It's just occurred to me that I drew three Simons in a row in this tourney... well I find it fascinating even if you don't care!
Anyway please sit down I've got something I need to discuss and I think it's best just to just come out and say it. You know that The Royals and how much you adore the art in that. And you know how you are always going on about how Simon Fraser's work on Doctor Who is some of the best ever. Well... we don't care. Oh sure take about it, but I implore you don't consider it when voting. For the sake of all we hold dear, to give this relationship any chance please just focus on work for Tharg. Please I beg you.
Alas we have to pick our favourite and to do so just pop the name of the art droid you'd most like to go through to the Quarter Finals, but please add anything else you'd like to say as well.
Simon Coleby - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=simonc)
OR
Simon Fraser - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=simonf)
This one will close and be counted on the morning of Friday 22nd January
What the hell is all this? Current state of play Find out more about the Art Droid Tourneys and Round 2 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47242.0)
Who made the 32 in both tourneys?
Entrants in the Current Art Droids Tourney (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47044.msg1042917#msg1042917)
Entrants in the Classic Art Droids Tourney (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47044.msg1042893#msg1042893)
Rules for what they are worth (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47242.msg1049293#msg1049293)
Anything else just ask and I'll make something up.
Simon vs Simon:
(https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/imglib/Jaegir-1-d44a9.jpg)
vs
(https://2000ad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SF4.png)
Joining in with showing off some of the beautiful art from both of these guys:
(https://i.imgur.com/YOcTR79.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/zwXk371.png)
My vote goes to Simon Fraser, for his superlative work on the Dante saga.
This is a difficult one, which Simon should get my vote? Why Colin are you torturing us?
I will go with Simon Coleby this round for his dark, gritty art on Jaegir. Simon Fraser did create some awesome art on Dante and now with his new style on Hersey.
This is the closest one yet for me.
Legendary Nikolai Dante creator versus an artist who has improved beyond all recognition and now does stellar work on Jaegir and The Vigilant.
I just can't chose.
Simon Fraser. Dante is one of the all-time classics of Tooth.
Simon gets my vote; no hesitation whatsoever! Bleurgh - like the decision between Brett and Dave Gibbons, this one's horrible. I absolutely love Simon Coleby's work these days and he's one of my favourite artists; I didn't really take to his work early on but the evolution of his style from the big-guns-'n-muscles era is astonishing. Simon Fraser gets my vote, though - just (seemingly) effortless, dynamic, fluid artwork, in amazing quantity over decades (Dante started back in 1997 which can't be right but is).
Fraser
Simon Fraser!
Coleby really is a story in two parts. His older 2000 AD work I can take or leave. I mean, it's OK, but it doesn't really click with me. His Rennie Rogues and especially Low Life were a turning point. His Jaegir is wonderful.
Fraser's love of short legs is a bit odd and it took a while for his style to bed in as well (early Shimura is... not amazing), but, well, Nikolai Dante. And now Hershey as well.
I'm deadlocked on this one. Sorry.
This one is impossible. I would immediately snatch up anything drawn by either gent, in the knowledge I would be in safe hands- storytelling, architecture and vehicle design, characters who are striking and recognisable from one panel to the next, backgrounds, detail, space to breathe... it's all there and on point in both their work.
They are the very top of the modern 2000AD pile, along with Culbard, D'israeli, Elson and Harrison. I cant choose between them- but *in this instance* I will. And I choose Simon Fraser, for Dante and the design work on Hershey.
SBT
Fraser for me
Simon Coleby
Simon Coleby.
simon coleby
Ok I've thought about it some more and am going for Coleby on the basis of who I would most want to draw a new strip in 2000AD.
Never would have thought that after his Friday Rogue Trooper stuff.
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 January, 2021, 01:39:01 PM
Ok I've thought about it some more and am going for Coleby on the basis of who I would most want to draw a new strip in 2000AD.
Never would have thought that after his Friday Rogue Trooper stuff.
This follow this link to see how Simon Coleby's art has improved (thx AlexF):
http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.com/2016/05/no-69-simon-coleby.html (http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.com/2016/05/no-69-simon-coleby.html)
Simon Coleby, for his Jaegir and Rogue Trooper efforts.
This guy.
(https://futureshockd.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/prog-1786-nikolai-dante-script-robbie-morrison-art-simon-fraser-copyright-rebellion.jpeg?w=980&h=1278)
Simon Fraser
Mr Fraser has an elastic dynamism to his characters that Mr Coleby does not.
Fraser
Another difficult choice. Dante was excellent, but I'm going with Coleby for Jaegir in particular. It's just excellent gritty world building art all the way.
Fraser
I've not read Dante but really want to. TPBs are difficult to come by and I can't get the ultimate collections here in North America. An Omnibus would be great!
Quote from: broodblik on 19 January, 2021, 01:50:08 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 January, 2021, 01:39:01 PM
Ok I've thought about it some more and am going for Coleby on the basis of who I would most want to draw a new strip in 2000AD.
