2012 in Review: Creators Pick Their Favorite Artists of 2012

This month, we’re going to have an elaborate run of looks at the best of 2012 and what we’re excited about for 2013. To kick that all off, we’ll have a week of some of our favorite creators sharing their thoughts on the year to date as well as what they’re looking forward to in 2013.

Today, we asked a simple question: “What artist(s) continued to impress you above the rest?” Here are the creators’ thoughts, and look for more tomorrow.

Ed Brisson (Comeback)

All of the artists I’ve had the chance to work with over the past year, of course. Michael Walsh, Eric Z, Jason Copland, Johnnie Christmas. All top notch dudes!

Discounting those I’ve worked with? James Harren, hands down. I lettered a book that he drew a couple of years ago. I remember seeing his art then, for the first time, being blown away and knowing that dude was going to be huge. Everything he puts out, I just sit and read in complete awe. It’s so hyper-kinetic and over the top without ever sacrificing story telling. He’s someone I’d kill a small village of kittens just for the chance to work with.

Ales Kot (Change, Wild Children)

Brandon Graham.
Ron Wimberly.
Michael DeForge.
Chris Burnham.
Frazer Irving.
Howard Chaykin.
Ramon Perez.
David Aja.
Sean Murphy.
JH Williams III.
Aaron Kuder.
Nathan Fox.
Emma Rios.
James Harren.
Jacen Burrows.
Chris Ware.
Langdon Foss.
Mateus Santolouco.
Goran Parlov.
Tradd Moore.
Gabriel Ba, Cris Peter and Dustin Harbin on Casanova – I’m naming the artist, colorist and letterer because theyfeel like one team to me.
Tyler Crook.
Tom Scioli.
Mike Huddleston.
Cameron Stewart.
Fiona Staples.
Connor Willumsen.
Tonci Zonjic.
Nick Dragotta.
Nick Pitarra.
James Stokoe.
Giannis Milogiannis.
Farel Dalrymple.
Becky Cloonan.
Kristian Donaldson.

I could go on and on.

Also, this was the year when the great Moebius embarked on his next journey. Rest in peace, master.

Brandon Graham (Prophet, Multiple Warheads)

Emma Rios, who’s pretty deadly — and hopefully some more future work she writes herself. I’m really looking forward to, I’ve read some of Emily Carroll’s new book she’s working on. Emily seems to always be pushing storytelling in new and exciting ways.

Carla Speed McNeil’s stuff on Finder is soo good. The French artist Boulet whose web site I look at a lot.

Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT)

Brian Hurtt — honestly, the time and thought he puts into his layouts and the storytelling are a wonder to behold. It’s that kind of art that just seems deceptive — you don’t realize why it’s really working so well until you go back through and dissect it and see what he’s done with layouts. And he’s changed my mind about sound effects. SFX are awesome again.

Box Brown (The Survivalist)

Every single Michael Deforge release (and there are a lot of them) is appointment reading. Johnny Ryan’s Prison Pit series continues to be one of my favorite serialized works in print.

Jamie S. Rich (A Boy & a Girl)

One guy who really brings it every month is Brian Hurtt on The Sixth Gun. He delivers so much good work, so consistently. I think he is actually a part of a current school of artists who have these really clean, fluid lines, almost like a modern take on old EC Comics, maybe some silver age superheroing. I’m thinking of guys like my It Girl collaborator, Mike Norton, and Tonci Zonjic on Lobster Johnson, Chris Samnee on Daredevil and The Rocketeer, Jonathan Case on The Creep, David Lafuente, guys like that. They are who have been getting me to buy monthly books. Ladies, too. Becky Cloonan, Amanda Conner, Amy Reeder, and of course, Joëlle Jones–just beautiful, fluid ink work. That’s my bag.

Natalie Nourigat (A Boy & a Girl)

Sean Murphy is still killing it, huh? I can barely read Punk Rock Jesus because I get so held up drooling over every panel.

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Tim Daniel (Enormous)

Each one of these artists have their own distinct merits but all are also consummate professionals in my view. There’s a lot that goes into making a book, as I’ve learned over the last several years, much which does not all end up on the page. There’s the work ethic, the professionalism – which means they are each consistently taking their work to new levels while beating deadlines, drawing extra pages, and juggling projects.

