Columns 

Artist August: Frank Quitely [Art Feature]

By | August 2nd, 2014
Posted in Columns | 2 Comments

Once upon a time I didn’t like Superman. I didn’t have anything against the guy, I didn’t go off on how boring or overpowered he is or anything like that, I just hadn’t found a reason to care. And then I saw the cover to “All-Star Superman” #1. I saw a figure of enormous, inhuman strength placed in such a classically human pose against such a wondrous background and I got it. I finally got it.

And at the same time, I feel in love with Frank Quitely’s artwork.

At the time, I didn’t realise that he and I (and his collaborator on the project, Grant Morrison) lived within an hour of each other, but when I found that out that love grew to something more like pride. With every book I found with Quitely’s artwork, be it interior or coverwork, I saw someone like me making it big time in comics. There was a connection to Quitely’s artwork I found through seeing inspirations in his artwork that seemed taken from home. While many would be quick to point to Moebius as reference for Quitely’s art, I saw something closer to Dudley D. Watkins filtered through the American superheroic artwork of Steve Ditko with a sprinkling of Jack Kirby.

Quitely then went on to become a pioneer in breaking conventional practices in how time and linearity of motion is portrayed through comic books with books like “We3” and his most recent work, “Jupiter’s Legacy”, making him, I think, one of the most important working artists today. If you don’t believe me, check out the documentary that BBC2 did on him, as part of their rather aptly titled What Do Artists Do All Day? programming.

The cover of “All-Star Superman” #1

D.C. Thomson’s “Oor Wullie” for the Glasgow Comic Con 2011 program

Cover to “Flex Mentallo” #4

Doctor Strange Sketch

Alan Moore Portrait

Illustrating the difference between Clark Kent and Superman from the “All-Star Superman” collected edition.

Pages from We3 #2

Variant cover to “The Walking Dead” #100

Judge Dredd Wallpaper

Variant Cover to “All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder” – Featuring my favourite Robin costume ever

Damian Wayne mid-sketch

Superman & Lois Lane from “All-Star Superman” #3


//TAGS | Artist August

Alice W. Castle

Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears her, Alice W. Castle is a trans femme writing about comics. All things considered, it’s going surprisingly well. Ask her about the unproduced Superman films of 1990 - 2006. She can be found on various corners of the internet, but most frequently on Twitter: @alicewcastle

EMAIL | ARTICLES


  • Columns
    Artist August: Evan “Doc” Shaner [Art Feature]

    By | Aug 31, 2014 | Columns

    Today brings Artist August to a close, and what better way to do that than with “Flash Gordon” artist Evan “Doc” Shaner. Long someone that every artist has fawned over for his clean, powerful art with a pitch perfect ability for delivering a story, with his work on “Flash Gordon” we’ve found an artist find […]

    MORE »
    Columns
    Artist August: Tom Scioli [Art Feature]

    By | Aug 30, 2014 | Columns

    Full disclosure: I had another artist slated for this spot up until quite recently. I went with a pick that I felt was an important artist in the history of comics, and was excited to spotlight their work. However, when I started collecting pieces, I felt nothing. The work, while incredible, didn’t resonate with me […]

    MORE »
    Columns
    Artist August: Liz Prince [Art Feature]

    By | Aug 29, 2014 | Columns

    Liz Prince’s comics are exactly the type of comics I want to see more of in the world. Her work lies somewhere between the self-reflection of Jeffery Brown and the raucous energy of James Kochalka, examining herself and her surroundings through the lens of a humorist. Her comics are easily digestible while simultaneously impactful and thought provoking, […]

    MORE »

    -->