Does anybody care for Paul Azaceta's work?

[mispeled]

I've been a spidey fan since I was a kid (which was during Larsen on Spider-man, Bagley on Amazing, and Sal Buscema on Spectacular). So those are the artists I loved when I was a kid (though Buscema was my least favorite out of those). It's hard to get past the things you liked as a kid. There have been some recent artists that I've enjoyed, but I don't understand why people like Paul Azaceta.

I'm not trying to be inflammatory. I'm not saying the guy straight out sucks or anything, but I don't understand why everyone likes him so much. I feel like his art lacks any real detail and always looks so dirty and barely finished, like the inker has to over-ink it to try to make his drawings more interesting. There have been a few stories recently (612-614, 623-624) that I didn't enjoy as much as I wanted to (the writing was solid) because of his art.

So, will someone explain it to me? Why do people like him so much? Is it just that his style is something different? Or is it something else?

[CyberHubbs]

Fine storyteller, expressive characters. Doesn't seem to recycle poses like a lot of top talent does. Great architecture, gritty cityscape. I can look past his fat Spidey.

Put it this way, I don't care for Bagley. Everyone else seems to. He's cookie-cutter to me. All of his characters have the same general face and expressions with minor little differences to tell them apart. Is a character shocked? Then wide-eyed, mouth slightly gaping, and capture it all in a shot from the side. Every. Time.

[mispeled]

I understand that. It's more a problem I have with Paul's linework (is that a word?) than his poses, which are decent. There were some great poses in the gauntlet electro arc.

[Obi]

I think it is because it is very unique. Most artists try to do something that looks realistic. He does something that looks unique.

Personally I have thought all the artwork on the title was refreshing.

[CyberHubbs]

I'm also not sure if Paul is as popular as the OP is making him out to be.

[PabloD]

Fine storyteller, expressive characters. Doesn't seem to recycle poses like a lot of top talent does. Great architecture, gritty cityscape. I can look past his fat Spidey.

Same here, pretty much.

[EuphemismForSex]

I'm also not sure if Paul is as popular as the OP is making him out to be.

I don't think so either.

He's alright, but his fat Spidey is... Well, fat.

[Obi]

I don't think so either.

He's alright, but his fat Spidey is... Well, fat.

I'm taking this as, "Man that shit is fat." A little dated, but a good thing none the less.

[Karl O'Neill]

Even if he were overrated or underrated wouldn't this still fall under the heading of "I personally don't like his style"?

I like his art though. It's a bit gritty but sure it's different than the usual spiderman fare.

[CyberHubbs]

Same here, pretty much.

Yeah. He's not my favorite, but I appreciate that Wacker is thinking outside the box. There's really been one or two styles that have dominated comics since the 80s and 90s, that sort of 'extreme Jim Lee' stuff that everyone has tried to mimic since then. Which is fine, but it gets repetitive and kinda boring.

[paulski]

Paul Azaceta...I don't get it.

Don't worry, man. You're not alone there.

In fact, it was the fact minimalist artists like him (Canele, Chechetto, Pulido, Martin, et al) had been doing so many issues of the book in 2009 that I ended up dropping it. I know some posters like him (and the others) but I wasn't a fan.

[CyberHubbs]

I don't know if Chechetto can fall into that category.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/CyberHubbs/asm609_int_0002.jpg

He's got a pretty mainstream style.

[paulski]

No, point taken on that one.

I kinda just lumped him in with the others because I wasn't a particular fan of his work. From that panel, though, it looks to have improved a tad since American Son.

[CyberHubbs]

No, point taken on that one.

I kinda just lumped him in with the others because I wasn't a particular fan of his work. From that panel, though, it looks to have improved a tad since American Son.

That's because he's drawing Kaine. :wink: Seriously, I feel like the guy was born to draw him.

[Will.S]

Paul is really rock solid, wouldn't be my first choice for a Spider-Man artist but he's not bad either. His Spider-Man seems suited for a 80's style Web of Spider-Man book or a specific arc that brings out his talents although I can't say that I liked the Electro redesign all that much.

