Posts Tagged esad ribic
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 9/14/11
Uncanny X-Force #15 by Esad Ribic
Another amazing cover from Ribic. When this whole Uncanny X-Force series wraps-up, they need to produce a collection of Esad’s covers because I would definitely buy one in a heart-beat, and place it next to my James Jean cover series. The explosive warm colors in the foreground and the wickedly cooler ones in the background combine with such a feeling of unity, that you feel that the action happening before you is actually quite a peaceful scene. The cherry on top is Fantomex being flung through the air, as he still is opens fire on his target.
Batwoman #1 by J.H. Williams III
We’re finally graced with long-awaited Batwoman artwork by J.H. Williams III, and it’s everything I’ve wanted and then some! Everything from the flowing red hair to the flowing red cape makes me giddy with excitement, and the feeling of nostalgia I got from Elegy comes rushing back to me. Add the creepy imagery of skeleton fish and toothy grins, and I will gladly follow Williams III to the ends of the earth if he let me. It’s been too long, my friends; it’s wonderful to have Batwoman back as a series.
Moon Girl #4 by The Rahzzah
Not going to lie, I’m not familiar with either the series or the artist. However, upon seeing this cover I was instantly intrigued. First of all, I’m smitten with the splattering design and the chaos it brings to the cover. Secondly, the brash font of the title fits so perfectly with the image itself. Add a dash of the color red in there, and it’s like looking at the cover of Schindler’s List. Okay, it’s nothing like that, but it is a damn sexy cover, that’s for sure! I can see this as a poster, hanging on a wall at the local punk rock venue. I would love to see the artist’s process in creating such a beautiful thing. The Rahzzah, you have definitely caught my attention!
Daredevil #3 by Paolo Rivera
It’s only fitting to portray Daredevil getting a splitting headache from Klaw. After all, it’s a lethal combination introducing the man who relies on sound with the being that is made-up of pure sound. Obviously there will be some friction of large magnitudes! The vibrant colors and jagged lines really sell the cover to me, and it’s a constant reminder of the kick-ass work Rivera has been doing these past three issues. I especially love the small squiggly lines that Daredevil relies on to form targets being used to make-up Daredevil himself. Very clever, and very extraordinary!
Deathstroke #1 by Simon Bisley
This cover encapsulates the newly rebooted Deathstroke perfectly. He’s intense, he’s terrifying, and he’s completely fuckin’ metal. He’s so metal on this cover, he makes Dethklok shit their pants. Simon Bisley is an expert at this style and look, and he’s capable of anything it seems as long as he has acrylics handy. It’s no surprise his work has been seen on music album covers (Danzig), and other twisted comic book properties. Just the way Slade is slaughtering his victims with a gigantic claymore in one hand and a vicious looking dagger in the other, has me dropping $3 no problem. I want to see more of this kind of action on the inside, and if DC were really looking to milk me dry, they’ll put Bisley on interiors ASAP!
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 8/31/11
Justice League #1 by Jim Lee & Scott Williams
Despite what your feelings are on the new relaunch, you have to admit that is one iconic cover. When Jim Lee takes his time on a piece, it really shows. Every character looks great, it doesn’t feel rushed, and everything is easy on the eyes. There is nothing ‘cringe-worthy’ on this cover in my opinion, and yes I’m taking their matching collars into account. This cover had one job to do; make me excited for a new Justice League ongoing. Congrats Mr. Lee, it worked.
Chronicles of Wormwood: The Last Battle #6 by Oscar Jimenez
“I have had it with these motherfuckin’ snakes in this motherfuckin’ priest!“
Uncanny X-Force #14 by Esad Ribic
The only character I recognize on this cover is Dark Beast. The rest? Haven’t a clue. It doesn’t matter to me one way or another though, because this is truly a beautiful cover. Ribic’s painted style just kicks you right in the balls, and you thank him and ask for more. The amount of time he spends on these covers really shows in every nook and cranny, filling you with a warm glow and a sly smile as you gaze upon its glory. Definitely poster-worthy material, and another job well-done by Ribic with these great Uncanny X-Force covers.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 5/4/11
Fear Itself: Spider-Man #1 by Marko Djurdjevic
The classic blue and red outfit of Spidey is the first thing that really pops-out at you the viewer. And with the muddled background colors, it really makes the purple of the banner standout as well, which is something I try not to focus on usually but in this case it’s hard not to. I really enjoy the mash-up of images between the spider webs, with the combination of different people in some and blood-splatter in the others. And as usual, Spider-Man is stuck in the middle of it all. To help sell the looming doom even further is the display of his shadow; long and prominent. Very good design throughout this cover.
