Why You're Wrong About Rob Liefeld

[@robliefeld8618]

Thank you for this. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope to meet you someday.

[@et0264]

Cool

[@cookad1977]

This was so cool. I have a small Rob Liefeld collection and the more I re-read them the better they get!

[@krupalkulkarni705]

You are a fucking imposter! The dumbfuck didn't even check your channel before pinning the comment!!!

[@cable30]

If i knew it was ok to tag people anytime i would have sent him a link, but i do not tag for that reason. i can only guess others have told him already be chance. can only guess they do not like being tagged cause people may send them stuff for no good reason so prefer not to be at anytime. so can only guess he knows of this videos by chance any.

[@TheMarrowMan]

Huge inspiration on my own art, you're legend Rob.

[@ArtofZenDigital]

I met him at comic con briefly, and as a huge comic book fan as a kid, my hope was to meet Jim Lee, but the line to meet him was incredibly long. Rob Liefeld was doing commissions, and there really wasn’t any line in front of him. Comics led to me doing illustration work, as well graphic design. Despite how I felt about his art, I still grew up on his comics, and that era inspired me to pursue art. Liefeld was incredibly kind, and while talking to him, he saw someone dressed as Mr T. He said take this, and handed me his camera so he could take a picture with the person wearing the costume. He told him that Mr T was just childhood hero, and it made his day. That’s when it hit me, Rob Liefeld’s a big kid that actually accomplished, and then lived his dreams. He wears his emotions on his sleeves in the most honest way that anyone could. There’s something to that, and as we get older, we become more jaded and we lose that part of ourselves. Regardless of how he draws, or how many rules he breaks visually, there’s a contagious aspect to his personality, largely due to his enthusiasm for everything he does, and the industry he’s in.

[@andrew-rn9ui]

He blatantly stole others ideas and lied about it tho .. Wade Wilson and Slade Wilson lmfao Dude still denies he stole the idea

[@jazzlehazzle]

@@andrew-rn9ui Child, riffing like that is an essential part of comics all the way back to the first ink ever published. Deadpool is a spoof of Deathstroke, a parody (and one that actually works better). That's not theft, that's genius. Pay better attention and learn the game.

[@jazzlehazzle]

Amen, but as a fellow artist myself, I love the way he breaks some visual rules, because it JUST LOOKS AWESOME AND IT'S CARTOONING. I love the way he draws; I love his style, and it's the entire reason we all loved his comics. It's a cartooning style and it works great.

[@xvp08]

@@andrew-rn9ui I was gonna comment was @andrew-rn9ui said but he already said it.

[@theForgottenMelodiesRecords]

Fully agree. he was one of the very nicest of any creators I've met in my life, with only George Perez being of the same kind of kindness.

[@royce.carroll]

I love the line that he was a kid who knew what other kids wanted to see. He was probably the single biggest contributor to the early 90s comics craze for this reason.

[@shanethefox]

6:02 The fact that he completely owns the meme of his obsession with pouches and actually willingly autographs pouches fans bring to him is so admirable.

[@mrheem]

Rob Liefeld is pure passion for comic and superheroes, realism is boring.

[@tonyeltigre4745]

Anyone else saw the thumbnail and thought: "Did Rob Liefield die?"

[@muntu1221]

Yes! 😭

[@Calypso694]

Legit the only reason I clicked

[@jalderink]

If only..

[@april_flint]

Jeremiah dude why would you wish death on someone who’s done nothing wrong.. he had two kids

[@gobbagu]

@@Calypso694 me too hail death

[@joekeatinge]

This was awesome. The perfect summation of why I love Rob's work. I can confirm his enthusiasm when he broke into the industry has only heightened since. When I worked on his book, Glory, he pushed artist Sophie Campbell and I to always try new things, to add our own stamp to it, with the end goal of doing something which hadn't been done before. I love the guy and am extremely happy to see his work given the spotlight it deserves.

[@paranoidplane9799]

I would say Leifield represents the hair metal of comic books. Not that there's anything wrong with hair metal, just that his style is more in line with the bombastic feel of the aforementioned genre.

[@johnfinck288]

You nailed it. I was in my twenties during the eighties - it was my decade. I played guitar in small time bar bands, had the metal hair, the works. As both a comic book guy, and an eighties metal head, I can tell you 100 % that Liefeld's art was based on vibe of metal - Motley Crue and Guns N' Roses. Liefled was the Axel Rose of comics, not Kurt Cobain. He had the clunky, untutored side of punk rock, but his images were totally metal.

[@tonyeltigre4745]

When a random KZbin comment creates a better concept than the actual premise of a KZbin essay.

[@kyriss12]

@Sirenz80 I don't know man. Seeing the current crop of shit comics have been putting out lately makes me long for the 90's. Sure it was over the top, and paid no mind to human anatomy, but it was colorful, bad ass, and the inkers managed to cram alot of detail into every single panel. Have you seen squirrel girl, thats the kind of quality you would expect in a rough sketch of a cartoon from the Sunday fumy pages.

[@challiray]

Wrong. Why are so many people so wrong about Leifeld proximity to hair metal? His art and pure 90s teen energy was part of what killed hair metal... Rob was 90s. Hair metal was 80s. Rob was part of what made the 90s NOT the 80s.

[@paranoidplane9799]

@@challiray Dude look at Youngblood and tell me that shit doesn't look like a Motley Crew video.

[@theswampus670]

i'm not a huge fan of Liefeld, but i completely agree that "realism" does not equal good, all 2D art is an optical illusion and it should be used in what ever way best suits the work.

[@epitaphboi4816]

TheSwampus Exactly, just look a Grappler Baki’s art style

[@starmorpheus]

@@epitaphboi4816 Grappler Baki has exaggerated proportions. Rob straight up ignores basic Conventions like forshortening, perspective etc. Not saying you're wrong, but GB's Mangaka knows anatomy.

[@oscarjimenezgarrido7591]

@@starmorpheus Indeed. Itagaki's work bears no semblance at all with Liefeld's. If anything, it's actually way closer, both in style and feel, to Bart Sears' artwork.

