So there's some news going around about an Americanized Vampire Hunter D comic by DDP, of which I would love to *cough possibly have a 1% chance at illustrating something for it *cough cough Although I'm cautious as to my 'style' not being American enough...?




It's true that this illustration was Amano-inspired, trying to get to the heart of the VHD series. Although I am aware that it's supposedly supposed to be more 'American', I wonder how the HECK--(what, why)...what baffles me is...I'm...American... no not JUST American I'm so American, I'm even of Lumbee native decent. D ;/

haha so I wonder...how will VHD fans take to an Americanized version if D is all superman-looking with a square jaw and block-pecs in a western world. Should I compromise my art? ...but how?

what the heck guys, what the heck... I don't get it, no I don't... (hah)

bittertea
So there's some news going around about an Americanized Vampire Hunter D comic by DDP, of which I would love to *cough possibly have a 1% chance at illustrating something for it *cough cough Although I'm cautious as to my 'style' not being American enough...?


It's true that this illustration was Amano-inspired, trying to get to the heart of the VHD series. Although I am aware that it's supposedly supposed to be more 'American', I wonder how the HECK--(what, why)...what baffles me is...I'm...American... no not JUST American I'm so American, I'm even of Lumbee native decent. D ;/

haha so I wonder...how will VHD fans take to an Americanized version if D is all superman-looking with a square jaw and block-pecs in a western world. Should I compromise my art? ...but how?

what the heck guys, what the heck... I don't get it, no I don't... (hah)

well, fanboy bitching aside, I would love a bruce timm-style vampire hunter d. It would be a great way to branch out the series and attract more fans to the story that normally wouldnt check it out, and that is what its all about, in the end. you asked how VHD fans will take to a new look, thats a silly question you already know the answer to. they will hate it, bitch about it on the message boards and wherever, but the curiosity will get the better of them and they will check it out...and who knows, you might get one or two who will admit to liking it.

who cares what fanboys want...you want to bring in more people, not worry about retaining the old.

Nick, I disagree with you. IMO, that opinion is everything that is wrong with American comics today.

The philosophy of American comics always seems to be "let's take a property and re-invent it a gazillion times! That way we'll get new fans!" Repeat ad nauseum for every superhero under the sun.

But every character/story/franchise is its own beast. VHD is VHD because the titular character is gender-ambiguous and graceful, because it's drawn by Amano. Otherwise, how is VHD different from Blade or Morbius or Buffy or whatever? As soon as you try to "branch out" something that is distinct, you might as well make a new character/story.

Which is why I don't like a lot of American comics. Why do I need a re-invented X-men? Why can't I just have a new story with new characters?

mlai
Nick, I disagree with you. IMO, that opinion is everything that is wrong with American comics today.

The philosophy of American comics always seems to be "let's take a property and re-invent it a gazillion times! That way we'll get new fans!" Repeat ad nauseum for every superhero under the sun.

But every character/story/franchise is its own beast. VHD is VHD because the titular character is gender-ambiguous and graceful, because it's drawn by Amano. Otherwise, how is VHD different from Blade or Morbius or Buffy or whatever? As soon as you try to "branch out" something that is distinct, you might as well make a new character/story.

Which is why I don't like a lot of American comics. Why do I need a re-invented X-men? Why can't I just have a new story with new characters?

so by that line of thinking, then VHD should never be done by anyone but amano? i disagree with that, its just a character. It is always fun and interesting to see different peoples takes on other peoples creations. otherwise, everyone would think of captain america as the way kirby did him, and wed never have any of the great runs by steranko and wood, brubaker and cassady, etc. daredevil wouldve never had a frank miller

bittertea


...what baffles me is...I'm...American... no not JUST American I'm so American, I'm even of Lumbee native decent. D ;/

So I assume it doesn't look American what so ever and too much like the original D... *grumbles to self* how is this possible...

I'm still bloody curious for the mean time, I shall return with alternate versions. >: O

NickGuy
so by that line of thinking, then VHD should never be done by anyone but amano? i disagree with that, its just a character. It is always fun and interesting to see different peoples takes on other peoples creations. otherwise, everyone would think of captain america as the way kirby did him, and wed never have any of the great runs by steranko and wood, brubaker and cassady, etc. daredevil wouldve never had a frank miller

That is correct. Should Huckleberry Finn be written by anyone else but Mark Twain? I think that comics' precise problem is that it doesn't hold itself to that standard that books do.

And Steranko/Wood/Brubaker/Cassidy/Miller would have written their same stories with new characters, not the same recycled ones over and over.

@ Bittertea:

If you mean American by typical Marvel/DC/Image, then no your fan art does not look American IMO. Yes it does look a lot more like Amano's style. The average American comic-collecting geek (face it they're the only ppl reading comics nowadays) are sexually insecure as it is. I don't think they'd be caught dead buying a comic book featuring a hero who is gender-ambiguous and beautiful/flamboyant.

(semi-serious)

bittertea
haha so I wonder...how will VHD fans take to an Americanized version if D is all superman-looking with a square jaw and block-pecs in a western world. Should I compromise my art? ...but how?

what the heck guys, what the heck... I don't get it, no I don't... (hah)

Here's what I've heard from both art teachers and professional character designers:

You art style will get you both hired and fired.

