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Ben Herman
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 7:16pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply

Comic book artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez celebrated his 72nd birthday last week. I definitely have to credit John Byrne with playing a large part in my interest in JLGL's work.

Back in the early 1990s in the lettercol for Next Men, someone wrote in asking something along the lines of "Who is your favorite artist?"  Byrne's answer was Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.  I think my immediate reaction was "Who?!?" Seriously, I had never heard of him before. (In my defense, I was basically a Marvel Zombie the first few years I read comic books, and JLGL worked almost exclusively for DC.)

In any case, the name stuck in my head, and going forward every time I saw work by JLGL, either in new comic books or back issues, it immediately leaped out at me.  I very quickly became a fan.

For many comic book readers, it is JLGL's work on Batman or Superman over the years that is their favorite. For myself, I absolutely love his depictions of Wonder Woman. JLGL never had an extended run drawing Princess Diana, but the various of covers and stories that he's done are all beautiful. I really enjoyed the handful of covers he drew for Wonder Woman when Byrne was on that book, and he cover to Wonder Woman vol 2 #118 is one of my favorite pieces by him. 

Anyone else here a fan of Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez?

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Gundars Berzins
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 7:25pm | IP Logged | 2 post reply

I've been a huge fan since the 70's.
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Greg McPhee
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 7:28pm | IP Logged | 3 post reply

Yes.

First became familiar with JLGL's wrk when he took over from George Perez on The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 in 1985.

From there tracked down his 12 issue run on Atari Force with Gerry Conway. Conway is probably the writer he has collaborated the most with. Having worked on Atari Force, Batman, Cinder and Ashe (which is a great series), DC Comics Presents, Hercules Unbound, Superman and Tarzan together.

I've often wish he'd taken a longer run on Superman as his style was perfect for the characters.

If you can, track down his work on Superman Vol. 1 #'s 301 - 302, 307 - 309, 347 and 351 and DC Comics Presents # 's 1 - 4, 17, 20, 24, 31 and 41.

Also try for Atari Force and Cinder & Ashe and a great Batman story involving the Joker he did with Conway in Batman # 353.


Edited by Greg McPhee on 02 April 2020 at 7:28pm
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John Byrne
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 7:34pm | IP Logged | 4 post reply

Astonishing artist. Nothing he cannot draw. The best of the best.
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Charles Valderrama
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 7:51pm | IP Logged | 5 post reply

Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez is a MASTER of illustration!!! Sadly overlooked because DC limited his comic book work in favor of using him mainly in their licensing dept (not a bad thing) and his DC Comics Style Guide is amazing stuff to study... in my opinion, it's a shame we didn't see more of his storytelling skills.... the man can draw ANYTHING....





-C!

P.S. - His DEADMAN series is my favorite of his work.
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Robert Bradley
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 9:20pm | IP Logged | 6 post reply

I think he's seriously under-appreciated.

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Adam Schulman
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 9:58pm | IP Logged | 7 post reply

It took me too long to appreciate JLGL's art because of how decidedly not "flashy" it is. To my teenage eyes he wasn't an "oh my god, how does he do it?" artist like Perez or Simonson or Art Adams. (It took me a while to realize that Adams wasn't an especially great storyteller.)

By my late teens I realized how brilliant JLGL is and I wish he had drawn more comics. And not exclusively for DC. He drew a few JLA stories. I think he would've been just as "proper" for the Avengers. Certainly for Captain America. 


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Matt Hawes
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Posted: 02 April 2020 at 11:04pm | IP Logged | 8 post reply

One of the greats! LOVE that Batman/Hulk team-up!
His Superman/Wonder Woman Treasury comics was also
fantastic!
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Darren Taylor
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Posted: 03 April 2020 at 2:53am | IP Logged | 9 post reply

I am also an admirer. In a round-a-bout way it was actually his work that lead me to JB's!

[Edited to add] So doubly grateful.





Edited by Darren Taylor on 03 April 2020 at 2:55am
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Greg McPhee
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Posted: 03 April 2020 at 4:57am | IP Logged | 10 post reply

JLGL did a 3 part mini series with Howard Chaykin in 1990 called "Twilight" that focused on the 50s / 60s DC space heroes. As well as having a great story, the art is gorgeous.

Well worth checking out.
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Doug Centers
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Posted: 03 April 2020 at 5:14am | IP Logged | 11 post reply

Almost a Pavlov reaction whenever I see his work!

Hercules was the first I seen of his work, wasn't looking at artists names as of yet but I knew what I liked.
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Trevor Smith
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Posted: 03 April 2020 at 8:10am | IP Logged | 12 post reply

I was a fan before I knew who he was! As a big DC fan
as kid I was exposed to a lot of his work on covers and
whatnot, and started to recognize his work by sight,
before I actually knew his name. Then I saw the
Superman/Wonder Woman Treasury on a local spinner. How
anyone could not be a fan for life after seeing that, I
have no idea.
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