Two very contrasting artists here for me Simon Coleby all sharp edges and grim genius giving 2000ad some of its most brutal nights. He had a clash of the Simons in the 2nd Round of his tourney falling to 3rd placed Simon Fraser. Alan Davis got to the quarter finals on the Classic draw and he's all smooth lines and comfortable glory. Which style floats your boat?
Time for you to decide your favourite as the droids square up to the tee...
Simon Coleby - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=simonc)
OR
Alan Davis - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=ALAND)
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 Sunday 30th 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!
Thankfully, the rules explicitly state "work done for Tharg only", so I have to immediately discount all the work Davis did that made him my favourite artist in the world when I was 12.
Are Harry 20 and DR & Quinch visually better than Jaegir and The Vigilant? Not to mention Coleby's astonishing development over the decades since those early Rogue Troopers? Plus, the fairly recent (to me) revelation that Davis nicked the design of the High Rock itself- the strip's most striking image (for me)- from elsewhere.
Coleby 3
Davis 2
SBT
3-2 Davis due to the sheer unbridled joy of DR & Quinch pages.
Was close tho.
'90s TordelBack, that curly-locked rake and infamous aesthete-about-town*, would probably have thrown up on you had it been suggested that Coleby was any kind of competition for Davis, but that was then.
While DR & Quinch and contemporary Time Twisty strips are absolute masterpieces, and genuinely my favourite 2000AD humour strips ever, there's nary a Nazi baby in sight. (Although there are probably a few in Excalibur, but I'm not allowed take that in the consideration).
Coleby has not only transformed beyond recognition, he's also racked up a massive contribution over the years, and in the midst of his dense, smoky, ugly, moody violence, he's created or developed reams of memorable, distinctive characters, from 'Malone' to Frank to 'Mortal' Coil to Atalia. His always-strong inks are aided and abetted by a successful partnership with Len O'Grady, and taken together that gives Coleby a surprising (to me) edge of:
Coleby 3 : 2 Davis.
*Actual contents may differ from description.
Coleby 5 : 0 Davis.
Simon's gritty lines have suited much in the worlds of Dredd and Rogue. Tooth would be a poorer place without the vibrancy of Ernest and Waldo.
Simon Coleby 2, Alan Davis 3.
Look, I know objectively that Coleby is a better artist now than in his early days, but I have a real soft spot for his early Dredds, and even that one run of Universal Soldier. His Jaegir work is SO gnarly I find it quite hard to read. Davis, of course, is all swoops and polish and is dazzlingly fun to lose myself in.
Davis 4, Coleby 1
Simon Coleby - 3
Alan Davis - 2
Tipping to Coleby due to the breadth of his Tooth work.
100% Coleby - one of my favourite artist ever !
Simon Coleby 1, Alan Davis 4
Simon Coleby 4, Alan Davis 1
Given this is for 2000AD work only, this is an easy choice for me. Coleby's efforts on Jaegir for the win.
Ugh. Another tough one.
Coleby 3 - Davis 2
I pray Colin will pick up easier candidates for upcoming elections.
Coleby 2 : 2 Davis
The weather forced an abandonment before they reached the 18th green.
Quote from: Magnetica on 27 May, 2021, 03:52:40 PM
Coleby 2 : 2 Davis
The weather forced an abandonment before they reached the 18th green.
Why I oughta...
It maybe that having recently read the Ultimate Collections Jaegir volume is skewing this one for me. Coleby's work on that strip is superb.
Coleby 4 : Davis 1
Can't separate them at all- DR & Quinch and the Hyperhistoric Headbang are tough to beat... Jaegir is also great and Coleby's art made me want to read The Saharan Icebelt War despite Fleisher (until, you know, I actually tried to read it).
It's 2-2 for me, or an abstention- take your pick.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 27 May, 2021, 04:17:17 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 27 May, 2021, 03:52:40 PM
Coleby 2 : 2 Davis
The weather forced an abandonment before they reached the 18th green.
Why I oughta...
Well ok then...a break in the weather allows a brief resumption; enough for Coleby to sink a 40 footer to complete his come back from three holes down on the front nine:
Coleby 3 : 2 Davis
This tie is toe to toe from a quick scan of the votes so any late votes today can make a big difference - so get um in today and I'll count them up in the morning.
As for me - well this is another case of ask me in the day and Alan Davis would have stormed this. I was a massive fan of his art and he was one of my top five artists on all comics. Well time has past and taste has developed and I've slowly drifted away from my love of his smooth clean line. Simon Coleby's dark sharp edges and deep blacks just seem so 2000ad. But I can't ignore the good times Alan and I shared - though mostly outside of Tharg's realm and so ignoring those bits (Captain Britain, Excalibur etc) I have to go
Simon Coleby 4 : Alan Davis 1
Jaegir has been just excellent!
Coleby 4 Davis 1
Davis 4 (DR & Quinch)
Colby 1
5-0 to alan
Coleby Town (2) Davis Dons (3)
VOTING CLOSED
I wasn't entirely surprised with the result, but the style of it is a surprise to me. Simon Coleby stormed to an early lead and held it, in fact extended it as the tie progressed. At the end Alan Davis closed the gap somewhat to bring it closer to what I expected. Overall Current Team has struck back straight away after Classic Team battled so hard to regain the led and we're back to a tie in the overall tournament
Current Team 9.5 : Classic Team 9.5
Current Team 842 : Classic Team 929