Best Iron Man Artist

[Paiute 1]

Now that we have beat up who the best Iron Man writer is, who is the best Iron Man artist?

List as many as you want and an explanation if you feel it's neccasary.

My Choices in order.

1. Sean Chen
2. Jackson Guice
3. John Romita Jr.
4. Mark Bright
5. Bob Layton
6. George Tuska; just for the Iron Man part.

[Cei-U!]

Keeping in mind I haven't read any Iron Man comic newer than '86 or so, my top five choices would be

5. Don Heck
4. Gene Colan
3. George Tuska
2. John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton
1. Johnny Craig

Cei-U!
I summon the old school Shellhead!

[Paiute 1]

Oh man I forgot Colan. Put him at 6 and move Tuska to 7.

[Dave G.]

Bob Layton by a mile. He defined what Iron Man should look like for every artist on the title for years. His style may look a bit dated today, but he is the standard everyone else has to meet.

[Reptisaurus!]

1. Johnny Craig

Seriously? I didn't know that.

Edit: Gene Colan. It was only a handful of issues, but I always liked the subtly gothic/horror type vibe, and I thought it mixed really well with the "man trapped in a living prison" theme of the book. I always liked IM with a bit of a suspense/horror type vibe.

[Alex Dragon]

Don Heck holds a special place in my Ironman memories because I think I saw his version of Ironman first in MARVEL DOUBLE FEATURE (I think that was the name of the Ironman reprint book). I loved his version of Tony Stark and think his Pepper Potts and all the women he drew were glamorous and a bit sexy.

George Tuska has a special place because I thought his version of the armor looked like it had some weight to it and didn't look like cloth.

Bob Layton gets my praise because he's the first artist I remember seeing that made the armor look not only like metal but shiny metal. It seems so obvious how to do it now but before Bob it seems like no one could pull that off. Bob also gets my tip of the hat for making the world of Ironman look modern (for it's time) and hi-tek.

Ironman has has a lot of strong artists on his book but for me those made the bigest impression on me. I think Salvador Larroca is doing some great stuff on the book these days too.

[Babylon23]

Bob Layton, followed closely by any artist inked by Bob Layton. JRJR, Guice and Bright all looked good with Layton's inks.

[benday-dot]

Don Heck holds a special place in my Ironman memories because I think I saw his version of Ironman first in MARVEL DOUBLE FEATURE (I think that was the name of the Ironman reprint book). I loved his version of Tony Stark and think his Pepper Potts and all the women he drew were glamorous and a bit sexy.

George Tuska has a special place because I thought his version of the armor looked like it had some weight to it and didn't look like cloth.

Bob Layton gets my praise because he's the first artist I remember seeing that made the armor look not only like metal but shiny metal. It seems so obvious how to do it now but before Bob it seems like no one could pull that off. Bob also gets my tip of the hat for making the world of Ironman look modern (for it's time) and hi-tek.

Ironman has has a lot of strong artists on his book but for me those made the bigest impression on me. I think Salvador Larroca is doing some great stuff on the book these days too.

All very good observations (though I'll take your word for it on the last one, since I'm not reading the current incarnation). But, yes, that Tuska look really put the iron in Iron Man. Well said. And Layton/Romita just added such a beautiful sheen to the character and the book as a whole. They hauled the book out of the doldrums, and made it a really compelling read, and gorgeous to look at.

[Roquefort Raider]

George Tuska, especially inked by Vince Colletta. I agree with Alex on the weight and volume George gave the armor. The ladies looked pretty good too, which was fitting for a book where the hero is supposed to be a playboy.

John Romita Jr. inked by Bob Layton, yes, of course. The armor looked a little too painted on, but it was indeed pretty shiny.

Here's one from the left field : Michael Golden. He drew very few books with Iron Man, but he always managed to combine the massive aspect from Tuska's work with the metallic quality from Romita's. That was particularly true in Avengers annual #7.

[Paiute 1]

Bob Layton, followed closely by any artist inked by Bob Layton. JRJR, Guice and Bright all looked good with Layton's inks.

Your absolutly right, Layton could and did make anybody look good. From the couple of issues over Tuska to any fill in artist he always made you look good.

[Paiute 1]

George Tuska, especially inked by Vince Colletta. I agree with Alex on the weight and volume George gave the armor. The ladies looked pretty good too, which was fitting for a book where the hero is supposed to be a playboy.

John Romita Jr. inked by Bob Layton, yes, of course. The armor looked a little too painted on, but it was indeed pretty shiny.

Here's one from the left field : Michael Golden. He drew very few books with Iron Man, but he always managed to combine the massive aspect from Tuska's work with the metallic quality from Romita's. That was particularly true in Avengers annual #7.

Another one from left field: Jim Starlin. The few times he drew Iron Man he realy made him stand out.

[i*love*comics*247]

Bob Layton

[Paiute 1]

If this was a poll; I would say Layton won hands down!!

[Iron-boy]

Adi Granov and Patrick Zircher i think is his name.

[Roquefort Raider]

Another one from left field: Jim Starlin. The few times he drew Iron Man he realy made him stand out.

Hey, that's true! Starlin rocked when he drew Iron Man in issue #55 (which introduced Drax) or Avengers annual #7.