Some of my columns for the Town Crier, as of late, have focused on comic book art.
Toronto has such a rich comic book scene, and of course, we don’t need Margaret Atwood’s gravitas to make the artform legitimate. Of course, that was an ax to grind for me, and I did so subtly.
Still, I grew up reading comic books, digging the artwork and the characters. Sure there’s a cheesecake factor to the work from the ’90s, and now, but regardless comics were a world I dipped into as a teen and even now, on occasion.
For me, I’m more of a polished, realist comic book fan. Abstract stuff, although it’s great art, doesn’t attract my eye as much. Sorry Mignola, Miller.
Here are my Top 25 favourite comic book artists.
| 25. |  |
Artist: Joe Jusko Milieu: Tomb Raider, The Savage Sword of Conan The Best: Heavy Metal Period: 1977 — Present |
|---|---|---|
| 24. |  |
Artist: Andy Kubert Milieu: Ghost Rider, X-Men The Best: Batman Period: 1984 –Present |
| 23. |  |
Artist: John Byrne Milieu: She Hulk, Spider-Man The Best: Batman Period: 1974 — Present |
| 22. |  |
Artist: David Yardin Milieu: Gambit, X-Men The Best: Thunderbolts Period: 2001 — Present |
| 21. |  |
Artist: Joe Ng Milieu: Street Fighter, Transformers The Best: G.I. Joe Period: 2004 — Present |
| 20. |  |
Artist: Alan Davis Milieu: Avengers, Fantastic Four The Best: Excalibur Period: 1985 — Present |
| 19. |  |
Artist: David Finch Milieu: Cyberforce, Daredevil The Best: Batman Period: 1993 — Present |
| 18. |  |
Artist: Mike Mayhew Milieu: Avengers, Justice League The Best: Spider-Man Period: 1992 — Present |
| 17. |  |
Artist: Mike DeBalfo Milieu: Grimm Fairy Tales, Lady Death The Best: Soulfire Period: 2009 — Present |
| 16. |  |
Artist: John Romita, Jr. Milieu: Spider-Man, Superman The Best: Batman Period: 1977 — Present |
| 15. |  |
Artist: Adriana Melo Milieu: Rose & Thorn, Birds of Prey The Best: Ms. Marvel Period: 2003 — Present |
| 14. |  |
Artist: Marc Silvestri Milieu: X-Men, Cyberforce The Best: Shi Period: 1987 — Present |
| 13. |  |
Artist: Adam Hughes Milieu: Ghost, Gen13 The Best: Wonder Woman Period: 1994 — Present |
| 12. |  |
Artist: Ed Benes Milieu: Birds of Prey, Superman The Best: WildC.A.T.S. Period: 1997 — Present |
| 11. |  |
Artist: Mark Brooks Milieu: Cable and Deadpool, Ultimate X-Men The Best: Spider-Man Period: 2002 — Present |
| 10. |  |
Artist: Frank Cho Milieu: Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil The Best: Liberty Meadows Period: 1998 — Present |
| 9. |  |
Artist: Terry Dodson Milieu: X-Men, Harley Quinn The Best: Spider-Man and the Black Cat Period: 1991 — Present |
| 8. |  |
Artist: Al Rio Milieu: Gen13, Grimm Fairy Tales The Best: Captain America Period: Early 1990s — 2012 (Death) |
| 7. |  |
Artist: Todd McFarlane Milieu: Spider-Man The Best: Spawn Period: 1987 — 2012 |
| 6. |  |
Artist: J. Scott Campbell Milieu: Gen 13, Spider-Man The Best: Danger Girl Period: 1993 — Present |
| 5. |  |
Artist: Michael Turner Milieu: Batman, Superman The Best: Supergirl Period: 1998 — 2008 (Death) |
| 4. |  |
Artist: Greg Land Milieu: X-Men, Birds of Prey, Sojourn The Best: X-Men: Phoenix – Endsong Period: 1999 — Present |
| 3. |  |
Artist: Greg Horn Milieu: Emma Frost, Ms. Marvel The Best: She Hulk Period: 2004 — Present |
| 2. |  |
Artist: Jim Lee Milieu: X-Men, Batman: Hush The Best: Batman: Hush Period: 1989 — Present |
| 1. |  |
Artist: Stanley Lau Milieu: Street Fighter, Birds of Prey The Best: Black Cat Period: 2004 — Present |
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Brian, I am so flattered to have made your list! Thank you! One note; you have my active years ending in 2007. Since 2007 I was the regular cover artist on Dynamite’s Warlord of Mars comics, painting over 50 covers and have just completed 135 new Marvel Masterpieces paintings. Lots of other stuff, as well. Still alive and kicking’! lol
Awesome! Thanks for the heads up.