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Topic: Namor, Nay Less - 10.06.08 Post ReplyPost New Topic
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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132394
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 5:30am | IP Logged | 1 post reply

What did you draw this with?

••

This piece was done entirely with the PITT brush pen.
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Aric Shapiro
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Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4349
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 6:42am | IP Logged | 2 post reply

Namor's head has always looked triangular to me. Always love seeing John tackle the character.  Quite surprised that we've not seen more Namor commissions, especially as the one JB did with all the bubbles is a favorite of  mine
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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132394
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 8:05am | IP Logged | 3 post reply

Namor's "triangular head" comes from a whole lot of artists -- including Kirby --
misinterpreting what Bill Everett drew. Did it myself, many times, before I sat
down and really looked at those old issues.

What Everett was drawing was swimmer's hair. As if Namor, rising from the
water, pushed his hair back off his face with a single sweep of each hand,
creating three distinct "crests", one on the top and one on each side.

In much the way costumes change from black to blue, or lose details thru many
iterations, Namor's distinctive hairstyle quickly devolved into a "flat" head. (One
writer, when I was fresh to the business, said he planned reveal that the mother
of J. Jonah Jameson's son John was Betty Dean, Namor's female pal from the
Golden Age. Having "lost" Namor, she'd settled on Jonah because he, too, had a
"flat head"*)






*Seriously.
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Trevor Smith
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Joined: 21 September 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3522
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 8:39am | IP Logged | 4 post reply

Hah! Hearing that, I'm surprised no one has pitched a
story showing that Namor, JJJ, and Hammerhead are all
somehow related, resulting in the emergence of JJJ's
long dormant super-powers!
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Michael Edwards
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Wish Granted

Joined: 21 February 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 295
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 10:02am | IP Logged | 5 post reply

Yep, that's Namor all right. The snobbish attitude is written all over his face. Great job JB. :)

Edited by Michael Edwards on 07 October 2008 at 10:03am
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Jamie Grey
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Joined: 02 December 2007
Location: Wales
Posts: 1013
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 11:54am | IP Logged | 6 post reply

I'm getting a HUGE Bill Everett vibe from your sketch John.  It's superb.
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Gil Dowling
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Joined: 03 June 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 1087
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 12:34pm | IP Logged | 7 post reply

I really like this piece JB. I used it for some inspiration on something I was inking last night!
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Matt Hawes
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Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 16440
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 12:49pm | IP Logged | 8 post reply

Cool Namor!
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Gary Olson
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Joined: 11 September 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 382
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 7:58pm | IP Logged | 9 post reply

I was a huge fan of the Byrne Namor. JB managed to combine the regal and "larrikin" aspects of Namor's personality. Taking away the ankle wings was a good way to de-superheroise Namor, while making Namorita all the more unique, an elfin "pixie".

The scene in the elevator, in which Namor shares the conveyance with the befuddled office workers, was a classic.

Any chance of your handling Sub-Mariner again, Mr Byrne?

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Marc Baptiste
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Joined: 17 June 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3655
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 10:57pm | IP Logged | 10 post reply

I'd know JB's Namor even if he was bald and had his ears bobbed.
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Peter Martin
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Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15837
Posted: 08 October 2008 at 1:51am | IP Logged | 11 post reply

One of my last great memories of collecting comics on a monthly basis is of getting Namor by John Byrne. Wonderful characterisation, some nice plots and beautiful, beautiful art. JB transformed the use of duo-tone to an art form.

This commission shows how JB always nails the princely haughtiness of Namor (there's an almost contemptuous look in the eyes). What's amazing is that in JB's version you always stayed on the side of the snobbish SOB. He was somehow likeable despite -- or almost because of -- his foibles. I think it was down to those scenes where we see Namor humbled (such as the loss of his power to fly) and how he retains his dignity.   

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Ed Fahey
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Joined: 07 March 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 277
Posted: 08 October 2008 at 6:40am | IP Logged | 12 post reply

I still like the old version too...

 

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