[@Bustermachine]

@@starmorpheus In short, you have to master the rules in order to break the rules.

[@mightybaloo1880]

Realism doesn't equal good. But there are plenty "cartoony" artists that are far better than he was and is. Joe Madureira Darwyn Cooke Chris Bachalo Mike Allred Mike Mignola Tim Sale Art Adams Mike Wieringo Moebius Robert Valley Paul Pope Rafael Grampa James Harren Thomas Perkins Those are just off the top of my head. Rob is a bad artist.

[@cray-seacoral]

I'm not a fan of his art work but the fact that he became a comic book artist at 16 has made him one of my role models.

[@Bustermachine]

This is generally how I've felt about Jack Kirby and Eiichiro Oda. Their art work holds almost no aesthetic appeal to me. But I recognize the technical competence and admire the incredibly prolific imaginations. As for Liefeld, I don't really think this dismisses any of the criticism about his work. I think it just puts the man in his proper context with the changing times of the comic book industry.

[@archmage7813]

You should pick a better role. Accomplishing something with no work and no struggle is not something to aspire to. Someone making it without trying is one and a trillion. Pick a roll model who you can emulate. He is the opposite of a roll model.

[@aryan7767]

he worked his ass off lmao. theres this other video on rob liefield that heavil goes into his backstory@@archmage7813

[@Naldinho456]

​@@archmage7813 he literally flipped the comic book industry on its head say what you want but he ia a good role model taje his hood qualities

[@archmage7813]

@@Naldinho456 did you read your comment before posting? It's illegible.

[@punk51984]

I'm a Liefeld "hater" but this was a wonderful video and even though it didn't make me love him it has softened me on some of his art.

[@PanelstoPixels]

Thanks, that's awesome. Everybody has likes and dislikes so it's all good.

[@LLoydL]

His early work were better than what he's doing now..in my opinion

[@punk51984]

@@LLoydL That's more than fair.

[@Spthomas47]

I have most of his work at Marvel, but never got into his Image stuff. Not entirely sure why; the only other Image founder that never really carried over for me was Valentino. I've always enjoyed interviews with Rob and never really had problems with his art(never made the Kirby connection, but should have probably).

[@fastproductionsTM]

@Andrew Ryan 💯 this

[@olserknam]

It's weird to see how Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld went in completely different directions despite starting in the same generation of comic book creators. Lee's art is beautiful, masterfully performed and amazingly static and lifeless. Liefeld's is rough, over-the-top, very hard to take seriously, but chock-full of energy.

[@OwenLikesComics]

This isn't something I'd say lightly, but this is one of the best comic book-focused videos I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Great work Josh, extremely proud of you!

[@PanelstoPixels]

Agh, Owen! You're going to make me cry. Thanks so much!

[@BasementMinions]

I had only ever heard of him whenever Deadpool was brought up and people were quick to whip out their phone and pull up the Captain America and the feet images. Seeing his work so dynamically placed on the page helps me to appreciate how much enthusiasm he has for storytelling. It's quite infectious.

[@TalecraftTavern]

Honestly, speaking as someone too young to have experienced Liefeld at his height, all that I've ever heard about him are the criticisms. It was refreshing to hear an opinion that wasn't just "lol stupid this isn't how anatomy works" and instead looks critically at the timing and culture of his work to explain why it has the impact it did. You've given me a newfound respect for the guy and I really appreciate that

[@ZillMob]

JARMC I was 16 when image started. The whole time was a blast

[@ahabgaddis7277]

I don't know much about him or comic books, but I don't get the hate. His artwork looks good to me. Most comics I see today look really bad. I wonder what people have in mind as "good". I did at one time read Spawn and loved Greg Capullo's work in the 90's. I really loved that gritty and tattered style with carefully detail. I wish more drew like him

[@ZillMob]

Wyatt Bosch I always felt like Greg Capaullo just took over for Todd and just stole much of his style from MacFarlane. It wasn’t bad but I liked Todd’s stuff better

[@KingCarlAmari]

JARMC As a kid at the time his stuff was the shit! No idea why the hate for his work.

[@vperkv6554]

Rob was a god in the early to mid 90s, i collected YOUNGBLOOS AND prophet ( image comics), but Stephen platt drew the cover variants better imo, i have a varified autograph steven patt moonlight in mint condition.

[@tonythornhill9156]

Liefeld is more like the Vanilla Ice of Comics. Early success led to their rise, then over exposure and limited talent led to fans and the industry turning on them. But now both of them have gotten through that period of being ridiculed, turned into a punchline and ostracized from the industry. Also, both are now comfortable with their own legacy and the contribution they've made to their respective forms of entertainment. You can love them or hate them, but you can't deny they both made an indelible mark in their field. Oh,.. and coincidentally Vanilla Ice's name is Rob too...."word to your mother".

[@timgonzales2891]

He even looks vaguely like vanilla ice to me

[@tonythornhill9156]

​@@timgonzales2891 .. And the similarities don't stop there. In '90 Vanilla Ice released his album which was called what? ..To The Extreme. In 1992 Liefeld quit Marvel to help form Image Comics and created his house studio which was called what?.. Extreme Studios. But the question is can Liefeld rock a mic like a vandal, light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle?

[@tonythornhill9156]

And there’s more. Liefeld created the character Badrock. Vanilla Ice created bad rap. See,.. it just goes on and on.

[@tonythornhill9156]

Yep, Liefeld comic..New Mutants (teenage mutant superheroes) Vanilla Ice song... Ninja Rap (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Those two guys ought to get together and stop, collaborate, and listen and they'll see how much they have in common.

[@Daniel__Nobre]

This is the best comparison, yes! :)

[@marktrafford1572]

As an 8 year old kid I wasn’t an art critic. I saw what I liked and I love it. Rob, Todd and Jim made my childhood awesome! And for that I will be forever grateful!!!

