Saw Rob at Wondercon this weekend. Here's what I love about the guy - he's still going through longboxes looking for comics, still deep in the game. And that's just so awesome!
With regard to the "ghost hands" on the issue, I had heard a story that Chuck Dixon was approached by Rob and originally wrote the first few issues with the agreement that the uniforms, vehicles, weapons and other artillery would be period accurate and he had provided several photo references to Liefeld. After weeks of silence when Dixon saw the work that was already done and that Rob had completely disregarded all his references and notation, he told him to find someone else to write the series and took back his work. Jeph Loeb was then left to pick up the pieces and make sense of what Liefeld had already drawn to get it out on time. I also seem to remember Kevin Smith as a special guest host of The Anti-Gravity Room reviewing an "incomplete" copy of the issue with Nick Scholar at a comic convention and saying he was underwhelmed with what he saw. If memory serves me, "I can only review the comic based on what is actually there and what is there it not much." That said, I had some some issues of the Captain America, Fantastic Four and Iron Man Heroes Reborn issues before petering out after a few issues, but never the Avengers for whatever reason. And as a night owl I, too, have fond memories of the network "sign off/sign on" videos from the early-to-mid 90s.
To be fair to Sibal/Stucker, Robs marching orders for his Inkers during this era was to Trace what He'd penciled and NOT change anything. Directions that I promptly disregarded for my pages from Avengers #5
I hear he's a great and really friendly guy, but I'm just glad he's still working on his art because.....yeah, it's not good. It was trendsetting but not that good.
Rob's Cap had some cool stuff in it. Once he left it fell apart for sure. Some of these ideas were reused a few years later and called it Winter Soldier.
That first page... And I thought Capt. America with a chest big enough to serve as a drinks tray was bad... Those "airplanes" look like AI art of an airplane.
The saddest thing about this is that it seems that little effort went into the creation of this comic all the way around. It could've been an earmark to a great retelling of a legendary Marvel hero instead of a 25 cent box dweller
The crazy big chested Captain America image is actually a swipe. In a Stephen Platt Moon Knight issue, there is a panel where Platt draws Thor exactly the same. It predates this run by several years.
It makes more sense when you see the photo of Schwarzenegger that he referenced. He definitely took artistic license but the final image was a big fail anyway.
I feel like this kind of leaning-on-digital approach is probably best served by doing color layouts. Something I've been experimenting with is to go in with some color gel and crayon to get a sense of the color and make the thumbnails into tiny 2"x2" drawings - not something finished, but giving a lot of hints and using the small format to develop it faster. I think it makes everything else go smoother, even if you finished it in black and white, because it explores more of the composition problems and gets you involved in texture and value choices. Sometimes you have a tiny element and you can make it pop in the thumbnail by adding an outline with the neon or glitter gel, but that makes you think about how to get it to work in the pencils, too.
This video is hilarious. I needed a good laugh. People dont understand that to really make fun of something, you have to pay close attention, and know what you're making fun of. These comics were soooo cool when they came out. 25 years later, it's easier to see what's funny about the style.
I remember the HUGE pop when it was announced George Perez would be returning to the Avengers after "Heroes Reborn". It was like that Sami Zayn chair shot on Roman Reigns at the Rumble!
I got all the heroes reborn comics too. I bought them all off the rack and loved them at the time because Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee coming back to marvel was my dream come true. It didn't quite work out, but I loved the first 6 issues of each series.
You guys missed the symbolism that Cap evokes a good old awe shucks American farmboy in overalls when he comes out of the rubble with his clothes tattered (see around 20:00)
There are a number of facets to a well-rounded popular cartoonist. Liefeld focused heavily on one dimension, 'badassness', and he did it so well (especially for the time) that people mostly ignored the other areas.
The one n only capt America I ever had he had heavy stubble a cigar and he rode bombs down into Germany think it was leifeld, I had a warped ide of what capt was for a while
I have to wonder if he had stayed at Marvel, would his work have progressed differently? I feel like if he had less yes men around, he might have done a better job.
I have that Sept #11 Issue of Invincible Iron Man, it was my introduction to different universes and storylines in comics. And man, I was confused as hell when I first read it 😂, still a great read to me imo.
I'm sure Liefeld is a nice dude, but I never liked his artwork, weird neck veins, weird proportions, silly face lines, tiny feet or hidden from view haha. I never understood how he did comics for Marvel lol
I feel so basic when Ed says he was over superhero stuff by Heroes Reborn, I'm like 5 years older and was living for it. Took me til I was 30 to appreciate the Hernandez Bros et al. All my art looked like Rob's Cap work when I was at college and my tutors HATED me.
