José Luis García-López: DC Comics' Secret Weapon
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
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José Luis García-López worked consistently for DC Comics for nearly 50 years yet remains underrated. This episode breaks down his work history and examines some of his longer runs to examine his techniques. From his work as a teenager in Argentina to breaking into American comics in the 70s and working alongisde top-tier writers and artists, Jose has had an amazing career but some of his projects remain lesser-known. I try to shine a light on stuff like his DC Comics Style Guide, Twilight, Cinder & Ashe, and more.
I was honored to meet him at Planet Comic Con in KC. The sweetest guy ever. Didn’t even charge for pictures or autographs. He just asks that you donate to support aspiring creators. Truly an inspiration.
In both Chris' video and your description, he comes across as the type of guy that if you would try to hire him, but tell him you don't have a lot of money to spend, would just tell you that he "likes the concept for the comic", is "excited to work on it" and "not to worry about it and just pay him what you can afford".
In other words, I don't think he cares all too much about the monetary aspects of his craft.
I haven’t been to a con in 20 years. Do artists charge for autographs and photos now?
@@RealMuperSan yes
JAbell1966 ah, that’s too bad
Perez has even more merit because, back in these days, there were no 3D programs nor Photoshops. All these scenes were handled with such a respect to perspective and proportions, it's really impressive. And all that was drawn in a record time.
I met him a few years ago at NYCC. He did a Batman sketch for me (for only $20) and when he started to draw all the other artists around him stopped what they were doing to watch him draw.
Wow!
This story gave me chills. He's an absolutely next level amazing artist
Jose Luiz Garcia-Lopez truly is a great artist, criminally overlooked. His work and Jose Gonzales( Vampirella, Barbie) are examples of supreme, clean artistry with gorgeous details!
I am 53 years old. I started boxing and rejected getting signed because my mother took the news of my being a professional boxer as if i announced i was committing suicide.
I started boxing because bullies would beat me up ... to take my comics... yeah.
I start with that to say boxing stayed with me and I am still today disciplined and rigorous in everything I do.
I admire Chris as a journalist, always prepared and well spoken, even when he does his...drinking challenges he remains stout, intelligent....respectful.
I hope TRULY hope Chris continues to grow... his beautiful renderings on racism and human rights are soooo inconspicuous because he speaks of Black and Hispanic...any minority artists without mentioning they are Black or Minorities. Perhaps, who knows...maybe we will have another truly decent public servant in Chris.
Thank you Chris.
Nice to see another kindred soul here who has both the comics and boxing bug! All the Best!
Big respect to Chris no doubt. It was kinda nagging at me tough in this video whether the artist was maybe a little exploited as an immigrant. references to 'more recognized or professionally established figures' read to me as 'better paid', hence 'just being happy to be at DC' feels like part of that.
I know Chris kinda said it without saying it; shame he didn't have any creator owned stuff, they kept him working continually even while 'imploding' buy never gave him any kind of exclusive contract or bonus.
But hey, he's happy, were happy, s'all good then right?
Jose Luis Garcia Lopez was the face of DC comics for me...I didn't know it at the time, but his versions of their characters defined them for me and are still the ones I think of to this day...
Great video, Chris. :)
Kevin Scott Halter Same. I say this often
Dhat "Batman: Venom" dhough..
José Luis García-López is like air. He's there, we just don't notice him unless we're forced to.
The last thing he drew for DC was the Dove Corps story in the Joker 80th Anniversary special just recently :)
That's awesome!!! Thanks for mentioning it!
I didn’t know he was still alive
@@thelittlepasty8360 Hale and hearty at only 72.
Some other guys besides Alan Davis who I feel have a Garcia-Lopez vibe are Carlos Pacheco, Eddy Barrows, Ivan Reis and Jorge Jimenez
Lol jjpnp0
His pencil is responsible for the image of DC from my youth and he's in my top 5 Superman artist (Byrne, Adams, Lee, Ross)
Jim Lee is okay, but Excellent list.
I think that's actually the general consesus!
Garcia-Lopez is one of the industry's unsung greats. His Atari Force is still a favorite of mine.
The most underrated comic book artist out there and yet his style is as iconic and defining as those of Jim Aparo, John Romita Sr, George Perez, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Joe Kubert, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons or John Buscema. He's up there.