[@GeeVanderplas]

I'd take his exaggerated but super dynamic art over those stiff traced photographs you see now any day

[@Jake_E57]

It must have taken a lot of work to make such a far leap. Liefeld is far from Cobain, he's more Kiss. He's not the punk rock response to hair metal, he's the hair metal response to punk rock. He's the Michael Bay of comics. It's flash and sizzle and that in itself has a niche and has fans of it and that's why he's still around after so long. He came along at the right time to carve himself out a spot. Personally I'm not into his style, he's a little too fast and lose stylistically. I'm willing to suspend disbelief, that's part of the fun, but I have my limits.

[@schmuckytheraiderbear5043]

💯

[@beatsbeercigarettes]

This, exactly.

[@rbiznezz2]

💯💯💯💯

[@davidlindsay9564]

Don't insult Kiss like that. He is like the BUSH (band).

[@vaiyt]

He's around now because some editors were fans of comics in the 1990s like the previous crop were fans in the 1980s.

[@muticere]

I remember getting really annoyed with people sharing the Stan Lee / Rob Liefeld video, everyone had just the worst takes. They kept projecting onto the video stuff that wasn't even there, that Liefeld was disrespecting Stan Lee, that there was animosity, etc. But what I always saw was this industry legend hanging out with this starstruck kid and them having some light banter and having fun. Lee gave Liefeld a hard time over his exaggerated style, but overall it seems like they had a fairly chill vibe.

[@WhatsUpFella]

This was nice, it’s interesting to hear a take that isn’t just the same old regurgitated arguments. I’ve gotten tired of negative art criticism, I’d rather just hear what people like about things.

[@cbake76]

I wish you spoke for the internet as a whole, Fidelio. Love that attitude!

[@grantbaugh2773]

Right? Everyone loves to dump on Liefeld but I've always thought he must have done something right to become one of the highest selling artists.

[@toddirvine7086]

Seriously! It's so prevalent in the comics community, too. Don't like (insert artist/writer here), then don't buy their books. Couldn't agree more, Fidelio.

[@AbVoxNihil]

The main issue here is that the average is dumb, Kim Kardashian and Rob Liefeld are in a very similar category, people whose only redeeming quality is their luck at connecting with the zeitgeist of their times, no skill, no talent, objectively speaking. but Alas they clicked with whom they had to and thus became millionaires, even JK Rowling falls into this if you really wanna push it, although that would be a fallacy :)

[@nikomiller]

Except that these are all the same arguments Liefeld-apologists have been using for years online in smaller communities. I don't think Liefeld's art is nearly as bad as some make it out to be, and him being a fan and engaging with his fans is great. But the dude is a terrible (!) writer, is an asshole to people, shits on all companies and celebrities constantly, is aggressive, and has made dumb business decisions. Compare his attitude and his current carreer to his friends Jim Lee (CCO of DC comics!) or even Todd McFarlane (still the president of Image, won a Grammy for a music video, has a successful toy and collectibles company) despite his legal battles and the constant problems with production of the new Spawn movie. Even the less successful guys like Larsen who just turned Savage Dragon into basically-porn. All the other Image founders have been at some point or still are much better artists and writers, and none of them have the infamous aura of being a shithead and a punchline surrounding them.

[@raaid22]

love him or hate him, you can't deny he was immensely influential

[@Jrez]

For better or for worse

[@Jrez]

@Shin Shaman "People like you" Please try not to see the world as opponents and enemies, as groups of stereotypes and the façade of binary choice we all seem to be living in now. I can assure you I've never cried over Rob Liefeld's success or impact on comics, it's just a joke. I'd appreciate it if you could be a bit more charitable in your assumptions of people you disagree with. While I can appreciate schadenfreude and laughing at others' anger as much as anyone, I'd warn that overeagerness to "other" people all the time can be harmful. Sorry to go all Baudrillard for a bit, but it's late and I tend to ramble when I'm tired.

[@soulcraft_84]

I'm a fan of Rob. Every successful illustrator has a instantly recognizable style, and Liefeld definitely has one. You can look at anything he has done and instantly tell it was his. There are a lot of comic artists, while technically great, that don't stand out in that way.

[@Fluxwithit]

As a kid I grew up loving his style. It was so over the top. As an adult I look back and think man that was so over the top. Love it ... flaws and all. His style even when he does bad work it’s still more fun than man other artists. #whoneedsfeet #thighpouchesforthewin

[@juanc1328]

Ken Flux Pierce Fluxwithit , I still rather read (if there was a story) his old books then pick up anything current from marvel.

[@lordrul]

Thank you for creating this video, I grew up with Rob's art back in the 90s, always admiring his great art. I really love the way he drew X-Force.

[@shayewreford274]

Though it isn't published as a part of the story, I have the famous Captain America picture published on cable #34 from 1996 on the fourth page from the back. It's next to an interview with liefeld about his work on the cap series.

[@marvelmite1]

It was also used in Wizard and advertising material. It was definitely out there

[@Replica_Rabbit]

I respect Liefeld, but I dislike his art style. His art style made me not want to get into New Mutants or X-Force, I think I was spoil by Batman TAS and Superman TAS. It not because his art doesn't look Realism (I'm a fan of One Piece), I don't like the fighting and it very hard to follow.

[@B.-T.]

The "you only hate it because you crave photorealism" rebuttal at critics is so weird because like.... I always favored simple and stylish art styles like that of the Timmverse and the late great Mike Parobeck.

[@ericdravennevermore2566]

it was lazy, rushed & exaggerated.

[@juanc1328]

New mutants and X-force were ok, it’s when he broke off to image, that art work was just one dimensional one trick pony and all his books were carbon copies of New Mutants and X-force.

[@thestranger9608]

I love the 90s look big guns,boobs and masculinity. Rob will always have a place in comic fandom

[@Wyattoons]

While I may not be a fan of most of his work or the way he handles himself sometimes on social media, I truly admire and respect his ambitious passionate attitude. Dude knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life and just went out and did it.

[@RetroGameQuest]

Completely agree. Rob was a legend in the 90s. Everyone was praising him. Love or hate his art, the guy is extremely passionate about the industry. Nothing but respect from me. Also I really appreciate this video. Some really nice editing and a great overview of Rob's career.

