And I'm going to argue that, indeed, Scioli is not "aping" Kirby.

He's literalizing his concept of the Kirbyverse...not channeling, but wondering what would happen...just what would happen if Ben Boxer became the Silver Surfer, within the rules of the Kirbyverse. The air, as breathed from a Kirby pen. The sidewalk, poured and solidified from Kirby's pen. Cosmic tripwires and massive god-like accounting...as Kirby saw it and "lived" it.

I had the chance to speak with Tom Scioli at this past Mid-Ohio Con and he talked about trying to evolve into his own style while keeping the Kirby elements he likes doing. The past two issues of Godland show him clearly trying to be a different artist. The first try didn't click for me, but the last issue was a much better attempt. I won't say he is the most skilled artist, but I enjoy Godland more for its attempt at trying crazy ideas that one wouldn't find in most modern comics. Since he is a relative newcomer to the business I hope he continues to evolve and become his own man and not just a Kirby wanabee. Certain elements in his work lead me to believe he will be in a few more years.

Chad's "Kirby as a genre" is a concept that is discussed quite often in The Jack Kirby Collector. They always give examples how the Kirby style is used in the art world.  

" I ask because unless Tom Scioli has been seen to drawn in another manner on something other than godland, maybe that's just his style?"

Let's look at an analogy in music. Elvis had a way of singing that was based on his vocal range, his influences and his personality. As he matured as a singer that style developed into what we all recognize as the distinctive "Elvis" sound. One that is constantly imitated by hundreds and that has influenced thousands.

Now if an artist comes along and sings in a style almost indistinguishable from (although not as technically accomplished as)  the "Elvis" sound, whether it is the "natural" style of someone heavily influenced by Elvis or someone trying very hard to sound like Elvis is immaterial. Either way he will be viewed as and judged as an Elvis imitator.

Same with Scioli. Regardless of why he draws like Kirby, there is no reason to consider him anything but a Kirby-imitator. (To view him as anything but is what would require mind-reading on our part.)

I think it's a bad thing when one artist outright copies the work of another artist and tries to pass it as his own. That's what Liefeld felt like doing to me. The bad part is that, imo, Liefeld did this because he couldn't do it on his own.

When John Byrne does the occasional FF # 1 cover variation or the Kang page posted some posts above, it's obvious that the artist doesn't do it because he can't do it in his style but that he wants people to reference the original composition. If we take this further, JB did a similar thing in the first XMTHY issue with the flashback scenes. They were specifically drawn the way they were to resemble X-Men # 138. Are those swipes? What would be the point? Is there anyone who really thinks John couldn't draw them completely new, from different perspective? I don't think so...

As for Buckler, I think he aped more than Neal Adams during his brief Avengers run. He also copied a lot of John Buscema, especially evident in the issue Wanda is abducted by a Sentinel. His Wanda is almost exactly drawn to resemble Big John's version durin the Arikn two parter a few years before.

I think Buckler was a reasonably talented artist that could deliver his own style successfully to the titles he was working on, but this aping was a big disservice, to himself.