My top 10 Iron Man artists.

A Few weeks ago Shane challenged me to come up with my top 10 Iron Man artists and it got me started thinking (there are a few surprises in there), it has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. Anyway, here goes nothing...

Before I get into it though I should mention that I started reading Iron Man at issue #198. The first three artists on those first three books were Sal Buscema, Herb Trimpe and Mark Bright! I am not sure how you can get off to a better start than that.

Anyway... here goes nothing.


Honorable mention:

Tom Morgan (Issues #307-319)

Tom did a run toward the end of the first series. Issue 319 was an issue where I believe he said "It's going downhill from here. Better get off the ship. He did stories that involved the Mandarin, War Machine, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Cap, and Black Widow. Very solid artwork, especially considering the armor he had to work with. My book met him once and is grateful for it!

10) Kevin Hopgood (issues 280-288, 290-297, 299-306)

Kevin transitioned Iron Man through War Machine to the armor that was used in the television show. Both are difficult to draw without making them look crappy. It was a good run with a lot of great covers. Very solid.

9) Don Heck (Tales of Suspense 46-62, 64-72)

Don Heck was one of the original Iron Man artists and although the style is simple I adore the classic looks and this was a period where they were being innovative (for the time) and subtle changes were being made(look at the rivets in the mask)..

8) Gene Colan (issues 1, 253, Annual 10, 13, 15 Tales of Suspense issues 39, 73-99, Iron Man/SubMariner #1)

A legend. Classic style that was very consistent. Lots of longevity as well. I love the cover to issue #1.

7) George Tuska (issues 5-13, 15-24, 32, 38, 40-46, 48-54, 57-61, 63-72, 78-79, 86-92, 96-106, Annual 4)


I met George Tuska at a show back in the 90's(and embarrassed myself greatly in the process) and since then I have really grown to appreciate his work on Iron Man. He created the looks of many characters over his run and although later in his life I feel all of his artwork looked the same, I have great respect for the groundbreaking artist who were consistent and were able to do it without computers or other modern technology.

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6) Paul Ryan (Issues 202, 267-273, 275-279, vol. 3 issues 34, 36)

I am surprised that Paul Ryan ended up this low on my list since I LOVE his work so much.  Most of the work he did was during the period with the bubble arms and legs Iron Man and everyone that had draw it made it look more cartoonish and less clean than I generally like. If he would have done more work in other periods he would be higher on the list. Still, I love Paul Ryan's work!

 

 

5) Herb Trimpe (issues 39, 82-85, 93-94, 113, 199, 246, 251-252, 255)

Herb Trimpe penciled the second issue of Iron Man that I ever purchased and although his work on Iron Man is not terribly extensive I have a soft spot in my heart for his work because of it. Once again, a master of consistency and polish. What is not to like?

Gotta love Iron Man mask emotion!!!



4) Luke McDonnell (issues 163-195, Annual 7)

Luke McDonnell does an excellent job of the essence of Iron Man and even when Rhodey takes over he is able to portray Rhodey's personality in the armor's look. He had longevity and was the artist through some of the most classic of stories. He also drew my favorite issue, Assistant editor's month Iron Man #178. A great run and very consistent.

3) Bob Layton (issues 91, 116-128, 130-135, 137-153, 215-244, 246-250, 254, 256, vol. 3 issues 2, 25, Bad Blood 1-4, Legacy of Doom 1-4)

Bob Layton is an absolute legend as far as Iron Man is concerned and would probably be higher on the list if he wasn't such an arrogant douche bag. He also did a lot of covers and inked many issues but did not draw as many as you would think. I have not had any luck getting what I want from him over the years although what he gave me has been excellent. His artwork is clean and consistent and he designed several versions of the armor over the yearsv(although he won't draw at least one of them but I'm not bitter about it).

 

 

2) John Romita jr (issues 115-117, 119-121, 123-128, 141-150, 152-156, 256, 258-266)

I absolutely love John Romita jr's work and he is a really cool guy. I met him at a Motor City Con in the late 90's. He was walking up the aisle, slid across the table, sat down and started drawing. After he was done with my sketch he looked up at me and said my sketch was the easiest sketch he had ever done! It had taken him about a minute to do! Great style during a time when they were making lots of changes to the armor. He also draws a great drunk Tony!! (!Issue 128 is the Demon in a Bottle issue)

 

 

1) Mark Bright (issues 200-201, 203-208, 210, 215-217, 220-223, 225-231, 274, Annual 9, 15)

I absolutely love Mark Bright's take on Iron Man. From the Silver Centurion, which if not drawn with conviction looks like a crappy transformer, to the return of the traditional look, his work was always solid and worthy of a second and third look. He had longevity and did the pencils throughout the Armor Wars story. Anyone who can draw armors and make them always look great is amazing in my book.
 I absolutely adore the cover to 215.

