Top 5 Comic Book Artists

This list comprises the best artists in the Comic Book Industry. Although I could make this list very long, these are the ones that when I see their work....I salivate.

Superman/Batman by Jeph Loeb (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Awesome.

The Superman/Batman series is AWESOME!! How; if you are a fan of either character...or even more if a fan of both, can you not love and collect this great series? I find myself asking that question more and more as I see sales dwindling every month to the point that the "cancellation" whispers have begun....the only answer I can come up with is that Jeph Loeb is no longer writing the series. He IS that good!!

Loeb wrote the first four Volumes of the Superman/Batman series that generally sold around 80,000-100,000 issues per month (compared to the 30,000-40,000 that it is selling now under different writers).....making it one of DC's best sellers. The "out-of-continuity" series was in a universe all it's own, with Loeb as mastermind of this universe, and include the following volumes:

Superman: Our World's at War (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Impressive.

Anytime you can get Darkseid, Brainiac, Lex Luthor, & Superman in the same book....it is going to be awesome!! Just about every character in the DC Universe is involved in this story, and includes great writers (including Jeph Loeb, Peter David, & Phil Jimenez...who also did some artwork) and artists (including Ed McGuinness, Doug Mahnke, Kano, Ron Garney, & Mike Wieringo).

This mega-event; which occurred mainly through the monthly Superman titles

Superman: Emperor Joker (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Impressive.

In Emperor Joker, a multipart story throughout the Superman titles, the Joker steals Mister Mxyzptlk's (a Superman Character from the 5th Dimension) reality altering power, remaking the entire world into a twisted caricature, with everyone in it stuck in a loop, repeating the same patterns over and over. The conflict focuses on the fate of Batman in this world, with the Joker torturing and killing his adversary every day, only to bring him back to life and do it over and over again.

Superman "new era" volumes 1-6 (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Impressive.

I am a huge Superman Fan! That said, I will admit that a lot of times (to my great frustration) Superman comics are hit or miss. That is because the Superman character is so hard to write. Superman: Exile and SM: Strange Attractors literally put me to sleep, Superman: Red Son and Emperor Joker had me begging for more.....I suppose you have to put up with some of the lesser stories to get the great ones, but in my extensive comic book collecting, Superman is the only character like this. These six volumes; however, are definitely worth buying, and are some of Superman's best!

These six volumes collect the "new era" throughout Superman comics following his death and rebirth (and Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, & Roger Stern leaving the Superman titles). I loved this series, with great writers (including Jeph Loeb, Geoff Johns, Mark Millar, Greg Rucka, Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, & Mark Shultz) and artists (including Ed McGuinness, Doug Mahnke, Ian Churchill, Kano, Dale Eaglesham, & Tom Nguyen).

Hulk No More (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Impressive.

This third volume of the Hulk, written by Jeff Loeb & artwork by Ed McGuinness, has all the elements of a great story. In the first arc of the volume, The Grandmaster comes to Hulk and offers a way to bring back his dead love, Jarella. He has to put together a team to battle unknown foes. Hulk chooses Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, & Namor....a.k.a. The Defenders. Then The Collector enters the fray with his team led by Red Hulk, The Offenders.

They battle it out, and in the end Jarella is still dead....as is The Grandmaster.

The second story arc guest-stars Spiderman, She-Hulk, Leonard Samson, and Ben Urich (Daily Bugle reporter).