Greg vs. Greg Part I: A Retort

I've been aware for awhile now that Rich Lovatt enjoys Greg Land's artwork yet finds problems in Greg Horn's. They certainly have different styles while delivering the cheesecake, but I never understood why Rich could take offense to one but not the other. So I asked him. In answer, Rich posted the first part of his explanation. Being the good friend I am, I have to play devil's advocate and call him out...at least a little.

Rich's first problem with Horn is that the artist overtly sexualizes his subject. I'm not going to argue that. It's true. And while I enjoy my fair share of comics with scantily clad females on the cover, it does get a little overwhelming sometimes. But is that something to criticize an artist for? Not really. Publishers, such as Marvel, ask him to do a cover and they expect their heroines to appear as sexy as possible, regardless of the story taking place between the covers. It's what he does best so why expect anything else?



Take for example the Emma Frost #1 cover (above). Rich is spot on; Horn's Emma Frost covers are designed to make Frost out to be as sexy (and as naked) as possible. And yes, that sexuality has nothing to do with the storyline. But you know, I can't knock Horn for that. Marvel paid him for an Emma Frost illustration. The editors should never have accepted it if they felt it did the storyline a disservice.



As for Rich's assertion that Horn didn't straying far enough from that overt sexuality even after he'd been asked to tone it down, well, I just have to disagree. When I went to high school, the girls dressed sexy too, even if that meant short skirts. Plus, as an added bonus, I think Horn actually captures the emotions of a frightened, naive teen on the cover of issue 8 (above). Not many cheesecake illustrators manage that one. If Marvel didn't want sexy, they would've found another artist. Instead, they stuck with Horn, which means they probably asked for a sexy teenager.



Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Horn fan. He doesn't have a wide range, and to be honest, I think his images are great at first glance, but upon scrutiny, that sense of sex appeal loses some of its luster. And that emotion that I've been seeking from comic book storytelling, that emotion he captured on the cover of Emma Frost 8, well, that's not always there, which is too bad because even the sexy images stand out more with emotion shining through.

No, I'm not disagreeing with Rich, just thinking that his reasoning is off kilter a little. And as for Horn's inability to draw women that actually look unique? Well, personally, I think that's a shortcoming of a lot of comic cover artists, and I challenge Rich to show me a cover artist for the big boys who manages to deliver on that one. I'll be surprised if he finds someone, but if so, I'm sure it won't be Greg Land.