[@jasonbravo9358]

How can you say that he was "self-taught" and that's what made him amazing? Mcfarlane, Jim Lee, Adam Hughes, Silvestri...they were all self taught too.

[@Eleven17Studios]

As someone who grew up reading whatever New Mutant I could find at comic swap meets, I'm glad to hear that I actually had good taste. Really love how this one's put together, and that Jack Kirby comparison is wonderful

[@PanelstoPixels]

Thanks! I've been buying up a lot of that New Mutants stuff whenever I see it. McFarlane inks on Liefeld pencils = some of the best covers ever.

[@VuotoPneumaNN]

He is more like the Axl Rose of comics: -arrogant -full of himself -lazy -creatively very limited -washed out after a brief period of glory in the late 80s/early 90s -constantly failing at reinventing himself -burned lots of bridges -somehow still has legions of fans, mostly old nostalgic white men

[@TheShadowchiefstudio]

Interesting video. Honestly, I've never had a issue with Liefeld arts, it's certainly not my cup of tea, but that's purely me. It's his dickishness that puts me off, and not for unprecedented reasons, a lot of his recent actions feel unfortunately familiar to another comic artist who went down a dark path.

[@RbkARI]

Wait, what artist?

[@greg_static_art]

Which artist?

[@RbkARI]

@TheBrokenUpEndEx how did I not think of him

[@rogbard]

Frank Miller or Ethan van Sciver?

[@epitaphboi4816]

Butch Hartman? Lol

[@destiny-theseries]

I’ve always thought of Liefeld as the Michael Bay of comics. Big, loud and full of motion. I’m not a huge fan of his work, but I appreciate his love for the artform.

[@pricedownproductions9851]

13:09 "These pages are about old school and conventional as comics get" That page is actually pretty well-stocked with typical modern Liefeld tropes, e.g. sleeveless jacket with the collar popped, huge guns, cross-hatching for background, extraneous cranial reflection, gigantic groin area, hand that doesn't line up to the gun handle, etc.

[@FrankZen]

I wasn't really a fan of his art but I recognized his impact on New Mutants and I loved the characters he introduced like Cable and Deadpool.

[@OomaGooma]

Didn’t even mention John Buscema by name when he appeared onscreen.

[@greg_static_art]

Lol I was kinda waiting for his mention too

[@OomaGooma]

Greg L - I’m not a fan of Liefeld. I don’t like his arrogance and I find especially distasteful his unwillingness to give Louise Simonson any credit for co-creating Cable or Fabian Nicieza any credit for co-creating Deadpool.

[@terencemcclenney8854]

I know. You're not gonna drop Big John's name? Disrespectful. Shows what this guy knows or rather, doesn't know about good comic art.

[@JP-qb3ny]

When I was 12-13 years old I thought his art was awesome and its what got me into comics. I think the reason his comics sold so well was his style of art appealed to many young males, which is most likely the majority that read these super hero comics. Yes there’s definitely older people like myself who still read comics but that’s a smaller percentage. The largest demographic that would read super hero comics are young males in their teens to early 20s. And Robs comic sales numbers clearly shows was tap into what comic readers wanted. Now I don’t think too many young kids are reading American comics anymore because it’s more geared towards an older crowd or some other demographic who the majority don’t really read comics.

[@needhamcomics6370]

I do believe he went to art school and anatomy class taught by a former teacher of mine. The college art teacher told me this and at a convention Rob confirmed it.

[@schmuckytheraiderbear5043]

Does that mean Leifeld is lying in the video clip?

[@tigerfestivals5137]

@@schmuckytheraiderbear5043 it's far more likely that the random person on the internet is lying or mistaken

[@schmuckytheraiderbear5043]

@@tigerfestivals5137 exactly. I was trying to see what their response would be.

[@Beuzer0]

Never heard of Rob's work before (i didn't grow up with American Comics) but as a perfectionist who's fighting to liberate my creative spirit from technical and judgemental restrains, I feel inspired by his carreer and this video.

[@Ravathiel]

I just remember him not finishing a lot of books and my father started to get sick of him back in the day when he read his books.

[@IAmAnEvilTaco]

His entire gimmick was throwing Shit at the wall and seeing what stuck. I never read his non x-books because of it, you knew it was getting canceled eventually.

[@comedyrock]

17:46 the reason he did the the side panel representation of Hawk and Dove was because the previous issue of Doom Patrol portrayed the destination that they were in in that context, so he was only keeping the artistic constancy in that situation

[@Elementa2006]

You make a compelling argument with many good points. HOWEVER, I'll still take works of artists like Curt Swan, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (Praise His Name), George Perez, Neal Adams, E.C. Segar, Osamu Tezuka and the master himself Will Eisner over any of Liefeld's art, because their art has amazing use of sequential storytelling (I'll fight any argument claiming Eisner's use of sequential storytelling in his artwork sucks) along with looking better than any of Liefeld's art. Also for a lot of people like myself, criticism of his art doesn't really have much to do with realism. I'm a fan of 90s comics like Savage Dragon, Spawn as well other works like One Piece that feature less realistic art style, I just don't find Liefeld's art appealing

[@nicky923nk]

I agree. I kept getting confused when he kept bringing up realism as a reason people dislike Liefeld's art because that isn't the main argument I've heard from a large amount of people.

[@ComicDan]

That's not really a criticism. Not funding something appealing isn't really criticizing anything.

[@Elementa2006]

@@ComicDanOkay, a lot of facial expressions he draws can really look bland a lot of the times, the postures feel very awkward and not as dynamic as the scene wants to display and whenever he tries to draw a fight scene, there are times when those scenes just doesn't feel exciting to me, in fact they come across as pretty boring.

[@crit_cannon1090]

i grew up on Liefeld. loved his work then, love his work now. got to meet him at a comicon.

[@gyga100]

"this pages are about old school and conventional as comics gets" looks at 13:09 proceed to show a muscular Hawk with a jacket and a bunch of guns

[@brmbkl]

good point. well spotted.

