Greatest comic book artists ever?

[narfstar]

What about a Manning. If I were a gay man I would have a complete collection of his Tarzan and Korak comics. Wait, I am not a gay man but still have a near complete collection of the two   Then there are the quirky artists to consider. Most of the artists draw pretty pictures but some draw more "interesting" pictures. I have mentioned before that I enjoy Paul Gattuso. There are others that fit better in certain genres.
Eugene Hughes would not be considered a great artist but he had a not flashy approach to war stories that I think worked. They were not supposed to look happy or flashy. Glanzman was another artist that had a gritty style that fit well with war stories. I do not particularly like the look of Jesse Marsh but learned to appreciate his story telling skill. I have mentioned before that I gained that appreciating in a story where Tarzan was sneaking around some rocks. Much of Ditko's work can be considered stylistic and good story telling without always being pretty pictures.

[Yoc]

Ditko's Dr Strange was Amazing!  One of my favourite runs.
I liked it more than the Spiderman stuff.  It suited his style better.

[JVJ (RIP)]

You know, narf,
I've been collecting Russ Manning art since 1969 (appreciating it since 1956) and until you wrote that, I had NEVER considered such a connection. I still don't. I have no idea why you say some of the things you do. It's tres puzzling. And I'm proud to say that I DO have a complete collection of EVERYTHING he did in comic books.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[narfstar]

We are often on different wavelengths Jim. But difference are what keeps things from being boring. Consider Tarzan and Korak as drawn by Manning. Handsome, muscular, lithe and with little clothing they would have to appeal. I admit to having many a thought about Betty and Veronica in my teen years and when they were on the beach was even better.

[JVJ (RIP)]

I had the same thoughts re Betty and Veronica, Narf, but that was FIFTY years ago. I moved on.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[narfstar]

My teen years are also long gone. We are an older group and the numbers do not look good for many replacements but the preservation we do will long outlast us.

[chaard]

  IMHO there's a distinction between 'best', 'favorite', and "most influential"; also between "comic artist" and 'cartoonist'. (A cartoonist writes as well as draws.) We can pick out some of the influential giants, and the great line artists, and the clever strip-writers. But it basically boils down to favorites. Mine, in no special order:

Windsor McKay (Little Nemo)
J.R. Williams (Out Our Way)
Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon)
Carl Banks (Uncle Scrooge)
V.T. Hamlin (Alley Oop)
Herge (Tintin)
R. Crumb (Zap)
Gus Arriola (Gordo)
Juan Ryp (much stuff)
Jim Steranko (S.H.I.E.L.D.)
Basil Wolverton (early MAD)
Larry Todd (Dr. Atomic)
Stan Lynde (Rick O'Shay)
Trina Robbins (much stuff)
Barry Smith (Conan)
Rube Goldberg (of course!)
Wally Wood (early MAD)
Rand Holmes (Harold Hedd)
Jack Jackson aka Jaxon
Jean Giraud aka Moebius
Rich Corben aka Gore
Rick Griffin (Murph the Surf)
J-C Forest (Barbarella)
Spain Rodriguez (Trashman)
Bill Holman (Smokey Stover)
S. Clay Wilson (Checkered Demon)

Many many more, of course. These are from the top of my head, creators who blew my mind somehow-somewhen. But how could I leave out Harvey Kurtzman, Hal Foster, Al Williamson, Shari Flenniken, Al Capp, Art Spiegelman, Ron Cobb, Joost Swarte, Steve Ditko, Osamu Tezuka, Milo Manara, Jack Chick, Gilbert Shelton, ad infinitum? Whatever turns us on, is GOOD.