So there’s a meme going around comics twitter, where you post a tweet with a graphic that says “1 like, 1 unpopular comics opinion.” And then, however many “likes” that tweet gets, you post that many unpopular opinions about something comics-related.
So I posted it, thinking I’d get 10-20 “likes,” and I could handle that. But so far it has 103 likes. I have no idea if I’ll be able to come up with that many opinions that I feel a significant number of comics fans would disagree with, especially since I’m trying to avoid using the “Joe Smith’s comics suck!” formula with living cartoonists.
Anyway, I’ve posted 74 opinions so far, and I’m not sure if I’m actually going to be able to think of 103 (or whatever the final number is). You can check it out here, if you’re interested.
The man who created Blueberry, L’Incal, Les maîtres du temps, etc… has little to offer other than surface beauty? The man who has started trends, originated tropes, who has inspired about every single European comic book artist, and whose aesthetics have been celebrated, credited or ripped off by anyone from William Gibson, Luc Besson, Stan Lee and Federico Fellini to the likes of François and Frédéric Mitterrand?
So, can the opinions be completely divorced from reality, or have you only experienced his works through his softcore pinup posters? It’s one thing to dislike him, but he has been an influential progressive voice in Europe, and has done a lot more to draw attention to important issues than any American comic artists I can think of. Well, American comics do lean strongly to the right…
(Not trying to get this posted or answered, just wanted Amp to see it.)
I guess I’ve mostly read the various reprints of his graphic novels that Marvel was doing in the 80s and 90s – I read a half-dozen or so of those. Plus other stories of his here and there. And I’ve read some Blueberry, but to tell you the truth I got bored. (Although correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t someone else write that one?)
Mœbius’ ability to draw is top-rank, and I mean that literally – I can’t think of a cartoonist who draws better than he did. And he had a great imagination for creating memorable images, especially the trippy images.
But what GN of his would you recommend for the writing? That’s not sarcastic – which one Mœbius graphic novel should I read, to show me that he has more going on than the imagery? I’ll give it a try. I’d love to read a Mœbius graphic novel that blew me away for the story as well as the art.
Agreed that Mœbius is very influential in Europe, but you can be influential without necessarily drawing any outstandingly-written comics. (I’d argue the same for Jack Kirby). And calling attention to important issues is not the same thing as being a great writer, obviously.