[@Mistopherchristopher]

The ton of work you put into this video is evident, dude i'd never seen anything from this channel and all of the sudden this pops up in my recommended. I didn't know much about Liefeld, only that he was dead pools creator, but now i feel a new respect and desire to check out some of his work. i'm in love with the 90's image comics style having read and loved 'The Maxx' and this guys work looks right up an avenue i want to explore. you've earned yourself a subscriber here man, great video !

[@MattDraper]

Fantastic video, Josh! I just loved your focus and whole style here. This was really great. And you're too kind!

[@Vasco1001]

Dude, your videos are amazing, I absolutely love them

[@joshdillon9637]

I loved Liefeld's art growing up and as a kid who did his best to try to draw super heroes and the like, I could care less if an artist could draw everything correctly as no matter how much I studied or tried, my feet, hands and overall body structure came out looking weird. The man did what almost none of us ever get the chance to do and he did it with no formal training. I don't care what anyone says, Rob is a legend.

[@CMan-x7k]

I always hated how people criticize Rob's style, but praise Jack Kirby and Mike Mignola.

[@CMan-x7k]

@Tom Nye Creating new characters I'll admit Rob isn't good at. When it comes to drawing I feel it hypocritical that Jack Kirby gets praised. I find some of his art to be kinda bad to look at.

[@davidgeldner2167]

The main difference batsmen Cobain and Liefeld is Cobain was talented.

[@raiseanothermanskidsforlov4920]

If you call mumbling into a microphone and playing guitar horribly talented

[@AdrianT-jw2sz]

I'd say the difference is Cobain is dead.

[@mrquake7789]

More like Fred Durst.

[@GDM245]

This is really well done. Keep up the good work and maybe even make another one please.

[@PanelstoPixels]

Thanks a bunch!

[@HereForMyBro]

There will never be another comic artist like him! Ever! This man is a creative titan! ❤

[@Roadman1000]

As an aspiring self taught comic book artist to be I can relate to Liefeld

[@victorcabanelas]

First things first: Art is subjective. To each his/her own. Second: I've been a professional comicbook artist for over 15 years and a fan of Nirvana for even longer, so I feel obligated to make a comment. In any case, frankly, I think you're missing the point. The problem with Liefeld's work's that the storytelling's terrible. Transitions between panels are really hard to read. He barely bothers with backgrounds. Did he ever heard of the 180 rule (which CAN be broken, but you should learn the basics first)? The anatomy, style, splash pages, etc. All of that comes later. Storytelling comes first. I think it's great that he can make atractive drawings but if the story suffers... what's the point? Again, to each his/her own. Cheers. PS: I won't comment on his writting since I haven't really read that much by him and it wouldn't be fair. And, by no means I'm a good artist, so all c&c's more than welcome.

[@georgwisniewski4118]

That's very much the point. The bad art leads to the bad storytelling. If your characters have little emotion other than "addrenaline pumped", you don't have a good story. If you can only portray characters fighting the fighting is meaningless, because you don't set stakes, and I can't empathize or connect to anything other than testosterone-driven delusions of carving a place in the world by beating people to the ground. And that doesn't go far. People usually try to connect to other people, to form bounds, make memories, struggle and grow personally. That doesn't happen through throwing punches around or simply feeling the recoil of a big gun. That happens through the recognition of subjectivety, that requires much more sensibility than breaking stuff.

[@victorcabanelas]

@Pepe Lopez Indie stuff. The, let's say, 'biggest' thing I worked on was The Adventures Of Lightning Squirrel", but it was also independent.

[@wallrider73]

Fantastic video. I remember picking up his New Mutants work (including #98 - one of my most prized comics) and while you could pick holes in his anatomy all day, there was a dynamism and energy to his work that just made it infectious. When he says he always saw his role as a creative storyteller rather than a great artist it made everything clear. No-one made Deadpool look as cool as he did. And Cable! The Cable pitch was he's a cross between Arnie in Predator and Arnie in Terminator. For the early 90s it' didn't get better than that. I wasn't a fan of the early Youngblood but it picked up around #6 (was that the one where Shaft had body image issues?) You really contextualised what happened with Image when you position it as a young, self-taught guy in a position no-one has been in before. His ambition and vision outstripped what he could deliver (see also Jodorowsky's Dune). At somepoint it became cool to bash Liefeld for the exact same things people loved about Kirby. Go figure! Thanks for this video.

[@daniexists6]

Rob Liefeld is the Kurt Cobain of comics in that he was an amazing talent and then splattered his brains. Just here it's because his own ego took the front seat and his talent never got past the 90s.

[@mikecargioli3030]

This video has sent me on an insane binge of 90s Image stuffs. I just started watching The Maxx animated series and it’s giving me a crazy “How has I never heard of this!” Experience. Thank you so much for opening this world for me.

[@dunkenbutterfly]

I’m italian and I love drawing, comics and art. I’m a fan of hyper realism but IMHO Rob Liefeld should be recognized as an innovator in the world of American comics for redefining the visual language of superheroes in the ’90s. His bold, exaggerated art style broke traditional norms, making characters more dynamic and larger-than-life. Liefeld’s co-creation of Deadpool and Cable introduced complex, iconic figures that remain fan favorites today. Despite criticism, his impact on comic book storytelling and his role in founding Image Comics helped revolutionize the industry, giving creators more freedom and control over their work.

