I was surfing Google images to see if there were any more of Ross's variant covers for Marvel's 75th celebration posted online. "Nope" was what I found, but instead saw this. I have no idea where it's from. I tweeted it, but no dice for information so far.
But like the other two recent images, I'd buy a poster of this one, too!!
My only quibble is that lately Ross seems to want one or two colors dominating the entire piece even when he's got multicolored characters in them. If he cranked the yellow tone back a few notches on this it'd be perfect be even as is it's great!
I agree with you. I'm particularly unnerved by his Legion cover for Back Issue #61. That could have been knocked way out of the park if it hadn't been so doggone yellow.
But the FF variant cover we posted a couple of days ago was sweet as is. I thought the dark blue tones seemed appropriate.
Doug, Yeah on that one the dark blues for the uniforms worked well with the fact that it was also depicting the night they snuck on to the base and went up in the rocket.
I agree with you about the Legion cover.
I don't know maybe Alex is going through some weird experimental period in regards to the color schemes on his pieces. Or maybe he's rebelling against the excessively muted color schemes of modern comics but kinda trading one extreme for the other in the process.
(*heavy sigh*) At the risk of being called one of those Ross-haters, I have to say this does nothing to convince me of his greatness - in fact, as per William, I see this attempt to draw an action scene kind of a failure. To me, Ross does best when he just does poster-like poses, more like in your masthead. Personally, I think the same Spidey scene shown here would look infinitely more dynamic if drawn by, say, Romita Sr., either of the Buscemas, Byrne, Simonson, A. Davis ... I could go on and on.
Are we having an issue with Ross's art that there are no speed lines (Rob Liefeld = the God of Speed Lines) and sound effects? Because that's not the point of Ross's very illustrative work. Sure it's photorealistic, because that's what he does -- he uses his buddies to model for him so he can check lighting, etc. I think each panel is supposed to look like a snapshot.
I still don't see the issue. But then, that's the best thing about this blog and its commenters: the possibility to civilly disagree.
Nope, doesn't need speed lines or sound effects - and none of the artists I mentioned would need either to make the image look good to me. On the other hand, Rob Liefeld can draw all of the speed lines, sound effects, ginormous guns or pouches he wants, it still won't make his art look good to me...
Say what you will about Alex Ross, but at least he seems to have a a lot of love for the classic characters and their classic looks. (Just like all of us). So, if nothing else, that makes his work OK in my book.
As for all the yellow he seems to be over using these days - my dad had cataracts a couple of years ago, and he couldn't see yellow. My wife painted my parents kitchen a pale yellow color and he swore it was still white. Plus when he would color correct his photos on the computer, he would crank up the yellow tones and think they looked great. So who knows, maybe Alex Ross has cataracts. He should get it checked out. :)
Personally, there is something about the juxtoposition of Ross's covers with the more cartoony style of other artists/colorists on the inside that really works for me. They work in conversation with each other, as if we are slowly moving from our world to Ross's in-between world made from real-life models to the 4-color world of superheroes within.
Osvaldo, that's an interesting perspective. I never thought of it that way before, but I totally agree, because I don't mind if Ross does a cover, I just really don't like his interior art.
Now where did you find that beauty??
ReplyDeleteSpidey looks better there than in the banner, where he looks dreadful (and, from a design standpoint, is very badly positioned; eek).
ReplyDeleteHi, pal --
ReplyDeleteI was surfing Google images to see if there were any more of Ross's variant covers for Marvel's 75th celebration posted online. "Nope" was what I found, but instead saw this. I have no idea where it's from. I tweeted it, but no dice for information so far.
But like the other two recent images, I'd buy a poster of this one, too!!
Doug
Oops!
ReplyDeleteWilliam P. and I were writing at the same time.
Bill, you and I can be pals, too!!
Doug
My only quibble is that lately Ross seems to want one or two colors dominating the entire piece even when he's got multicolored characters in them. If he cranked the yellow tone back a few notches on this it'd be perfect be even as is it's great!
ReplyDeleteMatt, I think it's the smog...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I'm particularly unnerved by his Legion cover for Back Issue #61. That could have been knocked way out of the park if it hadn't been so doggone yellow.
But the FF variant cover we posted a couple of days ago was sweet as is. I thought the dark blue tones seemed appropriate.
Doug
I can easily make that into a banner, if you need/want it!
ReplyDeleteOsvaldo --
ReplyDeleteI bid thee, BRING IT ON!!
Still have my email address? Let me know and I can tweet it to you.
Thanks a million!!
Doug
Doug, consider me your pal!
ReplyDeleteDoug, Yeah on that one the dark blues for the uniforms worked well with the fact that it was also depicting the night they snuck on to the base and went up in the rocket.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the Legion cover.
I don't know maybe Alex is going through some weird experimental period in regards to the color schemes on his pieces. Or maybe he's rebelling against the excessively muted color schemes of modern comics but kinda trading one extreme for the other in the process.
(*heavy sigh*) At the risk of being called one of those Ross-haters, I have to say this does nothing to convince me of his greatness - in fact, as per William, I see this attempt to draw an action scene kind of a failure. To me, Ross does best when he just does poster-like poses, more like in your masthead.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the same Spidey scene shown here would look infinitely more dynamic if drawn by, say, Romita Sr., either of the Buscemas, Byrne, Simonson, A. Davis ... I could go on and on.
Are we having an issue with Ross's art that there are no speed lines (Rob Liefeld = the God of Speed Lines) and sound effects? Because that's not the point of Ross's very illustrative work. Sure it's photorealistic, because that's what he does -- he uses his buddies to model for him so he can check lighting, etc. I think each panel is supposed to look like a snapshot.
ReplyDeleteI still don't see the issue. But then, that's the best thing about this blog and its commenters: the possibility to civilly disagree.
Doug
Nope, doesn't need speed lines or sound effects - and none of the artists I mentioned would need either to make the image look good to me.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Rob Liefeld can draw all of the speed lines, sound effects, ginormous guns or pouches he wants, it still won't make his art look good to me...
Say what you will about Alex Ross, but at least he seems to have a a lot of love for the classic characters and their classic looks. (Just like all of us). So, if nothing else, that makes his work OK in my book.
ReplyDeleteAs for all the yellow he seems to be over using these days - my dad had cataracts a couple of years ago, and he couldn't see yellow. My wife painted my parents kitchen a pale yellow color and he swore it was still white. Plus when he would color correct his photos on the computer, he would crank up the yellow tones and think they looked great. So who knows, maybe Alex Ross has cataracts. He should get it checked out. :)
Personally, there is something about the juxtoposition of Ross's covers with the more cartoony style of other artists/colorists on the inside that really works for me. They work in conversation with each other, as if we are slowly moving from our world to Ross's in-between world made from real-life models to the 4-color world of superheroes within.
ReplyDeleteOsvaldo, that's an interesting perspective. I never thought of it that way before, but I totally agree, because I don't mind if Ross does a cover, I just really don't like his interior art.
ReplyDeleteJust don't leave it out in the sun or the heroes will melt!
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of artists that go for the "real" look. Ross is clearly a gifted artist, an amazing talent. But, not my cup of tea.
ReplyDelete