Bracketology: The Best Penciler of the Bronze Age Starts Here!

Doug:  Here it is, kids -- the complete Best Penciler of the Bronze Age bracket!  I tried to fill it out as randomly as possible.  I recorded the nominees in the order that our readers suggested them, and then worked them onto the bracket in groups of four.  With each group of four, I put one artist in each quadrant, on the corresponding line.  Then I got the next four, and placed them.  I took just a few liberties:

• I pulled the four artists that you see with a 1st-round bye and put them in those places of honor.  As the bracket adminstrator, I felt that I had the right to do that, so I hope you'll support that.
• I looked at the four quadrants and then tried to balance them out -- at times, this meant exchanging artists across quadrants to create interesting match-ups in certain places and in others avoid big-timers going up against each other in the 1st round.  Obviously I did not always do the latter, as the Frank Miller-Jack Kirby opening round match-up attests.
• No seeding per se took place; the quality of the nominees necessitates that overall some very good artists will exit early.

Doug:  So again, here is how you should vote:

• We are only considering work that was new in the Bronze Age (1970-85); reprinted material should not be considered, nor should output done in prior or succeeding years.
• Please vote only once, unless you are going to change a vote -- I'm sure there is some way to corrupt the system.  Hey, we're just here to have fun, not push any agendas.
• We are looking for "best", not necessarily "favorite" artists, and all aspects of drawing should be considered -- storytelling, anatomy, backgrounds, animals, cars and buildings, etc.  Whatever your favorite book is/was should have no bearing.  In your own mind, try to be as objective as possible.
• That being said, an artist's stature in the field, or perceived impact on the field, really shouldn't be considered.

Doug:  So here it is -- check it out, and vote on the sidebar!  We'll do the second half of the 1st round beginning on Wednesday.