I think editors tend to pigeonhole him into the usual gritty street crime stuff which is why he keeps getting assignments in stuff like Punisher Noir and Potter's Field so it's understandable that he would want to branch out and show his stuff in different genres. I met him twice during last few NYCC's, he's an awesome and really personable guy. I particularly loved his work on Peter David's Captain Marvel.

[another_version]

Don't worry, man. You're not alone there.

In fact, it was the fact minimalist artists like him (Canele, Chechetto, Pulido, Martin, et al) had been doing so many issues of the book in 2009 that I ended up dropping it. I know some posters like him (and the others) but I wasn't a fan.

See, I feel the exact opposite.

It was actually the art that got me to pick up ASM, and what is keeping me on the book.

I love minimalist comic book artists; Cooke, the ones you noted, Sale.

[PabloD]

Paul is really rock solid, wouldn't be my first choice for a Spider-Man artist but he's not bad either. His Spider-Man seems suited for a 80's style Web of Spider-Man book or a specific arc that brings out his talents although I can't say that I liked the Electro redesign all that much.

I actually thought the concept for the Electro redesign was pretty solid. That starfish mask is never not going to look silly, but in spite of that (or actually, probably because of that) it's iconography that's pretty well embedded into the character's look, and strongly associated with him. Removing the mask but burning a scar into his face that's shaped like it seems like a compromise to me, and flows pretty organically from the idea that Electro is steadily losing control of his powers and that's causing them to hurt his body.

[Will.S]

Which are valid reasons too, but I typically like the flared starfish.

I actually thought the Marvel Knights/Ultimate Alliance 2 costumes had better execution because the starfish is retracted when he's not using his powers but it still looks cool. Then when he goes all out it flares up.

[paulski]

See, I feel the exact opposite.

It was actually the art that got me to pick up ASM, and what is keeping me on the book.

I love minimalist comic book artists; Cooke, the ones you noted, Sale.

...which is cool. I'd be worried if everyone had the same tastes as me. :wink:

[whiteshark]

I think Paul Azaceta is a good choice to illustrate Spider-Man stories,the panels of the stories illustrated by him show a good talent in storytelling.
Plus the stories of Spider-Man are most of the times set in urban themes,which is why his gritty and noir art style is great to see in Spidey stories.
And his Spider-Man scenes have that quality that older good Spider-Man stories used to have.As while Sal Buscema was illustrating Spectacular Spider-Man.

[Mister Mets]

I'm also not sure if Paul is as popular as the OP is making him out to be.

Yeah. The reception to his work has been a bit mixed.

[Gorgeousaur]

Yeah. The reception to his work has been a bit mixed.

People tend to focus on the stuff they don't agree with. Especially if they're used to having a "Me vs. Them" mentality, which I'm not saying the OP definitely does have, I'm just tossing it out as a possible explanation.

[dingbat46]

I've seen some of his stuff on his blog, which I dug... but I really hate his work for ASM. Like, really hate it. I find it kills the story because it looks so bad. It's too blocky and square. It looks like it was done on MS Paint.

This is only my opinion, and I'm sure that some people love him, which of course is totally cool. I was surprised when I saw his work being used for the first part of the Gauntlet... and was even more surprised when I saw his art return in further stories. I'd be interested in knowing the reception his work got for those issues.

I don't really "get" art, so I hope I'm not slammed for saying this... but it seems like it's purposely bad. There's a panel in the Gauntlet issue (the Vulture chapter), where he's flying off with a girl wearing a bikini. What the fuck was that? I can understand that it can be appreciated in maybe an independent, kind way, and can only assume that Marvel is trying to reach out to a broader audience with their vast array of artists. Another guy's (or girl's) art I don't like is JM Ken Nimura. Once again, I'm sure it works in an anime story or something along those lines... I just don't think it fits for Spidey.

Lastly, though, before someone loses it... this is my opinion and I accept/appreciate if someone does like these peoples' work.

[EuphemismForSex]

Didn't he draw that infamous Ugly Carlie picture? If so, yeah...

[Samut]

I liked him a lot in the Electro arc (when Electro rallies the mob against Dexter and cripples him. So long Dexter, we sure wont miss you!)

