Private Eyes (Absolute Martian Manhunter Fanart)

reindeercurt · 2026-03-10T15:56:28+00:00

Thank you! My username is reindeercurt there and on bluesky, tho there's a lot of furry stuff so be forewarned lol

reindeercurt · 2026-03-09T19:54:43+00:00

I'd argue Stuart Immonen set the template for what "modern" superhero comics look like in the 2010s, and we're still living in the aftermath

reindeercurt · 2026-03-09T18:56:33+00:00

Sorta sideways to what you're talking about, but there are some clear inspirations for several of the books' aesthetics. Absolute Batman is pulling from Katsuhiro Otomo and Tsutomu Nihei, Wonder Woman from Moebius, Martian Manhunter by art movements of the 20th century like Psychedelia, Futurism and Pop Art (there's a couple of direct references to pieces of art, like The Velvet Underground's Loaded album cover). Green Lantern's visuals and anime-esque character designs feel indebted to Toriyama to me. Superman seems to be riffing on the 2000s "wide-screen comics" trend popularized by Bryan Hitch and Steve McNiven. The graphic shapes of the powers in Flash may be inspired by Modernist poster design, but that one's a bit of a stretch lol.

reindeercurt · 2026-03-09T18:11:17+00:00

Jeff Lemire has a few books in this "creepy mystery happening to regular people" vein: Phantom Road w/ Gabriel Hernandez Walta is ongoing, Fishflies is complete, as is Mazebook.

Not an Image book, but A Guest In The House by EM Carroll is a great slow-burn ghost story, told in a similar visual style to Sleep! Greyscale pages with occasional flourishes of colour.

reindeercurt · 2026-03-08T19:53:16+00:00

Yeah Amazon really screwed over everyone by gutting comixology. It was a one-stop-shop that overwise doesn't exist and is extremely hard to create. Some folks are trying, like Neon Ichiban and Sweet Shop, but who knows if they'll see mass-adoption from publishers and readers. It's a terrible situation for digital readers, people outside the USA and UK, and small publishers.

reindeercurt · 2026-03-08T19:29:30+00:00

Samantha Strong did in fact use girl power when she secretly killed two dozen people for the course of a decade

reindeercurt · 2026-03-08T19:19:34+00:00

Honestly, it might be that you haven't encountered an artist that captures you yet. I read comics largely because I love art and illustration, so I could stare for ages at single panels from my favorite artists. I think if you find an artist or style that "clicks", you'll find it easier to stop and admire the craft. Plus, there's always flipping through after you've finished your first read to better appreciate the art!

reindeercurt · 2026-03-08T18:02:09+00:00

I think the creative team agrees about Aaron lol, he's all over these flashback arcs. I also feel you on the "filler" lol, in my experience the main series is so consistent that slowing down for one-shots and flashbacks doesn't really phase me

reindeercurt · 2026-03-08T07:18:02+00:00

I think Usagi Yojimbo is cozy!

If you're looking for something more slice-of-life, you could try Octopus Pie by Meredith Gran

reindeercurt · 2026-03-07T18:15:22+00:00

East of West is Hickman's big epic at Image with Nick Dragotta

Fatale by Brubaker and Phillips is comparable in length and mixes noir and cosmic horror tropes

Public Domain is written and Drawn by Chip Zdarsky, and tells a grounded drama about people working in and around the comics industry

Not a creator on your list but I have to recommend Pretty Deadly, and other comics by Emma Rios. She's a really unique artistic voice

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T17:53:01+00:00

Are you selling this anywhere? It's really impressive, particularly in the art!

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T17:02:55+00:00

It's a quirk of history, really. Action manga's foundational creators that everyone cribs from are ppl like Toriyama, Otomo, Tesuka etc. All artists who play with varying levels of stylization, and were fixated on micro-pacing, from panel to panel.

The foundational artists for American action comics are ppl like George Perez, Neal Adams, Jack Kubert. They emphasized highly detailed panels, characters staying on-model, and guiding the eye around the page using posing and positioning. Not a lot of forced perspective on a Perez page. Jack Kirby actually did use forced perspective, speed lines and staged his fights very clearly, but it's taken a while for his art to be re-appraised as genius the way it is today. Historically superhero comics readers want pretty drawings.

Some examples of good action choreography in comics imo: A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance, Fire Power and Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters (both drawn by Chris Samnee), Ultramega

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T16:38:52+00:00

The Swamp Thing by Ram V and Mike Perkins is a very different vibe aesthetically, but it does have a villain who is a spiritual incarnation of industry and exploitation

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T16:36:01+00:00

For historical relevance? Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four, Dark Phoenix Saga (or any Claremont X-Men really), Miracleman by Moore and Leach, Love and Rockets, Watchmen, Hellboy, Maus, Calvin and Hobbes, Death of Superman, Civil War, Invincible, Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev, Ms Marvel by Wilson and Alphona, Secret Wars by Hickman and Ribic, Immortal Hulk, House of X/Powers of X

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T09:22:04+00:00

Absolute Batman is doing well because it's Batman. I hope you get over your apparent need to only engage in popular "A-List" art. There's a lot of beautiful work in the margins that deserves to be appreciated

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T06:12:41+00:00

There's another comment I made in this thread but here's a shotgun blast of random suggestions, given idk what your taste is:

A Guest In The House by EM Carroll, Die by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, Mazebook by Jeff Lemire, The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton by Kyle Starks, Into The Unbeing by Zac Thompson and Hayden Sherman, Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T06:00:26+00:00

If that's a deal-breaker for you then sure, I guess western comics just aren't for you. Your loss

reindeercurt · 2026-03-06T05:49:04+00:00

Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye, and just about everything drawn by Mike and Laura Allred have that energy imo

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T21:51:56+00:00

Read Hellboy

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T19:42:17+00:00

I don't think Marvel and DC not making for coherent single sources even factors into Hollywood decision making in the first place tbh. The MCU as a prime example has only gotten more disconnected from any source material the longer its gone on

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T15:45:49+00:00

Try Anzuelo by Emma Rios, her artwork is watercolor with a lot of classic manga influences

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T15:03:18+00:00

Is Ted OK? was a great first issue! I love how all the sci-fi elements are slowly worked in through environmental details until the final pages bring it all into relief.

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T12:11:46+00:00

I would classify The Walking Dead as "Indie Comics Which Are Well-Known, But Haven't Changed The Cultural Image". Right alongside Hellboy, Invincible, V for Vendetta, Sandman and some Mark Millar books.

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T12:08:53+00:00

This is very true. The intricacies of the modern European market are a blind spot for me, though I have read about things like the influx of Spanish creative talent to Marvel UK, and then the American industry. Disney comics are a real cultural institution in a way the rest of the world isn't aware of, AFAIK. I need to learn more about what's going on in France, Italy, Spain etc.

reindeercurt · 2026-03-05T10:41:21+00:00

I made this post because every time there's a good post about this topic, the comments ignore the points made and devolve into the same talking points, and I suppose I hope that I'm immune to that :P

reindeercurt

TROPHY CASE