Edit: Why no mention of the Superman vs Spiderman crossover? Because it is quite MASTERFUL.
Not to be that guy but the Superman vs Spiderman crossover was done by ross andru with some work by neal adams and dick giordano
@@blootography2867 You're correct, for some reason I always believed that it was Jose Luis behind it. I wonder why?
Because they're all MASTERFUL artists
I suspect you got the Superman-Spider-man crossover confused with the Batman-Hulk which was by Garcia-Lopez and was the second big DC-Marvel crossover.
I instantly liked his art when I saw it in the late 70s.
Same here.
This video was just published about 35 minutes ago. And this bit rate was not available 40 years ago.
My experience as well.
Apparently DC doesn’t like money. A reprinted Jose Garcia’ Lopez style guide would sell like hot cakes (I hear that is very good) 😀
Dr. Masque I know I would buy it.
Me too.
Funk O'Matic looks like he did JLA classified 16-21 if that counts
the closest thing available right now its the argentinian book" Jose Luis Garcia Lopez - Una Vida Entre Super Heroes" from editorial "Universo Retro", if you can get your hands on it
They DON'T like money. Or they have bad ideas about how to make it.
DC was so wholesome at that time, and his origin story is really inspiring
When i was a kid my friend had his oversized Hulk vs Batman comic and there is a panel where the Hulk is trying to smash Batman with a car. Batman leaps through the passenger side, and straight through the drivers side window and the art is amazing. I stared for hours at the action and linework of that panel that JLGL drew. Also the Jonah Hex comics, I used to have lots of those and loved them when I was becoming an artist myself.
I still have that book, and I was VERY impressed with the entire package. He knocked himself out on that book.
"Inked mostly by Dick Giordano" with a panel of Hulk that was clearly inked by Mike DeCarlo.😉
JLGL is a legend and even as a kid, his artwork was a selling point on a book for me.
I have never seen you put “MASTERFUL” on any episode. You must think highly of JLG-L I do too. For me him and Neal Adams are quintessential DC especially during the 80’s Super Powers era. He really drew DC how they should look which I wasn’t surprised when he was selected to illustrate the style guide. I never knew that existed. I WISH I owned one! Great episode again. It took me back.
I remember being a 10-year-old kid reading the first issues of DC Comics Presents with the Superman/Flash race with art by Lopez. I was blown away even then.
I'd like to see Atari Force as a single hardcover book including all the mini-stories and the original video game series from the 70s.
Atari Force is really good, it is more of a solid sci-fi adventure than the kind of product placement you would expect it to be
Clarkster I thought Dart was pretty hot, Heather Thomas from The Fall Guy should have played her in a movie.
@@MrDepechefan1 Atari Force should be a movie or TV SERIES
One of my favorite artists. The editors of the Danish DC comics in the 1980ies agreed as well since a lot of García-López was featured. Luckily we got translations of Atari force and his Deadman stories as well. :)
Growing up in 70's, early 80's as a kid, my favorite DC artist were Neal Adams, Jim Aparo and Garcia-Lopez. Loved how dynamic JLGL art looked. Loved his Jonah Hex. And DC covers.... ohhhh the covers. Particularly 'DC Comics Presents'. Superman and a different hero each month drawn by JLGL.
I agree whit you ....Garcia lopez, Neal admas and Jim Aparo were the best artist that DC comics had in the 70's and the early 80s
Yes. All 3 of them were my favorites and still are. Jim Aparo is the definitive Batman artist for me.
Oh hi! You caught me being sad because there is no intro.
🤣
Speaking of being sad, let’s talk about suicide
@@SonicXtreme99akaCreeperMario Erm....
Don/t cry 4 moi Argentina
@@SonicXtreme99akaCreeperMario Well, that took a dark turn instantly.
11:39 "Superman is powerful and HAPPY!"
Those were the days...
@Dreams_in_ Clay
That's why these "were" the days. We grew up meanwhile.
@pippin except JLGL didn't start working at DC until after the silver age ended. I like a lot of Frank's stuff but there were people focusing on story and characterization beige him. And there was better art in the bronze age, too.
look at chris face when doing this episode, he looks very enjoying talking about jose luis garcia lopez
I loved his work on Jonah Hex. I was a weird kid and really loved horror comics.
