posted
Acknowledgement goes to Cobalt Kid for giving me the 'nudge' to intro another query:
Keith Giffen's run on the LEGION was phenomenal and from LEGION 285 (Princess Projectra-Karate Kid spotlight story) to the first few pages of LEGION 307, his art was superb...then it became rushed and sloppy. However, thats my point of view. Others may disagree (and that's reasonable enuff)
Who among the Legion Worlders had a favourite Giffen run? Was it:
1)The first run (LEGION 285-313) 2)The second run (LSH 50-63) 3)The third run (LEGION 5YL 1-38)?
and give some reasons why. It may be interesting to find out...
From: Adelaide, Australia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I remember the Star Boy spotlight - it was Giffen's last good job...He drew a particularly handsome Thom and made Wildfire look as "super" as he was when Cockrum was doing the art chores.
What went wrong?
From: Adelaide, Australia | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Look at those faces! (And everything else {ahem})
First run. No contest. Giffen's faces and bodies actually had some classic definition. In his third run, especially, too many fine details faded into a sketchy and shapeless mass -- and he portrayed emotion primarily by scrunching up faces.
Even in his prime, inkers such as Larry Mahlstedt were his better half. Such as on that famous poster (reprinted in the first edition of "The Great Darkness Saga" TPB) with hundreds of characters.
Whatever gave him an evocative visual technique somehow vanished, in the middle of the "Omen and Prophet" story line, and never came back. It may have been that poster that made him burn out, from some reports.
From: Starhaven Consulate, City of Angels | Registered: Jul 2003
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I'd have to agree with Giffen's first run too all the way. His art was so refreshing and crisp, and his takes on the various characters is part of what made GDS so much fun.
I do have to say, however, that I loved his nine-panel grids in TMK. They were reminescent of Steve Ditko and the Silver Age, and they were a distinct form of Legion story-telling.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Greybird: [QB] Look at those faces!
Excellent job of digging up those few panels of Saturn Girl and Light Lass bonding in sister-in-lawish fashion, Greybird
Tho its difficult to pinpoint when the scenes took place...before the Great Darkness stories, obviously.
From: Adelaide, Australia | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
While I like all of Giffen's styles, I actually put his first run as *third* - as well done as that stuff was, stylistically it never wowed me.
It's hard for me to decide between the other two styles because I loved them for different reasons. I guess the TMK stuff would be #2 because I loved the darker tone, the thick black brushwork, even the faces unrealistically half-covered in shadow! Loved the nine-panel grid, love the grit! It was perfect for the kind of stories they were telling (I also loved the "Dr. Fate" mini he did prior to TMK which had a similar style).
But based on visual style alone, I'll go with his second run which hit its peak during the Emerald Empress two parter. Yeah, some of his faces were a bit inflated (and maybe a little too "Maguire-like"), but I loved how clean that style was and how he had simplified his linework. Not crazy about the redesigned costumes, but that's another thread...
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I like all three runs a lot, and overall, Giffen has been my all time favorite Legion artist, whichever style he was working in.
But I think I like the first run best. A lot of it comes from Levitz really being at his peak story-wise. And Giffen's style and storytelling were much more clear...easier to follow what was going on, and much easier to tell exactly which character was which at any given time. Basically, friendlier and more accessible to new readers.
The 5 years later stuff in particular, while I love it, could be very off-putting for new people who didn't already know who the characters were, and their relationship to each other. I worked at a comic book store for a while during this period, and a common complaint I would hear (from the relative few who read it), was that they would mistake similar-looking characters for each other.
I don't think it's a coincidence that LSH was the 2nd highest selling DC title at the time of Levitz/Giffen's first run, and held a much lower position during following runs.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
well i actually liked all 3 versions of the LEGION by Keith Giffen !!
if i had to choose one, it would have to be his first take on the team, around the "GREAT DARKNESS SAGA" !! just amazing character detail, and costume designs, also the locations and building looked so cool !!
but going onto his later work, i also really liked the re-designed costumes during the "MAGIC WARS" and his "heavier" features on the characters, and then finally during the "5 Year Gap" his style really suited that too IMO !!
Matthew.
From: Manchester United Kingdom | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
The first run. His first few issues weren't that good but after that he was amazing.
But like the others I'm a fan of all three styles. If anything his storytelling has gotten better over the years. But I still love everything from #300 to #315 big time.
From: Tampa | Registered: Mar 2004
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First run.....i copied alot of Giffen's art at that time with i was learning to draw. Even though our styles are quite different, Giffen at that time period is one of my biggest artistic influences.
From: Fort McMurray | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I prefer the third run. It was crazy, scratchy and still a bit obsessive with the nine-panel grid. Very cool. It was not superhero or science fiction, but some new entity. The darkness in the series also went strangely well with the humour of the comic.
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