What is the most iconic Artist version of a Character?

[CaptCleghorn]

I guess I am mistaking what the interpretation of iconic is. Take a character like Iron Man, who starts out with the clunky grey armor then goes through numerous changes over the years. But all of them are basically referencing the red and gold started by Don Heck. You may not like Kirby's drawing style but Simonson is still using his iconic look created by Jack Kirby. Black Widow on the other hand did go through some changes of wearing just a cocktail dress, then the fishnet tights, mini dress and mask to the black jumpsuit. That is the look that stuck and IIRC that was Gene Colan. Today's BW doesn't look that much different from his look.

I'm taking iconic to mean whatever version I think of when I think of what a character looks like. If i think of Iron man, I don't think of Heck's version, or Kirby's version despite their influences on IM's creation and design. I think of Gene Colan's work, but these are questions with no real answer (except maybe Kirby on Darkseid for DC or Steranko on Nick Fury of SHIELD).

And as for Black Widow, John Romita Sr.. was the first to draw jumpsuit 'Tasha in ASM 86.

But these are all ideas and opinions. I'm open to any differing choices, even if I'm gritting my teeth and mumbling "are you ^&%$ing kidding me?"

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Thor: Jack Kirby, Walt Simonson
Fantastic Four: Kirby
Iron Man: George Tuska
Daredevil: Gene Colan, Frank Miller
Captain America: Jack Kirby, Sal Buscema
Spider-Man: John Romita Sr.
Dracula: Gene Colan
Conan: John Buscema
Dr. Strange: Steve Ditko
X-Men: Dave Cockrum, John Byrne
Silver Surfer: John Buscema
Avengers: George Perez
Hulk: Herb Trimpe

[CaptCleghorn]

Barry Windsor-Smith - Conan

[Bishop182]

My all time favorite, George Perez's Avengers.

[Panic]

I guess I am mistaking what the interpretation of iconic is. Take a character like Iron Man, who starts out with the clunky grey armor then goes through numerous changes over the years. But all of them are basically referencing the red and gold started by Don Heck. You may not like Kirby's drawing style but Simonson is still using his iconic look created by Jack Kirby. Black Widow on the other hand did go through some changes of wearing just a cocktail dress, then the fishnet tights, mini dress and mask to the black jumpsuit. That is the look that stuck and IIRC that was Gene Colan. Today's BW doesn't look that much different from his look.

I think the OP was vague enough to be interpreted in different ways without anybody being clearly in the wrong. You are basically talking costume design, while I feel most people in the thread so far have been talking about what artist makes the character feel like "your" version of the character. I really didn't like Kirby's Thor costume (and generally I love Kirby), but somehow the way Walt Simonson drew it made it work for me in a way it just hadn't before, despite not changing it at all.

[Winterboy]

[QUOTE=CaptCleghorn;1721023]Barry Windsor

BWS Red Sonja...

[Of Atlantis]

Steranko's Nick Fury
Sienkewitz's Moon Knight
Epting's Winter Soldier
Buschema's Namor
Kirby's Cap

[Kuwagaton]

When I think of getting these characters right visually, it's

Wolverine: Adam Kubert
Moon Knight: Mico Suayan
Black Widow: Jim Lee
Thor: Jack Kirby
Fantastic Four: Jack Kirby
Iron Man: Adi Granov
Daredevil: Lee Weeks
Captain America: John Cassaday/John Romita Sr.
Spider-Man: Paolo Rivera
Conan: John Buscema
Cyclops: Roger Cruz
Cable: Igor Kordey
Hulk: Sal Buscema/Gary Frank
Punisher: Klaus Janson
Namor: Rich Buckler/John Byrne

The ones with two artists were tough to think about.

[AgSurfer]

I'm going against the trend here and NOT saying Kirby for Fantastic Four. In fact, although Kirby was responsible for a lot (a whole lot) of the FF, there's one man who defines the art style with which we recognize the FF and that's the inker, Joe Sinnott. For years after Kirby left, Joe Sinnott continued the look of the FF and made them resemble the Kirby era. Sure, layouts and stylings changed, but the look of the characters continued.

FF - Joe Sinnott









QED

Right there with ya buddy. For me Sinnott was the FF.

[Cold Water]

Buschema's Namor

Only because it was silver age, but honestly, to me, it will ALWAYS be Everett's Namor. Always. He's perfect.

[AgSurfer]

I know I already said John Buscema for Conan but I gotta give some love to Ernie Chan
ernie_chan_conan.jpg

[Cold Water]

• Spider-Man: Steve Ditko

We are the only ones who apparently feel this way. I am shocked.

[Panic]

We are the only ones who apparently feel this way. I am shocked.

I do love Ditko's Spidey, but It was Kane and Romita's depiction of the wallcraller that had the big impact on me as a kid; I didn't develop an appreciation of Ditko's run until Marvel Tales started reprinting it when I was eleven or so.

[Mike]

The Avengers -- George Perez
Captain America -- John Byrne
Daredevil -- Gene Colan
Dr. Strange -- Paul Smith
Fantastic Four -- John Buscema with Joe Sinnott
Hulk -- Sal Buscema
Iron Man -- John Romita, Jr. with Bob Layton
Namor -- John Byrne
Silver Surfer -- John Buscema with Sal Buscema
Spider-Man -- Gil Kane with John Romita
Thor -- Jack Kirby
Original X-Men -- Neal Adams
New X-Men -- John Bynre

[Old Man Ollie 1962]

Jack Kirby



Attachment 31103

This. Without a doubt.