New Marvel Legends/6" Appreciation Thread

VonPooten · 02-19-2016, 10:35 AM

@TBM, Fair enough!

As I know, art is crucial to you in the comic medium as a visual person, which it rightly should be. I misconstrued your affection for the classics and dissatisfaction of the contemporary for being jaded, and for that I most assuredly apologise. I have encountered people from time to time who dislike anything recent because "now is bad, then is great," which is a mindset that can only result in absolute disappointment.

As I say, I can throw around the word "love" because I really do feel that way about plenty of artists. I can sit and gaze in awe at a panel from a comic drawn in 1938, 1963, or 2013 and fall for how the bodies are drawn, how powers are depicted, how (you'll laugh at this one) rubble is shown. I love rubble. I said it! This is why I am drawn to Coipel so dearly. When Thor crashes into the ground, it cracks; chunks are flung skyward, clumps of soil fill the panel. It's cinematic as heck, but it's a detail that I very much appreciate!

I'm extremely curious though, what is it about Alan Davis, John Byrne, Romita Jr that draws you in? What is it about their work that grabs you so intently?

Bringing it back to figures, it's for this very reason that I enjoy variety in bucks, parts, costumes and expressions. I like a diverse group of characters who somehow fit together, with expressive powers and stylistic designs, and wicked cool accessories, of course.

donmeca2020 · 02-19-2016, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exodus

4-5 dang that's Marvel too yeesh glad I stopped buying comics then...

I was hoping they would have gotten rid of the all new X-Men, the ones that Beast brought from the past into the present...what is going on with the x-titles recently?

It's going to hit Marvel hard when DC does what they just announced yesterday at bringing ALL their titles back to the $2.99 pricing.

While i still buy both marvel and Dc comics regularly i will have to agree that some of the titles do just plain suck.... i don't think all the art is garbage though. just some titles. Squirrel girl, Silk, the new power man and iron fist art took some getting used to be the story was actually great.

Today's only top talent to me at least is J Scott Campbell, Alex Ross, Chad Hughes. i've started to get used to Humberto ramos on spider man but not they sent him over to one of the X titles.

Spyne98 · 02-19-2016, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donmeca2020

It's going to hit Marvel hard when DC does what they just announced yesterday at bringing ALL their titles back to the $2.99 pricing.

I am so happy with this news. Lately I have been feeling rather blah on some DC titles, but with this price I feel ok reading books that will hopefully get better. However, if something is utter garbage, I'll drop it.
I've become critical of my Marvel books. There's no reason why some should be as expensive as they are. Especially when the content isn't there.

donmeca2020 · 02-19-2016, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyne98

I am so happy with this news. Lately I have been feeling rather blah on some DC titles, but with this price I feel ok reading books that will hopefully get better. However, if something is utter garbage, I'll drop it.
I've become critical of my Marvel books. There's no reason why some should be as expensive as they are. Especially when the content isn't there.

i've noticed some Marvel titles occasionally will come with a $9.99 price tag on them.... usually i've seen it's been special Deadpool issues.

As far as DC goes im actually happy about the pricing dropp as well, im also glad they aren't doing away with all the titles i regular read.

Exodus · 02-19-2016, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donmeca2020

It's going to hit Marvel hard when DC does what they just announced yesterday at bringing ALL their titles back to the $2.99 pricing.

While i still buy both marvel and Dc comics regularly i will have to agree that some of the titles do just plain suck.... i don't think all the art is garbage though. just some titles. Squirrel girl, Silk, the new power man and iron fist art took some getting used to be the story was actually great.

Today's only top talent to me at least is J Scott Campbell, Alex Ross, Chad Hughes. i've started to get used to Humberto ramos on spider man but not they sent him over to one of the X titles.

They're probably trying to get back into the Comic game, currently Marvel is 50% over everyone when it comes to comics.
http://www.toyark.com/top-selling-co...13/#post642517

donmeca2020 · 02-19-2016, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exodus

They're probably trying to get back into the Comic game, currently Marvel is 50% over everyone when it comes to comics.
http://www.toyark.com/top-selling-co...13/#post642517

Marvel is ALWAYS ahead of all the competitors, however the last few charts i've seen DC has always been in second place with sales. im sure with the price decrease as well as bringing in new talent to all these books their going to reboot will help abit.