People who specialize only in a specific style (like Amano, Toriyama, Jhonen Vasquez, etc.) don't typically find sustained work. When a production company is looking for a specific style for its project, they'll seek out the artist who does that style. For instance, they may decide they want a Jason Strong style for their upcoming project. They'll hire the guy who can give them that style (or Jason Strong himself). A person who draws in that one particular style may get the job, but after the project's done, they're fired and they'll have to wait around for another project that asks for the "Jason Strong" style.

The people who have no trouble finding work are the ones who are flexible with art styles and can mimic many different kinds. When the need arises, they can make their art look like what the project calls for. They're much more useful to any team.

I guess how this applies is that you may want to consider being flexible with your style and not considering it a "compromise" to emulate other artists. Is your current style getting you enough work already? If this is a project you really want to be involved in or a job you really want to have, then it may be worth mastering another style.

Hawk

bittertea
haha so I wonder...how will VHD fans take to an Americanized version if D is all superman-looking with a square jaw and block-pecs in a western world. Should I compromise my art? ...but how?

what the heck guys, what the heck... I don't get it, no I don't... (hah)

Here's what I've heard from both art teachers and professional character designers:

You art style will get you both hired and fired.

People who specialize only in a specific style (like Amano, Toriyama, Jhonen Vasquez, etc.) don't typically find sustained work. When a production company is looking for a specific style for its project, they'll seek out the artist who does that style. For instance, they may decide they want a Jason Strong style for their upcoming project. They'll hire the guy who can give them that style (or Jason Strong himself). A person who draws in that one particular style may get the job, but after the project's done, they're fired and they'll have to wait around for another project that asks for the "Jason Strong" style.

The people who have no trouble finding work are the ones who are flexible with art styles and can mimic many different kinds. When the need arises, they can make their art look like what the project calls for. They're much more useful to any team.

I guess how this applies is that you may want to consider being flexible with your style and not considering it a "compromise" to emulate other artists. Is your current style getting you enough work already? If this is a project you really want to be involved in or a job you really want to have, then it may be worth mastering another style.

exactly...although technically, style is only whats wrong with your drawing when you think about it. if everyone drew correctly, everything would look exactly the same. thats why youre supposed to draw from life, to learn how to draw things the way they are supposed to look.

the hang-up with style comes from people looking at another artists work and thinking "ooh i wanna draw like that"...well thats bad because while you learn that artists coolness, you also learn their mistakes.

bittertea

You are pretty much the best artist on this site, I hope you know that. I dont really have anything else to add other than that everything you create is utterly fantastic and I want to rip open your skull and steal your ability to draw.

lefarce

bittertea

You are pretty much the best artist on this site, I hope you know that. I dont really have anything else to add other than that everything you create is utterly fantastic and I want to rip open your skull and steal your ability to draw.

Agreed.

NickGuy
so by that line of thinking, then VHD should never be done by anyone but amano? i disagree with that, its just a character. It is always fun and interesting to see different peoples takes on other peoples creations. otherwise, everyone would think of captain america as the way kirby did him, and wed never have any of the great runs by steranko and wood, brubaker and cassady, etc. daredevil wouldve never had a frank miller

mlai
That is correct. Should Huckleberry Finn be written by anyone else but Mark Twain? I think that comics' precise problem is that it doesn't hold itself to that standard that books do.

NickGuy, I see where you're coming from. But it's still being published (according to Wikipedia, anyway), and generally, for Manga, doesn't the creator/artist only usually work on it? Besides his team of course. I mean, for American comic books, they never have the same artist/writer working on a title (which is sometimes untrue, some comics do have the same one, I can't find an example at the moment), because they want to see the character's do something else. In Japan, it's kind of different. Anything not done by the artist, is what I'm pretty sure is known as a Doujinshi.

Now for Mlai, I also see where your coming from. But Huckleberry Finn was one book, while VMD is an ongoing series. But it's really not that much different.

I think, as long as it's not too outrageous, America could have their own VMD comic. And they don't turn it into some terrible art-style thing.

ack! my roommates turned off the living room lights while I was working so they could watch Orgazmo! ...drawing in the dark... *le sigh

Thanks everyone, You've all given me some food for thought in regards.

I'm still trying out various styles and versions I'd like to try my hand at with VHD. Although, I believe I've already shot myself in the foot, I still strongly feel as if my original illustration is the premises of work I would like to do for it.(as if I SHOULD for americanized-bastardry-kick-assery sake)

...but...

I know it most likely is not what DDP is looking for afterall, by my own guess, the press articles, and based on Hawks response--which I know all too well to be true. I won't really know what I should do until I might or might not receive a sample of the script. HAHAHA so here goes, forgoe all of D's metrosexuality and give him a texas hero gruff look! DEAR GOD NO....

actually i think that looks really great. i think it suits his personality. i mean although he looked flamboiant, his personality really wasnt. from what i remember anyways, i just saw the movie a long time back. but i think it looks really good. but hey, if it really bugs ya to do something like this, maby it's just not for you. play around with it a little more if you're not satisfied with it, but if you're not wild about making it americanized or non anime thne maby you just wont enjoy it. least not fully.

I'll admit that I'm biased, I love Yoshitaka Amano's art and he's one of my favorite artists of all time. I think that it would be a mistake to throw out Amano's stylistic influences of the character because in at least my mind he helped define the character. That said, the Americanized version still seems somewhat true to the character-- he's still rather stoic looking and I don't see the "gruff Texas hero thing." In terms of facial structure he reminds me a bit of David Bowie