House of Mystery #37 by Esao Andrews
If you liked it then you should have put a city on it. That is one hell of a ring, am I right? I’m a fan of bright, neon colors in a sea of grey and boring, and this cover definitely delivers. The same colors of nail polish match the wristbands, and that’s no easy feat for a girl nowadays. I love how the city looks so natural perched upon her fingers, as if it’s been that way for centuries. I’m not sure if Andrews used pastels or paints (or both), but this is a very beautiful cover.
Sweet Tooth #21 by Jeff Lemire
In the animal kingdom, the colors red, yellow, and black usually symbolize ‘danger!’ or ‘toxic!’, so to have all three featured in this cover conveys to us that Gus is definitely in some deep doo-doo (as if being displayed in the jaws of a rabid bear wasn’t your first clue). Lemire’s sometimes radical style really makes the insane bear look terrifying, and the color scheme is an added bonus. This is my selection for I-Want-It-As-A-Poster for the week. I don’t think I could handle being in Gus’ position; it would be un-bear-able.
Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder #4 by Mike Mignola
Simple, yet effective; that’s Mignola’s cover art in a nutshell. All we get is some well-placed undead townsfolk sprinkled with symbols of a dead dark language, and that’s all we need really. How can something be so incredibly detailed, yet so simple at the same time?! I’d like to get Mike Mignola and Chris Ware on a panel together, and ask them both this question.
Uncanny X-Force #9 by Esad Ribic
Run Wolverine! Magneto is a giant! Okay not really, but that what it may look like upon first glance. Esad Ribic proves once again how to create a gorgeous cover, and how you don’t need the entire team to make a statement; just two characters will suffice. And knowing both Logan & Magneto’s history, some sparks could fly. I especially love the electricity sparking from Magneto’s eye, looking almost like an electric tear. Maybe that’s why Wolverine is running away; because he doesn’t like the taste of electric tears.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 1/26/11
Uncanny X-Force #4 by Esad Ribic
So I have just been loving these Esad Ribic covers for the past few issues. The man is a genius with the paint brush, and this cover proves it with all this action going on. I especially love how the lights fit beautifully with the darks, highlighting the good, the bad, and the extremely evil. Doesn’t hurt that it’s such a fantastic series too. Esad Ribic needs to do EVERY Marvel cover as far as I’m concerned, because he’s just that good.
The New York Five #1 by Ryan Kelly & Brian Wood
While Ryan Kelly did do covers and illustrations for Wood’s The New York Four series at MINX, it’s nice to see him doing what he does best; creating spectacular images like this one for comics. The mellow yellow highlighted by the dark red / black blend does a magnificent job leading the eye, and the style allows us to see every detail. Add the skyline of New York City in the background, and you’ve got yourself a real winner on your hands. If I worked at Vertigo, I’d recommend to my bosses that this be turned into a poster. I could easily see this hanging-up on my wall.
Detective Comics #873 by Jock
This is a perfect example of why Jock is such a master of his craft. First of all, he draws a damn good Batman; it’s not your Adam West Batman, or your typical Jim Lee looking dark knight. No no no, Jock gives you the gritty goddamn Batman that kicks ass and takes names. And besides the wonderful simplicity of this cover, I especially like the movement we see. When you take a photo of moving lights at night, you get the cool effect of zig-zagging lights. Jock has captured that perfectly, and even added a lens flare for good measure.
Avengers #9 by John Romita Jr.
John Romita Jr. makes me smile every time I see his art work. It’s not a conventional style, and that’s what I enjoy the most about it. It’s simply quirky and unique in it’s own way, and yet it still works in hooking different audiences. This cover immediately catches your attention with all the pretty colors from the dreaded Infinity Gauntlet, and usually if someone in particular is wearing it, there’s a good reason to have the same expression on your face as our heroes do on this cover. Chaotically divine!
Fables #101 by Joao Ruas
Like many of you, I was upset when I heard James Jean was no longer going to be doing covers for Fables. Who could possibly hold a candle to him? Then comes along Joao Ruas and I find myself asking, “James Jean who?” This cover in particular is very breathtaking to look at, and it’s not just because this is my first time tripping on acid and reading comics. The style is so soft that I’m afraid I’m going to break it just by looking at it! And the colors do a wonderful job blending together in certain areas. You don’t have to be a fan of comics to look at this cover and know beauty when it’s right in front of you. It’s covers like this one that have me thankful for Joao Ruas spending some of his time entertaining us mere mortals.
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Book Of The Month – Sub-Mariner: The Depths
Posted by Cammy in Book Of The Month on July 3, 2009
From Marvel Knights, the Book Of The Month for July is Sub-Mariner: The Depths written by Peter Milligan and art by Esad Ribic. This title is a must-have for any fans of Namor or eerie horror movies, because you get the perfect combination of both in this underwater thriller!
Stay tuned at the end for the contest!
