Ultimate Iron Man #1...

[Pardot Kynes]

* WARNING * This thread may contain spoilers.

I just finished reading this, and I'm liking it so far.

My impressions:

Story: So far, so good. It's only the first issue, but I like what I see. I like the idea of Stark not being comfortable in his own skin (quite literally ;)). I also like the living biotech armor and it's vulnerability to gold.
I've read that Card knew very little about Iron Man before he started this project, which I think is a good thing. He can bring a fresh perspective on it, which more comics need.
I wouldn't mind seeing Greg Bear write a few comics.

Art: Kubert's art is...okay. I've never been that big of a fan of his work, which a lot of times seems serviceable at best. I would have preferred someone else, though (Hitch).
A few problems that caught my eye:

Page 27 (including ads), panels 2 & 3: Howard's eyes look pretty wonky.
Page 3, panel 2: Looks like the perspective is off, particularly on the figures.

On the other hand, I thought Pages 15 - 17 were very well done, though I think the closeup of Maria on Page 17 is too large. It seems to take over the page.

Covers: I bought the Hitch cover, though I don't really care for either one. They need to ditch the foil covers from now on, as well as the super glossy paper for the interior pages.

All-in-all though, I thought it was a good first issue. I'm glad it's a finite series so it won't be limited by continuity issues (though that's never stopped Marvel before).
I'm hoping for more out-of-continuity stories like this one.

But, enough o' my bitching. Anyone else?

[dxdragon]

Just when I couldn't think Kubert's art could get worse he proves me wrong. I had to pass on this...I read parts of it...not impressed...and the art...the art just made want to forget I bothered to look at it.

[Tight-Pants Jack]

I would have preferred someone else, though (Hitch).


Why? So you could wait 3 or 4 months between issues?

ANYBODY but Hitch.

But, yes, Kubert's art is starting to hurt my eyes. Other than that, I thought this issue was pretty good. Future issues should pan-out to be a really good story.

[Pardot Kynes]

Why? So you could wait 3 or 4 months between issues?

ANYBODY but Hitch.
If the art is that good, I don't mind waiting. And this being only 6 issues, he could probably have it finished before the first issue is printed. My only preference above Hitch would be Travis Charest but...umm...yeah.

[K.E. Woolfork]

The could've gotten Hairsine to do it.

. . . even though his short runs on Classwar and Cap looked better than Ultimate Nightmare.

Anybody but ****ing Dave Finch.

K.

[F!]

Anybody but ****ing Dave Finch.No relation. (Though I did get an interview request the other day from a guy on another board who thought we were one and the same. That despite having my work in my signature image :confused: )

Anyway, I enjoyed the issue. Totally unexpected take on the character's history/origin. Though I imagine that the people unhappy at Iron Man's lack of appearance in his Marvel U title are even less happy with this. At least Tony Stark showed up in Iron Man #1.

[pencilgeek]

which kuberts??

[dxdragon]

Both of them stink...their work is very very similar.

[pencilgeek]

i like the kuberts but they never finish what they start..i have not been into comics for like 2 years so what do i know lol..

[Conan]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has a problem with Kubert's art.
As for the issue, it was pretty cool. I'll keep reading it to see where OSC leads.

[Knigge]

I dug the first issue, but I'll stick it out for another two issues before I decide whether its genius or suckage. The art is okay. Its not horrible, but its not fantastic.

[Popninja]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has a problem with Kubert's art.
As for the issue, it was pretty cool. I'll keep reading it to see where OSC leads.

See, that I just don't understand. If you can't stand the art, why on earth would you buy the comic? Just go read Card's books. When Morrison was writing New X-Men and Kordey was doing the art, I couldn't buy the issues...I just couldn't do it...no matter how much I LOVED Morrison.

A comic is supposed to be the perfect blend of art and writing. If one half of the mix is nasty, especially the most important half, then I can't enjoy the comic. I've been known to buy comics based solely on art, but I can't imagine just reading word balloons while trying my best to NOT look at the art.

[Knigge]

You have a different perspective obviously. Some people just don't see the drawing aspect as being more important. The writing (whether written or unspoken in a comic) is seen to be just as and occasionally more important to many people, myself included. It's your own fault that you don't understand how that can be possible.

It works both ways. If the art is unbarable, why bother even glancing through it. And if the writing is horrible, then don't buy it. You'd ultimately be supporting crap if you did.

To summarize, this is my technique in buying comics:
Great art + great writing = Must buy, obviously.
Horrible art + horrible writing = Burn, baby. Burn.
Great art + okay writing/Great writing + okay art = most likely yes, but occasionally no. Depends on different factors, like themes and whatnot, typically biased related.
Great art + horrible writing/Great writing + horrible art = leave on rack for some putz to pick up because he loves anything drawn by so and so or anything written by whojeewad.

Don't support mediocrity, in written or visual form. You just allow yourself to be suckered, and for the cycle to continue.

Anywho, while both Andy and Adam aren't some of my favorite artists (neither are they my least favorite), Adam is definitely the better of the two.

[Popninja]

To summarize, this is my technique in buying comics:
Great art + great writing = Must buy, obviously.
Horrible art + horrible writing = Burn, baby. Burn.
Great art + okay writing/Great writing + okay art = most likely yes, but occasionally no. Depends on different factors, like themes and whatnot, typically biased related.
Great art + horrible writing/Great writing + horrible art = leave on rack for some putz to pick up because he loves anything drawn by so and so or anything written by whojeewad.

That's an interesting system and I think it works until you get to the Great art + horrible writing part because there are times where the art is just ****ing insane, yet the writing leaves a lot to be desired. In those cases, I will most definitely buy the comic and look at the art. As an artist, I find that I can enjoy a comic based solely on art. Best example of this is Lobdell and Charest on Wildcats. Suck ass writing coupled with some beautiful art.

But everyone's entitled to do what they want to do. But for the life of me, I don't understand why anyone would buy a comic, which is primarily a visual medium, if they didn't like the artist drawing it.

[Knigge]

Because there's more to writing then just words. And oftentimes the writer is very much involved in what you see from the artist.

I just see things differently. I won't buy a book, say like the new Sheena, because although Cho is an amazing artist, the writing and story is sub par. That's just the kind of person I am. I feel it to be a waste of time and money. If I wanted to own the person's art so badly, then I'd buy The Art of Who/Whatever or some original art. When you buy a comic to support a certain artist, you're also supporting the writer (and vice versa). Why support something you don't like? You only end up encouraging it. That's why most mainstream comics today are saturated with crappy writing and great visual artists, as well as both crappy writing AND crappy artists, on books that don't deserve it, because people will buy a book solely based on eye candy.

[Pardot Kynes]

Well I'm certainly glad I brought it up. :D

As for the debate, I have to agree with Knigge.

[NickRocks]

Greg Capullo should come out and draw it.