Comments on: A Year of Cool Comic Book Moments – Day 57

By: FunkyGreenJerusalem

FunkyGreenJerusalem — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:45:47 +0000

The ‘flattery’ panel creeps me out.

I know what that dirty old bugger used to think about Jean Grey when she was a teen…

By: Jack Norris

Jack Norris — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:57:39 +0000

Well, T, artists are if anything even more of a subjective thing than preference in writers, so I’ll just say I never cared for Silvestri’s style, but more in a not-my-cup-of-tea sense than in a he’s-a-no-talent sense. Quite some time ago someone said something along the lines of “while a competent artist, no artist sums up what I look for in comic art the least more than George Perez”; I think it was a contributor in an official post rather than a commenter, but I can’t remember. It might even have been Joe Rice, I’m not sure. Anyway, I’d have to say that’s how I feel about Silvestri.
JRJr: as I said, he’s done a lot that I like, but his X-run is my least favourite of all his work.
Also, let’s not forget, for all these artists (including Smith), nobody was done any favours by the fact that all the artists we’re discussing worked during the period with some of the shittiest printing in the history of comics, and the washed-out colours and white backgrounds sadly characteristic of the era.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:02:26 +0000

I believe it was just an unresolved dangling thread, Chris.

“Sadly,” (quotes because, well, really, it’s not THAT big of a deal), Whedon decided for some reason to ret-con Lockheed’s origin, so anything that Claremont DID have planned is likely superseded by now.

By: Cheeris

Cheeris — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:56:33 +0000

Good column as always Brian!

I was just reminded of something looking at those panels – I remember the first time I read these 80s X-Men stories they seemed to imply that Claremont was putting in preparation work for a future ‘secret history of Lockheed’ storyline (Lockheed being impervious to Xavier’s mental probes etc.).

Was this just me ‘discovering’ something that wasn’t there or was this covered at all later on? Or was it another of Claremont’s unresolved dangling threads?

By: Dean

Dean — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:06:55 +0000

While I love some of JRJr’s work, his X-stint is nowhere near his best, and coincides with when Claremont was seriously starting to go off the rails, quality-wise (which I guess isn’t his fault, but sure doesn’t help).

The JRjr caused me to drop the X-Men with occasional re-visits since. The title really did not play to his strengths at all. Claremont jumped the shark as writer around X-Men #200, but the art had turned me off by then.

Paul Smith may be my favorite X-Men artist. The title really seems to be well served by sleek, clean line work.

By: T.

T. — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:17:53 +0000

Have to respectfully disagree jack, I loved Jr Jr’s work, and I even liked Silvestri’s run. I’d call Silvestri the last really good artist to work with claremont.

By: Jack Norris

Jack Norris — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:52:39 +0000

Smith was the last really good artist to work with Claremont on the X-Men, on some of the last truly worthwhile storylines of Claremont’s run.
While I love some of JRJr’s work, his X-stint is nowhere near his best, and coincides with when Claremont was seriously starting to go off the rails, quality-wise (which I guess isn’t his fault, but sure doesn’t help).
After that, things start getting seriously ugly visually, with stories to match.

By: Dalarsco

Dalarsco — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:10:28 +0000

While awesome stories, as a team they were lame compared to the X-Men. Remember that Kitty is a super-genius. She’s been operating fine with adults, and would be stifled having to work with the kids all the time.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:21:19 +0000

“what’s REALLY funny about this ‘moment’ is how it’s taken for granted that the new mutants are lame”

Gee, wonder why that might be.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:08:07 +0000

Doug M. wonders:
“Am I the only person anywhere ever who’s not that impressed by Paul Smith?”
No, Doug M., you are not.

By: Tenzil Kem

Tenzil Kem — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:13:36 +0000

“Am I the only person anywhere ever who’s not that impressed by Paul Smith?”

Yes.

By: JasonL

JasonL — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:39:14 +0000

I really, really liked Paul Smith’s work on X-Men. So many issues in that run rank among my favourites. This one, the double size one vs. Mastermind, Wolverine vs. Silver Samurai. Good stuff.

By: chad

chad — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:28:45 +0000

i remember the issue . the look of wondering if he would be eaten by a dragon by Xavier is priceless not to mention Kitty doing everything she can to change his mind. another cool moment

By: Pól Rua

Pól Rua — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:03:51 +0000

Thanks. Now I miss ‘Leave It To Chance’.
Harumph.

By: fanboy d

fanboy d — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:46:30 +0000

yeah that facial expression work is amazing!

what’s REALLY funny about this ‘moment’ is how it’s taken for granted that the new mutants are lame

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:43:58 +0000

Am I the only person anywhere ever who’s not that impressed by Paul Smith?

Yes, he has his strengths — facial expressions, set piece layouts, clean linework. But his action scenes are often weak and sometimes suck, his sense of perspective can be way the hell off (look at Kitty’s head in that opening page) and he never did learn how to draw hair — it’s always a few wavy lines and, umm, let the colorist finish. Go and look at those panels again: do they, or do they not, look like they’re wearing Lego snap-on wigs?

I’m not saying he was a bad artist. But I find him a really flawed one.

Doug M.

By: Sean Whitmore

Sean Whitmore — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:41:00 +0000

I’m surprised the Comics Code let her get away with that.

By: jazzbo

jazzbo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:34:39 +0000

Yes it does. She says Nightcrawler in the panel where she beats the Prof at chess.

By: Sean Whitmore

Sean Whitmore — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:12:48 +0000

Definitely the most memorable Kitty dialogue that doesn’t contain the N word.

By: Dan Felty

Dan Felty — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:07:07 +0000

This is a very cool moment!