Alex Ross controversy? Can someone help me?

[chimpy]

As I've mentioned here before, I was a long time reader of comics that took a hiatus. Sure, I read a few things here and there, but I didn't really keep up with comic goings-on for a good fifteen years or so.

One of the newer things I did see, however, was the Alex Ross stuff. I read Marvels and loved the art style so much that I followed him onto other projects like Kingdom Come. I think he's fantastic and has a very unique take on the characters.

Lately, though, I've been seeing allusions to their being some sort of controversy with him, something that presumably happened in the past. I've seen it from a number of sources, including right here at iFanboy, where Josh made a comment in passing in one of the mini video podcasts alluding to their being a "problem" with Ross.

I did some research, and saw where he made a comment about a character - this quote here:

"ROSS: I have no idea. I don’t know that that would be the case. Obsidian being put into the JSA is a lot like—and I’m speaking for Geoff here, which he may not agree with—but it’s him grabbing a character that’s just going to get molested further in other writer’s hands. So he’s grabbing him and putting him in the group so he at least can be shepherding this character that belongs in this association. Maybe he’ll make sure that no other writers get any "fun, creative" ideas with him."

The article states that this caused an outcry. I'm not sure why, it seems pretty benign, and that's even after reading the reasons why people felt it might be offensive.

So is this it? Is this the "problem" with Ross? Or is there something else that I'm unaware of? Can some comic uber-historian shed some light?

[johnferrigno]

This is the first I've heard of this, but I'm not one for following a lot of the behind the scenes drama type stuff. plus, I'm not a fan of Ross, so I tend to pass on things relating to him. This is pretty interesting though. Why would that cause such a stir?

[thenextchampion]

Considering Ross worked with Johns on JSA for his latest run, I doubt it's that big of a problem. Probably a spat between the two when coming up with the team for the overall story.

The biggest 'controversy' with people and Alex Ross is that he does waaaaaaayyyyy too many covers now a days. His art is still some of the best around but it probably isn't a joke when I say he does a good half of the covers you see in mainstream comics. Hell he does a lot for DC, Dynamite, and Marvel. It's just him being a bit overexposed at this point.

I'm still fine with him doing covers as long as they look absolutely amazing. They are amazing but I can definitely see why people are getting sick of his work.

[johnferrigno]

I am definitely sick of his covers. But I am also sick of cover that are just random pin-ups of characters that have zero relation to the story inside the comic, which is what he does. And I don't like painted comics, either. They just seem very stiff. All the motion and action is sucked out of them. So yeah, I'm not much of an Alex Ross fan.

[jaflanagan]

Sorry, I've got no idea what you're referring to. I think he's got a heck of an ego, some think deserved, and some dont'. But there's no "thing" about Alex Ross I can think of.

[thenextchampion]

Alex Ross, I think anyways, got some of his cred back after doing JSA. The issue where the Gog story finally ends has some of the best pages I think he's ever done. I still get goosebumps when I see an older Superman looking directly at us.

[mharrison]

I can't get enough of Ross's art, I wish he'd do more than just covers, I'm sure it's too slow a process to do a lot of interior work, but he should do more mini-series like Justice at least.

[chimpy]

Huh, maybe I'm crazy - I went back through the Kingdom Come episode thinking maybe that's where I heard Josh say something about Ross, but can't find it.

I'm glad to hear it's all in my head, I really like Ross. I was afraid of a "Orson Scott Card"-type of revelation about him :).

[darkknightjrk]

Hmm...the only thing I can think of is that some people might hate him for his depiction of Bush on a painting he did where he had the former President sucking the blood of Lady Liberty like a vampire. Or it's because all his characters tend to look like middle-aged men whether they actually are or not.

[johnferrigno]

Hmm...the only thing I can think of is that some people might hate him for his depiction of Bush on a painting he did where he had the former President sucking the blood of Lady Liberty like a vampire. Or it's because all his characters tend to look like middle-aged men whether they actually are or not.

You mean those wacky kids today don't like that half the heroes in a Ross book look like Fred MacMurray???

[darkknightjrk]

You mean those wacky kids today don't like that half the heroes in a Ross book look like Fred MacMurray???

Not really, I just don't like it when Wonder Woman and Black Canary looks like Fred MacMurray.

[404error]

Not really, I just don't like it when Wonder Woman and Black Canary looks like Fred MacMurray.

HAHAHAHAH. That was a good one.

I like most of the stuff Ross puts out. But I do kind of get tired with the fact that most of the heros looks the same. Like Superman looks like batman...just without the mask.

[amircat]

HAHAHAHAH. That was a good one.

I like most of the stuff Ross puts out. But I do kind of get tired with the fact that most of the heros looks the same. Like Superman looks like batman...just without the mask.

I agree with you but he is not the only "great" artist to do it. For example, Jim Lee's Clark Kent looks a lot like Bruce Wayne:

Supes:
http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/18863/915959-jim_lee_superman_super.jpg

Bruce:
http://kittyprado.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/300px-bruce_wayne_jimlee-2003.jpg

[gobo]

I think the only "problem" with Ross is he's not a very good storyteller. He's a fantastic cover artist and has drawn some truly spectacular single panels but for all his talent lots of people seem to find it "stiff" and not very good for telling a story with sequential art.

[thenextchampion]

I think the only "problem" with Ross is he's not a very good storyteller. He's a fantastic cover artist and has drawn some truly spectacular single panels but for all his talent lots of people seem to find it "stiff" and not very good for telling a story with sequential art.

He helped plot out 'Kingdom Come' and the Geoff Johns recent run on JSA.

But other stuff like Project Superpowers and Avenger/Invaders were not that good...

[gobo]

I meant with his pencils, not his writing

[chimpy]

I agree that a lot of Ross' heroes look older. And thinking about it now I think that might be part of the allure for me...now that I'm older (45) perhaps I'm drawn to characters that are more "like me."

[johnferrigno]

Not really, I just don't like it when Wonder Woman and Black Canary looks like Fred MacMurray.

I just got this horrible image of Chip Douglas walking in on his father wearing Black Canary style fishnets. I may NEVER get clean again. Thanks a lot!