Shane Davis: What's History's Verdict?

[Nicolas Juzda]

Hi,<P>Okay, we all know that Jason is THE artist for FANS, and it seems that we've all pretty much accepted Thor, but what about Shane Davis, who drew part 1 of FSaH?<P>When those pages initially ran, there were a lot of objections about the way he drew the characters (Alisin's too tall, Kath's dressed too well, Tim doesn't have enough zits, etc. etc.). Also, the different artist combined with the in media res beginning of FSaH and the inexplicably pro-active team got many of us half convinced that this wasn't the "real" FANS universe at all.<P>Looking back, I think Shane did a pretty good job. He wasn't perfect (his Rumy was terrible, IMHO), and his more realistic style may have jarred with the cartoony look we associate with FANS. But I liked many of his takes on characters (especially Rikk and Alisin), and his layouts were clear.<P>So, what's the verdict? What did you think of Shane? Would you like to see him come back if T needs a guest artist and Thor isn't available?<P>Nicolas

[Tom the Fanboy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nicolas Juzda:
<B>So, what's the verdict? What did you think of Shane? Would you like to see him come back if T needs a guest artist and Thor isn't available?
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I think he did great artwork but it just didn't seem to fit the style of Fans. I'd love to see Shane in something else but I'd have to disagree with him coming back to Fans. I mean, It'd be fine if he did, but I'd just prefer him to try and do other work. I think it was the shaded feel of his style. Thor and Jason both drew in styles with fairly thick black lines with little to no grey. Shane had too much realism as well as a lot of shading.<P>I hate to have to be this negative but it's honesty. Sorry Shane. I think you're a great artist but Fans! is just too different. Good luck in other things man.<P>------------------
Tom the Fanboy
http://www.geocities.com/tee-moss<P>[begin Fans! code]
E(xkodt)M++FF-A++W+++FCt++(s)Ip20000406f1mcKt+cCp- -bw++Ll++
[end Fans! code]

[Muttley]

Well, I preferred Shane to Thor, to be honest with you. With Shane the characters were immediately recognisable, with Thor I had trouble telling who some of them were supposed to be. Of course, I jumped in during a time of multiple interwoven plotlines, so that didn't help.<P>Muttley

[Doublespeak]

I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like it when the artist of a book chances at all, especially an artist that has a unique art style, and that introduced me to the comic. This happened to me on Starman, and happened to me here too. I actually first came on to the message board when the Thor took over to see if these constant artist changes were going to be a regular thing. I agree with you Tom, Shane's style, while great, was too realistic for me (some characters weren't, then others were, threw me off a little) and didn't seem to fit in. But if he has any other comic work, point me too it! I grew to enjoy Thor's work a lot, but I wasn't crazy about his Will (I thought he was Hyperman for a bit) or Shanna.
Kinda out of place question: Those first couple of pages of Fans! Were they, or were they not Jason's work?

[Blondlot]

I'd vote nay on that issue.<P>Ex animo,
m.d

[Maccabee]

The first pages (meeting Dotty) were indeed Jason's work. They were in fact his spec pages, and he's naturally refined his style since as he's gotten to know the characters.<P>Just for the record, another artist we considered drew Shanna like Sarah Jane Smith [drool]. If we'd gone with him instead Shanna would have developed <I>very</I> differently. Jason's had a huge impact on the direction of this series, and we're very lucky to have him on board -- even if I would have liked to have a Sarah-Jane clone running around. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/frown.gif"><P>Giving a glimpse into the innermost workings of the evil cartoonists,<P>Greg Ea-- hey! Who the hell are you? Put down that- [[PAFF!!]] [[thud]]<P>------------------
Risus est telum ultimum contra tyrranem. Nullus dictator exercitibus allibus ridiculem vulgi longe resistare potest.

[Gwalla]

The one problem I had with Shane's style, really, was Alisin. Specifically, her neck just seemed too long. And she looked a little too gritty, but that's hard to quantify.<P>I like Thor's work, but his use of manga visual idioms seems out of place.<P>------------------
"Sun Ra? He's out to lunch, all right...same place I eat at!"
- George Clinton

[Diamond]

I REALLY liked seeing different artist's perspectives on the characters we know and love. I felt that this diversity mirrored fandom's many aspects. Take the anime visual idioms referenced above as an example. Anime is a big part of fandom, but there are many fans who aren't into it. We saw the Fans (note capitols) through that lens for a while, and it was interesting to see.<P>The great thing about fandoms is about how it brings so many different factions and cliques together in a community. For me, the varied artistic styles are visual symbolism for that which is the greatest part of fandom!<P></Rikk mode>

[T Campbell]

I did my best to give Shane and Thor stories which showcased their talents. In Shane's case, I think his more realistic and awkward-looking fans were ideal to be upstaged by the enormous and "perfect" Hyperman. <P>I had the same artistic "homesickness" as a lot of people on the boards, and since Shane DOES seem to do better when drawing characters of his own design, I doubt he'll be coming back to FANS. But I wouldn't hesitate to work with him again on something else...

[Wish]

I really really really really really really really LOVED Shane's Hyperman. More than I liked Thor's Hyperman. Sorry, Thor, but Shane wins easily in this case. It's really Shane's handsome, smiling, almost impossibly innocent Hyperman that had me thinking about dressing up as Lanis Loon and putting myself in Imminent Peril.<P>-Wish
*sigh* Hyperman.