Stan didnt create the carachters,
He didnt draw...
What DID he do?
@@alphatrion100 For Kirby and Ditko at least, he mostly just edited. And he was one of the best silver-age editors ever.
Yeah, Stan was just a vulture...and afterwards, Kirby and Ditko never had similar success as with Stan. Clearly just a coincidence.
Ehi, ehi... let's not get carried too far. Silver Surfer is Jack Kirby creation and that's well documented. Kirby and Ditko had way more importance in creating the Marvel universe than given credit for, that's another well documented fact. Saying that Stan Lee did nothing is fanboy rant and should be left at that.
John Buscema's art is absolutely awesome. He is one of the giants of the Silver / Bronze age.
Definitely I prefer John over Kirby.
Me three
👍🏻
Yourself and especially Comic Pop (I love those guys) and Matt Draper have me excited. Comic Drake and comicstorian, nerdsync as well this is going to be a ton of fun
"Jack Kirby clone?" John's style was nothing like Kirby, and Kirby had nothing on Buscema. Buscema is MARVEL COMICS' greatest artist.
Such a well done video. I love it. I now respect John and it’s also awesome because I just ordered that “How to Draw Comics the Marvel way” book.
Probably my absolute favorite comic book artist. I love Jack Kirby, but I never once thought or even heard of him being referred to as a clone of Kirby.
I love John Buscema, but Sal may be my favorite out of the two of them, just because I read a ton of Spectacular Spider-Man as a kid. I’m just glad that now from watching this video I know how to pronounce their last name haha.
excellent video dude
You put an Andrew Wyeth painting in when you said NC Wyeth. Great video though John Buscema was my favorite growing up.
The greatest artist of his era. Thanx, John & Godspeed!
Buscema is an all-time great. Not a clone by any stretch. I read somewhere he hated doing covers because he liked storytelling and didn't want to be pulled away from it. Love his art.
My favorite Buscema trope is the "sinister lounging/slouching on thrones" which has become iconic in comics and a signature scene for any rendering of Mephisto!
Saw the same pose in the Shadow of War video game in a cutscene with an evil spider chick.
@@chuckleezodiac24 Awsome! It also appears in Conan the Barbarian (1982) - right at the end when he's become a bored king on his throne, a perfect homage to the artist! Cheers!
@@CousinCreepy Wow. One of my favorite flicks. Never connected it to Big John! Although he drew Conan many times in a similar position, brooding... JB has permeated All Media!
That Alley Viper helmet is awesome.
Never in my almost 50 years of comics, have i heard that people thought him a “clone” of Kirby. Seems to me a bit misleading, and looking for clicks. Congratulations...
Those incredible black and white crosshatch detail backgrounds in Savage Sword of Conan are the work of the great Filipino inker Alfredo Alcala. He was an overpowering inker for most pencillers but he worked well with Buscema and Don Newton over at DC.
3:29 David Bowie makes a mystery appearance in a comic in 1948 - A year after he was born!
More people need to see your comment!
Believe it or not that is my great uncle I never actually got to meet him but he still holds a special place in my heart. His brother, (my grandpa) Sal or Silvio Buscema also made comics and I've always been fascinated by them because His basement is filled with them. Anyways it's really heart-warming to see so many people interested about him.
Bro, can I come over to your grandpa's house?
being called a Jack Kirby clone is a great, unequivocal honor.
Eh something of an insult if you're not a Kirby fan (I know, wild idea) and think Buscema is far superior.
It can also be insulting to an Artist to say they don't have their own style.
Compared Buscema which is one of best ever with mediocre Kirby .... well everyone have opinion, just like everyone have .....
No it's not.
@@radoman1234 Thank you! Buscema is far superior. Kirby was the Rob Liefeld of his day, all flash and no substance.
Oh thank you so much Chris (man when you promise a treat you don't kid around!) for featuring my personal favorite of all Marvel's great Silver Age artists.
John was anything but a Kirby clone to me. As a matter of fact I think he was easily their most versatile penciler. YES, exactly, he could modify his style to not only draw almost any Marvel title, but nearly always draw it entirely well.
Beyond that no comic book artist drew women quite like Buscema. You could fall in love with a lot of his female depictions. I also don't believe anyone ever drew the Sub-Mariner comic as well.
Thanks again Chris!
I hope you mention Ernie Chan when covering Buscema... Both are great artists and deserve praise. Loved their work on Conan and Incredible Hulk. Looking forward to the video.
You haven't seen Ernie Chan's Batman work, have you, or his DC covers?
I absolutely LOVE this in-depth artist analysis. College worthy stuff you do here bro🤙
The Michealangelo Of Marvel.
And Gene Colan the Rembrandt.
I always pronounced his name as Bew-see-ma. I met his brother Sal at a con, and you'll never meet a nicer, more humble man. (The con announcer the family name like I did, and sal never contradicted him, so I figured we were correct.)
John's art is fundamental and dynamic. Almost always top-tier, IMO.
Be well, everyone.
Boo-schem-ah (Italian pronunciation)
Alright today’s a good day!
Kirby Clones: Barry Smith (up to around 1970-71)
Jim Steranko
Early Keith Giffen
(1976-82)
A lot of Herb Trimpe
Hal Foster/Alex Raymond/Mac Raboy/Burne Hogarth Clones: John Buscema !!!!
The Kirby Clone accusation can be made at most of the artists in comics for a certain period of time. Jack Kirby was the King of Comics and I think artists were told to imitate him to sell magazines. John Buscema was amazing and was my favorite and probably biggest influence. His self inked work, especially in black and white as in Savage Sword of Conan is so sublimely perfect. Nothing extra nor is anything missing. I really regret that I "grew up" when I went to college and sold my How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way! :-(
Don't mean to be a nitpicker, but the picture 'Christina's World' is by Andrew Wyeth, N.C Wyeth's son. N.C. Wyeth is known for his illustrations of 'Last of the Mohicans', 'Treasure Island' and such.
Buscema was a stylist and flair artist in a way that Kirby never could be. The suggestion that they were similar is mind boggling.
I knowingly and willingly clicked the clickbait title, that's a lot of power ComicTropes ;)