Crunch match. Times have been hard for Current Team and they find themselves in the wake of Classic Team by a margin that feels hard to pull back already. So time for them to pull out one of their really big guns. Even if Brendan McCarthy did go out in the 2nd Round of the Current Tourney it was to the eventual winner so his form is hard to read. But dagnabbit the moment they do this look what Classic hit back with a Quarter Finalist from their own tourney.
Both Brendan and Massimo are more than capable of producing magnificent, surreal, mind bending art. So I guess the question is which psychedelic wonderscapes rock your boat the most?... or do you just like bald men with beards in your art?
Time for you to decide your favourite as the droids square up to the tee...
Brendan McCarthy - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=BRENDANM)
OR
Massimo Belardinelli - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=MASSIMO)
Remember for this tourney you have 5 votes to distribute as you please between these two artists, whole numbers only. So you can vote 5 - 0; 4 - 1; or 3 - 2; either way depending on how much more you like one artist's work over the other.
If you can't be doing with that just name your favourite - remember bold tags, or other ways of highlighting always appreciated - and I'll give them 3 votes and nowt to the other droid.
Three day votes, so this one ends morning of Friday 14th May
Remember we only consider work for Tharg in these Tourneys
What the heck is all this about - well we have a thread for that (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47534.0)
How does this new voting work? Look here (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47534.msg1059536#msg1059536) and why again? (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47534.msg1059557#msg1059557)
I don't understand how this works, what are the rules of the Ryder Cup - yep got ya covered there too (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47534.msg1059595#msg1059595)
Anything else just ask and I'll make something up. Most importantly have fun!
Brendan McCarthy 2 Massimo Belardinelli 3
Brendan Zaucer 3: Massimo Ace 2
If only we could give half points, these two would get equal billing.
As it is, and this could be reversed on a different day: Massimo Belardinelli 3, Brendan McCarthy 2.
Of course B Mac is very much current, but he's got (big, wide) feet in the 'classic' pool too. Anyway, Massimo for the drawings, McCarthy for the colours,and, overall, I guess...
McCarthy 3, Belardinelli 2
Massimo 4
Brendan 1
SBT
Brendan McCarthy - 1
Massimo Belardinelli - 4
brendan 0
massimo 5
Massimo - 4
Brendan - 1
Belardinelli 3 - McCarthy 2
I love early Brendan McCarthy on Dredd, really dislike Zaucer.
Massimo is an absolute legend.
Brendan 2 : 3 Massimo
Brendan McCarthy 2; Massimo Belardinelli 3
Belardinelli 5 : 1 McCarthy
Hey Funt is that meant to be 4 : 1 to Massimo?
Ode To My Olde Brain
My olde brain,
it ... something ...
uhm ... you know ...
hang on ... gimme a sec ...
uhm ...
Tempting to try and break the rules and get away with spending six points, but yes, please, Colin - it's meant to be a 4 : 1.
Brendan McCarthy (1) Massimo Belardinelli (4)
Abstaining, honestly can't split these two. One a master of B&W weirdness the other... a master of psychedelic weirdness.
Quote from: BPP on 12 May, 2021, 06:55:19 AM
Abstaining, honestly can't split these two. One a master of B&W weirdness the other... a master of psychedelic weirdness.
Massimo was pretty nifty with the colour paintbox too - it's a tragedy that editorial/management didn't throw him more work (other than Moonrunners) when 2000AD got in to full colour. Just take a look at the painted Sláine and Ace Trucking Co stories that opened three annuals in the 1980s.
Belardinelli 4 - McCarthy 1
Brendan McCarthy 2 Massimo Belardinelli 3
But really it's 1.5:3.5 but I'm not allowed that! :)
Real tough ones now. Two of my favourites here. Classic McCarthy vs Classic Belardinelli would be impossible to call so I'm treating it as Current McCarthy vs Classic Belardinelli to make things easier.
McCarthy 2 - 3 Belardinelli
Massimo 4 : 1 Brendan 1.
Which reflects only the scale of my boundless love for Bellardinelli, rather than any shortage of affection for the incredible McCarthy.
Aw shit- ye can't take anything away from Brendan, but hell, Massimo was one of the guys who's art that drew me to 2K in the first place.
There's always going to be unassailable sacred cows so I'm sorry for any that get drawn against Ezquerra, Redondo or Belardinelli- you're fucked and that's that. Doesn't mean I dislike you or your art, it's just how it is.
Celta McCarthy 1 Internazionale Belardinelli 4
Probably helps that I'm reading Belardinelli's Rat Pack offerings RN.
Massimo 5 : Brendan 0
Last day for this vote. This is very possibly the type of tie that Current Team need to grab if it was to make any impression on this tournament - but the honest truth is after a tight start it looks like this will be another comfortable win for the classics.