TheBlueMarvel · 02-19-2016, 01:40 PM

I apologize, everyone, for the length of this post…I’ll be taking a break from the thread following this…

@Von
First let me start by saying that my “love” comment was not a “dig.” For that matter, nothing I wrote was intended as a shot at you (or anyone) and I hope you didn’t perceive it in that manner. I am both opinionated and expressive. Two traits that lend themselves to being easily misunderstood and function to ruffle the feathers of many (in my experience).

I have greatly enjoyed many artists over the years and my list of favorites is much larger than the three you inquired about. That said, I understand your specific inquiry about this trio, because they are the artists I mention most often when I talk about comic art. In truth, there would be many more that I would add if I took the time to relate my thoughts on the matter in their entirety. Like you, I can sit for days pouring over uncolored panels of comic art throughout the spectrum of time and marvel (pun? Yes, intended. lol) at their work…even artists for whom I don’t particularly care.

Byrne, JRJR, and Davis have shared-qualities I appreciate and strengths more individual in nature that I believe mark them as transcendent.

Shared talents: Personally, I admire that they were able to satisfy the edicts of Marvel’s “classic style,” while also maintaining unique and iconic work. They were, by no means, the only ones. As I said, I’m trying to truncate my thoughts a bit, so many “greats” are absent from this very short list. All three were obviously steeped in “How to draw Comics the Marvel Way.” *just a nod to the book I read as a kid and not a suggestion that they followed this as a guideline* In spite of that, they were able to create space for their personal expression. So much so, that they were able to influence the zeitgeist/culture of the “house of ideas.” Often imitated, never duplicated…to borrow a cliche. Although they stayed close to the tried-and-true representations of heroes, it was like you were seeing the characters for the first time when you looked at their versions of flagship personalities. They have a quality that great artists all share: any hero they illustrated could function as the “definitive version” of said character….

Additionally, all three were able to seamlessly integrate a wide variety of body proportions. Their giant characters didn’t look out of place standing next to more-“human-like” figures. The outlandish became realistic, a quality that served well to immerse fans in their wonderfully crafted fantasy-worlds. Skinny, fat, giant, miniscule, average, super, stately, or pedestrian…all of their characters looked great together.

Individual talents:
Byrne-Damn, where do I begin?...or end? I loved his take on ultra-science. I loved his backgrounds and the topography of his landscapes (Alpha Flight comes to mind)…be they Earth-bound, cosmic, or hellish. I loved his depiction of aliens. I loved his expressive faces, in spite of people dinging him for limited numbers of male and female features. I loved his handling of cataclysmic fights; how a car would look torn asunder by the Hulk or any exceedingly powerful being. I loved the ruination and scope he displayed in his earth-shaking battles. I loved his manifestation of powers. He had a flair for how these abilities would play out in the real world. I loved his representation of contemporary society within his art…clothes, cars, city-scapes…it all looked stellar and accurate to life.

JRJR-Similar to Byrne, John integrated elements of his era into his art with deft skill. I loved seeing urban fashion trends represented in his work. Character’s were almost more interesting in their civilian clothes than they were suited-up. I loved his fights most of all, man did I love his battles. They went on for pages. Combat has always been important for me with a background in judo and wrestling…and admittedly, a wee-bit of a mean streak. His fights within Spidey, X-men, DD, Punisher, Hulk, and Kick-Ass (it’s brutality under JRJR’s helm did not surprise me at all) all found that sweet spot within a dark part of my psyche. I also loved that he experimented within his own style utilizing more avant garde takes and conceptualizations, all while remaining within expected “Marvel” confines.

Davis-Many of the same things hold true for Alan, but what most stands out for me is the incredibly clean and easily read art he creates. There is a quiet grace to his art that is warm and inviting. We often describe people as salt of the earth. Can we describe art in the same way?

Just my opinions, since you asked. These are not absolutes, nor a suggestion that these three are the greatest of all-time.

