There are certain artists that fill out my list of superlatives for comic book artwork. My personal favorite? Nobody will top Jim Aparo for the memories his artwork stirs from my childhood. Best comics artist ever? For me, it's Joe Kubert, hands down. Best cover artists? Gil Kane and Nick Cardy for Marvel and DC respectively. But the best cartoonist of all time? Now that one I do not even have to think about - Sergio Aragones! His signature style has kept me laughing for decades, he is truly a master of the form!
Out of curiosity, what about Eiichiro Oda, artist for "One Piece", who dabbles in artwork greatly resembling Aragones'?
ReplyDeleteGot him to do a quick sketch at a con many years ago. His drawing? Batman traveling by bat-line....but it broke in mid arc. Bat's face was "uh oh".
ReplyDeleteI also loved Carmine on the 60s Flash, especially his continued use of the after images as Flash ran. Neal A. & Dick G. were a great pair on countering the effect the tv show had on the late 60s Batman.
Another perfect cover looking like a real book. Muchos kudos.
ReplyDeleteCurt Swan and Jack Kirby were my favorites on Silver Age Superman. The former, for Action Comics. The latter, for JIMMY OLSEN as part of the 4th World Saga.
ReplyDeleteNuff said!
Sergio is one of the few instant favorites of mine, and I enjoyed Groo and HOM and his work there, surprising I never thought of this crossover! Don Martin was another instant favorite for humor, and there were several in the more serious superheroes,horror, adventure, etc.
ReplyDeleteI always hoped for a team up series like Brave and Bold featuring Groo teaming with other heroes, so seeing him here is always a nice surprise! Great way to end the year!
Considering that Sergio was the artist on Galactus back when Captain Klutz faced off against him in #1244, I think you're on to something there.
ReplyDelete(I'd still love to see something like Captain Klutz teaming up with the Inferior Five! "The fate of the world is in their hands... may God have mercy on our souls!")
Definitely agree, his work on Mad Magazine and Groo were always a favorite.
ReplyDeleteThe only other artist I'd put up against him would be Fred Hembeck
I've got to go with George Perez as my overall favorite. After that, there's just too many to try to rank: Kirby, Swan, Kane, Infantino, Kubert, Neal Adams, Alan Davis, John Byrne, John Buscema, Jim Starlin, Jerry Ordway, Dick Dillin, Sal Buscema, etc., etc., etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd for single painted images and covers, Alex Ross.
Where did this Aragones artwork for Cain originally appear?
ReplyDelete@Simreeve: my guess? Some point between Nov. 8, 1977 and Feb. 16, 2000.
ReplyDeleteAs in, in between "Marvel Comics Presents STAR WARS (v.1) #8" and "Sergio Aragones Stomps STAR WARS."
ReplyDeleteIf you are talking about humor artists I like Sergio but Phil Foglio is the master. When Foglio does a big scene you can read it multiple times before noticing yet another joke in it. These days he mostly works on his in-house electronic comic Girl Genius.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see Marvel's "Girl Genius" Moon Girl meet her and how Agatha reacted to her "she became a park real early" and Devil Dinosaur.
Note: for those that do not know Girl Genius was originally a comic but the authors decided to stop publication and just do it electronically.
That is a "spark early". Sorry was using laptop and auto correction on that browser is weird.
ReplyDeleteHow about Groo vs. Xena?
ReplyDeleteOr, failing that, Groo vs. Deadpool? I know for a fact that Ross has never done them (as yet)!
ReplyDelete