Great comic book inkers

Take a spin through our collection of amazing artists. Inking was necessary in the traditional printing process as presses could not reproduce pencilled drawings. The art of comic book inking rewrite anina bennett p. I hadnt realized how much his legion inkers had been carrying his water prior to that. I think some readers will say they want inkers, and prefer that style, as will some artists certainly. Sinnott and stone are among the best comic book inkers. I bought that terrible ff movie just to get that documentary and threw out the wretched film.

Through the use of high quality ink, you can ensure that it is not going to go through the paper, smudge or smear across the entire comic that youre drawing. Dear inkers, the inkwell awards, the only nonprofit organization devoted to public education and promotion of the art of comic book inking, is asking fans and professionals to choose their industry favorites in this years inkewell awards the official public ballot will be available on the inkwells homepage from february 23rd through 29th. Hes actually one of my favorite kirby inkers, and probably my very favorite. The results are fantastic and superb in quality, but. Which comic book artists did you absolutely hate growing up. Go join our insiders facebook group to get your question in the next interview. This is a fiveminute video of me inking a comic book page using a quill and india ink. By writing this book, i hope to demystify a very important part of the comic book creative process. Its one of the most important and most unrecognized aspects of comic books.

Many notable female comics creators exist even though the field of. But i would notice that some of the comics drawn by my favorite artists didnt look as good as other comics they drew. This is a list of women who have been involved with producing comic books and comic strips. So he snatched up a windsornewton and proceeded to dazzle the plebs at school with his black and white renditions, attaining the previously unimaginable status of cool. Scott williams adds a lot to jim lees work and others.

If you find an issue in the database that is not shown here, please edit that issue adding frank frazetta as one of the inkers. The great grand masters of comics are still drawing traditional with pen and ink and watercolor. The penciller creates a drawing, the inker outlines, interprets, finalizes, retraces this drawing by using a pencil, pen or a brush. Can someone please give me examples of good inkinginkers. Hard to say whos the best comic book inker, best overall ever was probably frazetta. His primary comic book inking experience includes big bang comics for image, david hahns serena published by an.

This category is for comic book inkers, specifically those who primarily make a living embellishing other artists pencil work, rather than their own. He drew marvels wolverine with author mark millar as part of the characters 30thanniversary celebration. The 25 greatest comic book artists from the last 25 years syfy wire. Masterworks series of great comic book artists vol 1 2. The biggest comic book names since 1992, all combined in one place. Jack kirby doesnt really have a place in comic book history. Oct 11, 2017 when i first started collecting comics back in the 1970s, i was drawn to the art. If you are posting a wip it must be at least 60% finished work in progress. Im talking about the inkers, colorists and the letterers a. Also, if you need character reference, ask your editor. His primary comic book inking experience includes big bang comics for image.

On 4 may 2012, john sketched characters and signed comics for 50 hours straight to raise money for. Before anyone cries outrage at why george perez and walt simonson are not on this list, despite continuing to produce amazing work, please remember that were just talking about seminal works from the last 25 years. Do comic book artists still use ink and paper, or is it. It is a beautiful relationship that has been around for most of the lifetime of comic books. The inker sometimes credited as the finisher or embellisher is one of the two line artists in traditional comic book production the penciller creates a drawing, the inker outlines, interprets, finalizes, retraces this drawing by using a pencil, pen or a brush.

From a production viewpoint, their role is to convert t. This brush pack is ideal for a wide range of uses including comic books, cartoons, hand lettering, and more. If youve purchased this book solely for the art by our spectacular roster of contributors, youll get your moneys worth. Jun 11, 2019 to celebrate the last 25 years in comics, were looking back at the greatest comic book artists from the last quarter century. In comics since the 40s, george roussos was so adept with a brush in his hand that his coworkers appointed the nickname inky to him. Often we create over the work of those who created before us. Mar, 2017 a description of what a comic book inker is for beginners, with quotes from professional inkers. John romita jr was nominated for a will eisner comic industry award in 1989 for his work on daredevil. Text works together with the art to create the story, world, and. This ink is a black carbonbased ink that is used because it retains its color when put to the page. It is a great way to get into the mind of your creators and see what makes them tick. Richard dick ayers born april 28, 1924 is an american comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of jack kirbys inkers during.