Nick Pitarra is the best pure cartoonist in the industry, while Riley Rossmo has shown an evolution of style that is stunning in scope. Joe Eisma is so completely unsung, completely underrated, and I don’t think he’s ever drawn a 22 page issue for Morning Glories yet, so he’s always delivering far more than the average book requires. Tradd Moore is the most dynamic of the lot and his line-work offers so much crazy energy. Adlard is a pure master because he gives us characters that don’t rely on flashy costumes or iconic design or big action. The Walking Dead cast grab readers by the heart and throat through Charlie’s ability to get his lines to act and emote in very realistic ways. Sara Pichelli and Stuart Immonen are among the best Marvel has to offer, I’ll buy anything they draw. Greg Capullo has found a new gear in Batman. His work on this title alone is career making. But for my money, in the year of 2012, Fiona Staples totally stole the show on ‘Saga’ with her designs, covers, and interiors. There’s an elegance to her work, a clear stylistic voice that just draws the reader in. She’s the rare combination of substance and style.

• Nick Pitarra – Manhattan Projects
• Riley Rossmo – Wild Children/Rebel Blood/Bedlam
• Joe Eisma – Morning Glories
• Tradd Moore – Luther Strode
• Charlie Adlard – Walking Dead
• Sara Pichelli – USM/Spider-men
• Stuart Immonen — All New X-Men
• Fiona Staples – Saga
• Greg Capullo – Batman

Kieron Gillen (Iron Man, Young Avengers)

Dustin Weaver’s Uncanny 14 broke my heart because he was so good. I’m going to garotte Hickman at the next marvel retreat to see if I can steal him from his corpse.

Aja on Hawkeye. Just incredible.

And McKelvie’s pages for Young Avengers. Yes, I’m plugging, and I don’t care. He’s going to be unbearable when it drops.

Rob Williams (Ghost Rider)

James Harren. I can’t remember the last time I camre across an artist’s work and, within a few pages, it made me go ‘who the hell is THIS guy?’. Just hugely exciting. As I said, BPRD: The Long Death was just a slap across the face. Great emotional gut punch script and Harren just landing as a major talent. It’s not just how visceral and striking his imagery is, his storytelling is absolutely wonderful. Just makes amazing narrative choices, wonderful angles. His Conan arc was great too but if you’re going to buy one GN, pick up The Long Death. I think Harren’s going to be a major force in the industry in years to come.

Honorable mention too for Judge Dredd’s Henry Flint. The story currently running in 200AD, Cold Deck, is just masterful storytelling. The US market doesn’t know Henry’s work that well but he’s a bit of a genius. Does the widescreen, mad-tech brilliantly but also the storytelling subtleties are there.

I’ve been enjoying Punk Rock Jesus too. Sean Murphy’s an exciting talent.

Joe Eisma (Morning Glories)

Nick Pitarra, Tradd Moore, Charles Paul Wilson III.

Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther)

I read James Stokoe’s Orc Stain this year and absolutely loved it. I’m pumped to get my copy of Sullivan’s Sluggers for their Kickstarter campaign.

Chris Houghton (Reed Gunther)

Everything Jordi Bernet does impresses me to no end. I also first saw the work of Denis Bodart this year, which is absolutely amazing.

Brandon Seifert (Witch Doctor, Hellraiser)

Above the rest? Geof Darrow. I picked up the Shaolin Cowboy issues recently. Good god. I haven’t actually read them yet, just flipped through and absorbed the art. Crazy, brilliant stuff.

Marc Lombardi (Shadowline/Grayhaven Comics)

Fiona Staples and Terry Moore as previously mentioned are both simply wonderful. I also wish that Joe Eisma (Morning Glories) was a bigger name in the industry. Tradd Moore’s work on the Luther Strode books is mindblowing. And Colin Lorimer has been really opening my eyes with Harvest. Some other folks deserving of mention are Rahsan Ekedal (Think Tank), Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman) and Sara Pichelli (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man).

Paul Allor (Orc Girl, TMNT: Fugitoid)

Man, so many. Nick Pitarra, Giannis Milonogiannis, James Stokoe, Natalie Nourigat, Faith Erin Hicks, Dave Wachter, Gannon Beck, Ben Dewey and Ryan Browne, to name a few.