Comic Art Friday: The Best of 2008
Today's Comic Art Friday is dedicated to the memory of Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the grande dame of the Star Trek universe, who passed away yesterday at the age of 76.
The widow of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Majel had a recurring role in the original 1960s series as Nurse Christine Chapel, whose most distinctive characteristic was her unrequited love for Mr. Spock. Majel also appeared as Lwaxana Troi, Deanna Troi's meddlesome mother, in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Off camera, the actress provided the voice of the Enterprise's computer system in both the original series and ST:TNG, as well as that of the feline Lt. M'Ress in Star Trek: The Animated Series.
A beloved fixture for years on the convention circuit, Majel will be missed by Trek's legions of fans.
In addition to it being Comic Art Friday, today is my 47th birthday. So I'm going to do whatever I darn well please. (I know, I know... I do that every Friday. Old habits die hard.)
What pleases me is getting an early start on our traditional look back at the year's best acquisitions. This way, we can spread the retrospective goodness over two consecutive Comic Art Fridays, and bask in the reflected glow of my favorite new pieces of 2008 for a week longer.
In the words of the late Heath Ledger: And here... we... go!
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Heroes Division:
"Force of Gravity" — pencils by Sal Velluto, inks by Bob Almond
Captain Gravity and Gravity
Sal and Bob, the longtime artistic team on Marvel's Black Panther, created two incredible additions to my Common Elements theme gallery in 2008. I loved the whimsy of Sal's design in this one, which featured another character from the Sal and Bob catalog — Penny-Farthing's Captain Gravity.
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Heroines Division:
"Val to the Third Power" — pencils by Val Semeiks
Valkyrie (from Airboy) and Valkyrie (from The Defenders)
Val Semeiks's impeccable storytelling slams a home run with this concept, which was tailor-made (well, it would be, if I were a tailor) for him. Beautifully designed, and deftly drawn.
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Co-Ed Division (tie):
"Celestial Domes" — pencils by Steve Carr, inks by Joe Rubinstein
Moondragon and the Martian Manhunter
As was the case last year, I had a tough time deciding this category. Thus, for the second year in a row, I split the difference to honor two outstanding artworks. The early leader here was this dazzling scenario imagined by Steve Carr, then splendidly finished by Joe Rubinstein.
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Co-Ed Division (tie):
"Identity Theft" — pencils and inks by Mike Vosburg
Starfire and Steel
And then came this stellar entry from Bronze Age veteran Mike Vosburg. Mike pairs his creation Starfire with her fellow overlooked DC non-star, Steel. Mike still draws with the same muscular energy that made those '70s comics so much fun.
Favorite Storm:
Aaron Lopresti (pencils and inks)
Wonder Woman artist Lopresti rocked this image of the lightning-commanding X-Man at WonderCon back in February. Aaron really hustled to complete this one before the end of the day on Saturday.
Favorite Supergirl:
Matthew Clark (pencils)
Matthew is one of the most underappreciated talents in the comics industry. His name doesn't often surface when fans call out their current favorites. But man, oh man, can this guy sling a pencil.
Favorite Mary Marvel:
David Williams (mixed media)
David is perhaps best known for drawing "kids' comics" for the all-ages Marvel Adventures line. His work brims with boundless joy, clever design, and a sly sense of humor. All three qualities sparkle in this WonderCon commission.
Favorite Wonder Woman:
Daniel B. Veesenmeyer (pencils)
"DVeese" helped inaugurate my new Bombshells! theme gallery (about which, more next Friday) this year with several nicely rendered pieces. Here, he recalls the original appearance of the Amazing Amazon in classic nose art style.
Favorite Beauties With Blades:
Valkyrie
Phil Noto (pencils and inks)
Taarna
Alex Niño (pencils and inks)
Two more stunning components of a truly memorable WonderCon haul.
Next Friday, we'll review the best of Bombshells!, and announce our 2008 Artist of the Year.
If you want to send me a piece or two of original comic art for my birthday, I'll gladly accept it, even if it arrives later. Or you could drive over, hand me the art in person, and then take me out to birthday lunch. I promise not to order the lobster.
(No, I don't.)
And that's your Comic Art Friday. Now get off my lawn.
The widow of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Majel had a recurring role in the original 1960s series as Nurse Christine Chapel, whose most distinctive characteristic was her unrequited love for Mr. Spock. Majel also appeared as Lwaxana Troi, Deanna Troi's meddlesome mother, in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Off camera, the actress provided the voice of the Enterprise's computer system in both the original series and ST:TNG, as well as that of the feline Lt. M'Ress in Star Trek: The Animated Series.
A beloved fixture for years on the convention circuit, Majel will be missed by Trek's legions of fans.