Captain Nash · 02-19-2016, 01:59 PM

How can one not love JRJR? He gave us armored Psylocke -- or was that Silvestri? ANyways, I would love an Armored Psylocke! Actually TBM, the three you listed JRJR, John Byrne and Davis, along with Jim Lee and Mark Silvestri, are my five favorite illustrators the X-Men have seen. The only other artist I can think of that would top those in general is my all time favorite: George Perez...sadly I don't recall that he ever graced the X-books with his talent.

Edit: Okay, Armored Pyslocke was Silvestri. But I think that entire era was overall so amazingly good it kind of blended together. I am probably living in nostalgia though and proud of it. That is the era I started reading the X-men books, and to me Silvestri and JRJR have very similar styles.

I still want an armored Psylocke figure though.

ArsGratiaArtis · 02-19-2016, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Nash

How can one not love JRJR? He gave us armored Psylocke -- or was that Silvestri? ANyways, I would love an Armored Psylocke! Actually TBM, the three you listed JRJR, John Byrne and Davis, along with Jim Lee and Mark Silvestri, are my five favorite illustrators the X-Men have seen. The only other artist I can think of that would top those in general is my all time favorite: George Perez...sadly I don't recall that he ever graced the X-books with his talent.

Jim Lee on the list and no Windsor-Smith? Blasphemy.

Starlord67 · 02-19-2016, 02:30 PM

OK...Finished the Dazzler custom. Thank you @Byrnes for the inspiration!!

Here's my source material:

Starlord67 · 02-19-2016, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Nash

How can one not love JRJR? He gave us armored Psylocke -- or was that Silvestri? ANyways, I would love an Armored Psylocke! Actually TBM, the three you listed JRJR, John Byrne and Davis, along with Jim Lee and Mark Silvestri, are my five favorite illustrators the X-Men have seen. The only other artist I can think of that would top those in general is my all time favorite: George Perez...sadly I don't recall that he ever graced the X-books with his talent.

Edit: Okay, Armored Pyslocke was Silvestri. But I think that entire era was overall so amazingly good it kind of blended together. I am probably living in nostalgia though and proud of it. That is the era I started reading the X-men books, and to me Silvestri and JRJR have very similar styles.

I still want an armored Psylocke figure though.

Paul Smith was a great talent on the X-Men back in the day. I loved his renditions of the Merry Mutants...However to me...NO ONE TOPS JOHN BYRNE! I love his work to this day after almost forty years. I also love Art Adams and Jim Lee. I look at how the women are drawn mainly. All of these guys drew beautiful women in my book. Shallow? Maybe but I likes da wimmens! No one can top Jim Lee's Psylocke. She was beautiful and deadly!

An Armored Psylocke figure would be perfect!

VonPooten · 02-19-2016, 03:03 PM

@TBM, Oh, no, no offense taken in the slightest!

I find it fascinating discussing others' perceptions of what makes comics great, and it's particularly interesting from the art side of things. It's always a joy to scratch brains about the ultimately (in the global sense) meaningless but important facets of the comic medium!

As for your elaborations, well, what is there to say! Beautifully worded, and I concur 100%. Perhaps less so with JRJR nowadays, but in his heyday he had a spark that couldn't be quantified. I especially enjoy the comment about each artists' interpretation being able to epitomise that character in an iconic way. Sorry to go back to her, but Storm under the pen of Byrne, Romita Jr and Davis (I don't believe he worked on X-Men proper until much later, unless I'm mistaken?) was a vision to behold. Quite honestly I believe that to be in part due to the way Claremont envisioned her, but mostly because these guys knew how to draw.

If a modern artist were given the parameters of greatness that you just outlined, barely a handful would pass the test of might, this is almost a given. However! I do think that there are artists out there who come close to that brilliance in their own way. Unfortunately big companies just do not give artists a chance to shine on any one book. Romita Jr drew a LOT of issues of Uncanny, but now that cannot be said of a lot of people. The industry is too focused on short runs which sprint to the finish line, only for the title to be rebooted a month later. Were artists given the slightest of chances to prove themselves, I believe that they could reach these heights!