Gary martins two volumes of the art of comicbook inking have become the industrystandard manuals for aspiring inkers seeking to take their work to the next level or for working professionals looking to broaden their skills base. In comics from 1941, frank giacoias smooth, thick line has been recognizable over a surfeit of outstanding pencillers. While we as inkers know how to draw as well, it is not always our own pencils we sit down to ink. Inkers, colorists, and letterers the often forgotten heroes. Please remember that like our companion piece, the 100 greatest american comic book artists, this list follows only american artists from the aboveground publishers. What were some of the inkers you dreaded seeing listed in the credits of a comic book. Prominent pencilerinker partnerships are frank millerklaus janson batman. Pages in category comics inkers the following 89 pages are in this category, out of 89 total. The 25 greatest comic book artists from the last 25 years.

How to submit an idea to a comic book company pen and. A penciller, who renders the original drawing in pencil. May 11, 2017 xxxenophile was a comic book series that phil foglio wrote and drew with a number of different inkers, typically some of the best and brightest comic book artists of the era in the late 1980s through 1995 that was an anthology series of sex stories with a sense of the absurd mixed in. You can consider inking as a precursor to the actual comic book coloring where you will still need to have a steady hand when using the markers and other drawing instruments. The european comics i read are a mixture of everything. Gil kane who called him an extraordinarily powerful inker, carmine infantino, gene colan and jack kirby all benefited from his heavy, robust linework which always helped tell the story in a simple, direct way. N otwithstanding that gil kane was a beneficiary of some of the finest inking of any artist in the history of comics, his sentiment is largely accurate. The inker sometimes credited as the finisher or embellisher is one of the two line artists in traditional comic book production. In addition, his popularity and skill influenced the next generation of inkers. Thanks so much, ive been meaning to spotlight some inkers and colorists, because they can totally make or break the art and its not everyday that it gets a mention. Though inkers have their own fans and followers, many often go.

As with traditional book publishers, this process can be a daunting one. However, i feel like im not able to fully appreciate the creative process necessary to create them. The comic book writer isnt the artist, but the writer is the source of the ideas that drive the comic. Since that fateful day in 1938 when superman bounded into life in the first issue of action comics, artists and illustrators have found themselves. Inking may be one of the most misunderstood disciplines of the comic art world. Portraying the mass, depth, and form of your objects. Famous inkers include tom palmer, al gordon and mike esposito. Old school comic book fan join date may 2014 location philadelphia, pa posts 19,926. Bennett is joined by inkers sandra hope, jaime mendoza, and art thibert. A comic book writer should be able to communicate clearly with artists and editors to make sure all the elements of the project come together to create a cohesive whole. Youre able to have it set and dry fast, while easily drawing onto the next block. Overall, this was one of the best books on comic book creation i have read, for example, better than the basic dc comics guides. A rare look at two interpretations of the same pencils, by al williamson and bernard krigstein. Search for full time or part time employment opportunities on jobs2careers.

His style was often thick, heavy with blacks and sported nice contrasts which complimented one of his prime collaborators in the 50s, mort meskin. A tip for beginning inkers, if youve never worked with the penciler before, now would be a good time to call him with any questions or just to introduce yourself and see what hes looking for in the finished product. Apr 12, 2015 hard to say whos the best comic book inker, best overall ever was probably frazetta. Generally, a brush or pen is used to ink comic book pages, but some inkers use both. Joe rubenstein, bob mcleod, klaus janson and many others each owe a stylistic debt to him. Writers, artists, inkers, colorists, and more are at the convention on hand to sign autographs, make sketches, chat, and discuss comic books. The first line of the documentary cemented it for me. Coletta was horrible but even he could not destroy kirby on thor. From action blockbusters to the lego movie, the influence of comic artists on popular culture has never been greater. Kevin nowlan is a tremendous inker that actually overpowers anyone he inkers and turns the art into his. This is our collection of comic issues inked by frank frazetta. Kevin nowlan is maybe my favorite artist in all of comics though man, bill s. Apr 21, 2016 great post dennis and youre so right about that kirby documentary.

