Jim Lawson's Art - Love It or Hate It?

[Quiller-Bee]

Jim Lawson's art in the Mirage TMNT comic book seems to be a topic of controversy. Some love his art and stand firmly in defense of his style, while others have expressed a vehement hatred of it. Let's find out where the majority stands on the issue . . . .

[Karpo_007]

It is OK, But nowhere near what he used to do. His pencils on Return to NY and City at War are Very good, Second to only Eastman and Laird. His new style is OK, and I have no problem with it. Still it wonders me why his style has changed so much over the years. In latest issue he wrote that he tried switching his style but noticed that it isn't him. The art does it's job like it should do, but it surely isn't the best TMNT art.

To those who think it should look like the Dramwave book, not going to happen in million years. This is not a mass market book, but independent one, pencilled by one and inked by one or two guys. Thats how TMNT originally was, and Im happy that they are doing it the way they do.

Personally, I hope that we would see Michel Donney pencilling a story for the Tales of TMNT series, He is after all one of the classic Mirage artists as well and I have always liked his style. And More importantly, His style still looks as good as it did 10 years ago.

[Donatello]

i like it, it's a different look which i don't think been displayed before in the tmnt. he's doing an imperfect style, which gives an edgy look, overall i think it's good, but the lips are what bug me

[Raven]

I dont care for his work I think he could be doing much better at what hes doing but I can think of a hand full that are much worse than him!
so I give him credit for what hes doing but I still dont care for it

[Dane E5R]

I just wish he'd live up to his full potential. It seems to me like he's just bein' lazy. BTW, Major Pain, nice avatar. Salvation kicked.

[Karpo_007]

Read his comments from issue #10, he wants to do it that style and Peter Laird has no objections with that.

[Kid Icarus]

eh, its okay. i've seen him do MUCH better than the, and excuse me for being REALLY blunt, crap he's put out in the new books. It just seems that he could be doing better.

However, I've seen people do a much worse job with their art, so I can't complain too much. He just needs to draw the non-turtle characters better, then I'll be happy.

[Karpo_007]

It's his choice to draw that way, I personally don't understand why he does it, He is One of the best artists all time to draw the turtles, But since he wants to draw it that way, I will not complain. The art has certainly improved since the first issues, but it seems it will never be nearly as great what he used to do.

[Raven]

I just wish he'd live up to his full potential. It seems to me like he's just bein' lazy. BTW, Major Pain, nice avatar. Salvation kicked.

thanks and ya that movie kicks ass

[GK Punk]

I find it rather "meh" I read mostly Indie books anymore, and 9 out of 10 indie books have MUCH better Art than Lawson's current style.

Skeleton Key is an example of that...

[Leo656]

In all complete honesty... I haven't read every comic there is, but I'm sure there's someone in comics who draws worse than Lawson... but *I*, myself, haven't seen it yet. Sorry. Byrne and Ordway spoiled me.

[Karpo_007]

http://www.planetracers.com/blast/blast74.html

You speak about Lawsson, not his art in Volum 4. Above is just one example, but if you really don't know anyone worse, A) You don't know comic world outside mainstream or B) You don't read much comics. I wouldn't say this if you spoke about his art in VOL 4, but you speak about the artist in general. If you say that even old Lawsson art is bad, then Im really amazed.

[Leo656]

Yeah I've seen those. I probably didn't make myself very clear, but my main issue isn't the way Lawson draws the TMNT, because he does a fair-to decent job even now, and I've said in the past that his art was a lot better in the past. My main problem is the fact that he isn't very well-rounded. He can draw the TMNT themselves well, but everything else looks too simplistic.

I've read comics my whole life, not as many "independant" comics as some may have, but I do know that good art is good art, regardless of whether it's a mainstream company or an underground company, and his art just isn't as good as most artists in the field, he doesn't excel in as many areas as most... he has a very one-dimensional style, and I hate that. Again, his art *was* a lot better years ago, IMO.

I mean, I really don't see the point in whether an artist is a "mainstream" comics artist or an "underground" comics artist, because last time I checked they still perform the exact same task. (Shrug)

[Karpo_007]

There is a big diffrence between finished page of main street comic and indepent comic. There is a big team inking, coloring, toning, every panel of Mainstream comic where as Independet comic is usually made by 2 or 3 guys. Of course the finished product is diffrent.

But I agree, Lawssons current art is not definetly the best among independent comic either. Every non Human character he drwas is still very good, but like you said, pretty much everything else is very simple. But it gets the job done, so Im ok with it.

I wonder why Lawsson won't draw like he usded to, He said it's his choice to draw this way, I guess keeping every fan happy isn't his priority.

[Nate]

I love Lawson's art style.. but he isn't quite my favorite TMNT artist.

[Leo656]

Well, lucky for them (I guess) it doesn't bother me enough to make me not buy it, because I still buy every issue. So eh.

[Karpo_007]

I feel sorry for the guys who find that art as reason not to buy the book.

[Roseangelo]

I didn't vote because there's no, "The art isn't going to change so just deal with it and shut up" choice.

[Karpo_007]

Thats a good advice for everyone.

[Leo656]

I can't say I really feel sorry for them. They don't want to read the book because they think part of it is sub-standard. Maybe they're missing out, maybe they aren't. The ones that don't like it will probably buy the DW book and be happy with that, at least.

I can say, however, that if I was NOT a fan of TMNT, Vol. 4 would NOT make me become a fan. And that's what function I believe the book serves at this point: They're placating the loyal fans, but they aren't making many new ones either, I wager. And that's part of what annoys me about it.

[Karpo_007]

Thats true, the art won't actract new readers to it. But since there already are enough that the issues are selling out, It doesn't really matter.

[Leo656]

Yeah, and that is great, but I would still like the Mirage book to have more appeal to a wider audience and make new fans. I mean, it is the original version of TMNT, but it's also unfortunately not very well-known by a majority of people, and that's a shame. How many people only found out about Mirage AFTER they'd seen the cartoon, or the movies? I know MANY people who claim to be HUGE TMNT fans, but they never read or heard of Mirage, and a few of them have glanced at Vol. 4 and said something to the effect of "eh, I like the cartoon better", and that bothers me a little, which is partly why sometimes my criticisms of Lawson may seem a little harsh. It's what I mean when I say "most" people don't like Lawson's art, that means the majority of people who've never read Mirage, aren't familiar with his style, and are more familiar with more "mainstream" comic artists. THOSE are the people who see Lawson's art as poor, and, point blank, they're the vast majority of comic book readers. My desire for the art in the book to be better is hand in hand with my desire for the book to be read -and enjoyed- by as many people as possible across the board, not cater to a niche audience, that's all.

[Karpo_007]

Thats completely true. But if people want to get to know the original TMNT, I would suggest them to read issues 1-10 of volume 1 rather than volume 4. Volume 4 is part of Mirage continuity, and not mch from the past has been explained. For the fans who have read Mirage before, it is much easier to get into volume 4. If the people can't get into Volume 4, now there is alternative, the Dreamwave book.

[TMNT is cooler than MOTU]

Until he leaves, I'll only buy the DW TMNT comic.