Posted in: Comics | Tagged: comic store in your future, Comics, entertainment, legacy, marvel

Comic Store In Your Future: Is The Past Better Than The Present

Published Sat, 08 Jul 2017 13:00:41 -0500

Last updated Wed, 15 Jun 2022 16:23:59 -0500

Rod Lamberti of Rodman Comics, writes weekly for Bleeding Cool. Find previous columns here.

Marvel recently revealed their homage covers. I confess for a second I thought they were doing 3D covers then I figured out that some of the homage covers was a bit of a stretch having the fade between the original artwork and the new artwork.

Today I throw this out, not out of malice, but out of wondering what others think. Overall are artists of the past more enjoyed than newer current artists? Most (not all) new artists I felt were eclipsed by the original artwork covers. Alex Ross on the Amazing Spider-Man homage cover I did enjoy, though he has been in the business a long time so he isn't new to the business by any means. The Venom cover was pretty neat in my eyes. John Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men homage cover, of course, was as good as his previous cover of Astonishing X-Men. Overall though, a lot of the Legacy homage covers artwork I felt lacked detail.

By no means is my lack of interest in newer current artists limited to Marvel. It just took their homage covers to make me wonder more about it. I collect artwork but have not had any interest in newer current artists. Again this is just me saying what I feel. Have I become one of those old comic collectors trapped in the past? I remember as a kid listening to older comic collectors claiming comic art was so much better when they were a kid. Is the circle now complete? Or is it simply a case of me not discovering new upcoming talent that is there? Or has the comic publishers not been looking and/or investing into new upcoming artists? Is the current page rates for new artists too cheap to attract new talent that has a chance to be popular? Am I simply in the minority?

A lot of people have pointed out on Bleeding Cool, Marvel has fumbled their Legacy announcement. As also reported DC is looking to recruit talent and it may be a good time for DC to recruit from Marvel. Though I agree with people posting why would DC want Marvel's talent? It isn't that DC has better artists currently. Though if Marvel feels their current artists hardly move the sales needle how would DC be able to use them and make the artists more popular?

I love comics. Always have and still do. There is still plenty of artists out there whose artwork I would like to one day own but due to the high cost, I haven't bought any of theirs yet. Doesn't mean the art isn't worth the price. Just something I would need to save up for.

Again this is just me saying my viewpoints and only my views. I merely am wondering how others feel. Feel free to discuss.