The funny thing about being a “breakout” in comics is, quite often, these breakouts could have been working in the industry for years previous. But this is our list, and you know what, these creators have taken one hell of a leap in 2012. As voted on by the writers of Multiversity, here are our top five breakout artists of the year.
5. Riley Rossmo
Why he ranks (David Henderson): Did you read an Image book this year? Yes? Then chances are it might have been drawn by Riley. “Debris”, “Wild Children”, “Rebel Blood” and now “Bedlam” and he’s got even more coming with “Dia De Los Muertos” anthology series in 2013. He’s become Image’s go-to guy and for good reason. His line work can get so intense with books like “Bedlam” and the fight scenes of “Debris” but can get so calm and serene and beautiful when it needs to. And ask anyone who has read “Bedlam” about the colouring.
4. Nick Pitarra
Why he ranks (Brian Salvatore): Nick Pitarra has managed to grab a gig on a monthly comic with one of the most revered writers working today, without all that much experience to show for himself. You may be asking “how the hell did that happen?”
It happened because Pitarra is just that good.
In “The Manhattan Projects,” Pitarra’s first monthly gig, he draws the grotesque and the hilarious, the historically accurate and the absurdly futuristic. Almost nothing about his work screams “newbie,” and his consistency is light years beyond what his actual age would suggest. Pitarra is going to be a force in comics for a long time, and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
3. James Stokoe
Why he ranks (Mike Romeo): As of this writing, James Stokoe has produced four single issues this year. Now, out of context, that may sound like an unreasonably low output to earn someone a spot as one of the breakout artists of the year. But once you consider James’ work, it all makes sense. The first and most obvious factor is the young Canadian’s hyper-detailed approach to page design. Every page is painstakingly labored over, rendering every window on every building and every scale on every monster. And he does it without ever losing his unique voice that’s been honed from years of cartooning. Next, let’s take a look at the credit page from any issue of Orc Stain or Godzilla: The Half-Century War. It’s there that you’ll see James not only pencils, but he also handles writing, inking, coloring, and lettering. And that’s every issue! Now, credit where it’s due, Heather Breckel is lending a hand color assisting on Godzilla, but I think the point stands. James Stokoe has proven himself to be a powerhouse cartoonist, and is definitely someone to keep a close eye on.
2. Fiona Staples
Why she ranks (David Henderson): I’ve had some tricky writing assignments in my time. But this might just take the cake. How do I explain why Fiona Staples is a breakout artist without just repeating what everyone else has said before me? Well, first is easy: Fiona went from being an artist I hadn’t heard of before to being one of my favourites as soon as I opened “Saga” #1. And I could throw a rock and hit someone who’d say the same. Her character designs on “Saga” are unlike anything I’ve seen in any other comic book right now and her panels are so gorgeous that I often want to scan them, print them onto wall-sized canvases and hang them while shedding a single tear.
1. James Harren
Why he ranks (David Harper): There’s a reason why James Harren’s name kept coming up in our creators lists for best artists of the year: because he is just ridiculously talented. While he had worked on an Abe Sapien mini-series previously, Harren really brought the ruckus with this year’s B.P.R.D. mini-series The Long Death. In that mini, he proved equally adept at bringing incredible monster fights to life (Were Jaguar vs. Wendigo!) and simple, thoughtful character moments. His work is outrageously great, and some of the most exciting work from a newcomer I’ve seen in years. If he’s this good now, I can hardly imagine what we’ll be seeing in work like the upcoming “Abyss of Time” arc in B.P.R.D. and beyond. I can’t imagine we won’t eventually see him top our Best Artist list.
