Stylized Comics: Why Is Cartooning Never Approved?

Comics are art, no other way about it. Like all art forms, they can be expressed in a myriad of ways. You have the cinematics of Bryan Hitch, the kinetic energy of Chris Samnee, and the blissful moments of Fiona Staples. But I’ve been noticing people complain about styles I’ve come to love. Normally I’m okay with this because opinions vary; but the criticisms are terrible. They say Javier Pulido’s art is too cartoony! Dude, that’s the point! Cartooning is the art of stylization and expressive movement! It also doesn’t help that some publishers use covers that don’t match an issue’s art. At this rate stylized comics might have to go underground.

Stylized Comics Examples

Cartooning is an art in comics going all the way back to its origins. In comics’ ties to free speech, they serve as a way to see an artist’s view of the world through satire. Eventually they evolve into the strips like Garfield or Dick Tracy.

In the modern day, some of my favorite art in comics come from cartoonists. Back at MFR, I wrote a piece for the magazine going into Tyler Boss‘s panel layouts and perspectives. At the heart of it all are artists experimenting to develop their storytelling. There’s just something so memorable about doodles that become something more.

Cartoonists Obscured

Unfortunately, the sales people and hardcore consumers seem to think otherwise. In one comic that changed artists, Ninjak, are some of the most evocative and striking line work I’ve seen. But by the last issue Valiant removes Javier Pulido after three issues and four pages. They don’t give a solid reason why, but my best guess is the criticism for Pulido’s art. Worse, this isn’t even the first time something like this happens to Pulido. At Marvel, after the first issue of Black Cat Pulido is in a tug-of-war with Javier Rodriguez. He still does work with Hawkeye and She-Hulk, but it’s hard not to see traditionalists lashing out and affecting sales.

Even another comic I’ve been enjoying World of Krypton gets this treatment. Does the cover show the art of Michael Avon Oeming? No! Granted Oeming doesn’t get replaced part way but I keep hearing hardcore consumers complain. Which really brings into perspective how executives and loyalists are dead set on trends.

Trends Lead To Style!

Now trends aren’t always a bad thing in artwork. For the less experienced artists, it’s a way to learn how to apply themselves into how comics work. It’s one of the ways “How To” books on drawing comics sell well. Or look at Jack Kirby’s early history as a work-for-hire artist for examples. It’s what allowed him to eventually develop a way to stylistically get comics out in loads. You know what they say about art, you gotta learn the rules to break them.

Unfortunately even the King of Comics was subject to getting his work changed in certain places. In the Superman comics for example, it seems DC didn’t like Kirby’s design of the Man of Steel. See this video for more details:

Stylized Comics Vs. Sequential Pin-Ups

There seems to be a stigma surrounding comic book art and how it should look. It’s a mindset that’s been around since the Golden Age. To this day, it seems fans and executives are so used to seeing a “House Style” that it’s enforced. Look at just about any comic book floppy and you’ll notice how… samey they are. It’s not just American comics either; manga, webtoons, and fumetti all have styles that look similar. If not for small differences like in shading or shapes, readers think they’re all by the same person. Familiarity breeds entry points I guess.

People Are Missing Out

But this comes with a bit of baggage and unfair expectations on comics and the artists. If all an artist needs in their portfolio are pin-ups how can they make comics that have have life in them? The Spider-Woman comics by Pere Perez for example have some of the best kinetic energy and panel layouts I’ve ever seen. Most Spider-Man comics after Steve Ditko just look stilted to me.

Another series The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Erica Henderson has a style so distinct some fans hated it. It was unlike anything else by Marvel at its time, sporting a more cartoony art. On Goodreads, people I follow really don’t seem to like this series. But the amount of sales and its longevity speak to its quality. Especially since it speaks to the more comedic slice-of-life format that make it more approachable. Not to mention in a few scenes Henderson shows off experimental presentations.

Don’t Typecast Cartooning!

But I think putting cartoony and funny together is part of the problem for stylized comics. That’s what I got from Valiant fans Facebook page when I asked why Ninjak had changed artists. Admittedly, cartooning’s origins from satire is a huge factor. But when non-pin-up art is considered comedy only, that’s a problem. Kaijumax features art resembling newspaper strips, but despite the satire it isn’t meant to be LOL funny. There are huge dramatic acts that leave an empathetic link to the characters; laughing at these tragic monsters would be an insult.

Stylized Comics Need A New Market

I think I’m seeing a pattern with the problems regarding stylized comics. The people who criticize them the most are used to seeing comics a certain way. But having seen so many sequential pin-up books, a lot of them started to look dull and lifeless. It feels more like the artists are just trying to retrofit someone else’s art or have no idea on the mechanics of comic books. I wonder if watching Strip Panel Naked can help with that.

I think if these comics and artists really need to be appreciated, they may need a different audience. Comic stores seem to have attracted voices that hinder artists like Pulido. Meanwhile publishers have to try and get the most money, hence why they listen to the loudest and most critical voices. But maybe they really just need to get into more niche and public markets. Why? Well following the data is what helps drive quality and the more hands on the product, the more opinions to average out. I’m confident that if more people found Pulido’s issues of Ninjak, Valiant wouldn’t have felt pressured to change artists. The general public is less likely to typecast.

Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.