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2013 in Review: Creators Pick Their Favorite Artists of 2013

By , and | December 3rd, 2013
Posted in Columns | % Comments

This month, we’re going to have an elaborate run of looks at the best of 2013 and what we’re excited about for 201$. 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 2014.

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.

Jamie S. Rich (A Boy & A Girl, From the Gutters)

Aaron Conley’s work on Sabretooth Swordsman was just fantastic. He is a true talent to watch. He pulls n a lot of detail while maintaining clarity. His designs are so inventive.

I’m an O.G. Amy Reeder fan and so that she continues to surprise and impress me is such a thrill. Rocket Girl is easily her best work to date.

I’ve also enjoyed seeing Ming Doyle really take off. Mara was a good read, but I think the book’s main appeal was how well Ming brought the main character to life. You can see her full personality right there on her face without her ever opening her mouth.

Sina Grace (Burn the Orphanage)

Malachi Ward is fast-becoming a name to be reckoned with. This year we got to see all sides of Brandon Graham, and they are beautiful.

Michael Moreci (Hoax Hunters, Prime-8’s)

Garry Brown was consistently amazing on The Massive. Don’t get me wrong, Kristian Donaldson is a very good artist, but The Massive didn’t become fully realized until Garry took over art duties. He really took ownership of the story and made it into one of the best series of the year. Brian Wood has always worked with incredible artists, so it’s no light thing to say that Garry ranks as one of his strongest collaborators to date. The grittiness and pitch-perfect human moments take Wood’s scripts exactly where they need to go. Some artists illustrate stories, others capture them; Garry does the latter, every month, in The Massive.

Tim Daniel (Curse, Enormous)

Fiona Staples, Charlie Adlard, Stuart Immonen, Michael Walsh, Riley Rossmo, Tradd Moore, Nick Pitarra, and Ian Laurie – all for different reasons. Some stood out stylistically, others for the longevity and creative professionalism, and still others for making a splash.

Joe Keatinge (Marvel Knights Hulk)

Easily Andrew Robinson in his collaboration with writer Vivek Tiwary on the life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, The Fifth Beatle. Robinson has done some career best (thus far) art on this book — in a career comprising an already incredible lineup. His Dusty Star is a favorite of mine, but The Fifth Beatle is on another level. It deserves to be a huge book. I’ve yet to read it, only holding it back from being my Book of the Year, but flipping through an advance confirmed my suspicions that Robinson is doing some Next Level work here..

Jeremy Holt (After Houdini)

I have to say that John ‘Roc’ Upchurch’s art is phenomenal. His expressive faces, immersive sceneries, beautiful character designs, and flawless colors makes him a serious new talent to watch.

Joe Eisma (Morning Glories)

Johnnie Christmas, Dave Marquez, Charles Paul Wilson III, Adrian Alphona.

Paul Allor (G.I. Joe, Strange Nation)

The book is only a few issues in, but Chip Zdarsky’s work in Sex Criminals has been so damned impressive. The style is just perfect for that book, and really mines the pathos and humor in the story. He’s also using the 16-panel grid so damned well, allowing him to hit so many character and story beats while still keeping things moving along at a great pace.

Jorge Coelho is a guy who’s been great for years, but he seemed to take just a huge step forward in 2013, with his work on Polarity and Venom. He’s not only a great artist, with a cool and unique style, but he also has an incredible sense of design, and it really helps to bring his stuff up to another level. He’s just an amazing storyteller.

Chris Roberson (Monkeybrain honcho, Edison Rex)

I am always floored by Brandon Graham’s work, and the return of MULTIPLE WARHEADS was a highpoint of the year.

Continued below

Antony Johnston (Umbral, The Fuse)

Jamie McKelvie. Now, Jamie’s a mate, so I’m kind of biased. But seeing him come on leaps and bounds while doing YOUNG AVENGERS — especially loosening up his figures while simultaneously tightening his compositions — has been a joy to watch. Boy’s got a future, you know?

Curt Pires (Theremin)

Dalton Rose. Ramon Villalobos. Michael Walsh. Brian Level. Morgan Jeske. Piotr Kowalski. Ulises Farinas. Paul Maybury. Dan Mcdaid. Jordie Bellaire. Jason Copland.

Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts, Bedlam, The Manhattan Projects)

Fiona Staples continues to blow me away as well as Francesco Francavilla’s work on Black Beetle. I’m very excited about the return of Geof Darrow to sequential comics. It’s been too long.

Mike Allred (FF)

Another potentially long list here, but I have to say I’m very impressed with Chris Samnee pencilling and inking a monthly book with top-notch quality and innovation. And Aaron Conley (Sabertooth Swordsman) is certainly one to watch.

Franco (Itty Bitty Hellboy)

ArRRGH! So many! I want to say I hate these people (but that word hate is filled with love and jealously cause I want to be able to do what they do as easily as they do it) Francesco Francavilla, Mike Norton, Art Baltazar (he makes cartooning look so easy!) Greg Capullo is so consistent…I could go on forever!

Michael Walsh (Zero, the upcoming Secret Avengers)

I really thought Duncan Fegredo’s work on Hellboy: Midnight Circus was absolutely stunning. Interesting stylistic changes with the ink wash and clear, concise, perfect storytelling. Also worth mentioning is James Harren, his work on BPRD has been phenomenal, the guy is so young and just keeps getting better which seems nearly impossible. Chris Samnee continues to be the best superhero guy around, one upping himself on Daredevil with every issue.

Christopher Sebela (High Crimes, the upcoming Ghost)

Christopher Peterson, Buster Moody, Felipe Andrade, Jason Copland, Brian Level, Emma Rios, Chris Mooneyham, Juan Ferreyra, Alison Sampson, Tristan Jones, Johnny Christmas, Ramon Villalobos.

And I’ll say it because goddamn it, I mean it like I’ve never meant anything: Ibrahim Moustafa. I’ve stared at his pages up close all year and he’s a monster and is only getting better by the day and will crush us all.

Ales Kot (Zero, Change, Wild Children)

I’m not sure if I’m still doing the “above the rest” thing. Probably not. Plenty of artists impressed me this year. Everyone I work with on Zero, for example, and not just…Luke Ross is drawing in a way I haven’t ever seen from him before on Secret Avengers. There are so many wonderful creators and comics. The Adventure Time cover Sarah Horrocks made was wonderful. Anything Brandon Graham touches. Beautiful comics are everywhere and so are artists committed to creating beauty in all its ways. Michael DeForge impresses constantly.

Justin Jordan (Luther Strode, Dead Body Road)

Brad Walker. Which maybe sounds like a bullshit answer, since I’m working with the guy, but it’s true. Every month, I give him this difficult, ridiculous stuff to draw and he doesn’t just nail it, he kills. I gave him a panel description just recently that was, and I quote, “a sort of invisiblish white shadow” AND HE DREW IT. So yeah, Brad man. And I could also go on about Tradd, but you know that.

Robert Wilson IV (Knuckleheads, Like a Virus)

Becky Cloonan is one of the best there is and I think her self published work has so much vitality and life. I was also really impressed by Jason Latour, Cameron Stewart, and Farel Dalrymple among many many others.

Charles Paul Wilson III (Stuff of Legend, Wraith)

I’m kinda impressed by virtually everything and everybody. Aside from the people mentioned (and those on just the books mentioned) above, Kyle Strahm’s work in the Spread preview looked really cool. Aaron Kuder’s DC stuff has been really, really fun to look at, and same with Chris Burnham. And Bernie Wrightson on Frankenstein Alive, Alive. Emma Ríos on Pretty Deadly. Oh yeah, and Riley Rossmo has really neat covers I like to keep in a folder on my desktop and look at every now and again.


//TAGS | 2013 in Review

David Harper

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Brian Salvatore

Brian Salvatore is an editor, podcaster, reviewer, writer at large, and general task master at Multiversity. When not writing, he can be found playing music, hanging out with his kids, or playing music with his kids. He also has a dog named Lola, a rowboat, and once met Jimmy Carter. Feel free to email him about good beer, the New York Mets, or the best way to make Chicken Parmagiana (add a thin slice of prosciutto under the cheese).

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Matthew Meylikhov

Once upon a time, Matthew Meylikhov became the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Multiversity Comics, where he was known for his beard and fondness for cats. Then he became only one of those things. Now, if you listen really carefully at night, you may still hear from whispers on the wind a faint voice saying, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not as bad as everyone says it issss."

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