Sunday, May 19, 2013

Big WOW Comic Con San Jose CA. 2013


Of all the great artists that were present yesterday the one I really had something to say to was Bill Sienkiewicz. As one the 80s power house Marvel artists who's art has graced the covers of Rom as well as other Rom related books I would say Sienkiewicz had the most unique style of all of them. As a kid I certainly didn't fully appreciate his slightly impressionistic style of comic book art.
But as I got older I started to see it in a different light and develop a new appreciation for it. I would dare say his style would serve well as a course study in modern art and perhaps even earn some respect from the snobbish art crowd that usually regard comic book art beneath their notice. It was really nice to be able to share that epiphany I've had in recent years about his work and he was quite humble in his appreciation of what I had to say. Bill Sienkiewicz, an all around stand up guy.
Of course I also picked up a number of back issues from some discount bins with issues going for only a dollar and others for as low as 25 cents. I got Fantastic Four # 243 (epic John Byrne Galactus cover), Bug (from the Micronuats) one shot and all 4 issues of the Micronauts/X-Men mini-series for only a quarter each. And then there was Incredible Hulk #319 that I got for a dollar which contains a Rom flash back cameo which I've blogged about before: http://romspaceknightart.blogspot.com/2011/04/rom-spaceknight-cameo-from-hulk-319.html  Plus, it turns out that Fantastic Four# 243 contained a Rom related footnote from when the big G and his asshole herald Terrax got their asses handed to them by both Galador and Wraith World.


And what con would be complete with out some cosplay maidens?



And there was even more cool stuff there but that part of it I uploaded to Youtube for your viewing pleasure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFlxl0ij-qE&feature=youtu.be

18 comments:

  1. Wow. That's amazing. It's so cool you got to talk to him.
    Such a great artist. And really, I think you have to mature to really appreciate it.
    Wow.

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  2. I can see what you mean, I wasn't crazy about his art in the beginning either! But you can see it now and understand where he was going with it. Great shot on the ladies too the Red Sonja is a sexy costume design that just works!!














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  3. I remember that day when I went to a newsstand in my hometown(specialized comic shops weren't born yet) and purchased this TPB (sort of) published only here in Spain, containing 5 issues from The New Mutants (http://pictures2.todocoleccion.net/tc/2011/05/18/26865345.jpg). Bill's art really blew my mind. I've admired him ever since.

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  4. Pretty cool that you got to speak with such a distinguished alumni of the Marvel bullpen. I just ordered Transformers 1-3, which will be the first time I've had these issues, but I got them to fill in a vital piece of my Bill Mantlo collection. That Power Girl really worked hard to create her cosplay "look", and I really admire how she pulled it off. Red Sonja had it going ON, though. Glad you had a good time!

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  5. thanks for all the comments so far i always enjoy hearing what people think about the stuff i'm sharing on these postings. so far i've read the Bug one shot and the FF issue.
    the Bug one shot was ok but it wasn't quite what i was expecting i thought this was going to be the issue that explains how Bug went from being an inhabitant of the Microverse to being a full size character now in "our" universe.
    the FF issue was a good example of what made 80s comics awesome. lots of action and some really good dialogue Galactus almost sounds down right poetic with out it coming off as cheesy. plus it was pact with text, it's easily a full 30 minutes of reading. i'm going to get to some of the other books later tonight after i get off work.

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    1. Man you had the full con experience, good for you. And who does Fuck Yeah Sabra?

      @Rick:Power Girl is mission accomplished. I liked how cute and how elated Rogue looks, and Red Sonja's out fit is a great look. But I too admire Power Girls hard work. Yes indeed.

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    2. there was a time where that Sabra Tumbler account had a profile picture of a young woman but it's gone now plus she never responds to messages even when she excepted my art.
      just a general update on my comic haul i just got done reading HULK#319. good stuff, Bruce and Betty finally get married despite Rick Jones getting shot at the wedding by Betty's father who's gone off the deep end. i had this issue many many years ago when it first came out but reading it again now it obviously takes on a whole new life.

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  6. Maintaining that heat. I marvel at your surplus of notches. It gets kicked up a few every time I visit. Your con recounting makes me nostalgic for the late 90’s, my last adventures out there. Makes me smile to watch you & Rick enjoy it now. Sienkiewicz – one of the greats, fun name to say & type (takes practice), love that pic with some of my favorite covers lined up under him. FF footnote – I think Supermegamonkey.net was the first place I learned of it last year. Girls – gorgeous of course. Brad Dwyer’s strip – neat. Vassilis’s creature attack (you thought a Wraithwitch had a nasty tongue) – totally agree with Randomnerd, really nice as a pinup but wouldn’t be right for a whole ROM story. Iszard’s ROM – inspirational. Pretty sure I’m becoming a new Sabra fan from your blog and after going through the tumblr account on the side. And from those links I also just found that Mantlo facebook page; no wonder my ears were burning this weekend.

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    Replies
    1. holy shit you're up late tonight Gary it's gotta be past 2 AM where you are. i just did a quick Google search and indeed there's at least two sites that reviewed FF#243 which included the clip art with the footnote i went through the trouble of scanning. that i had you with this one Gary i should've known better then to not try and one up the Rom curator.

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    2. A saying that is always true: I'd rather be sleeping. But hey remember for every FF #243 there's been an FF #281; that's one I can remember you scooped us all on. I'll always let you know whether I had what you find, just like I think (hope!) you'll keep trying to one up me. I consider it enjoyable collaboration.

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  7. That's awesome mate - I never got Bill's art as a kid either. Always thought it wasn't 'comic' enough, but now I'd kill for him to draw an issue of Sandman or even the Squad!

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    1. The Suicide Squad done by Sienkiewicz would be one of the best postings ever on that blog! being able to appreciate Bill's art in our later years is a good sign we've grown up a bit i guess : )

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  8. You just finished reading Hulk #319, huh? If you or any of your readers are interested, here's a link to my Smash Tales "radio" show which features that very issue. Enjoy! https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16360597/Smash%20Tales%20August%202011.mp3

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  9. It's funny, as a kid- I never appreciated Bill Sienkiewicz either... his art was just too 'over my head', as it were. It was too original- I didn't get it. I used to mockingly call him SUCKiewicz. -Embarrassing.
    It wasn't until I was a little older, and wicked into Sam Keith, that I realized Keith was just a next-level Sienkiewicz. Or, rather; Sienkiewicz was the O.G. Keith. So I went back and got almost everything he had done... and I've never looked back...
    There are a few issues of Spectacular from the clone-days where Sienkiewicz inked Sal Buscema pencils. IT'S AMAZING! I mean- the story is total crap, but that is a winning art combination! I remember geeking-out over those issues so hard-core when they hit the stands.

    -Oh and Red Sonja, welcome to my dreams tonight... that is all.

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