YES this guy is such a genius. his art style is absolutely timeless
It's absolutely magical when JLGL is inked by Kevin Nowlan. They've worked together on Dr. Strangefate, a 3-parter for Batman Confidential, and Action Comics 1000 (and maybe some others I'm missing). Fantastic collaboration.
OMG! Yes! Didn't care too much for the whole Amalgam schtick when it came out but couldn't pass on the opportunity to see the results of two of my favorite artists working together.
Justo ayer pensaba lo bueno que es José Luis García-López
Praise be his name
x2
Uno de los grandes talentos que pasaron por Argentina en el mundo del cómic
Muy bueno...hizo historia en Dc
Just one word for you dear sir: MASTERFUL!
Just yesterday I re-read a classic comic by Ross Andru and fell in love with his art again. Could you do an episode about Ross Andru?
Oh Yes please!
Thank you for doing this video. Every time I go into a dollar store if I see any type of DC merch at all I immediately recognize the artist. Jose Luis garcia-lopez it's definitely an unsung Genius of the industry
As an argentinian listening to the history of a famous argentinian , i am obliged to say: VAMOS ARGENTINA CARAJO !
He has the epithet among people I follow “Praised be his Name)
Siempre aparece alguno haciendo quilombo...
Es gallego man, bajale un toque.
nah, vivió acá desde chico, estudió acá, empezó a trabajar en Columba (para España no hizo nada), y habla en porteño, no con acento gallego. Garcia Lopez es de acá, loco!
Es tan español como Gardel era francés (o uruguayo).
Hell yeah, Chris. I'm so here for underappreciated writers and artists.
I met him at Motor City Comic Con and got his exquisite Batman '66: the Lost Episode cover art print autographed
JLGL possesses perfect technique. the consistency, the anatomy, all perfect from his first work till now.
Great to see the Atari Force love! Such a great and under-rated comic. His work on that and the Deadman shorts are a huge part of my childhood.
Cinder & Ashe is one of the most under-rated comics ever. Thanks for highlighting it, Chris!
Gotta say... "MASTERFUL" took me by surprise. I was like "what the hell was that?"
His artwork is definitely something we grew up with, and is so recognizable. I have a Flash t-shirt, and I am pretty darn sure it’s his art on it.
Thank you for this video Comic Tropes!! I don't know if it was available in USA, but in Argentina the complete Style guide was published in trading cards and stickers album in 2 series in 1985 called SUPERAMIGOS, it was a massive hit and still well remembered and it is reprinted today.
I have old school posters of DC characters in my room. One of them is a Garcia-Lopez drawn Batman, Robin, and Batgirl poster from the late 70's.
Amazing artist and, as always, you made him justice.
To add to your point, I think it'd be hard to find ANYONE working in comics today that hasn't seen his work. He's inspired us all.
Love the reference to “El eternauta”
I read The Eternaut for the first time a few months ago. It's awesome work.
which reference?
querido , que bueno verte por aca!
Thank you for this video. I've been a fan of Garcia-Lopez art for more than 25 years and I think he doesn't get enough credit for how good he is. Thank you again!!
Thank you for such a passionate, insightfull and respectfull video about one of our greatest artist. José was THE style of comics I grew up with here in Argentina and it is still what pops in my head when I think about a good comic drawing.
Garcia-Lopez' run on Atari Force is awesome! I just managed to get a complete set in a grab box and it is such a great book! One of the better sci-fi comics I've seen! It's a shame that it was tied so close to the video game company and collapsed at the same time. It stood on it's own just fine!
Amazing. Here in the UK in the 1970s we had superhero collectible cards given away free with breakfast cereal. I didn't realise until now that the art was done by José Luis García-López. It was my first experience of more grown-up comic art and I loved it!
Finally, somebody recognizes the greatness of JL Garcia-Lopez! "Dynamic" is definitely the word for his artwork and style. I got big into comics in 1978, so I saw a lot of his DC stuff from around this time, Jonah Hex, DC Comics Presents, Batman/Hulk, etc. His artwork was the main reason I bothered to read Atari Force. And it is a shame that he didn't have more regular features, or more special projects to draw attention to his artwork. An independent, creator-owned project on something he truly loved would have been awesome.