[@AbVoxNihil]

Look, i don't like Liefeld's style but i understand his appeal i remember a 13 year old me fascinated with pouches and belts. Does he deserve all the negativity he gets? not really, and like you pointed out he did good things for the industry(maybe). BUT. most of the points you make in the video are subjective, his impact, goals and effect are all subjective, are his drawings dynamic? subjective. Does he transmit energy and excitement with his drawings? Subjective. Did he change the industry? Subjective, one could argue every single point by either saying he didn't do it alone, and how much is his own personal effort and how much of the peers he surrounded himself with or how it was all accidental and it was actually the talent of the people that came after that managed to save his characters and ideas (for example Deadpool). Most if not everything Liefeld is critiqued by is pretty much objective, Is the anatomy wrong? Yes. Does he have pacing issues? Yes, details from characters change from page to page and scenes are rarely explained, there's never a wide shot telling you what's going or where. Are his background simple and/or blank? Yes, just lines or colour most of the time, having colour and lines is factually "simple". To summarize or as simpletons put it (TL;DR), Although it's a nice video and i applaud the effort most of your arguments are flawed and invalid, things you establish are based on fallacies and therefore are false. whereas the criticism is mostly "logically sound" based on actual facts and conventions not opinions, even the Captain America drawing that as you say wasn't meant to be in a comic book is anatomically incorrect, the lights and shadows are wrong and it's overall just poor craftsmanship, again a fact not an opinion, all of this regardless of any context, it's a bad drawing done by an artist who, historically has never shown more talent or skill. If you want to bend the rules you need to master them first, look at Picasso's early portraits he is a master of the drawing and allows himself to disturb the realism with his very late cubist style, Rob Liefeld has made a career of just the last part without an understanding of the basics. Fact, sadly. Props on the video nevertheless, it was entertaining and your rhetoric is effective, i do feel slightly less prone to judge Liefeld harshly and actually feel bad for the guy.

[@SaudKaiser]

Hi, I'm a professional storyboard & concept artist for more than 20 years now, and got to tell you that Rob Liefeld is one of the prime influence on me, along with Jim Lee, Marc silvestri, Greg capullo from 90s. Thank you Rob Liefeld for being one of the best storytellers in the past 35 years,

[@Arthur-ex4yj]

Man you really changed my mind on him. Thank you. I won’t blindly hate people just because others tell me to anymore.

[@creedfan2003]

this video shows an extreme misunderstanding of kurt cobain

[@TheseBitchesWantNikes]

Fake Nostalgia Critic coming through with the FAX!

[@macuna1995]

Honestly, everyone's style is unique, and there's something about Rob's style that has some kind of uniqueness that I find interesting. It would be fascinating if I ever met Rob or even had him illustrate any story I wrote.

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

He couldn't draw feet on characters and almost every character had a triangle growing out of his or her head.

[@FCSchaefer]

As someone who read comics all through the '90s and beyond, I really enjoyed this video. Not always a Liefeld fan, but you made your points well.

[@AgentNevets]

This was a fantastic video. Well done! It made me subscribe to your Patreon!

[@NWGhost71]

I really liked your perspective here. Early Liefeld really caught my attention back in the day. It was a new, exciting and different. One of my favorite books was the New Mutants and I felt he took it to the next level. The style did eventually start to wear on me though and seeing some of the obvious flaws of some of his work pushed me away. This video has pointed out alot to me from a different angle and I think I may have to reassess my attitude towards his work. Nice job my friend.

[@paulmay1729]

IMO as a comic fan in the early 90s, it was a time that sizzled with excitement and each book was trying something new--good, bad, or unnoticeable. You bring up many of the ingrained pop culture reasons that drove the art style of that time. Great video. Thanks!

[@joepulford83]

Rob Liefeld Draws the perfect characters for 13-year-old boys, and that used to be the main demographic for the field. His art is Dynamic and fun.

[@3dartistguy]

His art is garbage

[@JacksonTaylorandTheSinners]

Great video. I agree with you. Rob is great at what he does and what he does is great, it’s not “correct” but it’s fun. He knows what comic books are, or what they should be. Escapism.

[@TarriPup]

I find it inspiring, as a comic artist myself, trying to make it in the world. :3 In addition, I see so often where other artists are fussing over whether their art is "good enough" to make comics - I'm all for improving, but if you want to make comics, just go for it. You need to chase your own style, your own signature - not the styles of other artists. You don't want to drown in an ocean - you want to be the unusual island that sticks out of it, always catching your eye. :3

[@mattelder]

Enjoyed the video and would like to see more like this.

[@Robpool2000]

I’ve met Liefeld a few times, a real nice guy (really cares about the fans). The guy is very passionate about what he does. He’s like a big kid that lives and breathes comics.

[@jazzlehazzle]

Damn skippy. You're the first guy to tell the haters they've been hallucinating nonsense in a self-affirming echo-chamber of jealousy, corporate spin, and wannabes who can't draw. What started as calculated smear campaigns by Marvel & Wizard, to criticize him for the exact same things for which he was celebrated (and which earned them millions), became a lame all-too-easy meme for any rando to slam him just to feel like they could be part of a knowledgeable conversation. An amazing example of media brainwashing as the social internet was just starting to take shape. Well I'm a pro artist myself, those twerps were clueless, and Rob Liefeld is AWESOME. He hard-earned every last dime by grinding to make millions of kids' heads explode with joy, over and over again. Anyone with half a mind for art knows exactly why that's so hard, and exactly why Liefeld's accomplishments are so admirable. Millions of people weren't suckered into buying his books, we genuinely loved them, and some of us really know our craft. That man is a soldier for the love of comics & fans, and a fabulous page designer whose work inspired me to start my whole career, for which I'm eternally grateful, and continues to inspire me to this day. If there's one word to sum up Rob Liefeld's core philosophy, emotion, life, and works, I think it would be "WOW!!!" He just wants you to feel fantastic. And you do, when you look at any page of his. What a champ. ❤

[@jackgoblue]

Calling Liefeld the Cobain of comics is a terrible comparison. Liefeld embraced his celebrity and his art is not my cup of tea but I can appreciate his passion for comics.

[@ericdravennevermore2566]

and he didn't kill himself like cobain, so i was confused about this comparison.

[@almightycinder]

Did you ignore that part in the video where he said why? Cobain broke into the music industry at a very young age, with (self-admittedly) 1/4 of the talent as other rockers, yet was still incredibly popular with the younglings. It's very possible that if Cobain DID embrace it and was still alive today, music snobs would be doing nothing but bashing his work, with memes about "Nirvana can't play guitar!" Or if Liefeld killed himself at 27, he'd be the same kind of unquestionable, sacred cow that Cobain is.

[@theraVen27]

almightycinder I’m that guy who everyone hates because I don’t see talent in Nirvana, the lyrics are nonsense, the music is simple and repetitive. The hype is overblown.