In addition to it being Comic Art Friday, today is my 47th birthday. So I'm going to do whatever I darn well please. (I know, I know... I do that every Friday. Old habits die hard.)
What pleases me is getting an early start on our traditional look back at the year's best acquisitions. This way, we can spread the retrospective goodness over two consecutive Comic Art Fridays, and bask in the reflected glow of my favorite new pieces of 2008 for a week longer.
In the words of the late Heath Ledger: And here... we... go!
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Heroes Division:
"Force of Gravity" — pencils by Sal Velluto, inks by Bob Almond
Captain Gravity and Gravity
Sal and Bob, the longtime artistic team on Marvel's Black Panther, created two incredible additions to my Common Elements theme gallery in 2008. I loved the whimsy of Sal's design in this one, which featured another character from the Sal and Bob catalog — Penny-Farthing's Captain Gravity.
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Heroines Division:
"Val to the Third Power" — pencils by Val Semeiks
Valkyrie (from Airboy) and Valkyrie (from The Defenders)
Val Semeiks's impeccable storytelling slams a home run with this concept, which was tailor-made (well, it would be, if I were a tailor) for him. Beautifully designed, and deftly drawn.
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Co-Ed Division (tie):
"Celestial Domes" — pencils by Steve Carr, inks by Joe Rubinstein
Moondragon and the Martian Manhunter
As was the case last year, I had a tough time deciding this category. Thus, for the second year in a row, I split the difference to honor two outstanding artworks. The early leader here was this dazzling scenario imagined by Steve Carr, then splendidly finished by Joe Rubinstein.
Favorite "Common Elements" Commission, Co-Ed Division (tie):
"Identity Theft" — pencils and inks by Mike Vosburg
Starfire and Steel
And then came this stellar entry from Bronze Age veteran Mike Vosburg. Mike pairs his creation Starfire with her fellow overlooked DC non-star, Steel. Mike still draws with the same muscular energy that made those '70s comics so much fun.
Favorite Storm:
Aaron Lopresti (pencils and inks)
Wonder Woman artist Lopresti rocked this image of the lightning-commanding X-Man at WonderCon back in February. Aaron really hustled to complete this one before the end of the day on Saturday.
Favorite Supergirl:
Matthew Clark (pencils)
Matthew is one of the most underappreciated talents in the comics industry. His name doesn't often surface when fans call out their current favorites. But man, oh man, can this guy sling a pencil.
Favorite Mary Marvel:
David Williams (mixed media)
David is perhaps best known for drawing "kids' comics" for the all-ages Marvel Adventures line. His work brims with boundless joy, clever design, and a sly sense of humor. All three qualities sparkle in this WonderCon commission.
Favorite Wonder Woman:
Daniel B. Veesenmeyer (pencils)
"DVeese" helped inaugurate my new Bombshells! theme gallery (about which, more next Friday) this year with several nicely rendered pieces. Here, he recalls the original appearance of the Amazing Amazon in classic nose art style.
Favorite Beauties With Blades:
Valkyrie
Phil Noto (pencils and inks)
Taarna
Alex Niño (pencils and inks)
Two more stunning components of a truly memorable WonderCon haul.
Next Friday, we'll review the best of Bombshells!, and announce our 2008 Artist of the Year.
If you want to send me a piece or two of original comic art for my birthday, I'll gladly accept it, even if it arrives later. Or you could drive over, hand me the art in person, and then take me out to birthday lunch. I promise not to order the lobster.
(No, I don't.)
And that's your Comic Art Friday. Now get off my lawn.
Labels: Comic Art Friday, Dead People Got No Reason to Live, Ripped From the Headlines, They Say It's My Birthday
SwanShadow was randomly pounding the keyboard at 12:19 AM
7 insisted on sticking two cents in:
Happy birthday! I know nothing of comic art, but you're my favorite person who does.
Phil Noto is awesome - he lives around here and is one of the nicest guys, too.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, big fella. That Val Semeiks piece is one of my favorite commissions of 2008, period. The fact that you had so many more awesome drawings added to your collection on top of it is just rubbing it in our faces, really. BTW, I am buying you a virtual lobster dinner.
Shelli: Aw, thanks, sugarlump. You're my very favorite nurse in Minnesota.
Avitable: Phil Noto is beyond awesome. He is also, as you say, an exceptionally nice guy. I've been fortunate enough to get commissions from him at each of the last two WonderCons.
In case you haven't seen it, he's doing some extremely rare superhero interior work right now, on a miniseries entitled Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom. It's lovely stuff.
Yeah, I get everything that DC puts out each week, so I've been reading it. It definitely looks amazing.
FTLT: Thanks, dude. I'll take all the virtual lobster dinners I can get. :)
I'm with you on the Val Semeiks piece. That was my single favorite acquisition of the year, were I to choose just one. I'm hoping to have it inked in '09.
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