Jim Lawson

[Dane E5R]

I know this topic as been touched many times, but I don't think I've ever seen a thread devoted to it. But if there has been, well, sorry. Heh, anyway, what do you guys think happened to Jim Lawson's style? It's really amazing when you compare his style from Return to New York, City at War, to now. If you ask me, I think his style has degraded, and I really can't understand how someone who used to do such amazing work can get to such a mediocre level. I used to see him as 2nd only to Eastman and Laird, since I consider them equal. What do you guys think??

[Ninjatron]

I think that with age and experience there comes a time when artists grow tired of the "traditional comic book style" and try to seek something new. Jim was probably doing that with his own projects, and he might not want to stop with TMNT.

He's always had a unique style. Perhaps now he simply has the freedom to do whatever he wants with the book.

Of course, this is just a simple theroy coming from a guy who's also been critizised for drawing popular characters in unconventional styles. I am by no means saying that this is the answer. But if it is, I don't blame him.

Sayonara.

[Karpo_007]

Thats a good question. I've Finally finished volume 2 and am now reading volume 4. His style did look a lot better, but I can live with the new art to.

[HorseTechie]

I agree with Ninjatron. As much as I also loved Lawson's "old style", my guess is that he had to give way to that, just to be able to keep up with the deadlines. Seems to me they also don't have a big number of artists working on the comic now, like they had then either. Quick and dirty, just so he and Laird can get their quota of pages completed on a daily basis.

[Aztec General]

He's always had a unique style. Perhaps now he simply has the freedom to do whatever he wants with the book.

I agree completely. Actually I've grown to really like his new style. It's different but it works. I recently went back and read Vol. 4 #1-9 and I think the story being spun is fantastic. I'm eagerly awaiting #10.

[Aztec General]

I agree with Ninjatron. As much as I also loved Lawson's "old style", my guess is that he had to give way to that, just to be able to keep up with the deadlines. Seems to me they also don't have a big number of artists working on the comic now, like they had then either. Quick and dirty, just so he and Laird can get their quota of pages completed on a daily basis.

I couldn't DISAGREE more. I'm surprised that you'd say this HT. Lawson's new style is not "weak" or "less" than his old, it's just different. All artists change their styles as they progress. This is the style Laird/Lawson apparently want for Vol. 4. I respect it and like it quite a bit. I've even grown to admire his humans.

[HorseTechie]

hrmm... I wasn't trying to say his style was weak or less. I was jusy saying it wasn't as detailed and refined as it used to be. Wasn't saying that was a bad thing, it was just a reason I was guessing as to why he adapted that sort of style. You know, for those people who think that an artists's style should look better with time.

[Karpo_007]

Lawssons old work is superior to his new one, there is no doubt about that. The new style is ok, but isn't the art that makes the books good.

[Raven]

All artists change their styles as they progress. This is the style Laird/Lawson apparently want for Vol. 4. I respect it and like it quite a bit. I've even grown to admire his humans.

yes artist do and will change styles do to age or got bored with the old style
but for me his new art just dosent appeal to me like city at war or return to new york he might like it but to me I feel that well it just SUCKS
but thats me

[Aztec General]

All artists change their styles as they progress. This is the style Laird/Lawson apparently want for Vol. 4. I respect it and like it quite a bit. I've even grown to admire his humans.

yes artist do and will change styles do to age or got bored with the old style
but for me his new art just dosent appeal to me like city at war or return to new york he might like it but to me I feel that well it just SUCKS
but thats me

It's fine to think that. But I think it's absurd to say he's drawing the way he is in order to meet deadlines.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

I could EASILY see his new style being a time-saver device like HT said. I think his old style is much better.

[GK Punk]

Yeah It's like J Scott Campbell's older art, in the earlier days it was really good, then personal stuff hapened in his life and he had less time to draw his books, and his style got sloppy and rather horreable looking.

Could be the same thing, or maybe Lawson just evolved his style like Ninjatron said, who knows?

[Dane E5R]

Yeah It's like J Scott Campbell's older art, in the earlier days it was really good, then personal stuff hapened in his life and he had less time to draw his books, and his style got sloppy and rather horreable looking.

Could be the same thing, or maybe Lawson just evolved his style like Ninjatron said, who knows?

It's devolution if anything. I simply can not bring myself to believe that he may think his new style is better than his older stuff. I also think he might be trying to meet deadlines, because his work does look rushed.