Never would have thought that after his Friday Rogue Trooper stuff.
This follow this link to see how Simon Coleby's art has improved (thx AlexF):
http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.com/2016/05/no-69-simon-coleby.html (http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.com/2016/05/no-69-simon-coleby.html)
Wow, that article is great. For some reason I didn't know Simon Coleby from way back is one and the same as modern Simon Coleby. Seems pretty obvious when you think about it! I'm not such a big fan of his earlier work, but his newer work like Jaegir and Low Life is flippin' brilliant.
I've always enjoyed Simon Fraser's work. His work on Dante is just amazing. His faces are just so expressive. Wonderful story telling.
I think the fact that I have always enjoyed Fraser's work is slightly tilting me in his direction, so it's another razor thin margin, but I'm going to pick
Simon Fraser.
Coleby still holds my award for "most stunning evolution of an artist", just about beating Richard Elson and Alex Ronald. His work over the last decade has been sublime, somehow simultaneously hard-edged, massive and atmospheric. Always a joy to see his name in the credit card.
But nobody draws imagined architecture and real human beings like my pick Simon Fraser. I often find myself marvelling at the beauty of his women (there can't be many strips where John Burns draws only the second most alluring ladies), but in reality that's just one point on a continuum of brilliantly observed drawings of people, costumes and heightened but believable expressions.
I think his suitability as a Dredd artist is very underappreciated, probably due to the sheer volume of Dante, not the least if its highlights being the fun he has with logos on Blood Cadets. And that leads me on to the sheer genius of his page designs...
And then there's Lilly Mackenzie.
Another vote for Simon Fraser
Simon Fraser.
I hate to say this, but I've never been a massive fan of Simon Fraser's artwork. Can't quite put a finger on why.
I do like a bit of Coleby, though, at least with his modern style. Coleby for me.
Think I know which way this is going but it does seem to be pretty close so any last votes today before I close up in the morning might well swing things (???). Get um in today and I'll coutn in the morning.
I believe Simon will pull trough this round
eah but it could be Simon - I mean Simon is doing well but Simon could have a strong final day... but will that be enough to catch Simon?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/af/Simon_%26_Simon_title_screen.jpg)
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 January, 2021, 08:20:22 AM
eah but it could be Simon - I mean Simon is doing well but Simon could have a strong final day... but will that be enough to catch Simon?
You should just have a Best Simon category: Bisley, Coleby, Davis, Fraser, Harrison, or Jacob...?
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 January, 2021, 09:26:16 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 January, 2021, 08:20:22 AM
eah but it could be Simon - I mean Simon is doing well but Simon could have a strong final day... but will that be enough to catch Simon?
You should just have a Best Simon category: Bisley, Coleby, Davis, Fraser, Harrison, or Jacob...?
Feck - never thought of that. Simon is to prog art as Alan is to prog scripts.
Simon Fraser
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 January, 2021, 09:26:16 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 January, 2021, 08:20:22 AM
eah but it could be Simon - I mean Simon is doing well but Simon could have a strong final day... but will that be enough to catch Simon?
You should just have a Best Simon category: Bisley, Coleby, Davis, Fraser, Harrison, or Jacob...?
Hey shhh that's my next idea for a tournament... what do you mean time to give it a rest...
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 January, 2021, 04:22:01 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 January, 2021, 09:26:16 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 January, 2021, 08:20:22 AM
eah but it could be Simon - I mean Simon is doing well but Simon could have a strong final day... but will that be enough to catch Simon?
You should just have a Best Simon category: Bisley, Coleby, Davis, Fraser, Harrison, or Jacob...?
Hey shhh that's my next idea for a tournament... what do you mean time to give it a rest...
Not too shabby in the script droid stakes either: Spurrier, Furman, Geller, Spencer?
No contest here. I do enjoy Coleby on Jaegir but ranking that against so much Dante and the outstanding art on The Strip That Should Not Be is a bit like putting me in the ring with Tyson Fury.
Simon Fraser.
Quote from: I, Cosh on 21 January, 2021, 04:35:00 PM
No contest here. I do enjoy Coleby on Jaegir but ranking that against so much Dante and the outstanding art on The Strip That Should Not Be is a bit like putting me in the ring with Tyson Fury.
Look I know he's getting one and putting on a few pounds but still reckon he could pack a punch... oh... you mean that way round...
I have to go with Simon Coleby. His evolution has been fascinating.
Simon Coleby.
VOTING CLOSED
There is evidence to suggest that amongst all the tough choices to be made in this tournement this has been for many the toughest yet. At least three folks said they couldn't make a call and abstained as they simply couldn't decide! The actually final count wasn't that close, though both drew in plenty of votes, but that seems to mask the tight margins in many individual decisions.
As it is
Simon Fraser
is into the quarters.
Congrats Simon, sorry Simon