CBR: Spotlight on Herb Trimpe

[CBR News]

CBR spoke with Herb Trimpe, the man many consider to be the definitive "Incredible Hulk" artist, about his time working in the Marvel bullpen, the one character he never had a chance to draw and life after comics.


Full article here.

[anthony!]

I enjoyed reading this. Good interview.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I've always liked Herb Trimpe. I didn't start collecting until the late 80s but Herb's art would grace what they refer to as "fill-in" issues with a dependability that is sorely lacking today.
His FF Unlimited work leaves a sour taste in my mouth because he (or someone in Editorial) insisted on him aping Rob Liefeld's atrocious style and it just didn't mesh at all.

Hopefully someone over at DC reads this and 'throws him a bone' so we can see a Superman story from him. I'd buy it.

[verslibre]

His FF Unlimited work leaves a sour taste in my mouth because he (or someone in Editorial) insisted on him aping Rob Liefeld's atrocious style and it just didn't mesh at all.

I'm sure that was pushed on Herb. He doesn't draw in that overblown style. It's not him.

I'll take Herb's art anyday over that crap Lee, Liefeld, Platt (etc.) put forth.

[verslibre]

Herb Trimpe sayeth: "The way I broke it down was, the first ten years were like dying and going to heaven. The middle ten were not comfortable. The last ten years were absolutely miserable. If I'd had the nerve I would've quit before it went belly-up, but you had the checks coming and you've got kids in college and it's a very difficult thing to do. When it finally went, I was in the second group of a hundred or so that were told there was no more work. I was actually glad because I was sick of doing this stuff and I wanted to do something else....As the corporate thinking became more and more and more ingrained in the basic business of producing a comic book, it just became less and less and less fun. If it wasn't for Tom DeFalco, those last five or ten years when he was Editor in Chief, I probably wouldn't have had any work at all. He was giving me one job to do after another just to keep me going until I picked up 'Fantastic Four Unlimited' at the end. That kept me going as far as the finances went.

More power to you, Herb. You were there during the best times (the first ten years, and I'm sure the second ten had its moments). Your fans look up to you.

[FanboyStranger]

That was a great interview. It gave a good cross section on how Marvel changed over the years. I always liked Trimpe's work-- his Hulk is what I think of when I picture the Hulk.

[Leocomix]

Quote:
Posted by Herb Trimpe
I’ve been asked that question before, with some fans going so far as to feel sorry for the way Marvel made me change my style. Unfortunately, these were misdirected sympathies.

Truth was, it was a lark–but a lark with a purpose, all devised by myself. No one at Marvel suggested I change the way I draw or ink. I looked at the new guys’ stuff, and thought, hey, this is great. Very exciting. You can always learn from somebody else, no matter how long you’ve been doing a thing.

I did, however, think the style might lead to new work at a time when Marvel was already in trouble, and it did. FF Unlimited was my last series at Marvel, and contrary to what a lot of fans think, I think it was the best work I’d done–and, I had a whole lot of fun doing it. Very expressive. I think the newer influences in comic book art brought out a better me. Like I said, most of the fans of the earlier stuff would not agree. On one occasion, I inked a whole story with a brush, which is what I was raised on, and the editor objected asking me not to do that anymore. But in general, no one pressured me into a change.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources...-revealed-195/

[Buried Alien]

Herb Trimpe's artwork on GODZILLA and SHOGUN WARRIORS for Marvel during the 1970s got me into American comics, though ironically, the subjects I was interested in from those comics were the Japanese-created title characters.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[jsf]

Great artist -- great interview.

Glad to have read this.

[brocca]

Thank you for this very informative and entertaining interview!

Kudos to Mr Trimpe!

[bretmaverick2]

I always enjoyed Herb's work as a kid. His art was solid, told the story and was easy to follow.

A standout?? Herb did my favorite single issue of THE DEFENDERS. It was the only one that he did for the entire series but it was a great done in one story and his artwork really assisted the story. A classic, near perfect issue of this series.

[the4thpip]

Herb Trimpe's artwork on GODZILLA and SHOGUN WARRIORS for Marvel during the 1970s got me into American comics, though ironically, the subjects I was interested in from those comics were the Japanese-created title characters.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

I got the Essential Godzilla book last year, and it is indeed stellar work.

[Buried Alien]

I got the Essential Godzilla book last year, and it is indeed stellar work.

If you can pick up the original floppies, you'll find that it's even better in full color.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[md62]

I know I am an "old fart" but I prefer the older artists who were storytellers rather than the newer guys whose art feels like a bunch of cover poses strung together....

I loved Trimpe's work. If anyone at DC is reading this get him to draw a Superman story!!!

[verslibre]

I prefer the older artists who were storytellers rather than the newer guys whose art feels like a bunch of cover poses strung together.

Somebody carve these words into stone so that future generations may gaze upon them.