Comic Book Eras

[Skyhawke]

In the 90's I think we can agree that the comic industry was dominated by hot artist and they really set the tempo for what people wanted to read and collect. After the bubble burst on the speculator market it slowly became an industry driven by writers.

I believe now we are starting to see a new era develop with certain creators becoming the architects for the Marvel and DC universe (and Image).

Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver are the architects for DC
Michael Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker are the architects for Marvel
Robert Kirkman and Jay Faerber are the architects for Image

Maybe I am wrong, but I thought I put my thoughts down here and see what you all thought of it.

[JohnMayo]

In the 90's I think we can agree that the comic industry was dominated by hot artist and they really set the tempo for what people wanted to read and collect. After the bubble burst on the speculator market it slowly became an industry driven by writers.

I believe now we are starting to see a new era develop with certain creators becoming the architects for the Marvel and DC universe (and Image).

Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver are the architects for DC
Michael Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker are the architects for Marvel
Robert Kirkman and Jay Faerber are the architects for Image

Maybe I am wrong, but I thought I put my thoughts down here and see what you all thought of it.

I see where you are coming from on this and even partially agree.

Geoff Johns as an architect at DC? Sure. But Ethan Van Sciver as an architect for DC? What all is he doing that is so important? Grant Morrison seems like a more likely choice.

I'd disagree with Kirkman and Baerber at Image because they are just doing their own thing and the nature of Image precludes any sort of architect.

Bendis is clearly a primary mover and shaker at Marvel. Brubaker is doing great things on Captain America and Daredevil but off on side. So Bendis as an architect at Marvel I'll go with but not Brubaker. As brilliant as his work is, it isn't laying a new foundation for the rest of the Marvel universe the way Bendis' work is.

[Skyhawke]

Ethan Van Sciver is more behind the scenes in that he is doing a lot of the costume designs for the books Johns is working on. I had forgotten about Grant Morrison, don't know how so I would agree and probably replace Ethan with Grant.

[JohnMayo]

Ethan Van Sciver is more behind the scenes in that he is doing a lot of the costume designs for the books Johns is working on. I had forgotten about Grant Morrison, don't know how so I would agree and probably replace Ethan with Grant.

While costume design are important, and I'm sure Van Sciver is doing a fine job on them, I can't see that as being an architectural level contribution to the DC universe. Geoff Johns has revitalized the JSA, the Titans, Superman and Green Lantern plus added a ton a cool stuff to the mythos for those areas of the DC universe. I'd consider him the most valuable creator that DC has right now.

[HassanT]

Ethan Van Sciver is more behind the scenes in that he is doing a lot of the costume designs for the books Johns is working on. I had forgotten about Grant Morrison, don't know how so I would agree and probably replace Ethan with Grant.

While costume design are important, and I'm sure Van Sciver is doing a fine job on them, I can't see that as being an architectural level contribution to the DC universe. Geoff Johns has revitalized the JSA, the Titans, Superman and Green Lantern plus added a ton a cool stuff to the mythos for those areas of the DC universe. I'd consider him the most valuable creator that DC has right now.

I concur with John. I think we are still in the era of the WRITER. Obviously, it helps to have a great artist with a great writer, but without the writer, we would not have so many great books coming out.

For DC, it is Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison. Although Johns writes more comics than Morrison, Morrison was the guy that came up with a lot of new concepts for DC, like the new Atom or Freedom Fighters.

For Marvel it has to be Bendis and Brubaker. I pick Brubaker because of the solo titles that he has done, plus the X-Men.

The artist is still important, but I think what has changed with this era versus the horrible 90s is that companies are combining their best talent. In the past, I believe that companies would have a hot artist on the book with an average to below average writer, thinking the artist would sell the book and vice versa. Now, the companies are smart enought to put the best creators on the best properity. Back the 90s, the rule for DC wsa that the top creators can't do Batman and Superman because the thought was that the characters would sell themselves. That has changed in this era.