Inkers, colorists, and letterers the often forgotten. Simply put, a comic book inker renders another artists pencil drawings in india ink. Typically, in comics, there are two artists who work on any book. Learn about the comic artists secret sidekick, the inker vice. What are some hallmarks of quality comic book inking. Without good ink work, comics tend to not feel right. Do comic book artists still use ink and paper, or is it all. A descriptive listing and ranking of the 20 greatest american comic book inkers. Gary martins two volumes of the art of comic book inking have become the industrystandard manuals for aspiring inkers seeking to take their work to the next level or for working professionals looking to broaden their skills base. The trick here is that almost anything that can put ink on paper can be used from mechanical pens, to sharpies, to qtips or sponges. Those incidents scarred him to such an extent that he decided it might be safer for him to change course and apply himself to the tradition of the great comic book inkers. There is a reason people still press it into the hands of those whove never read a comic before. Every character had that squished square face, weird mouths, just awful. Xxxenophile was a comic book series that phil foglio wrote and drew with a number of different inkers, typically some of the best.

Great post dennis and youre so right about that kirby documentary. Refine your comic book inker job search to find new opportunities in new york new york. A good inker can salvage shaky pencils, while a bad one can obliterate great draftsmanship andor muddy good storytelling. Though inkers have their own fans and followers, many often go unnoticed or are glossed over by most awards events. But when taking the pepsi challenge, i doubt your average comic book reader can tell the difference between digitally produced work and traditional work, nor would they care. I eventually realized that an inker can overpower the. Inking comic books by hand surely has its rewards especially if you plan to do the entire comic book project by yourself. To be honest though, some of that may be due to nostaligia, in that the era in which he inked f.

The inker is one of the two line artists in traditional comic book production. Professional comic book inker jimmy reyes shares his opinion and experience on what he finds to be the best retail bristol board for comic book inking. Sep 17, 2017 how does a batman comic book inker work. Apr 03, 2018 though inkers have their own fans and followers, many often go unnoticed or are glossed over by most awards events. This is used primarily in the inking of comic books. What to look for in the best pens for drawing comics. Gerry alanguilian makes yus work so much more awesome. By creative bloq staff computer arts 11 march 2014. One of the main reasons to go to comic book conventions is to see your favorite comic book creators. They use ink to incorporate dynamic lighting, and add shading and textures which may be lacking in the penciled work. Like most golden age inkers, roussos toiled in complete anonymity until the advent of the marvel age, when his work under the name george bell made him well known to fans. A list of the top twenty comic book artists who are creating comic book art right now from superhero comics to small press graphic novels.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. The broken inkers brush set is the perfect brush set for creating realistic inky pen effects in photoshop. In the foreword, gary martin says the art of comic book inking is intended for people who want to become inkers working inkers who havent had professional training pencillers who want their work to be more inkerfriendly the majority of editors working in comics todaythis isnt a. Though often derided as tracers or shaders, comic book inkers are a vital part of the process.

When finishing a comic book we generally talk about the writing and art, if the artwork is solid, we praise the artists on the title naturally, but its unfair to honor the artist without also acknowledging the talent that enhances the art. The most common inking utensils are the crowquill pen and brushes. What other jobs in the comic book industry would you like to learn about. Patrick tuller is an illustrator and comic book artistinker. To celebrate the last 25 years in comics, were looking back at the greatest comic book artists from the last quarter century. The 10 greatest comic book artists of all time creative bloq. Everything youve heard about this graphic novel, first published as a 12issue series in 1986 and 1987, is true. Its a great way to get free comics delivered to your door. But the art of comic book inking is mainly intended for. Feb 08, 2018 what other jobs in the comic book industry would you like to learn about. What exactly does an inker do and how is this different from colorers and increase the effect of comic books as art. The inker plays critical roles in the development of comic book art.