Crime of the Century
Archie Comics is dropping their trademark Dan DeCarlo art style for this pseudo-realistic crap. Not that it’s terrible art, but it’s completely unexceptional and generic. The original Archie style was instantly recognizable. What the hell is this supposed to be?
I’m sure they want to modernize their books hoping to gain new readers. But they would be better served by drawing the characters Anime style than this stuff.
Testing my first comment on your new message board . . .
Anyway, I always liked the Dan DeCarlo style, so I hope this is only temporary. It’s like changing Peanuts to look like SIMPSONS characters or something. I can’t recognize Archie characters like this. I guess they want something more hard-edged for the angsty teen crowd?
I’m afraid you’re right in that drawing them in the manga style may indeed draw an audience better than this. Though my issue with the use of the manga style is that it’s not the end-all-and-be-all of comic art. Eventually, it will be looked down at as a fad, which is already as disheartening as it is. Plus, not all Japanese draw like the crap I see now. I’d probably get plenty of criticism from American “anime/manga” fans if I even drew like Jirou Kuwata (my favorite manga artist), Shoutarou Ishinomori, Gou Nagai, Osamu Tezuka or even Tatsuo Yoshida. Much less American artists like Bruce Timm or Stephen Silver (other major influences) . . .
But any way you look at it, it’s rather degrading. I hope it doesn’t last too long.
Posted by John Cassidy on 12/19 at 01:42 AMI don’t think manga is the answer, either and I have always been a big manga supporter. I think DeCarlo’s style was great. A classic and I hate to see it go.
What they need is a good house style. Not something generic like this.
Posted by on 12/19 at 01:48 AMEgads!
Yet another comic publishing house sets itself up to commit hari kiri because the editors DON’T understand the readership and the market…
And I thought Identity Crisis and Civil War were by far the worst ideas in the past few years?
This looks to be more of the same… Big events drawn by clueless editors that just can’t leave the stuff that was working alone.
The problem’s not usually the art, guys. It’s generally the stories and directions you’re taking the characters in.
Needless to say, in spite of NOT being an Archie Comics reader, I prefer the old DeCarlo style, too.
This is way too generic.
Welcome to the 21st Century of OVERTHINKING ideas, guys!
Posted by on 12/19 at 05:48 AMLet me guess...one of the stories will be about Betty and Veronica going clubbing without any panties and being photographed.
Posted by James Hudnall on 12/19 at 09:57 AMGood god, they look downright anorexic!
And doesn’t Betty look an awful lot like the cheerleader on Heroes, except skinnier?
Posted by joy on 12/19 at 09:59 AMHud,
If that were the case, I’m surprised they didn’t include an “Explicit Content: Mature Readers” label! But hey, they’d rather *shock* younger readers just like that not-so-friendly FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN eye-gouging comic . . .
Posted by John Cassidy on 12/19 at 11:35 AMWill this effect the Sonic The Hedgehog comics?
Posted by Urvy on 01/27 at 10:27 PMNope. It was apparently a limited series
Posted by James Hudnall on 01/27 at 10:40 PM
Next entry: I Sure Hope So
Previous entry: I've Been Saying this for Years