You guys know your shit and I love your channel. This comic is awful!!! Ha! Remember the Spidey comic with the photograph of a dude taking off a dress shirt with the suit underneath??
That twerking comment actually made me laugh out loud. The ability you guys have for switching between very insightful comments and hilarious stuff like that is what really puts this channel above any other comics channel out there.
For all of its wonkiness, the Captain America really is the best of the Heroes Reborn line. Everything else is borderline unreadable. As soon as Rob leaves, this book just becomes a standard Cap Comic of the day and it is bad. It also defeats the purpose of the line, which was to reinvent and reinvigorate these tired concepts.
Jesus... that guy is horrible. It was comics like that that just killed superhero comics for me. How can I see Mignola and then look at Liefeld without waves of anger and disgust washing over me?
One day, I hope to look like Rob Liefeld's Captain America.
Saw Rob at Wondercon this weekend. Here's what I love about the guy - he's still going through longboxes looking for comics, still deep in the game. And that's just so awesome!
With regard to the "ghost hands" on the issue, I had heard a story that Chuck Dixon was approached by Rob and originally wrote the first few issues with the agreement that the uniforms, vehicles, weapons and other artillery would be period accurate and he had provided several photo references to Liefeld. After weeks of silence when Dixon saw the work that was already done and that Rob had completely disregarded all his references and notation, he told him to find someone else to write the series and took back his work. Jeph Loeb was then left to pick up the pieces and make sense of what Liefeld had already drawn to get it out on time.
I also seem to remember Kevin Smith as a special guest host of The Anti-Gravity Room reviewing an "incomplete" copy of the issue with Nick Scholar at a comic convention and saying he was underwhelmed with what he saw. If memory serves me, "I can only review the comic based on what is actually there and what is there it not much."
That said, I had some some issues of the Captain America, Fantastic Four and Iron Man Heroes Reborn issues before petering out after a few issues, but never the Avengers for whatever reason. And as a night owl I, too, have fond memories of the network "sign off/sign on" videos from the early-to-mid 90s.
Rob's art is the gift that gives for decades.
To be fair to Sibal/Stucker, Robs marching orders for his Inkers during this era was to Trace what He'd penciled and NOT change anything. Directions that I promptly disregarded for my pages from Avengers #5
I'll always be inspired by Rob Liefeld's tremendous creative energy, his drawing skills, not so much.
I hear he's a great and really friendly guy, but I'm just glad he's still working on his art because.....yeah, it's not good. It was trendsetting but not that good.
Rob's Cap had some cool stuff in it. Once he left it fell apart for sure. Some of these ideas were reused a few years later and called it Winter Soldier.
That first page... And I thought Capt. America with a chest big enough to serve as a drinks tray was bad... Those "airplanes" look like AI art of an airplane.
in portuguese Captain America is Capitão America, so here in Brazil we call Rob´s captain "Capeitão America" - peitão means big breast
XD, I love this.
CAPITITS AMERICA
Damn that's perfect
The saddest thing about this is that it seems that little effort went into the creation of this comic all the way around. It could've been an earmark to a great retelling of a legendary Marvel hero instead of a 25 cent box dweller
Better to call him Capeidão America because most Rob Leifeld art from this era looked like it was farted onto the page.
The crazy big chested Captain America image is actually a swipe. In a Stephen Platt Moon Knight issue, there is a panel where Platt draws Thor exactly the same. It predates this run by several years.
i hate to say it, but the worse the comic is the more I enjoy these videos!
It makes more sense when you see the photo of Schwarzenegger that he referenced. He definitely took artistic license but the final image was a big fail anyway.
A 3 day coke binge and an edible to come down...that should have been the tagline for this issue, I would have scooped up 3 copies off the stands!😂
It’s hard to believe this is the same comic book artist who sold over 5 million copies of XFORCE . Love your channel Ed Crumb & Jim Hewlett
Definitely deserving of all the mocking it gets. This series is possibly the lowest point in Marvel history.
The essential captain america by rob liefeld
The “kitty smile”…I could listen to you guys dunk on this comic all day.
There is a couple of Kirby swipes I noticed
I saw a pretty blatant Steranko swipe in there too.
I feel like this kind of leaning-on-digital approach is probably best served by doing color layouts. Something I've been experimenting with is to go in with some color gel and crayon to get a sense of the color and make the thumbnails into tiny 2"x2" drawings - not something finished, but giving a lot of hints and using the small format to develop it faster. I think it makes everything else go smoother, even if you finished it in black and white, because it explores more of the composition problems and gets you involved in texture and value choices. Sometimes you have a tiny element and you can make it pop in the thumbnail by adding an outline with the neon or glitter gel, but that makes you think about how to get it to work in the pencils, too.