But obviously, I've missed some of his work over the years and need to go find it!
And if you want to do videos on some other underrated artists, you might check out Mike Nasser/Netzer and Trevor Von Eeden.
Okay, I'm re-reading Atari Force, and I'm forced to admit that the story is better than I remember it being (so far!).
I want to say thanks for this episode, it brought back many memories from my childhood. About the DC style guide, some companies still use it for products in Mexico.
Yeah, man... García-López is a phenomenal artist. One of the best artists DC ever had in their roster. He's just incredibly talented.
But for some reason I still feel like he's underrated. I hadn't heard of him up until I got the first issue of Venom back in the day, and I was around my 20s... I had seen his art on the Super Powers action figures, though. Probably in t-shirts as well. When you see those characters the way he drew them is like he's distilled them to their essence.
I don't know if I would've liked to see him doing comics for Image... Maybe Dark Horse. Maybe some Star Wars comics... That could've been nice.
Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez is one of my favorite artist ever. I remember a lot of DC's merch from the 80's even tought I didn't know who was the artist back then I always love how cool all the super heroes and villians look. My favorite episode of ComicTropes so far, thanks Chris for this homage to Garcia-Lopez work.
He’s an amazing artist. A lot of my childhood was surrounded by his art.
I got to meet him a few years at NYCC and he was a class act all around.
Mr. Garcia-Lopez was such a nice and accommodating man in person. I was fortunate to meet him at the Baltimore comic con last year. He was selling and signing prints, which look like they came from the pages of the style guide. I treasure them.
I love José's art!! One of the best without a doubt.
All right. You got me. I'll admit it. I miss the opening teaser, 'Oh, Hi!' stinger that usually kick things off before your opening credits theme. They're iconic and have become they're own event within an event. And always seem to have wildly elaborate production value, which might explain why it's missing from this week's episode....all the same, just wanted you to know those segments are appreciated, and yes, highly addictive.
Chris can't make bad videos. This is perfect edutainment!
One of the greats! I loved his work on New Teen Titans, which is where I first encountered his artwork (filling in George Perez’s very big shoes), and that Deadman series. Star Raiders is gorgeous, too.
He lives in NYC like me. Always wanted to meet him. I admit, I wasn't happy as a kid when the great George Perez left Teen Titans and JLGL took over, but his art grew on me. Years later his work on Twilight blew me away.
Lopez is one of the greats. He always stood out to me during my life for decades. Thank you for making this episode on a legend.
Amazing video. I went to a panel about him once, I remember him saying he kinda grew to dislike drawing Superman around the time after the first movie came out because DC became very strict about how he had to look. He didn't seem to dislike the character himself, like you explained he really comes across as someone fully comitted to the craft of drawing for comics itself.
Just an awesome artist and great guy. I did hear he was very under paid for the whole style guide project. Imagine today if he had just got a few cents every time his images were(and still are ) used on a product.
JG-L is up there with Kurt Swan, John Byrne and Frank Quitely as the guys who perfectly understand how to draw my ideal Superman. Joyful, radiating warmth and kindness, yet also strength through his confidences instead of needless scowling aggression. If you can capture that vibe which those guys were the masters at that's how you capture who Superman is.
This guy is a class-A artist. Love his work at DC.
Thank you for the enthusiasm you showed toward the work of Jose Luis Garcia Lopez. He's always been one of my favorite artists, and the importance his body of work in mainstream comics (specifically DC Comics) can't be overstated. This was a masterful showcase of a singular talent!
YAY MY FAN ART GOT IN!!! Thanks! Btw, if the joke was unclear, his humor is so bad it burned him lol
His style guide images are definitive. From Super Powers to the wall art encouraging kids to brush their teeth in dentist offices - it was always Lopez. When I think DC, I think of his art.
Great episode, Chris. The dedication and respect is really shown in the result. I have to say, as an argentinian, that sometimes I'm a little ashamed that you may know more of the local comics history than I do.
And about Garcia Lopez, DC merchandising was very popular here during the '80s and early '90s, and to many of us his designs are the default looks of the whole DC Universe.
