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I've just learned that Peerless PAUL RYAN, artist of The FANTASTIC FOUR and countless other comics, passed away on Sunday at the age of 66. I was mainly aware of his work from the FF, and I consider his five-year run on the title to be right up there (art-wise) with JOHN BYRNE's - and he (Paul) drew the sexiest SUSAN STORM ever, bar none.
Another light gone out, alas, but we shall remember him.
Sorry to hear that. Having said that, Sue's costume......much like Supergirl's red crotch costume, the eyes get lead to a certain area not suitable for the kiddies. Though I'm sure teenagers loved it.
ReplyDeleteI'm in two minds about that, Phil. I'm not sure that kids see things in quite the same way as teenagers and adults, and I don't think many kids were reading the comic by then anyway. Also, they see skimpier costumes like that on the beach all the time in summer, so it probably doesn't seem as shocking to them as it does to us. (There's a wee voice inside me saying that you're right, 'though.)
ReplyDeleteIf the FF fought their foes on the beach all the time, it might not be such a problem....but frankly, that costume was ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteYou're not thinking it through, BS - this costume was essential for when she was fighting The Sandman. (Ludicrous yes, but sexy as hell!)
ReplyDeleteThose FF issues came out during my very long period away from comics (1983-2007) so I'd never heard of Paul Ryan till now but I saw that top FF cover on the Bronze Age Babies blog last year and the general consensus was that Sue's costume was appalling - I must admit it looks a long way from the demure '60s housewife version of Sue :D
ReplyDeleteGasp! You visit other blogs, CJ? You fickle blogger you! You're cheating on me! (Shock! Horror!) I wouldn't say it was appalling looks-wise (it's incredibly sexy to my eyes), but it IS wholly impractical for crime-fighting. It wouldn't be the only one 'though. Zatanna anyone?
ReplyDeleteSad news to hear of anyone passing away at an age which, these days, isn't considered old. I seem to remember not being particularly impressed with Paul Ryan on Iron Man at the time it was published (early-mid 90s), but I re-read his run in a Marvel Epic Collection last year and was thought it was really good. Considering that there was a trend at the time for artists who drew huge, flashy, exaggerated, anatomically improbable and difficult to follow stories, Paul Ryan's clear storytelling and good draughtsmanship kind-of passed me by at the time, ignorant teenager that I was. Looking back at that Iron Man run now though (and his stint on one of my favourite all-time comics - Quasar), he probably didn't get the credit he deserved.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, just off the top of me head, Paul Ryan drew quite a lot of Fantastic Four issues- is it possible he's second to Jack Kirby in terms of how many issues he done? I'm not at home right now, but will check when I get in!
Yeah, DD, he was a good, clear, storyteller. I know Paul Ryan was on the FF for about 5 years - as was John Byrne - so it's a toss-up between them as to which of them was second to Kirby in the numbers department.
ReplyDeleteJust checked the stats: Paul Ryan drew 59 issues of the Fantastic Four and was, according to my calculations, the fourth most prolific FF artist after Jack Kirby (109 issues including annuals and specials), John Byrne (76) and John Buscema (66). Still an impressive run though.
ReplyDeleteThe other names that I thought of as prolific FF pencillers, incidentally, were: Rich Buckler (32 issues), Keith Pollard (30) and George Perez (18- a little surprised at that, I expected it to be higher). There may well have been long-running FF artists in recent years too, but my comics knowledge starts to peter out round about 1998 so I could have missed someone...
There's something that needs to be taken into account 'though, DD, and that's how many issues were drawn by each artist in a sequential, unbroken run. So John Byrne drew around 62 (not counting Annuals) from #232 to #293, and John Buscema's 66 were interrupted by other artists over the years. (For instance, Buscema resumed artistic duties for a while after Byrne left.) So, under those circumstances, it would be (I think) Kirby, Byrne, Ryan and Buscema. If you just count the overall number of issues by each artist 'though, then it would be as you say.
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