I 100% remember the going off the air and coming back on the air TV stuff. That was the main broadcast channels that weren't 24 hours, not cable
now that's a CHEST!
This video is hilarious. I needed a good laugh. People dont understand that to really make fun of something, you have to pay close attention, and know what you're making fun of. These comics were soooo cool when they came out. 25 years later, it's easier to see what's funny about the style.
Jim has so many zingers in this one. Liefeld brings out the best in the boys.
I remember the HUGE pop when it was announced George Perez would be returning to the Avengers after "Heroes Reborn". It was like that Sami Zayn chair shot on Roman Reigns at the Rumble!
Something I always see is the weird aspects of his faces I see them in Rob’s face
Ed's Etan Suplee description was perfect
"Boy meets world, Schooner is a sailboat "
I got all the heroes reborn comics too. I bought them all off the rack and loved them at the time because Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee coming back to marvel was my dream come true. It didn't quite work out, but I loved the first 6 issues of each series.
You guys missed the symbolism that Cap evokes a good old awe shucks American farmboy in overalls when he comes out of the rubble with his clothes tattered (see around 20:00)
Rob Liefeld is a real comic artist's artist because we feel it when he succeeds but we REALLY feel it when it goes wrong. Its compelling either way.
16:18 dude that perspective is totally impossible. hes gotta be at least 3 times taller than those people for it to make any sense
Sam Jackson Nick Fury is all Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch from The Ultimates
Iron man #1 is one of the best looking comics ever made
The cover surely is an homage/swipe to Frank Miller's panel of C.A. rescuing the flag in Marvel Fanfare 18?
Dirk the Daring lol
great ep
Nice, I read Hero's Reborn
lol where did you remember of Gobots - very underrated 80s cartoon
Captain America is the real MBC.
Huge Cap fan...a bit of a completist...You've convinced me to skip this period. Man, that art is (I won't call it bad) not appealing to me.
There are a number of facets to a well-rounded popular cartoonist. Liefeld focused heavily on one dimension, 'badassness', and he did it so well (especially for the time) that people mostly ignored the other areas.
Tigo bitties!
ANOTHER BANGER
The one n only capt America I ever had he had heavy stubble a cigar and he rode bombs down into Germany think it was leifeld, I had a warped ide of what capt was for a while
In comparison with Jim Lee Fantastic Four, this comics has a lot more of heart.
Your right. That's why his chest is huge to house the heart
I have to wonder if he had stayed at Marvel, would his work have progressed differently? I feel like if he had less yes men around, he might have done a better job.
I have that Sept #11 Issue of Invincible Iron Man, it was my introduction to different universes and storylines in comics. And man, I was confused as hell when I first read it 😂, still a great read to me imo.
Layouts by Steranko via Nick Fury,minus any detail.
the cream of the crop...oooohhhhh YEEEAAAAHHHHH....or no...
Nice! A shout-out to Homicide!
Damn. Look at the bazangas on Capt. 🤣🤣
How do i preorder the peach momoko red room crypto killaz variant?
hahahaha
I'm sure Liefeld is a nice dude, but I never liked his artwork, weird neck veins, weird proportions, silly face lines, tiny feet or hidden from view haha. I never understood how he did comics for Marvel lol
I feel so basic when Ed says he was over superhero stuff by Heroes Reborn, I'm like 5 years older and was living for it. Took me til I was 30 to appreciate the Hernandez Bros et al. All my art looked like Rob's Cap work when I was at college and my tutors HATED me.
The shadow of the tip of the nose on the teeth really bothers me in that close up. I thought it was under-lit. Why is there a shadow on the teeth?!
jesus got to give it liefeld getting a paycheck for total garbage artwork. vanishing point yeah right.
You guys know your shit and I love your channel. This comic is awful!!! Ha! Remember the Spidey comic with the photograph of a dude taking off a dress shirt with the suit underneath??
It has finally come to pass
Never been in this early.
Just. Terrible.
That twerking comment actually made me laugh out loud. The ability you guys have for switching between very insightful comments and hilarious stuff like that is what really puts this channel above any other comics channel out there.
Save ya some time. He is a terrible Artist who copies other Artists work and tries to pass it off as his own. Lol
For all of its wonkiness, the Captain America really is the best of the Heroes Reborn line. Everything else is borderline unreadable. As soon as Rob leaves, this book just becomes a standard Cap Comic of the day and it is bad. It also defeats the purpose of the line, which was to reinvent and reinvigorate these tired concepts.
Jesus... that guy is horrible. It was comics like that that just killed superhero comics for me. How can I see Mignola and then look at Liefeld without waves of anger and disgust washing over me?