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Topic: The thing about “The Thing” Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Andrew Cate
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Posted: 02 June 2019 at 2:49pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply

I was staring at a commission of Mr Grimm by Ron Wilson. Got me thinking...the Thing must be a chore to draw. And Ron more than just about anyone has to have drawn a billion rocks. JB...do you still find enjoyment in drawing the character? Is/was it as laborious as it looks?

Edited by Andrew Cate on 02 June 2019 at 3:36pm
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John Byrne
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Posted: 02 June 2019 at 3:17pm | IP Logged | 2 post reply

Drawing the Thing is kind of a Zen exercise. I don’t pay much attention to what my hand is doing. Just let it do its own, ah, thing...
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Andrew Cate
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Posted: 02 June 2019 at 3:35pm | IP Logged | 3 post reply

Did you ever consider drawing the Thing solo series? Was Ron the first choice as artist?
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John Byrne
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Posted: 02 June 2019 at 3:46pm | IP Logged | 4 post reply

Ron was already installed on MARVEL 2-in-1 when it became THE THING. I saw no reason to displace him.
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Shawn Kane
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 7:19am | IP Logged | 5 post reply

It seems that almost no one can draw the Thing at Marvel anymore. I was looking at a cover in the most recent previews the other day and just can't figure out if Marvel says to artists "Just draw him the way you want" or if they just can't.
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Andrew Cate
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 7:52am | IP Logged | 6 post reply

I thought Bagley did a great job with his run with Fraction. Also...it's a really good run, back to having fun adventures. 




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John Byrne
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 7:53am | IP Logged | 7 post reply

There's certainly no real sense of anyone trying to stay "on model". I recall the first time I drew the All-New, All-Different X-Men, in IRON FIST, and Dave Cockrum redrew much of what I did--not so much because they didn't look like the characters, but because they didn't look like he'd drawn them. Harkens back to those Superman faces being redrawn in Kirby's New Gods books. And the funny story (I think) of John Romita redrawing Captain America faces in the first few pages of an issue in which someone was impersonating Cap!

Hard to imaging any of those things happening nowadays!

It took Jack Kirby a few years to evolve the Thing's look to what came to be standard. He changed a lot, but once that particular form resolved, it stayed. Now, it seems, as Shawn says, as if everyone is encouraged to draw whatever they like.

Kirby's changing Thing:

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Andrew Cate
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 8:15am | IP Logged | 8 post reply

Seeing all the Kirby images side by side you can really see that he was a tragic figure tortured by his deformity. Not always the fun loving Mr Grimm. Wait.....Grimm....Grim....tortured soul? Was that intentional..first time I made the connection, what a dolt I am. 
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Darren Taylor
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 8:45am | IP Logged | 9 post reply

The third last Thing in the example John posted is a lesson in the use of thick and thin lines. 

Picking out where the lines are slightly thicker on the left (as we look) of Ben's face really help sell what must be one of the harder angles on the Things face. 

Masterful.
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Andrew Cate
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 8:56am | IP Logged | 10 post reply

Does he still smoke cigars...or is he on the patch? 
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John Byrne
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 8:57am | IP Logged | 11 post reply

One of the crazy things about Ben's evolution is that I was there at the time, having started reading with FF5, and I didn't notice it! Mostly I was aware of changing inkers, but I have no memory of being consciously aware of the "hide" changing from issue to issue.
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Andrew Cate
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Posted: 03 June 2019 at 9:07am | IP Logged | 12 post reply

Much more subtle than the evolution of Iceman.

#1



#10



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