Crisis on Infinite Earths has its detractors, but I will always fondly remember the series, mostly due to George Perez illustrating the entire pantheon of DC Comics. For that reason, I was very excited when Marvel released The Infinity Gauntlet, a series of their own featuring most of their big stars and also drawn by George Perez. I was disappointed when he left the mini series after a couple of issues though. Ron Lim did a fine job picking up the reins, but I always wondered what the remainder of that series would have been like with Perez on art chores.
For me, the '80's were defined by George Perez. He was EVERY where! The Avengers, Justice League, New Teen Titans, Crisis, Infinity Gauntlet, War of the Gods. If he wasn't doing the interior art on a book, he was doing the cover. He's still pretty awesome. I'm shocked, and a little disappointed that DC would undo Crisis. I can see alternate realities, like mirror universes, but 52 or multiple Earths? I'm disappointed that DC thought more complicated was better than less complicated - at least a single timeline seemed that way to me.
ReplyDeleteI share your nostalgia for Perez. I'm so excited that he's going to be at my local Comicon this year. Right here in little old Greenville , SC! I'm going to get him to sign my coy of New Teen Titans #2, the first appearance of Deathstroke.
ReplyDeleteI share your nostalgia for Perez. I'm so excited that he's going to be at my local Comicon this year. Right here in little old Greenville , SC! I'm going to get him to sign my coy of New Teen Titans #2, the first appearance of Deathstroke.
ReplyDeleteI share the love for George Perez, not only because he's amazingly talented at depicting huge scene, but because he's one of the few authors that are able to give each and every character a distinct look and feel (take a look at how he drew Cap and Hawkeye in his 2000 and something run on Avengers).
ReplyDeleteI have to say that he has one big limit thought: costume design. For all my love for mr. Perez and his amazing work things like Nightwing's original costume are a real eyesore.
I never had trouble following the DC Pre-Crisis multiverse. So killing off Barry Allen and the Silver Age Supergirl will always be unpardonable sins as far as I'm permanently concerned. Which is why I never got into the Infinity Gauntlet story arc(s).
ReplyDeleteGeorge's artwork brought up too many intolerably painful memories.
:-(
@Anonymous: I agree, but I hold Marv Wolfman and Jenette Kahn responsible more than Perez. The story was a mess, but he did a fantastic job illustrating it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line from Sergio Aragones Destroys DC was when Sergio was kicked out of the DC offices because he wanted to draw superhero stories. Sergio proclaimed, "I will show them that I am George Perez rolled into one!"
Hey! I asked for this cover years ago...only the blurb was differenti (I suggested "Orange is the new Black...fire!")
ReplyDeleteGood things come to those who wait...
ReplyDelete@Bob Buethe: LOL! Thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDelete@Ross: Giulio's title was a bit catchier. ;-)
I had the opportunity to meet both George and Marv years ago, both were friendly and I admit I'm a big fan of both, but still think the whole Crisis deal has proven a mistake. Both did great with New Teen Titans, and are big talents otherwise. The Perez art seems to make even the worst story ideas work somehow! He was one of the most significant new artists for the 80s.
ReplyDeletePerez and John Byrne were the two big artists of my youth. I love their feel for anatomy and realism. I remember reading an article that said hyper-realistic art works best for fantasy and SF and I tend to agree.
ReplyDelete@Bob Buethe: I agree with you about who bears ultimate irresponsibility for the way COIE ended. However, I think what Anonymous meant was, George's artwork would always serve as a painful reminder of that inexcusable decision by Wolfman and Kahn. That's certainly how it made me feel!
ReplyDeleteNothing personal intended, Mr. Perez. Just grief-stricken association.