As always, TBM, it's a pleasure to discuss these matters. Where else can someone cross international borders and question one another on the standards of comic art but on the internet! People in my LCS don't even make eye contact, let alone passionately defend their artistic views.

@Nash, Awwww, does no-one feel the love for Paul Smith?

He is a master! Granted, he didn't illustrate many issues of X-Men, but the ones he did were clean, expressive, and had a quality about them which his contemporaries did not have. Heck, Smith revisited the 'verse in Kitty Pryde: Shadow & Flame, and it was one of the most beautiful books of last decade (IMO)!

Meanwhile, I have too much fun with these Tamashii effects. They are perfect for MLs.

Edit: @Starlord, ToyBiz Rogue jacket? Excellent!

Starlord67 · 02-19-2016, 03:56 PM

@Van Pooten... Yep that's a Rogue jacket. Thanks. Love your action packed display!!

Kirathis · 02-19-2016, 05:51 PM

Wow, great finish to the custom Starlord67!

That display looks awesome Von! Great use of the Tamashii effects!

Starlord67 · 02-19-2016, 07:20 PM

Thank you @Kirathis

IamGroot · 02-19-2016, 07:58 PM

Hey All,

Long long time lurker haha but I finally decided to actually register...

as I have a question to ask about the Marvel Legends Longshot figure. Is his head/forehead sculpted around his hair/fringe(or bangs as they say in America I believe)? i.e. is it a separate piece? If anyone has a close up picture of a loose one would be cool...

Cheers for any help!

Byrnes · 02-19-2016, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlord67

OK...Finished the Dazzler custom. Thank you @Byrnes for the inspiration!!

Here's my source material:

Damn. Knocked it out of the park!!!

Byrnes · 02-19-2016, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamGroot

Hey All,

Long long time lurker haha but I finally decided to actually register...

as I have a question to ask about the Marvel Legends Longshot figure. Is his head/forehead sculpted around his hair/fringe(or bangs as they say in America I believe)? i.e. is it a separate piece? If anyone has a close up picture of a loose one would be cool...

Cheers for any help!

Hey Groot, welcome in. You should be able to pull the hair off if that's what your asking.

IamGroot · 02-19-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrnes

Hey Groot, welcome in. You should be able to pull the hair off if that's what your asking.

Thanks, I am more asking if there is an indentation in his forehead or not to accommodate the hair?

Erland · 02-20-2016, 04:08 AM

I got a question for you customizers out there, These figures like the Thanos Wave MCU Hulk, who has the "Y" Legs (I think that's what ya'll call it, I'm still a noob) Has anyone attempt to mod the legs to be "T" legs? Is it hard to do?

It doesn't seem to look that difficult, just "find" a way to pop the guy a part and move the pegs down.. Glue back together... right?

I absolutely hate the "Y" legs esp on this Hulk.... I might end up tearing apart a different figure to find out but figured I'd ask first.

AndreWebs · 02-20-2016, 08:15 AM

Hello Guys, need some help here, I just bought chameleon and I want to know if aside from the suited legends bodys, does the mattel ones fit with the Jameson or chameleon heads?

Harbinger · 02-20-2016, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamGroot

Hey All,

Long long time lurker haha but I finally decided to actually register...

as I have a question to ask about the Marvel Legends Longshot figure. Is his head/forehead sculpted around his hair/fringe(or bangs as they say in America I believe)? i.e. is it a separate piece? If anyone has a close up picture of a loose one would be cool...

Cheers for any help!

If all else fails you could always try nare. Seems to work on tv haha.

Harbinger · 02-20-2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreWebs

Hello Guys, need some help here, I just bought chameleon and I want to know if aside from the suited legends bodys, does the mattel ones fit with the Jameson or chameleon heads?

The dcuc ones should be in "relative" scale, but i believe things like the movie masters and ghostbusters peck are smaller.

Dr Kain · 02-20-2016, 09:44 AM

The DCU bodies won't work unless you have the ability to fully modify the next pegs.

Kirathis · 02-20-2016, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreWebs

Hello Guys, need some help here, I just bought chameleon and I want to know if aside from the suited legends bodys, does the mattel ones fit with the Jameson or chameleon heads?

