Post by G on Dec 15, 2007 15:11:28 GMT -5
I think you'll find a lot of people hate John Bryne's work these days. And I would probably fall into that crowd as well. Some artist have simplified their craft so much over the years that they can create comics and characters one after the other, but the overall look and feels looks like work that has been rushed or was so easy to draw, it looks like the bare minimum of the artist's true talent was used. Instead, he completed a job and got the job done. This is how I feel when I see later John Bryne works these days. I generally wouldnt go and pick his work up anymore. Its such a shame, because originally, I didnt feel that way at all.
John Bryne is one of the 1st superstars in my day. My 1st comic was X-Men #110. Which Bryne did NOT draw. But I liked the book so much, I went back and got X-Men #111 and BOY was that an awesome piece of work! The Magneto shot at the end was just so tight. Followed by X-Men #112 - 114 with the famous Volcano climax. By time I had reached these issues I was completely hooked. I had a few other comics by then, but Bryne was already my favorite artist. His work was tight and had a lot in it. It was fluid and told the story so well. I loved his work.
X-Men will certainly be a highlight of his career. Even though that run lasts from 108 - 143, I feel the real gems were in the 111 - 122 area. That is peak fantastic stuff there. Towards the late 120's, I started noticing his work was slightly looser. It was still hot and had a great impact...I just noticed it wasnt as tight as it used to be.
I do think the Dark Phoenix Saga is a gem and it was powerful for me as a 13 year old kid. I mean back then, main heroes didnt get killed off. It was surreal, but I was loving the book. When it was announced Bryne was leaving, I had mixed feelings. I was truly sad he was going, but I also did feel after the Dark Phoenix Saga, that he wasnt quite what he once used to be. I dont know what made him leave, perhaps someone else does. I do recall not long after he was gone, I was wishing he was back. That was the 1st time I recall a creator leaving a book and it really hurt the series. Cockrum was back and Although I generally love his work from 94 - 107, I found his 2nd stint to be poor. How could you follow up one of the great runs in history anyway? It was probably more bad timing than anything. I just didnt find Cockrums work appealing on X-Men after Byrne left.
Bryne would go on to both do good work and loosen his style to the point where it wasnt what it used to be. But I do think 1 other title he did doesnt get the praise it deserves and that is the work he did on Fantastic Four. Although I dont think the work is artistically as nice as his earliest X-Men works, I do think he did a fine job on it and what I do think he did over other creators, is he made the title fun to look at and read again. I have to be honest, I havent cared much for FF since he left. I once again didnt think his late FF work matched his earlier FF work, but still it was better than most out there. Even though I have collected countless issues of the title since he left, his work stands out for me as a great run to me.
I also enjoyed his short run on Alpha Flight. It seems Bryne leaving killed yet another title, because once again, he left and that was it for me. I never cared again.
After that, I just dont have much to point to. Oh yes, his Captain America run was fun, but too short. What else was there?
I dont know where you stand. I expect some to come on here and rip him and say they hated him forever and always. But, I dont feel that way. I love his old stuff and dont really care for his newer stuff. Where is he now, what does he do now? Does he still create?
1 last note. I often thought it was a shame he got yanked from Charlton when he did. Even though his work looked very raw compared to where he was going, It looked easy to see that he was a major talent for Charlton. There really isnt enough Byrne Charltons. I wish he just had a little more time with them. He was a mid 70s bright spot for that company.
If I was to be asked do I like John Bryne more than I dislike him, Id have to answer yes. I feel he has too many good works to let his mediocre work overshadow it. Because for me, for 2 or 3 years when I was young. John Bryne was THE man at comics!
John Bryne is one of the 1st superstars in my day. My 1st comic was X-Men #110. Which Bryne did NOT draw. But I liked the book so much, I went back and got X-Men #111 and BOY was that an awesome piece of work! The Magneto shot at the end was just so tight. Followed by X-Men #112 - 114 with the famous Volcano climax. By time I had reached these issues I was completely hooked. I had a few other comics by then, but Bryne was already my favorite artist. His work was tight and had a lot in it. It was fluid and told the story so well. I loved his work.
X-Men will certainly be a highlight of his career. Even though that run lasts from 108 - 143, I feel the real gems were in the 111 - 122 area. That is peak fantastic stuff there. Towards the late 120's, I started noticing his work was slightly looser. It was still hot and had a great impact...I just noticed it wasnt as tight as it used to be.
I do think the Dark Phoenix Saga is a gem and it was powerful for me as a 13 year old kid. I mean back then, main heroes didnt get killed off. It was surreal, but I was loving the book. When it was announced Bryne was leaving, I had mixed feelings. I was truly sad he was going, but I also did feel after the Dark Phoenix Saga, that he wasnt quite what he once used to be. I dont know what made him leave, perhaps someone else does. I do recall not long after he was gone, I was wishing he was back. That was the 1st time I recall a creator leaving a book and it really hurt the series. Cockrum was back and Although I generally love his work from 94 - 107, I found his 2nd stint to be poor. How could you follow up one of the great runs in history anyway? It was probably more bad timing than anything. I just didnt find Cockrums work appealing on X-Men after Byrne left.
Bryne would go on to both do good work and loosen his style to the point where it wasnt what it used to be. But I do think 1 other title he did doesnt get the praise it deserves and that is the work he did on Fantastic Four. Although I dont think the work is artistically as nice as his earliest X-Men works, I do think he did a fine job on it and what I do think he did over other creators, is he made the title fun to look at and read again. I have to be honest, I havent cared much for FF since he left. I once again didnt think his late FF work matched his earlier FF work, but still it was better than most out there. Even though I have collected countless issues of the title since he left, his work stands out for me as a great run to me.
I also enjoyed his short run on Alpha Flight. It seems Bryne leaving killed yet another title, because once again, he left and that was it for me. I never cared again.
After that, I just dont have much to point to. Oh yes, his Captain America run was fun, but too short. What else was there?
I dont know where you stand. I expect some to come on here and rip him and say they hated him forever and always. But, I dont feel that way. I love his old stuff and dont really care for his newer stuff. Where is he now, what does he do now? Does he still create?
1 last note. I often thought it was a shame he got yanked from Charlton when he did. Even though his work looked very raw compared to where he was going, It looked easy to see that he was a major talent for Charlton. There really isnt enough Byrne Charltons. I wish he just had a little more time with them. He was a mid 70s bright spot for that company.
If I was to be asked do I like John Bryne more than I dislike him, Id have to answer yes. I feel he has too many good works to let his mediocre work overshadow it. Because for me, for 2 or 3 years when I was young. John Bryne was THE man at comics!
