I think I've confused commercial art as being average because I've been letting my wallet rule what I get. I have for over a decade. One thing is for certain that there is very good comic art but at $6 a comic I don't think it holds as much value as it should. Then again that's the price of fast food. The only correlation being the price point.
I will say this though, the technical level of comic art is really sophisticated nowadays.
*Favorite comic book at the moment.*
Walking Dead. (Art isn't mindblowing but it doesn't have to be. It services the story quite well.)
Although I love the 'Ricktatorship' end of the Walking Dead TV finale, it just pales in comparison to the book.
*Favorite comic artist at the moment.*
Really tough. For now I will say it's in between Coipel and Yu. Coipel's only flaw is that he crops figures so he cuts feet and hands. That may seem nitpicky but when everything is of an excellent standard that is what sticks out.
*Favorite comic book writer.*
If I chose Walking Dead, I'd have to go with Robert Kirkman, right?
*Suprise comic.*
The Strange Talent of Luther Strode. If you like a bit of fun and fine lines to boot give the 6 issue arc a read.
*Most brutal comic.*
Kick Ass 2. It's even more epic in violence than Luther Strode is, if that's possible.
*Most annoying writer(s)*
I'm going to name two writers. Brian Bendis and Mark Millar. I will say Brian Bendis is much more annoying but added Millar because he's a frustrating writer. For Bendis it's that he tries too hard with the small talk dialog. It's a personal opinion but I just think it doesn't read out too well. (To clarify it seems like the people talking interrupt each other mid sentence.) He's got a lot of clever ideas but he stretches his stories for far too long. Has been a major gripe is that not much happens in one issue. It could be said of Walking Dead 95 but Kirkman handles cliffhangers better.
Millar too, has really clever concepts and integrates some funny insults but he writes everybody as a smart ass. Smart ass is fine but it becomes annoying when they have the same voice and delivery. Characters do need depth.
Also every super seems to be super intelligent. Case in point, the original Hulk and Tony Stark's brother in the Ultimates storyline. It negates Bruce Banner and Tony Stark intelligence. It highlights some lazy writing but at the end of the day I do find his work fun to read.
Writing this makes me realize it's not the writers I really have issue with. It's more because of the subject matter. Superheroes who have Godlike abilities. Even Nick Fury can tussle with superhumans.
If only they weren't so fun to draw.