Actually, the suited Coulson body will not fit it without a little modification either. The peg holes for the heads released with Chameleon are a bit larger. You can stuff a little paper towel piece or use something like the museum adhesive (I forget what it is but someone posted it when I asked about this a couple months back in this thread) to keep the head from falling off.

02-19-2016, 12:14 PM	#13603
Spyne98 Rock Nerd Radio Host Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: New York Posts: 2,885	Quote: Originally Posted by donmeca2020 It's going to hit Marvel hard when DC does what they just announced yesterday at bringing ALL their titles back to the $2.99 pricing. I am so happy with this news. Lately I have been feeling rather blah on some DC titles, but with this price I feel ok reading books that will hopefully get better. However, if something is utter garbage, I'll drop it. I've become critical of my Marvel books. There's no reason why some should be as expensive as they are. Especially when the content isn't there. __________________ Sale Thread / Feedback / The Rock Nerd Radio Show

02-19-2016, 01:40 PM	#13607
TheBlueMarvel MarvelLegends/DCUniverse Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: On the metaphysical plane of celestial BOOM BAP! Posts: 6,019	I apologize, everyone, for the length of this post…I’ll be taking a break from the thread following this… @Von First let me start by saying that my “love” comment was not a “dig.” For that matter, nothing I wrote was intended as a shot at you (or anyone) and I hope you didn’t perceive it in that manner. I am both opinionated and expressive. Two traits that lend themselves to being easily misunderstood and function to ruffle the feathers of many (in my experience). I have greatly enjoyed many artists over the years and my list of favorites is much larger than the three you inquired about. That said, I understand your specific inquiry about this trio, because they are the artists I mention most often when I talk about comic art. In truth, there would be many more that I would add if I took the time to relate my thoughts on the matter in their entirety. Like you, I can sit for days pouring over uncolored panels of comic art throughout the spectrum of time and marvel (pun? Yes, intended. lol) at their work…even artists for whom I don’t particularly care. Byrne, JRJR, and Davis have shared-qualities I appreciate and strengths more individual in nature that I believe mark them as transcendent. Shared talents: Personally, I admire that they were able to satisfy the edicts of Marvel’s “classic style,” while also maintaining unique and iconic work. They were, by no means, the only ones. As I said, I’m trying to truncate my thoughts a bit, so many “greats” are absent from this very short list. All three were obviously steeped in “How to draw Comics the Marvel Way.” just a nod to the book I read as a kid and not a suggestion that they followed this as a guideline In spite of that, they were able to create space for their personal expression. So much so, that they were able to influence the zeitgeist/culture of the “house of ideas.” Often imitated, never duplicated…to borrow a cliche. Although they stayed close to the tried-and-true representations of heroes, it was like you were seeing the characters for the first time when you looked at their versions of flagship personalities. They have a quality that great artists all share: any hero they illustrated could function as the “definitive version” of said character…. Additionally, all three were able to seamlessly integrate a wide variety of body proportions. Their giant characters didn’t look out of place standing next to more-“human-like” figures. The outlandish became realistic, a quality that served well to immerse fans in their wonderfully crafted fantasy-worlds. Skinny, fat, giant, miniscule, average, super, stately, or pedestrian…all of their characters looked great together. Individual talents: Byrne-Damn, where do I begin?...or end? I loved his take on ultra-science. I loved his backgrounds and the topography of his landscapes (Alpha Flight comes to mind)…be they Earth-bound, cosmic, or hellish. I loved his depiction of aliens. I loved his expressive faces, in spite of people dinging him for limited numbers of male and female features. I loved his handling of cataclysmic fights; how a car would look torn asunder by the Hulk or any exceedingly powerful being. I loved the ruination and scope he displayed in his earth-shaking battles. I loved his manifestation of powers. He had a flair for how these abilities would play out in the real world. I loved his representation of contemporary society within his art…clothes, cars, city-scapes…it all looked stellar and accurate to life. JRJR-Similar to Byrne, John integrated elements of his era into his art with deft skill. I loved seeing urban fashion trends represented in his work. Character’s were almost more interesting in their civilian clothes than they were suited-up. I loved his fights most of all, man did I love his battles. They went on for pages. Combat has always been important for me with a background in judo and wrestling…and admittedly, a wee-bit of a mean streak. His fights within Spidey, X-men, DD, Punisher, Hulk, and Kick-Ass (it’s brutality under JRJR’s helm did not surprise me at all) all found that sweet spot within a dark part of my psyche. I also loved that he experimented within his own style utilizing more avant garde takes and conceptualizations, all while remaining within expected “Marvel” confines. Davis-Many of the same things hold true for Alan, but what most stands out for me is the incredibly clean and easily read art he creates. There is a quiet grace to his art that is warm and inviting. We often describe people as salt of the earth. Can we describe art in the same way? Just my opinions, since you asked. These are not absolutes, nor a suggestion that these three are the greatest of all-time. Last edited by TheBlueMarvel; 02-19-2016 at 02:19 PM..

