It's been a while since I posted something on this board. So I thought I'd stir things up again by asking which comic artists or cartoonist inspired you to pick up a pen. With the Small Press Expo in Maryland coming in October, I've been hard at work preparing some mini-comics to distribute, and on and off I've been looking back at some of my favorite manga and graphic novels to get me motivated to work on thumbnails and dialogue at least a few times a week when my busy schedule will allow it.
Infact, I should be doing some drawing now.
O_o
Anyways, without further adieu, here's my list....
Sean Phillips/Steve Lieber/Michael Lark - These artists are cut from the same cloth as their work is more literal, heavily based on real life figure movement (something which I'm trying to improve on myself) - and they use their skills to aid the writer in telling a damn good story. Phillips uses tone and atmosphere to his advantage in Ed Brubaker's "Criminal", Lieber really emphasizes on detail and composition in Greg Rucka's "Whiteout", and Lark takes all those elements that the previous two use in their work, combined with photo realism to create a more documentary style look on his run in "Daredevil" and the late "Gotham Central." I know I'll never be as good as these guys, but I'm in no rush. But if only I can draw a person who looks like he's actually running, and not making a weird stupid dance pose for a camera, I'll be happy.
Scott Morse - From the time I first picked up the Barefoot Serpent, I knew this guy had a lot of powerful story in him that was just aching to present itself to the world. I love how the work of some creators can appeal to both children and adults, and his stuff definitely does that. He also brings the serious side of life into the fantastical settings of the worlds he creates and the result is a truly touching story. Read the Barefoot Serpent, Soulwind, and Visitations and you'll see how they can range from playful, to exciting, to absolutely heartbreaking.
Derek Kirk Kim - I love, LOVE LOVE Same Difference. It touched upon issues I experienced when I was a younger and jaded non-Korean speaking Korean American (man, that sounds so wrong) in high school. Not only that, he shows how comedy works in a comic book while also acknowledging the somber moments of life. Not to sound harsh, but I get annoyed by comic books like Eightball and Optic Nerve as they always contain that high degree of hopelessness and angst about how cruel life is. Yeah, life can suck. But it goes on. And while it does, you can still have a light hearted sense of humor about things.
Oy, please tell me he's got something else coming out soon.
Hayao Miyazaki - His seven volume manga of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind....not to mention his feature films....Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away...... Need I say more?
Jason Lutes - His stuff is like that of the kinds of classic/contemporary literature which I enjoy reading - whether they are socially relevant or based on historical events. Either way, Lutes really breathes life into the settings and characters he draws in a way most people don't. His ongoing series "Berlin" is something I look forward to every few months when it comes out.
Kazu Kibuishi - I don't need to say anything about Amulet, Copper or Daisy Kutter, because we all know how good he is. But being the editor of Flight and giving new talents the opportunity to tell their stories, putting up this board encouraging other artists to share their work, and creating this small but enthusiastic community of artists makes an incredible statement about his love for the medium. You're extremely awesome for that Kazu, so thanks.
Now enough of the Speed Racer love and give us Amulet 2.
Jeff Smith - Not only is he an extremely nice guy (I met him at SPX last year), but his comic Bone was inspiring in that you can tell a story that can appeal to both children and adults. I read the entire saga while on a plane to England earlier this year, and was delighted to find how it could make me laugh when it wanted to, or tense me up in serious moment when it was necessary. It's good for a young reader to have a healthy dose of both worlds before entering adulthood. I know this will be a graphic novel I'll be having my child read one day.
Osamu Tezuka - Phoenix has become one of my all time favorites and I plan on buying Buddha very soon. If you look at his body of work, it almost takes your breath away at how prolific he is. And despite his cartoony drawing style, he creates stories which can be dark and serious in contrast to some of the wacky humorous moments he can weave in from time to time. Not only that, he had a geniune love for working in comics(something that I think exists in almost everyone on this board). One of the last things he said when he was close to his death bed was "I just want to keep working."
Truly an inspiration.
Well, that's me. Anyone else care to contribute?
