Moonstone Forums

Ok, to your points;

Yes, the Phantom has a thing face...but so do the rest of the characters in the book. Obviously, this is a style thing more than that artist "not knowing" how to draw the Phantom. Also, the heads are all in proportion to the bodies.

To my eye nothing looks like a contortionists trick, so maybe you could point me to some specific panels? Also, this is comics where anatomy and proportions are often stretched and flexed to achieve effect and motion.

I'll agree the the page 16 splash isn't perfect. The foreshortening looks a bit off and the composition isn't brilliant. Still, it's better than I can do so I'm not going to make a huge thing about it.

So, I still don't think there is anything really wrong with the art, but as you say, each to their own.

Ah! You've got me there on the bit about the contortionist's trick!
I was writing from memory and kind of got mixed up with the artwork for the earlier issues (the one about the Phantom hunting for his aunt's necklace, I found the fingers of the characters a bit off-kilter),

then again, yes, comics are obviously an exaggeration, and to each their own

It's just that the artwork in this story wasn't "wow", it was more along "hmmm..."
and that's just the only way I can describe it!

But, in all the "critique" of the artwork, I forgot to mention what I really enjoyed about this issue! Except for the splash page, none of the other pages are full-bleed and the panels are interspersed by gutters! I've always found this easy on the eyes

However, if and when Moonstone can also sell the comic by not featuring a Hulk-clone on the cover, that will be the day! (As a rule, and not as an exception! Yes yes, I understand the current trend in comic covers!)

I finally got to read this issue, and I hope somebody will still bother to read my thoughts this long after its release... I really enjoyed it; short, simple and fast-paced action. A little romance, some swashbuckling, and off course, the Phantom scaring the pants of bad guys, in this case the musketeers. The sequence with the one musketeer looking into the dark alley, and the Phantom's cold, white yes just staring right back at him, was easily one of the best typical "Phantom moments" I've seen in quite some time. The ending is also beautiful, with both the sequence with the 13th Phantom and Jeanette Lafitte and the 21st Phantom very warm and well written. The story's tone reminds me of the style of the Paramount movie; fun and fast.

Off course, I wish it could have been even longer, but I felt the plot was just right for a one-part story. Zeu's art is very good, although I don't think he's quite as good as Silvestre. However, I'd welcome another issue drawn by him in the future. His Phantom looks very cool, by the way, and reminds me a little about how Ray Moore used to draw him in his early stories; tall, dark and tough.

Then you'll be welcoming issue 26.

Excellent!

Most comic-books these days (esp. from the "Big Two") routinely come out with atrocious excuses for artwork, all in the name of "style". Until recently, Moonstone artists have struggled to draw the Phantom properly. In general, it seems that "superhero" comics are not illustrated without making out the protagonists to be grotesque caricatures and mishappen humanoids.

The artwork in ish 20 is a mixed bag, but Zeu certainly needs to come to grips with ensuring that all panels in entirety serve as high points, and not just a couple!

Here's hoping that ish 26 does not provide cause for trepidation