[@alex-og.zalez9403]

This honestly has changed the way I look at Rob Leifeld forever. Thanks for doing this video!

[@mzelster]

His what if issue was very good. That's when I first saw his art

[@TwinSteel]

A great example of Brubaker’s Law: everything is more complicated than you think, even when taking Brubaker’s Law into account.

[@DouglasPendletonintherealms]

Rob Liefeld brought a certain energy that was honesty not there before. Folks will say they don't like him but they damn sure bought his books.

[@YanisMass-k6l]

RobLiefield is the Michael Bay of comics

[@Crazelord91]

While I would never say his style is anywhere near my favorite (that's reserved for the likes of John Romata Jr and Steve Dillon) bc I do think he isn't the best artist I do have a nostalgia for it for the reasons you stated in this video. It's the same reason I love grunge. Sometimes the attitude and intent is more impactful than the polish. I don't care much for a lot of mainstream comic art now for instance bc it's just so polished. Like everything looks nice, great. It takes a lot of work I know but it's kind of boring to me personally. It's similar to why I love art styles in Anime like Mob Psycho 100 vs SAO. While MP1 is actually drawn by incredible artists what I love most is how interesting the style is vs the bland pretty style of more mainstream anime. There's something about the punk rock rough style of Liefeld, Mcfarlane, early Lee, and others that I still get a kick out of going back to read today.

[@PanelstoPixels]

"Sometimes the attitude and intent is more impactful than the polish." This guy gets it.

[@Crazelord91]

@@PanelstoPixels Yessir. Great video btw

[@GODemon13]

JRjr is one of the worst artists in the industry. I would take Liefeld over JRjr Anyday.

[@realghostface2370]

​@Mikhail G Liefeld isn't generic 90s, Liefeld's style was bizarre or unique even then. Jim Lee probably defines the 90s more than anyone else. in terms of superhero comics everyone just tried to draw like Jim Lee. but there truthfully isn't really any such thing as a generic 90s style, since that time was so diverse and varied for art styles.

[@davidpyott3710]

Awesome vid mate. More history of comics would be brilliant. Cheers bro!

[@PanelstoPixels]

Thanks dude! Check out my most recent vid if you haven't already. Lots of good comics history in there.

[@Dan14thPrime]

The guy invented extreme pouches. 😁 His career reminds me of fashion. He was “in” in the ‘90’s when artwork and new characters sold books, but he fell out of style like parachute pants.

[@BrilliantBenGaming]

Rob Liefeld influenced my artwork as a kid and I didn't really know who he was until the late 2000's. The internet's bashing of his work reminded me of my earliest comic book memories. I thought the designs of the character's he made were interesting and wild. That's when I started adding spikes to all my character drawings. Spawn, X-men and young blood's were my favorites back then.

[@jur5974]

Liefeld`s a better artist than all the tumblr/calarts style "artists".

[@ne0664]

This comparation is like a comparate a Coke with a Tea

[@scottsparks9199]

Liefeld and Mcfarlane are the 90's when it comes to comics.

[@isaacanzures3989]

The extra work you put into this video really shows!

[@PanelstoPixels]

Thank you! That's really nice to hear/read.

[@Erinski]

As an artist, the visual at 8:08 made me jump. The very idea of a phone at one's drafting table seems like a fucking nightmare.

[@punipunipyo]

Personally, compares to the garbage Marvel/DC shits out today, Rob’s stuff is work of high art

[@starmorpheus]

Point out the "shit" that Marvel and DC are putting out.

[@jfool10125]

You’ve changed my mind on this guy no joke

[@beholdthecakola]

Liefeld is way more Guns N' Roses than Nirvana.

[@codekhalil6437]

Sweet. GnR is amazing.

[@kylehyde215CA]

I'd say U2

[@beholdthecakola]

@@kylehyde215CA I am beyond curious as to why you would compare Rob to U2. Please explain.

[@kylehyde215CA]

@@beholdthecakolaAfter thinking about it, I retract my statement and agree with you. I thank Rob for creating Deadpool and I'm sure be has other things that has stood the test of time. Rob's best work is his Appetite for Destruction and Chinese Democracy. His other work is the rest of GnR's work. I think U2 is overrated and overplayed.

[@BubblegumCrash332]

Liefeld is the Michael Bay of comics

[@3dartistguy]

It’s amazing in all these years he’s still hasn’t bothered to learn How to draw professionally

[@andrewquick4176]

3dartistguy ABSOLUTELY THIS

[@funlover4207]

LMFAO!!!!! I heard Jim Lee helps him sometimes

[@blackeesh463]

Considering his success,one would believe there is no one definitive way to draw comics "professionally"

[@3dartistguy]

Blackeesh what success? He was a flash in the pan 30 years ago. What’s he doing these days? Hell never be considered a great artist like a Neal Adams or a John Byrne.

[@blackeesh463]

@Minimum_Wage_Robot 1)i never implied he was a great artist,he isn't. 2) i said he had success despite being a garbage artist by traditional standards. 3)if you honestly believe there is only one way to approach visual storytelling professionally i'm inclined to believe you haven't read much.

[@JerichoJack]

I feel like I’ll 100% disagree, but I’m willing to hear your opinion on the matter and see if im wrong or not.

[@PanelstoPixels]

Hey, I'm not here to convert anybody. Thanks for watching!