I think he's doing the 'Graveyard of Empires', U.S. Marines fighting against zombie Taliban... riiiggghhht. I wouldn't mind if he came back to do ASM for a issue or two, I think he did better in the Electro Arc because the atmosphere was dark and he didn't really have to draw women :tongue:

[capuga]

He's my least favorite in a long line of artists I don't particularly care for that have been doing the title for the past few years. Azaceta, Ramos, Martin, Rios, Camunculli (sp?)...Not into any of their styles. Caselli is really the only regular artist that I like to look at. Which is a shame since this is one of my all time favorite titles and I think Slott is doing some great writing. I just wish I could enjoy the art more for the last few years.

[Kevin Nichols]

I like Paul Azaceta's work. It was a bit off-putting at first, but upon rereadings, it grew on me. I wouldn't put the guy in my favorites list, nor would I want him to be the regular artist on ASM, but I've enjoyed the stories he's done. I would be happy to see him come back for another arc.

[Minerboh]

I can't believe that Azaceta's atrocious drawings are consindered to be artwork even in a remote way of speach!
MJ looked like she got a bath in oil and then went for solarium and Spider Man's looked like he ate a ton of burritos!
If he wasn't for him, i believe that Origin Of Species would be a better story!

[CyberHubbs]

I prefer his work on Potter' Field. If Mark Waid supports his style, then that is good enough for me.

[Mister Mets]

I like it, but I can see why some think that his work is off-putting.

He's a fantastic storyteller, but his style is unconventional.

[oldschool]

I wasn't a fan of either Azateca or Canete (who only did that one Deadpool guest issue of ASM back in 2009) but I have to give Wacker credit where it is due: he has made some pretty bold choices for art on ASM since he took over the title with BND. Some of the seemingly unconventional artists (Rivera, Checchetto, Ramos) have been a hit, others seem born to draw Spidey (Martin, Casselli) and others (the aforementioned) may have been a bit too off-kilter for most of the fan base but I give him credit all the same.

I guess what I am saying is that ASM has been anything but cookie-cutter since BND.

[Minerboh]

I prefer his work on Potter' Field. If Mark Waid supports his style, then that is good enough for me.
That doesn't mean that we have to accept everything he's proposing. I respect his and your opinion but i could hardly call fat Spider Man as an artistic take!
I would prefer the artist that drew Secret Invasion for Origin Of Species. He's by far, a better artist than Azaceta!

[Memphis Raines]

He's my least favorite in a long line of artists I don't particularly care for that have been doing the title for the past few years. Azaceta, Ramos, Martin, Rios, Camunculli (sp?)...Not into any of their styles. Caselli is really the only regular artist that I like to look at. Which is a shame since this is one of my all time favorite titles and I think Slott is doing some great writing. I just wish I could enjoy the art more for the last few years.

I agree 100%. I thought I was the only one who felt this way. And it's especially bad since Caselli is my favorite of the bunch but seems to work on ASM the least.

[Meehaul]

I like his work but not on Spidey. The only Spidey artists I've really liked in recent years have been Marcos Martin and Joe Mad. Ramos, whom we've seen the most from, I probably like the least.

[Meehaul]

I like his work but not on Spidey. The only Spidey artists I've really liked in recent years have been Marcos Martin and Joe Mad. Ramos, whom we've seen the most from, I probably like the least.

[Kevin Nichols]

That doesn't mean that we have to accept everything he's proposing. I respect his and your opinion but i could hardly call fat Spider Man as an artistic take!
I would prefer the artist that drew Secret Invasion for Origin Of Species. He's by far, a better artist than Azaceta!

That's funny! Lenil Yu is one artist I could never get into. Even his work on Wolverine back in the day, I found off-putting. Strange how different people's tastes can be.

[Spiderman 1]

Personally, and I mean no disrespect whatsoever to his craft or fans, I find it disgusting. In this day and age with all the digital techniques to help an artist I really don't understand how can marvel choose him for his flagship character.

I could actually feel electro's stench just by looking at how much the art sucked. And it's a shame because that was a really good story.

[Minerboh]

That's funny! Lenil Yu is one artist I could never get into. Even his work on Wolverine back in the day, I found off-putting. Strange how different people's tastes can be.
My friend, it is entirely a matter of indivisual taste! I respect your opinion but i also expect you to respect mine.