Time then for me to throw my oar in. I've long said I've struggled with elements of Massimo's art. His raw creativity and imagination is quite a thing to behold. That said so is Brendan McCarthy, and it more than matches Massimo on that score. He masters other elements as well though. His Dredd is musclar, strong and full of motion. He can draw Zaucer (and Swiftie's) drab and urban home world as well as the fantasy lands they travel to. He does it all with such wonder and so for me that ability to do everything and anything makes this one easy for me.
Brendan McCarthy 5 : Massimo Belardinelli 0
Now get your votes in now!
Brendan 3
Massimo 2
Quote from: TordelBack on 13 May, 2021, 07:43:55 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 13 May, 2021, 06:43:04 AM
Massimo Belardinelli 0
Colin is cancelled.
My views of Massimo are well rehearsed.
There are bits of his work I adore. Those early Dan Dares, ACE Trucking, Blackhawk black hole madness, most of Meltdown Man ... and in Meltdown Man we see the problems exposed fully. Glorious landscapes, the Yujees are majestic, but the minute Nick Stone turns up its so awkward and stiff. The main bloody character. Don't starte me in his Slaine!
He is the very definition of needing a strip to suit his style and abilities. Brendan McCarthy does things as wonderful as early Dan Dare, Blackhawk Black hole madness BUT he does everything else as well and so on that basis I had to give him the clean sweep as there's not a strip done by Massimo that I don't think would be elevated if it was done by Brendan M...
... there I've said it again and I take all slings and arrows coming my way!
Oh and I don't think it will make a jot of difference to how Massimo sweeps this one!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 13 May, 2021, 09:30:42 AM
...there's not a strip done by Massimo that I don't think would be elevated if it was done by Brendan M...
For the love of Grud, stop this madness!
See this allegorical work below? The stag represents good taste, and the Mata, that's you that is.
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a46fc85ca9ece335a0da680051f75ea/tumblr_mrle3pkpy61ruw7pqo4_r1_540.jpg)
You are right, I am a magnificent predator at the top of the food chain. Feeding on the flesh of other lesser creatures and they may have taste but that just makes them yummy for the eatin'.
Also consider this Tordel: If you cancel Colin you must become the "new" Colin and run with the tourney since the general pop will come in revolt if we can not play our "Bingo" everyday
Quote from: broodblik on 13 May, 2021, 10:08:28 AM
Also consider this Tordel: If you cancel Colin you must become the "new" Colin and run with the tourney ...
Strange you should say this, as I've had a sudden change of heart. That Bellardinelli, he was nought but a beardie Italian hack. I'm a Swiftie now. Just like Colin. Whose taste is impeccable.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V8EKa9w3AvE/S7CYzOCGr7I/AAAAAAAAAE8/tK48SQk_3E0/s1600/SOONEROR-WEB-795134.jpg)
I prefer McCarthy's art in B&W. His choice of psychedelic color palettes isn't for me, I think if he had more "traditional" coloring I'd like him even more (especially for his recent stuff). His pencils/inks however, are fantastic.
Robert Cox once shared (on here, somewhere) a couple of pieces that Massimo had done for him - the self-portrait came with a letter explaining that he had a dicky heart. (Open them in a new tab to see them a bit larger.)
(https://i.imgur.com/XH1h0I7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eIJIhWU.jpg)
The man was so talented. Unbelievable. Is he appreciated anywhere else but amongst 2000ad fans? His work is so unique, so distinctive and so joyous but I don't think I've ever heard him mentioned anywhere but amongst readers.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 13 May, 2021, 09:30:42 AM
Don't starte me in his Slaine!
Burn him with fiery flames!
Quote from: BPP on 13 May, 2021, 04:56:08 PM
The man was so talented. Unbelievable. Is he appreciated anywhere else but amongst 2000ad fans? His work is so unique, so distinctive and so joyous but I don't think I've ever heard him mentioned anywhere but amongst readers.
The 1985 2000AD Annual has an interview with him, in which he indicated that doing art for comics was his world.
Page #1 (https://2000ad.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/851.jpg)
Page #2 (https://2000ad.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/85b.jpg)
Page #3 (https://2000ad.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/85c.jpg)
VOTING CLOSED
And the crowd goes wild. Like a baying mob of US golf fans chanting USA, USA, USA the fans of the Classic Team smell blood and buoyed by their victory lose all quality and a guttal roar of MASSIMO, MASSIMO, MASSIMO starts to raise... quietly near by the dignity and pride of the classy Brendan McCarthy fans shines through as they watch sadned, amazed by the scale of the defeat yet not broken... what... what do you mean I need to make these summaries less personal and expose less of my biase... I have no idea what your talking about.... okay look Massimo Belardinelli tonked Brendan McCarthy will that do?
Current Team 1 : Classic Team 6
Current Team 277 : Classic Team 438