The question I am always asked about the comics industry is who should I be reading? That question I have no worries about answering. I think there are many great writers and artists who everyone knows the name of, whether or not they enjoy the work of those creative talents. This column is not about them. This column is about who is doing great work, but toiling without much, if any, recognition for their efforts, or, deserving more. I asked a number of fine talents who they felt were the talents deserving far greater recognition for their work. Below are their answers. Following their answers are my own. Thank you to the creative people who answered my questions, I appreciate it!
THEIR VIEWS
Mike Baron: Sorry, Alex. I have no idea what's going on in comics right now.
Brian Michael Bendis:My answer is almost all of them comics in general needs wider recognition. It is the primary creative force of our culture. Video games, movies and tv steal from comics all day long.
Joshua Hale Fialkov: What Comic Book Artist is today doing work that deserves far greater recognition? Sean Phillips. The guy can do anything from superheroes to gritty crime, and does it all with a superior sense of design that is second only to his massive storytelling ability. What Comic Book Writer is today doing work that deserves far greater recognition? Sean McKeever. He might be the only guy in the history of comics who's corporate owned work is even better than his creator owned. His first volume of Sentinel, and the too soon canceled Inhumans were positively breathtaking. Gravity did something most thought impossible, he created a superhero who wasn't a knock off of an already established character and made him both immediately relatable and instantly charming. It's a shame that he's not one of the top guys in the industry right now, because he sure as hell as the chops.
Steven Grant: Had to think about this a bit. What Comic Book Artist is today doing work that deserves far greater recognition? Charlie Adlard. What Comic Book Writer is today doing work that deserves far greater recognition? Me, of course.
Paul Gulacy: I know some creators but I cannot tell you if they are receiving the due attention or not? You dig? Maybe they are but I just don't have the answer.
Jeremy Haun: For Artist? Well, aside from say...ME, I'd have to go with my good friend Jason Latour (Expatriate). His stuff has gone from really great to downright amazing just in the five issues of Expatriate that I've seen. Jason is headed places... possibly MARS, but places. For Writer? B. Clay Moore is EASILY one of best writers working in comics right now. He's also an ass.
Rich Koslowski: What Comic Book Artist is today doing work that deserves far greater recognition? Rich Koslowski, of course! Hmmm...might seem a bit desperate to say myself, hey? Okay then...Geez, there are so many who deserve more recognition by the "mainstream" audience. The "small press" side of comics is loaded with seriously talented people. It's really impossible for me to single out one individual that's more deserving than others. And, unfortunately, it probably a) wouldn't reach the people who need to pay attention to this individual's work and/or b) wouldn't make them buy it anyways even if they did read this and I endorsed this individual. So to those people whom I speak of (if you are, by chance, reading this), you've most likely seen the reviews of many talented "indy" artists raving about their work but you have--for whatever reason--been reluctant to pick up their work...GO Dammit! Right now! Go to your local shop and pick it up! Whatever it might be. There's more than just Spider-Man and Spawn out there. Trust me. Kind of a mini-rant, hey? What Comic Book Writer is today doing work that deserves far greater recogniti
Kalman Andrasofszky is a wonderful cover artist. His covers make a dull comic exciting, and a great comic sublime. He has worked in Role Playing Games and elsewhere, so there is a sense in his work of the iconic presentation, a single image capturing a great or important moment.
His work MORA has received critical praise, but it has unfortunately been lost on the newsstands. It is said to resume, in graphic novel format, and while that would please me, I am not sure it will happen. Paul Harmon’s work is very moody, beautiful and tells stories with a certain power and grace that is rare. He has done the pencils for SEA OF RED, a great comic, and will probably do more. But he is at his best I think, when the story is his, and the pencils follow his plot and words.
I have not read a story that Clay Moore wrote that I did not really like. And while I am happy he works at IMAGE and now DDP, I cannot imagine a reason why he is not a full time writer at the big two. There is a level of smart in his work that continually makes me smile, and a level of fun in his work that makes comics by him to be must have for me.
When I went to SDCCI in 2005 there was an ashcan of ROBOTIKA at the booth of ASP Comics. The beauty of the page, the subject matter and wildly enormous ideas presented just blew me away. I reviewed the ashcan of ROBOTIKA #1, and my view of the unlimited issue #1 is little different, the art is fabulous. I have the highest hopes that this series opens eyes across the comics industry, and Mr. Sheikman is so fully employed that he illustrates every comic on the stands. OK maybe not.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thank you to everyone who sent in answers to my questions. I absolutely appreciate every answer.
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