 

Well that is what I have come up with. It is like choosing which of your children you like the best. Thank you for your time.

My Top Ten Favorite PUNISHER Artists

I recently re-watched Punisher War Zone (my favorite Punisher flick, by the way) and then watched all the extras. They went through a lot of trouble to make the film resemble the comics and that got me thinking about my favorite Punisher stories and artists. I came up with a 5 favorite artist without trying and decided to make a Top 10 list. It actually wasn't as easy as I thought but here's what I cam up with!

10. Goran Parlov.
I had noticed Parlov's Punisher art on covers but wasn't reading any of his stories, so his name never clicked. It wasn't until I read Fury My War Gone By with the story of Nick Fury and Frank Castle sneaking around the Vietnam/Cambodian jungles, that it came together. I could read volumes of those two silently making their way through fields and jungles, just beautiful!
Parlov brings us a very down to earth, dirty, Punisher. He doesn't look neat and clean with brand new weapons, straight off the shelf, and that's really the way the Punisher should look. He looks strong, rough around the edges and like he could pull an extra weapon out of anywhere, at any moment.

9. Ariel Olivetti.
Again, I don't think I've read a Punisher story drawn by Olivetti, but his work really makes me want to! His Punisher is a huge, bruiser who looks like he could kill you without any weapons! This is a big, intimidating Punisher. Olivetti's style is clean but not overly so. The Punisher looks like he's been through some nonsense and he's not going to let you get away with anything!

8. Mitch Gerads.
I'll admit, I'm in love with Mitch's Punisher! His Frank Castle looks unkempt but serious. Gerads decks him out in real world gear, keeping the skull logo front and center, and it works! This is the Punisher I want to see kicking in doors and shooting more bad guys than I can count. Thankfully, Nate Edmondson supplies Mitch (and Frank) with plenty of moving targets!

7. Whilce Portacio.
Ok, Whilce didn't have a big run on Punisher. He didn't have to, his Punisher looked like a super hero running around taking out scum! It was fantastic! And he went up against the Kingpin, epic! Whilce's style has always been super detailed and his Punisher was no different. Slicked back hair, ripped muscles and plenty of guns, this Punisher honestly made my initial Top 5, but I had to make room for the greats!

6. Mark Texeira.
Somehow Tex brought us a grim and gritty bad ass without losing any of the "super hero" flavor. This Punisher looked like he had been drug through an alley before showing up on the comic page. With muscles that could snap a neck with ease, the towering figure of the Punisher looks like he really has been waging his war for years!

5. Joe Jusko.
I love that Jusko can make the Punsiher look like a super star and keep him a grounded character, What other character looks like he was ripped off the cover of a Men's Pulp Action novel. This is seriously the Manly Man's Punisher!

4. John Romita JR.
Sure it was the 90's but everyone wanted JR JR's Punisher War Zone #1! Why? Because the Punisher had never looked more like the thug he was hunting. Built like a tank, sweaty, greased back hair and a big broken nose, this Punisher was all business! Load him up with enough guns and grenades to take out a large city and this Punisher is ready for war!

3. Jim Lee.
Yes, Jim frigging Lee! He not only draws a killer Punisher, he drew him in every environment, with every weapon. This was a seriously cool, straight out of a Hollywood Movie, Punisher. Even when he was done on the book, I can't tell you how many covers Jim Lee did for the book, every one a solid hit!

2. Tim Bradstreet.
There's no way a list like this can be made without Bradstreet! I think he actually goes down into the sewers, finds the Punisher and draws him. This is the most realistic looking, photo accurate, dark and moody Punisher there could be! I can only say, Bravo!

1. Mike Zeck.
Without a Mike Zeck Punisher this list wouldn't exist! Maybe you would switch him and Bradstreet, I wouldn't. When I met the Punisher for the first time, I was introduced to him by Mike Zeck. This was a solid workhorse that you knew would look you in the eyes as he pulled the trigger. This Clint Eastwood/Sylvester Stallone looking machine carried the biggest guns and fought armies of the baddest thugs. I can never get enough on Mike Zeck's Punisher.

Honorable Mention: Eliot Brown.
This is the guy who gave us hundreds of the coolest Punisher pin-ups, ever! You don't know the name? Shame on you! Pick up any Marvel Technical page or even better, an issue of the Punisher Armory! Elliot Brown is the artistic genius who gave us all of those awesome shots of the Punisher's favorite weapons and gear on the work bench, gun range or back alley! Thank you for making the Punisher even cooler, Mr. Brown!

There it is! I may have overlooked someone. There's been so much incredible Punisher art, over the years, I tried to keep it to people who worked on the actuall title, too. There were a few I considered but they just drew Frank Castle in a pin-up or cross over. Who do you think should have made the list?