Haters

Every once in a while an artist comes along that just gets under people's skin. Whether it be a lack of solid anatomy, a style preference, accusations (and in some cases solid proof of) plagarism, or "ripping", or whatever.

Part of this bothers me. While I don't think it's okay to rip someone else's work (poses, panels, etc.) unless it's an homage, I also don't have the hate in me to bash them continuously. I don't see the purpose that serves and it gets really old really fast.

There are several pretty popular examples of these artists in recent months and years that are pretty well-known in the comics community. Two in particular come to mind, being Greg Land and Rob Liefeld.

Before going any further I'd like to say I was a fan of both of these guys. I fell in love with Land's work on Crossgen's Sojourn, and I was as big an X-Force and Youngblood fan as any back in the day. I still think both of these guys have a lot of talent, whether anyone agrees or disagrees.

Now, both of these guys, and others, have been pretty openly accused of ripping from other people's work (stealing poses, panel layouts, etc. in layman's terms), and a lot of 'evidence' and 'proof' has been shown to make these claims, and a lot of it is pretty condemning.

Now I don't personally have the time or energy to go through countless books, magazines, posters, etc. to find all of these examples, but some people out there seem to have nothing better to do than pour through every image they can find to make the comparison, and thus have provided some examples.

First up, work by Greg Land:

Brad Pitt in Troy=Magneto

Before:

After:

Comparison:

Now Liefeld:

These are just some examples. I'm sure those with much more time on their hands and nothing better to do can find plenty more. I just don't have the time or will to waste that much energy on something as pointless as this.

Now, in my own personal opinion a lot of this stuff does look like they ripped from other artists. Some of the pieces I could see as an homage. Most probably not. So I am not defending this in the slightest, let me make that perfectly clear. But that's not what bothers me.

Both of these artists obviously have a lot of artistic merit if you look at their work. Liefeld has problems with anatomy, true, but for me most of it didn't detract too much from the overall work. Liefeld was one of my earliest inspirations in wanting to become a comic artist myself. I admired and respected what he was able to do when I was a teenager. I think he has improved a great deal.

Greg Land's photo-realistic art is just amazing, whether he rips poses or not. He's still an amazing artist.

My problem with the haters, though, is that they just love to hate on these guys. I guarantee 90% of them have never met either one of these guys personally, nor ever heard their personal stance on the accusations of fans. For me personally, unless you know someone personally and can talk to them face to face, or unless they make a public statement about it, or something of that nature then you really don't have a right to sit in judgement of these people.

But I understand in any form of media, or anytime someone is in the public eye they fall under a certain amount of scrutiny. I just think it's a waste of time to find every thread on every messageboard on the subject of these artists and make post after post bashing them. Say it once, let your thoughts and opinions be known, then move on with your life.

I just think a lot of people become bitter at their success because they don't think they truly earned it, and I can see that point to a degree. But nobody on the face of God's green earth has the right to sit in a seat of judgement. We are all flawed and we all make mistakes, and sin, if you will, on a daily basis.

I won't justify the swipes artists make as it is technically stealing from another artist's work. But I also won't sit in a seat of judgement. I don't know either of these artists, or many other artists accused all the same, so I haven't heard their defense on this matter. The artists themselves probably hear this so much that they stopped trying to defend it and just let people think what they will, regardless. And I think that's the smartest way to handle it.

The fact of the matter is both these guys are doing well, and any publicity is good publicity. These guys will keep working whether anyone likes it or not. But it's simple. If you feel that strongly about it don't buy their books, plain and simple. This doesn't mean you have to attack their personal integrity on a daily basis and label them as bad human beings.

For me there are far more important causes to be up in arms about than whether a comic artist ripped a panel or not. It's ridiculous, in my opinion, to boycott their titles for that reason alone. If you don't like the art, then don't buy it, but don't avoid it for some self-righteous indignation.

But alas, my words will fall on deaf ears, because if there's one thing I've learned about comic fans and aspiring comic artists over the years is that they become fanatical and almost obsessed (same with hardcore fans of any form of entertainment or people in the public eye) in their causes and somehow forget that all these artists (or writers, movie stars, even preachers, etc., etc.) are human too.

I thank God that I don't have the energy to hate as much as these boneheads just for the sake of hating or for making some self-righteous stand. More power to you all that do this. As for me, I will probably still by Liefeld and Land art if I like the stories they are illustrating.

Whether I agree or disagree with their methods, I'm no hater.

B-Out