[@Nightscream72]

PART 2 *** 10:00: “I think a lot of the backlash against Rob Liefeld’s work comes down to one thing. And that’s this misconception that good art equals realism.” This is easily falsified by the fact that almost all comic book artwork, including that which is produced by the most popular artists, is not strictly realistic. Comic book art tends to vary on a spectrum of expressionism, in which reality is depicted in a way that the reader will understand what people, places and things are supposed to be, but not in photorealistic way, because photorealistic rendering looks stiff and mannequin-like in the sequential medium of comics. Scott McCloud touched upon this in “Understanding Comics,” his seminal analysis of the medium, in which he showed how the benefit of a face, for example, that is stylized instead of photorealistic can more easily connect with a wider range of readers. In fact, when I think of the few artists who attempt to draw in a photorealistic manner, one that comes to mind-Greg Land-is criticized for how slavishly he depends on references. Another I’ve noticed is Richard Piers Rayner, who drew “Road to Perdition.” It’s gorgeous work, but it’s clear that he just copied photographs, sometimes multiple times, without even trying for consistency in many areas. This is also a problem with some artists on licensed books like Star Trek, who simply render a character close-up from the actor’s publicity photo, and don’t change the facial expression at all, or even part the lips to indicate the dialogue. Alex Ross seems to be the exception. When you look at the most popular artists from yesterday and today, none of them are “realistic.” There is a SENSE of realism in that they try to render things the way they’re supposed to look so that a reader understands what’s going on, but even this varies from artist to artist, and depends on other things like genre, story, the needs of the specific scene like its tone, etc. *** 11:09: “These stylistic affectations were a breath of fresh air in comics, and were seen as the impetus for his initial success.” *** Given how much of Rob’s Wikipedia article I’ve personally written, I guess I should be flattered that you relied on it so closely for the dialogue in your video. :-) *** 11:14: “Every time Rob draws a character the way only he can, he is making conscious choice.” *** Well, that’s a relief. Because all this time I was under the impression went to bed holding a pencil and a marker, and then did his artwork in his sleep while playing a sleepwalking version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Seriously, I’m not sure what point this comment is supposed to make. Are you saying that he was accused of NOT making conscious choices? Or that his non-Image contemporaries or predecessors weren’t? The fact that they were “deliberate” does not mean his choices were good ones, or that anyone who dislikes his art is “wrong.” *** 11:30: “Reading a Liefeld comic is akin to riding a roller coaster.” *** Which isn’t necessarily what good storytelling is. *** 11:33: “It all combines into a totally unique aesthetic. One that combines hyper-realistic shading and rendering with exaggerated, cartoony anatomy.” *** Liefeld’s shading and rendering, particularly in the period you focus on, is NOT “realistic,” let alone “hyper-realistic.” The “shading and rendering you tout as realistic consists largely of ineptly applied cross-hatch lines that spaced far too far apart to genuinely convey a light source, are placed arbitrarily, and exhibit no sense of consistency. Also, I thought that the notion that good art had to be realistic was a “misconception.” So why are you now touting his work as exhibiting that quality? *** 11:42: “Liefeld’s art has garnered many fans within the comic book industry, from Mark Millar to Jeph Loeb…Robert Kirkman…” *** So now you’re back to reading my composition of Rob’s Wikipedia article? Again, I’m flattered. ;-) But name-dropping famous fans of Rob doesn’t make any of your claims of Rob’s art more rigorous, much less the viewpoints of his critics “wrong,” any more than the mere fact that he was “young,” “had no formal traiing or experience,” was “experimenting,” “paying tribute to his influences,” “evolving” in his style (more like devolving), or any other aspect of his mindset when creating this art. If it did, then would mentioning notable critics of Rob’s work falsify your promotion of his work? Sure, you mention Loeb, Millar, Kirkman. But why not mention those who have expressed critical views of his work, like Barry Windsor-Smith, Alex Ross, Peter David, Mike Carlin, or Karl Kesel, all of whom are also mentioned in his Wikipedia article? Following Wikpedia’s neutrality policy, and wanting to strike some balance, I made a point of mentioning BOTH of these sets of people. Why didn’t you? *** 14:09: “The whole conceit of [Youngblood] is a commentary on the superficiality of comics at the time, and a reflection of Rob’s own sudden rise to fame.” *** First of all, none of Rob’s work indicates that he is that clever or self-aware of a satirist. Second, the idea that Rob was deliberately commenting the superficiality of the most popular comics at the time ignores the fact that HE HIMSELF is was responsible for the most superficial of them himself. It also ignores the fact that he first created Youngblood back in 1987, long before his ascension to superstar status. Any read of Rob’s work on Youngblood shows that he wrote it “straight,” as there isn’t the barest hint of irony in it. If it was intended as parody, then why did Rob essentially admit that Hank Kanalz’s dialogue in the first four issues was so bad that he had had that book reprinted with dialogue written by another writer? At best, this an interpretation of your own, one in which you are imbuing his work with qualities derived from your mind, and not Rob’s.

[@hashtagdag]

He's more like the Matt Damon of comic books.

[@Greg12839]

David AG but matt is a good actor

[@bevrosity]

he just looks like him

[@7superdaimajin]

@@Greg12839 Matt Damon is an average actor at best. His only outstanding performance is in The Talented Mr. Ripley which I attribute more to the director than Mr. Damon.

[@cicerogsuphoesdown7723]

7superdaimajin thank you. Christ’s sakes someone finally said it.

[@santiagoperez480]

7superdaimajin good will hunting?

[@Slim7073]

Great video. I noticed that you annually make a vid about upcoming Marvel/DC games. Would you make an impressions video on Marvel's Midnight Suns?

[@EllieMoonbeam]

As a girl, his comics are riddled with so many things that I can't stand. It's telling you didn't go into how he depicts women, because it's rough at best, especially compared to Kurt Cobain, who was a feminist is the truest sense of the word. I have so much respect for Kurt for a lot of reasons, but his empathy for women in particular is part of what makes him such an appealing artist to this day. It's insulting to compare these two artists. From my perspective, Rob Liefield's work represents everything negative in the comics industry, including the 'boys club' vibe. You gave the example of Vogue as one of his compelling characters--are you kidding me? Her entire 'pathos' is based on the stereotype that women are terrified of getting older. If you like his work, that's fine, but I will never agree that he is anything like Kurt Cobain.

[@blyrax]

i found out about a week ago or so that there are an army of people who hate Liefeld's art. I find that surprising, i find nothing wrong with this mans art. i can see how a lot of people could hate a style of drawing, but the level of hate Liefeld gets for his style is shocking; the man clearly knows how to draw- excellently. i'm not saying he's the greatest to ever do it, but he's certainly a truck load of miles above average- even by todays standards.

[@Carlitonsp1]

I CAN'T UNSEE JACK KIRBY'S EARS ANY MORE!!!