Alex Ross and How Overrated He Is

I know a lot of people love the guy and his style but I just don't see it. Maybe it's that he epitomes the old adage that familiarity breeds contempt. I dunno. But (A) I've never been impressed with his Wonder Woman or, for that matter, any of his women (they look like men in drag in several instances) and (B) I'm DEFINITELY not impressed with his artistic abilities in terms of pacing, page layouts or what have you.

A comic book panel needs to have a singular point of focus, that one thing you zoom in on when you read it. As the most important element on the page, it should occupy a position of prominence. But Ross usually has panels that are such a mess that it's hard to determine what the focal point should be. He's a weak storyteller in terms of visuals. And comics are a visual format.

I think Jack Kirby is incredibly overrated when it comes to STYLE but when it comes to the mechanics of storytelling, pacing, layouts and whatnot, he was usually pretty solid. Methinks Ross should check out some old Kirby comics. Or hell, The Mighty Curt Swan for that matter. Swan was a guy who knew how to get the job done when it came to putting a page together.

Learn from the old pros, Ross. They're legends for a reason.

thecolorsblend wrote:I know a lot of people love the guy and his style but I just don't see it. Maybe it's that he epitomes the old adage that familiarity breeds contempt. I dunno. But (A) I've never been impressed with his Wonder Woman or, for that matter, any of his women (they look like men in drag in several instances) and (B) I'm DEFINITELY not impressed with his artistic abilities in terms of pacing, page layouts or what have you.

A comic book panel needs to have a singular point of focus, that one thing you zoom in on when you read it. As the most important element on the page, it should occupy a position of prominence. But Ross usually has panels that are such a mess that it's hard to determine what the focal point should be. He's a weak storyteller in terms of visuals. And comics are a visual format.

I think Jack Kirby is incredibly overrated when it comes to STYLE but when it comes to the mechanics of storytelling, pacing, layouts and whatnot, he was usually pretty solid. Methinks Ross should check out some old Kirby comics. Or hell, The Mighty Curt Swan for that matter. Swan was a guy who knew how to get the job done when it came to putting a page together.

Learn from the old pros, Ross. They're legends for a reason.

I disagree. 'Kingdom Come' STILL blows my mind every time I read it.

You have to keep in mind something colors: Alex Ross is a PAINTER who just so happens to love comic books.

He didn't go to art school thinking he would make it big as a cartoonist. Painting is his forte first and foremost. And when it comes to "pin-up" images, no one is in his league.





And these are but a few examples.

Overrated? Not hardly dude....