Post by G on Jan 19, 2008 20:52:28 GMT -5
Link: www.robliefeld.net
Here is a creator who has controversy and news follow him wherever he goes and whatever he works on. I cannot think of a single artist who draws such vile and hatred for his craft than Rob Liefeld. Whether deserved or not remains the question.
Certainly there have been famously bad pictures along the way, none more notorious than the incredibly bad Captain America profile pic with the chest sticking out in an absolutely deformed way.
Or how about being credited with the 1st Image book, Youngblood and at the time owning one of the largest print runs on a single comic ever. Perhaps having that kind of power to have so many books printed with somewhat sub par art has rendered him a villain in many fans minds as many feel it wasnt deserved.
Still yet he had his own Levi's jeans commercial made by Spike Lee. Ran out of Image and ran out of Marvel's Heroes Reborn storyline, he lived on.
Many cited his lack of originality and ripping off many characters when creating his own. Or even ripping off existing pictures by other artists. His creativity has been attacked as well.
His drawings for many years lacked feet and backgrounds rarely appeared. Teeth magically doubled in ones mouth. Proportions exaggerated with legs 6 ft long on a person who easily only should have been 6 feet to begin with.
Many just keep asking why? Why does this man keep getting comics to draw and hasnt been completely cast out of comics? What is it that keeps Liefeld going?
I dont know the answers to all of this. But I do believe part of it was his style. True he was riding the wave of the Image house style. But for awhile there, Liefeld's images appeared unique in their own way. Some of his covers appeared dynamic and eye catching. He made you look even if it was just to get a closer look at how bad it may have been. Some of his work....wasnt bad actually.
And looking back. Even though he was plagued with being late like other Image artists, over the years there is actually a large library of his completed works out there. And still yet, many of his projects today get completed on time.
There is also a quick buzz when putting Liefeld on a book. People want to see. Maybe for how good and maybe for how bad. As a comic company looking for a little buzz on a particular title, that cant be a bad thing to have some publicity, even if it is bad, he gets people looking.
How do I personally feel? Well.....to be honest I have to say during his Image years I despised him with a passion. But, I looked and found an image (no pun intended) or two that for some odd reason....appealed to me.
Over the years, I hate to say it...but over the years I think he has gotten progressively, if not painfully slowly....gasp....better as time has went along. I just recently got Marvel Onslaught which he did and although there is still some famous mistakes he makes over and over, he put in what I thought was a solid effort. In short....I think he is sometimes unfairly ridiculed. Oh, I believe everything I posted above this to be true. I believe all those bad pictures he did was bad and will forever remain bad for the remainder of his career. But....I also think he isnt the worst thing out there. Sometimes I would rather look at his art today (with the progressions) than some of the so called hot artists who make me sick with their endless stream of sameness over and over again.
I feel over the years there have always been bad artists who had work. Frank Springer in my opinion comes to mind. I thought his work was horrid. But yet he was drawing books like the Invaders monthly. I understand his earlier works are in much higher regard. But still....in my day...he was crap to me.
You can show me over and over and over that Rob Liefeld sucks and I will look at it and say....yeah, that sucks. There is so many examples of it, it isnt funny. My thread here that I am creating hates him as well as I find myself defending him at the same time. However, in his defense. I personally feel I have seen a progression. I think he has gotten better. And I think he is unrightfully the lightening rod for a lot of negativity. I will take him with a progression over someone else or some title or company that is spinning its wheels and going nowhere in my eyes.
I still dont think I can stomach a lot of his work. Too much Liefeld is just that...too much. But, I think after looking at his work for nearly 20 years now. I think he isnt the cancer to comics most people make him out to be. Call me sick (or some other adjective)....But, I wouldnt turn away from a book just because Liefeld drew it. It may certainly be a reason why I walk away from it. But it wont stop me from looking at it and maybe buying it either.
Bash away....
Here is a creator who has controversy and news follow him wherever he goes and whatever he works on. I cannot think of a single artist who draws such vile and hatred for his craft than Rob Liefeld. Whether deserved or not remains the question.
Certainly there have been famously bad pictures along the way, none more notorious than the incredibly bad Captain America profile pic with the chest sticking out in an absolutely deformed way.
Or how about being credited with the 1st Image book, Youngblood and at the time owning one of the largest print runs on a single comic ever. Perhaps having that kind of power to have so many books printed with somewhat sub par art has rendered him a villain in many fans minds as many feel it wasnt deserved.
Still yet he had his own Levi's jeans commercial made by Spike Lee. Ran out of Image and ran out of Marvel's Heroes Reborn storyline, he lived on.
Many cited his lack of originality and ripping off many characters when creating his own. Or even ripping off existing pictures by other artists. His creativity has been attacked as well.
His drawings for many years lacked feet and backgrounds rarely appeared. Teeth magically doubled in ones mouth. Proportions exaggerated with legs 6 ft long on a person who easily only should have been 6 feet to begin with.
Many just keep asking why? Why does this man keep getting comics to draw and hasnt been completely cast out of comics? What is it that keeps Liefeld going?
I dont know the answers to all of this. But I do believe part of it was his style. True he was riding the wave of the Image house style. But for awhile there, Liefeld's images appeared unique in their own way. Some of his covers appeared dynamic and eye catching. He made you look even if it was just to get a closer look at how bad it may have been. Some of his work....wasnt bad actually.
And looking back. Even though he was plagued with being late like other Image artists, over the years there is actually a large library of his completed works out there. And still yet, many of his projects today get completed on time.
There is also a quick buzz when putting Liefeld on a book. People want to see. Maybe for how good and maybe for how bad. As a comic company looking for a little buzz on a particular title, that cant be a bad thing to have some publicity, even if it is bad, he gets people looking.
How do I personally feel? Well.....to be honest I have to say during his Image years I despised him with a passion. But, I looked and found an image (no pun intended) or two that for some odd reason....appealed to me.
Over the years, I hate to say it...but over the years I think he has gotten progressively, if not painfully slowly....gasp....better as time has went along. I just recently got Marvel Onslaught which he did and although there is still some famous mistakes he makes over and over, he put in what I thought was a solid effort. In short....I think he is sometimes unfairly ridiculed. Oh, I believe everything I posted above this to be true. I believe all those bad pictures he did was bad and will forever remain bad for the remainder of his career. But....I also think he isnt the worst thing out there. Sometimes I would rather look at his art today (with the progressions) than some of the so called hot artists who make me sick with their endless stream of sameness over and over again.
I feel over the years there have always been bad artists who had work. Frank Springer in my opinion comes to mind. I thought his work was horrid. But yet he was drawing books like the Invaders monthly. I understand his earlier works are in much higher regard. But still....in my day...he was crap to me.
You can show me over and over and over that Rob Liefeld sucks and I will look at it and say....yeah, that sucks. There is so many examples of it, it isnt funny. My thread here that I am creating hates him as well as I find myself defending him at the same time. However, in his defense. I personally feel I have seen a progression. I think he has gotten better. And I think he is unrightfully the lightening rod for a lot of negativity. I will take him with a progression over someone else or some title or company that is spinning its wheels and going nowhere in my eyes.
I still dont think I can stomach a lot of his work. Too much Liefeld is just that...too much. But, I think after looking at his work for nearly 20 years now. I think he isnt the cancer to comics most people make him out to be. Call me sick (or some other adjective)....But, I wouldnt turn away from a book just because Liefeld drew it. It may certainly be a reason why I walk away from it. But it wont stop me from looking at it and maybe buying it either.
Bash away....