Jose has had an exclusive contract with DC for decades. The few times that he has done work outside of DC, was with their permission. The company knew what they had and held onto him.
Garcia-Lopez's work has always reminded me a bit of George Perez's work in his ability to fill so much detail in and how he's able to distinguish between all his characters with facial changes and distinct body language. You can look at a large cast and not feel they're all too similar
I found a few issues of atari force digging through my uncle's collection, really enjoyed it was amazed it was not cheap or full of jokes and puns like a lot of other licensed books and was really impressed by the art
Cinder & Ashe gave me the names for my first 2 cats I had as an adult - Cinder was pure black mini panther and Ash was his grey tabby brother.
José Luis García López is my favorite comic book artist ever. Considering the medium of comics, no-one has combined the realism of fine, traditional art and the exaggerated visuals of comics. Every issue or comic cover he's done has always been MASTERFUL!
13:19 - OMG Atari Force!! I was OBSESSED with this! I didn't even know it was supposed to be about a computer game at the time I read them. And Cinder & Ashe. These were printed in some special compilation comics that were published in my country (not US).
SO many covers and spreads I recognize from my youth. So glad you have highlighted his work.
Always one of my favorite artists back in the late 80's early 90's during my first comics stint.
I love the artist centered episodes
He and Jim Aparo were my favorites back in the 70's and 80's
My favorite Superman artist. Thanks for covering him!
JLGL is just the definite look for me. I remember finding a licensed DC coffee mug when my FYE was closing down with the entire Justice League in his style. That mug survived college, 2 girlfriends, several down points in life, and still sits proudly in my cupboard.
Forget Adams, Swan, Kane, Infantino, Perez, or Giordano. JLGL (Praise Be his Name!) is arguably the most important artist in the history of DC Comics. At the very least in the Bronze Age.
As much as I love JLGL's art, Neal Adams & George Perez were way more influential.
@@caligulapontifex5759 JLGL literally drew the style guide for the DC Comics Characters. You can say so and so is a better Artist but in terms of influencing the look of the DCU, JLGL is the guy.
Steve Not saying JLGL was not influential. But let me break it down for you. Neal Adams along with Denny O’Neil saved Batman back in the late 60s. You can divide the modern era of drawing comics into 2 parts, before Adams and after Adams. Adams inspired whole generations of great artists like Frank Miller and Jim Lee just to name a few. Perez, the best that ever was in drawing superhero teams. Crisis on Infinite Earth is probably the best event comic book created. He reinvented Wonder Woman for the modern age. And his Teen Titan run during the early 80’s saved DC from bankruptcy. I could write more but I think you get the point.
@@caligulapontifex5759 there you go. Thanks for making my point for me. Batman's one character in the DCU. JLGL is the guy, when you buy a t-shirt or a toy or a million other items, chances are he drew it or it was based on his drawings. That's what I'm talking about in terms of his influence on the DC brand. It's beyond comics.
@@Steve-wo7gt Nah bro I didn't make your point! True fans of this genre, who take the time and read up on it's rich history will get it. You obviously know nothing about the history of comic books. Too be so dismissive and demonstrate such a lack of knowledge about some of the other great artists is just an amateurish observation on your part. I'm actually embarrassed for you. Do me a favor and read up on the contributions of Adams, Perez and the other greats. It goes beyond the art. For example, did you know that Adams was one of the major advocates for creator rights in the 70s and 80s? The studio he created Continuity Associates was the launching pad for the careers of Terry Austin, Howard Chaykin, Larry Hama, Bob Layton, Joe Rubinstein etc. Seriously, read up on it. Maybe you will learn something. I doubt it, but miracles do happen. Thanks for playing.
I loved his work on Trevor Von Eeden’s layouts on the Venom storyline in legends of the dark knight.
Atari Force is one of my favorite series of all times, and it's incredible how it, along with Rom where so important to my love of comics.
DC are finally putting out his style guide this year!
I'm from Argentina and whenever an argentinian artist reaches the renown José Luis reached my chest gets so inflated that I can barely breath. I invite everyone to give a look to other argentinian artists such as Juan Gimenez and Alberto Breccia. As an aspiring comic artist myself I dream of being a 1% of these men. A big hug and stay safe.