02-19-2016, 01:59 PM	#13608
Captain Nash Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 5,464	How can one not love JRJR? He gave us armored Psylocke -- or was that Silvestri? ANyways, I would love an Armored Psylocke! Actually TBM, the three you listed JRJR, John Byrne and Davis, along with Jim Lee and Mark Silvestri, are my five favorite illustrators the X-Men have seen. The only other artist I can think of that would top those in general is my all time favorite: George Perez...sadly I don't recall that he ever graced the X-books with his talent. Edit: Okay, Armored Pyslocke was Silvestri. But I think that entire era was overall so amazingly good it kind of blended together. I am probably living in nostalgia though and proud of it. That is the era I started reading the X-men books, and to me Silvestri and JRJR have very similar styles. I still want an armored Psylocke figure though. Last edited by Captain Nash; 02-19-2016 at 02:05 PM..

02-19-2016, 02:30 PM	#13610
Starlord67 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Katy,Texas Posts: 1,183	OK...Finished the Dazzler custom. Thank you @Byrnes for the inspiration!! Here's my source material: Last edited by Starlord67; 02-19-2016 at 02:51 PM..

02-19-2016, 03:03 PM	#13612
VonPooten Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 419	@TBM, Oh, no, no offense taken in the slightest! I find it fascinating discussing others' perceptions of what makes comics great, and it's particularly interesting from the art side of things. It's always a joy to scratch brains about the ultimately (in the global sense) meaningless but important facets of the comic medium! As for your elaborations, well, what is there to say! Beautifully worded, and I concur 100%. Perhaps less so with JRJR nowadays, but in his heyday he had a spark that couldn't be quantified. I especially enjoy the comment about each artists' interpretation being able to epitomise that character in an iconic way. Sorry to go back to her, but Storm under the pen of Byrne, Romita Jr and Davis (I don't believe he worked on X-Men proper until much later, unless I'm mistaken?) was a vision to behold. Quite honestly I believe that to be in part due to the way Claremont envisioned her, but mostly because these guys knew how to draw. If a modern artist were given the parameters of greatness that you just outlined, barely a handful would pass the test of might, this is almost a given. However! I do think that there are artists out there who come close to that brilliance in their own way. Unfortunately big companies just do not give artists a chance to shine on any one book. Romita Jr drew a LOT of issues of Uncanny, but now that cannot be said of a lot of people. The industry is too focused on short runs which sprint to the finish line, only for the title to be rebooted a month later. Were artists given the slightest of chances to prove themselves, I believe that they could reach these heights! As always, TBM, it's a pleasure to discuss these matters. Where else can someone cross international borders and question one another on the standards of comic art but on the internet! People in my LCS don't even make eye contact, let alone passionately defend their artistic views. @Nash, Awwww, does no-one feel the love for Paul Smith? He is a master! Granted, he didn't illustrate many issues of X-Men, but the ones he did were clean, expressive, and had a quality about them which his contemporaries did not have. Heck, Smith revisited the 'verse in Kitty Pryde: Shadow & Flame, and it was one of the most beautiful books of last decade (IMO)! Meanwhile, I have too much fun with these Tamashii effects. They are perfect for MLs. Edit: @Starlord, ToyBiz Rogue jacket? Excellent! Last edited by VonPooten; 02-19-2016 at 03:13 PM..