Comics 2.0 … Amazing, Painted Comic Book Art
Thanks to computer graphics we currently live in the 3.0 world when it comes to comics. But back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, there was a revolution in the comics industry. I call it comics 2.0.
Somehow, somebody somewhere got the idea of combining fine art with the comics medium. They changed what comics COULD BE forever. In fact, more and more, they came to be known as graphic novels.
And they were amazing …
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Written by Grant Morrison (nsfw), Illustrated by Dave McKean
It goes without saying that Heath Ledger nailed the hellish insanity of the Joker with his performance in The Dark Knight. But Dave KcKean already got it right a long time ago in the Arkham Asylum graphic novel.
Just stare at it for 10 minutes. And then turn the lights out … Boo!
Batman & Judge Dredd: Judgement on Gotham
Written by Alan Grant and John Wagner, Illustrated by Simon Bisley
Simon Bisley is well known as a cover artist - which is where most really great comic art ends up. But thanks to the “painted comics” revolution he was able to bring his edgy Heavy Metal art style to the insides of a few books and do entire stories as well.
Daredevil: Love and War
Written by Frank Miller, Illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz
I think most people know Frank Miller as the creator of Sin City, but he’s done a lot. A LOT. Daredevil: Love and War is an amazing example of what comic books can be in terms of storytelling. If it was a so-called “serious” novel, it would be a NYT best seller.
But enough about Frank, we’re here for the art today. And in comics, the artwork is just as important as the story is, in telling the story.
Elektra: Assassin
Written by Frank Miller, Illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz
My personal fave of all time, bar none. My copy of Elektra Assassin is tattered. It’s been chewed on by a dog. When you open it up, pages fall out.
I wouldn’t part with it for the world.
Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown
Written by Walter Simonson and Louise Simonson, Illustrated by Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams
Meltdown is a really amazing exercise in collaboration. Jon J Muth did all the Havok artwork, and Kent Williams did all the Wolverine artwork … and often, on the same pages! They mailed the pages back and forth between them and did a great job of bringing their different art styles together.
Stray Toasters
Written and Illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz
Beautiful madness. That’s all I can say about Stray Toasters. If you took the movies Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fight Club, Angel Heart, A Clockwork Orange, and Eyes Wide Shut, and put them all together … you still wouldn’t even come close to the quirky characters and bizarre happenings of this story.
Stray Toasters will be a movie one day. When the world is ready.
Blood, a tale
Written by J. M. DeMatteis, Illustrated by Kent Williams
Like Stray Toasters, Blood, a tale is not set in the bright tights world of superheroes that most comics are. So what’s it about?
Think fangs, immortal beings, blood sucking … I think you can guess.
A Convergence of Worlds
Traditional art + comics = something new. It’s often said that everything’s been done before. But all it takes is a simple equation to see how new things are created each and every day.
Stuck? Need ideas? Just find two things you really love and crash them together.
