I know of many artists, both professional and otherwise, that were and are influenced by the art of John Byrne. I am one of those artists, in fact (not a professional, though).

I'm not stating the following to be mean, but as a matter of a point to counter what Erik Larsen wrote about JB's influence: How many artists out there are influenced by Erik Larsen's style?

Also, there are still quite a few artists out there working in comics that were influenced by JB. Dale Keown comes to mind.

In a better (or at least more timely) industry... maybe more artists would be influenced by Byrne.

The point Larsen misses is that influence by his posts seem to only refer to STYLE.

Influence can extend outside of the style and can incorporate work ethic, storytelling and layout techniques, etc.

Leave it to Larsen to assume that for JB to be considered influential there would have to be 100 JB clones turning out Image books every month! Pretty miopic view on things, but actually reveals a lot.

Influences don't have to be so literal, in any line of work! I would fathom that Dark Phoenix/Days of Future Past influenced an entire generation even if their output wasn't lightboxed JB artwork...

This may call for one of JB's patented "purposefully obtuse" comments...

Scott, what's your goal here? Are you saying that just because this isn't Erik's forum, he shouldn't be allowed here? If that's the case, than the only person who should be here is JB.

Honestly, I think you've gone out of your way to stir up far more trouble on this thread than anything Erik said here, with this cross-posting of inflammatory messages. That kind of behavior certainly makes me wonder whether your goal is actually to pursue a vendetta with Erik, rather than to keep this board peaceful and tranquil as you stated.

I do know that I've come to embrace my own awkwardness and try not to
erase and over think what I do.

I find often that when I 'shut off my brain' and simply let my wrist fly, I end up with drawings I really like, full of life and energy. Over-thinking a pose or drawing usually leads to many crumpled up balls of paper <g>.

Trevor Von Eeden is my example of an artist who's earlier stuff I really like; his style became a bit too angular and raw over time for my personal taste.

Matt, I am sorry you feel that way. Not my intention to create a huge issue.

I'd just rather talk about JB's work then Larsen's stuggles to stay engaged while drawing "stock hands".... again, the post itself was fine... it was just placed on the wrong board...

no biggie.... lets move on to another thread and talk about comics!!!

I didn't see JB until SUPERMAN and it completely blew me out of the water!  I followed him through it all after that, from NAMOR and SHE-HULK, NEXT MEN, WW, XMHY, all of it.  Certainly I could see his work improve, I could see his growth as an artist -- I'm just nostaglic for the joie d' vivre I felt when I read SUPERMAN. 

"Nostalgia" is how "your old stuff was better" translates to me.

I think JB's Next Men is probably his Magnum Opus.

I don't know, Ted.  NEXT MEN was amazing, sure, but I'll put an argument in for the GENERATIONS series.  On the other hand -- hopefully we've yet to see JB's magnum opus.