Author |
|
John Byrne
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.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Aric Shapiro Byrne Robotics Member
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
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
|
John Byrne
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.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Trevor Smith Byrne Robotics Member
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!
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
|
Michael Edwards Byrne Robotics Member
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
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Jamie Grey Byrne Robotics Member
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.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Gil Dowling Byrne Robotics Member
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!
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Matt Hawes Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 16440
|
Posted: 07 October 2008 at 12:49pm | IP Logged | 8
|
post reply
|
|
Cool Namor!
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
| www
|
|
Gary Olson Byrne Robotics Member
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?
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
|
Marc Baptiste Byrne Robotics Member
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.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Peter Martin Byrne Robotics Member
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.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Ed Fahey Byrne Robotics Member
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...
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|