Sub-Mariner: The Depths
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Esad Ribic
When I was younger, I used to love going to the beach with friends. Bring a beach ball, go body surfing, run along the sand, you name it. I got caught in a riptide once and taken out to sea, but it wasn’t long until lifeguards came out to rescue me. While I was drifting amongst the waves, I remember feeling afraid because I was out of my element. If something larger than me was nearby and hungry, I would turn into lunch rather quickly. Thankfully that wasn’t the case and I was rescued soon after.
It wasn’t until years later of traumatizing movies (Jaws) and television shows (Shark Week) that I came to the conclusion, “You know what? Fuck the ocean.”
With Sub-Mariner: The Depths from Milligan and Ribic, it drags me back out to the ocean like a riptide, and creeps me out the entire time just like a good horror movie would.
I think one of the main things I like about this mini-series is that Namor is and isn’t the main character; he’s the fabled being protecting the lost city of Atlantis, and yet we barely see him throughout. We focus more on the protagonist Dr. Rudolph Stein, famous debunker of myths and tale tales. This guy has proven with science that the Yeti isn’t real, an when approached by fellow scientists to go in search of Atlantis, Dr. Stein sees this as another notch on his belt of accomplishments and jumps at the opportunity.
But he’s not just descending 33,000 feet in a submarine to see if Atlantis is real or not, he’s also in search of Captain Marlowe, the man who has claimed to have discovered the fabled lost city.
On their way to the Marianas Trench, the crew tells Dr. Stein of Atlantis’ protector, Namor, and how they’re in his underwater realm now, and he’s so terrible that he was responsible for the sinking of the Titanic. Dr. Stein laughs all this off, for he is a man of science and doesn’t believe in all this nonsense.
However, just before reaching the outpost, Dr. Stein has a dream of a Namor-like being haunting him. The crew informs him that when Namor appears in your dreams, he has something special planned for you. Because of this, Dr. Stein goes a little loopy trying to make sense of it all.
When they finally arrive down at the Marianas Trench outpost, Dr. Stein and the crew discover a grizzly scene involving the remains of the men who lived there. Someone or something brutally murder the crew, leaving the place looking like a slaughterhouse rather than a research facility. The only evidence of what took place there was recorded on a single camera, confiscated and observed only by Dr. Stein.
All he sees of the monster is a winged foot.
Not wanting to stick around and see what did this, Dr. Stein and the crew continue further down into the blackness in search of Captain Marlowe and Atlantis. What they find is Captain Marlowe’s submarine, and more dead crewmen. The only survivor of the massacre is Captain Marlowe himself with proof that Atlantis exists.
Sure enough after viewing the film, Dr. Stein realizes that Marlowe has indeed discovered Atlantis, making everything he has worked so hard to prove false a possibility, and Dr. Stein can’t have that.
While Dr. Stein tries burning the evidence, he is discovered by Marlowe and the two fight. In the middle of their struggle, we finally see Namor in all his glory.
Within a blink of an eye, Marlowe is torn to shreds by Namor, and disappears as quickly as he appeared. Trying to confess to the crew that he himself killed Marlowe, Dr. Stein isn’t believed for a second. The crew knows who killed him, and demand to see Marlowe’s film.
Dr. Stein comes to the conclusion that now the film must be destroyed by any means necessary, even if it means killing the entire crew and himself.
So while in his moment of madness, he knocks-0ut the captain and pilots the submarine into a sea devil, tearing apart the vessel and any evidence as he escapes in a pod.
While it looks like he’ll die from lack of oxygen before reaching the surface, it appears that Namor does in fact still have plans for Dr. Stein as he makes sure he returns to the surface alive and in one piece.
Dr. Stein tells his fellow scientists that the fact he survived was no miracle, but simply being trapped in a pocket of air from the ocean floor. He then makes the definitive statement that Atlantis does not exist, and that Captain Marlowe and his crew died when they drove into that sea devil.
Only Dr. Stein knows the truth, and will take it to the grave with him. The world does not need to know that Atlantis does exist, and beings like Namor are more fact than fiction.
Peter Milligan really took me by surprise with this series, because I was so used to his stuff on X-Force with Allred. The story he tells truly is terrifying, because underwater was not meant for man, only fish. He introduces Namor only in the shadows, stalking his prey like a master predator before finally revealing himself for the killing blow.
Esad Ribic’s art just blew me away page after page! He really did an amazing job setting the dark, creepy tone of the book with the bright characters surrounded by darkness. To only see Namor in shadow rather than in focus is a lot more terrifying, because you don’t know exactly what you’re looking at while it observes you from a distance.
In closing, this book is easily accessible to anyone. It doesn’t take place in the 616 Universe, so new and old readers can enjoy a classic Namor story without having continuity get in the way. It’s what makes it so timeless, and an instant classic. If you like horror, if you like comic books, this is the perfect underwater thriller for any library.
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