There's so much good stuff from Argentina, that it's almost criminal how hard it is to find.
I remember in the 2000s there were some Columba reprints, but I don't know if anything like that is available anymore.
Gilgamesh is some of the most memorable stuff I've read.
@My Correo He is of Spanish-Argentinian nacionality. You try again, fool.
@My Correo Do you need someone to explain for you how nationality and citizenship works? You are a bit dense my friend.
@My Correo ?????????
Now you're on the deep end dude.
@My Correo I guess "tovarisch".
Garcia-Lopez's designs are how I see 90% of DC's characters in my head. Also hearing him sounding like a really nice guy makes me happy.
His work is so iconic that his Batman images are often used in promotional images. I was shocked when I found out that many of those famous poses and illustrations are José's. What a masterful creator. One of my favorite bronze age artists.
I was just yesterday looking over the three issues he drew for Batman Confidential in 2009 which introduced King Tut to the comics. I knew nothing about Garcia-Lopez at the time, but I do remember remarking to myself how perfectly 80s Batman his style is. Now I know why.
I was just posting about him on Facebook saying how his art was a BIG part of my childhood. His versions of the DC characters were the definitive versions for me growing up.
Superman vs Wonder Woman was probably one of the first American comic books I read as a kid. Even back then the art just stood out to me. I see from the comments that other people also think of his art when they think about DC comics, and how iconic he made the characters look.
Another amazing artist coming out of my beloved Argentina!
Wow, looking at the DC Style Guide on the web, it's amazing that José Luis García-López's artwork was THE look of DC in the early 1980s. And I do remember much of that artwork on T-shirts, drinking glasses, lunchboxes, etc. If anything, Lopez's artwork reminds me of George Perez, and I may have comfused the two as a kid. I did have the Hulk / Batman crossover when it came out...I'll have to track it down for a re-read. Great vid, Chris!
Both Atari Force and Cinder and Ash are some of my "You read this even if you never heard of it" comics as is Star Reach.
One of my favorite artists from the early 80s! It’s crazy how back in the days, you didn’t really know what these guys looked like, what they did or anything about them but their names. I used to read the teen titans I think. His women were so hot!
I am too young to have read those comics at the time when they came out, but José Luis García-López' art is one of the main reason I try to find DC comics even though I am a bit of a Marvelite.
His art is truly MASTERFUL!
So glad when I see you put up a new video.
I feel ya 👊
One of my favourite artists. Thank you so much for highlighting unsung heroes. His corporate work through the Bronze Age has inspired me since I was a kid. 🙏🏼
The fact that DC hasn't released an artbook of Garcia Lopez is a travesty.
What a FANTASTIC artist; I hope his gorgeous style of realistic yet aesthetically beautiful looking characters never go completely out of fashion. I always loved George Perez & Curt Swan and didn't pay much attention to Garcia Lopez, if only because like this video states, he doesn't have a very famous run in a superhero comic or a massive event like Crisis. I knew about the special issues like Batman vs the Hulk but those aren't that memorable besides the curiosity of the crossover. But in a way, knowing that he's responsible for the Dc Comics Style means he's probably among my favorite artists ever without me noticing it.
Sr. Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez is my favorite living comic book artists and a heck of a good guy.
Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for the video on Garcia-Lopez. I wasn't really a DC reader growing up but whenever I saw his name I knew it was more than worth the time to get. His Deadman mini-series was absolutely brilliant.
This is great! I own Atari Force 6-18 minus an issue here and there. I've always felt there was something great about it. It has a true "swords and sorcery and spaceships" feel to it and the artist is why. It looks like José Luis García López is the reason. He's clearly drawn on a lifetime of pirates, romance, crime and sci-fi and he dumped it all into the space opera that is Atari Force. I'll read it again with a greater appreciation this time around.
I loved his work thought the 80s and felt he really made the characters *feel* real! Sr. Garcia-Lopes, I so appreciate and respect you!
I've been a fan of Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez's art since I was reading Jonah Hex back in the 70s. I never knew that the Wonder Man picture from the Marvel handbook was his only work directly for Marvel. One of my all-time favorite comic artists.