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The main reason to avoid tangents -- and the very thing that Larsen seems not to understand in terms of just what a "tangent" IS -- is to avoid flattening out an image by causing objects that are on different planes to appear to touch, rather than simply overlap.

And, sure, everybody slips from time to time. I've done it, Neal's done it, obviously Larsen has done it. But what an utterly pointless exercise it is to drag out old examples of an artist's work and show the "tangents" to be found in it -- especially when most are not actually tangents, AND when, in so doing, the "instructor" creates tangents that were not there to begin with!!

Hmm.

I'm 28 and have been reading comics since I was around 5 years old. Growing up to who I am today, there are 5 major names that matter to me in the world of comics. Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, John Byrne, Erik Larsen, and John Romita Jr. These guys practically raised the bar for me in terms of what I read and it's hard to top.

I love your work JB. I have no problems with what Erik is saying about tangents. I don't. Otherwise, why would I spend thousands of dollars on commissions? Your work is as great as ever and you continue to top yourself.

However, I feel like everyone is going a bit over the top in attacking Erik. I've met him a decent amount of times and let me tell you, this man loves comics. Loves 'em to death. He wants to the industry to grow and wants it to thrive. It really pains me to read this thread as you can't imagine how much I love both parties.

Nothing Erik has said is malicious. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I think his comments are fair in that they reflect what he feels without going over the top.

Believe me when I say Erik is a great guy. He's a great human being, and Savage Dragon is my favorite comic book of all time. The man has done 185 issues straight. That's a testament to his personal character right there.

We all have opinions. We don't all share the same ones. To simply attack someone and say that "they need to be on medication" for not agreeing with their opinion IS malicious.

Call me navie, but I wish we could all get along. I would love to see Erik and JB as friends and even collaborate as I know they could make some awesome comics. I would love to see Erik draw Golgotha someday, and would love to see JB draw Arachnid. That's my dream right there.

Again, I'll reiterate that I love JB's work today and have not a single qualm with his work. I CHERISH my commissions. It's one thing to not agree with his opinions, but to bombard him with attacks is not neccessary. Erik is a great guy, and I'll stake my life on that.

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It's really hard to make that case when there is no REASON for him to "say" what he has "said". "Correcting" the work of NEAL ADAMS and myself, to use the language you choose, amounts to an unprovoked "attack". Absolutely nothing is served by it, except, possibly, the inflation of Larsen's ego.

Nothing Erik has said is malicious.

What he did reeked of malice.  Whether he presented his malice in a polite manner is besides the point.

To simply attack someone and say that "they need to be on medication" for not agreeing with their opinion IS malicious.

You've got it twisted.  What Larsen did is the attack.  What many of us have said and done here in the forum is a reaction to the attack.

Call me navie,

You're naive.