MEG 296 Guy Davis Dredd

[Mike Gloady]

What John said.

Just hit his Hellblazer issues in my re-read, cracking artist with an individual style and great storytelling chops.  He makes it look easy, but anyone who's attempted it knows it's far from it.

[Rob1971]

Looking forward to this. By the way Rob, your Rob-o-cop rocks!

Thanks!

[Emperor]

Guy Davis and I talk about our upcoming Dredd at CBR. There's a previously unseen page of art here too http://bit.ly/d65SHi

I've used your Breathing Space interview at Comics Bulletin in previous discussion on raising the comics profile as an example that 2000AD stories can get good coverage in the main comics sites (even ones with a strong US comic book focus) and you've done it again. Is it just because you contact them (and everyone else is being far too British about the whole thing) or does the success of Cla$$war give you some extra stroke or... something else?

Also a bit of a coup - Richard Elson on your first Dredd and now the multiple Eisner Award winning team Guy Davis and Dave Stewart. How do you do it?

Did you lure him in with your wiles?

No! Not the dreaded Williams Wiles!

Read this as Williams Willies, which puts a whole new spin on proceedings.

[Rob1971]

Sorry, just seen this, Emperor.

Yeah, I contacted CBR about the Guy Davis strip. Newsarama too, I think they're running an interview. Thought it'd be a good bit of publicity for the Meg as there's US fans of Guy who may well seek out this issue of the Meg when they normally wouldn't.

It's tough to get the US comics news sites to flag up 2000AD stories but when there's something that's of interest to them, like a Guy Davis strip or a Chris Weston Future Shock etc they will. Work by creators known to the US market.

Might be cool to try and talk them into doing a couple of 2000AD creator profiles, but that's really something for Rebellion. The more publicity for Tooth the better.

[vzzbux]

I know there has been a lot of to do about Rufus so I am rather aprehensive about posting this but I have to be heard as it really got my gander up.
On this message board there is much art talent that is more than good enough to appear on the meg who haven't. Although the art of Guy Davis is OK the actual strip art featured in 296 is rather substandard IMHO. I am not an arty person but what process goes into choosing an artist for a script? because if I was editor I wouldn't have passed the art, but then again that probably is why I am not an editor.






V

[pauljholden]

I know there has been a lot of to do about Rufus so I am rather aprehensive about posting this but I have to be heard as it really got my gander up.
On this message board there is much art talent that is more than good enough to appear on the meg who haven't. Although the art of Guy Davis is OK the actual strip art featured in 296 is rather substandard IMHO. I am not an arty person but what process goes into choosing an artist for a script? because if I was editor I wouldn't have passed the art, but then again that probably is why I am not an editor.

With the greatest respect to you, I think you're wrong. It's great looking art, sympathetic yet horrendous looking mutants, excellent story telling and smothered in atmosphere - strikes me that it's a great match of artist to strip.  Also: Guy Davis has more than proved that he's a reliable, consistent artists who has an established fanbase* which means an editor can commission him safe in the knowledge that he'll turn the work around in a timely manner, it'll look great and many people will love it (obv excluding you).

As regards to "On this message board there is much art talent that is more than good enough to appear on the meg who haven't" - there's a world of difference between posting the occasional great pin up image and being able to do a 12 page comic strip of Judge Dredd in two/three weeks and to suggest otherwise is to greatly diminish the work involved in drawing a comic strip.

Obviously none of this really matters to you - you're more than welcome to your opinion and, if, for you, the art is 'substandard' then no amount of facts will get in the way of that.

-pj

*my mac os x spell check flagged that up and suggested 'fannies' - the filthy tart.

[pauljholden]

(My apologies: by facts I actually meant 'contrary opinions')

-pj

[vzzbux]

Substandard is probably a bit harsh, I asked the question of selection as I don't have a clue of the process. I do agree with you PJ of selective art and continuous work on a strip. A deadline script on some of the talented artists on the board may reduce their quality.
Doesn't change the fact that the art on the strip is not my cup of tea. Personal opinion I suppose.

Your art by the way is still sublime (and I am not creeping).







V

[pauljholden]

Substandard is probably a bit harsh, I asked the question of selection as I don't have a clue of the process.

I think in this instance, Rob and Guy had worked together before and Rob suggested Guy would be a good fit - not many american artists are, but Guy's work on the Hellboy universe is a lot closer to the 2000AD aesthetic than any amount of superhero yahoos.
 

I do agree with you PJ of selective art and continuous work on a strip. A deadline script on some of the talented artists on the board may reduce their quality.

It's not just about reducing quality - sometimes a great artist is just incapable of a full script. (I should know, I've built part of my career on that fact).

Doesn't change the fact that the art on the strip is not my cup of tea. Personal opinion I suppose.

Which is cool, *whisper it* sometimes not everything in the prog or meg is my cup of tea, but it's ALWAYS, at the very least, of a high standard. NO-ONE would argue with a statement like 'Not my cup of tea', otoh, a statement like 'If I was editor ... substandard ... ' deserves a bit of an argument.

-pj

Your art by the way is still sublime (and I am not creeping).

Ta' - but that only reflects how wrong you are

-pj

[Rob1971]

Jumping in here - and not to argue with you re: liking the art. Fair enough, we'll agree to diagree there. Personally I think Guy's one of the best in the business.

But one thing to take into account about an artist's work which is easy to overlook but is actually probably the most important skill - is storytelling. It's easier to create a nice-looking image. For me, Guy is one of the best storytelling artists. Every single panel in Out Law absolutely nails the narrative and mood, is completely clear to the reader, gets to the heart of what the script wanted to convey with each image and, very often, enhances it.

Not bashing anyone's opinion here, but when discussing the merits of an artist, that's a vey important thing to take into account.







V
[/quote]

[radiator]

Just read Out Law, and I thought it was absolutely brilliant, both in writing and art. That last page was great!

Never heard of Guy before - I don't really follow US comics - but am really impressed. Really gorgeous artwork.

[vzzbux]

Guess I am alone then, ah well. Never was one for the majority.






V

[UncleBaal]

The whole f*cking point of 2000AD is that there is a huge mixed bag of stories and art  and talent and shit and some of it some of us will like, and some of it some of us won't...

[Art]

24496The Art of Monsters with Guy Davis
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=

[James Stacey]

Have to say I couldn't see the buzz about Guy Davis from the preview panels on the web. He didn't look all that. The story upon reading held together really well and I actually really liked it. Davis' mutants actually looked mutated rather than alien (which is a mistake I think is commonly made).
An enjoyable Meg all around. I'm getting into Tempest although I'm still a bit unsure as to who or what he is supposed to be (why he dresses like a judge). The Lost Case was fun but not as tied in to Dredd history as others have been. I've kind of lost interest in Tank Girl I'm afraid.(although I appreciate the work and know some poeple like it) One thing that kind of confused me about the recent stories I only really thought about the other day, didn't Tank Girl used to be set in a kind of post apocalyptic Austaralia? Not read the originals for years (always thought Camp Koala was the best thing in it) but these new stories all feel much more british.