2000 AD Online Forum

It feels like we've had two finals to me already as Carlos has pulled more votes than Mike McMahon and Kev O'Neill - both of whom I thought could well get to the final. In earlier rounds to polling over no less lights than Steve Dillon and John Ridgway. It's been an incredible path to the final and it's hard to see anyone who could pull more votes.

Then we consider Cam who has been called favourite over Ian Gibson, Simon Bisley, Brett Ewins and Ron Smith, so that's pretty astonishing too. Can Cam Kennedy pull of the shock of the Century - the 22nd that is. I'll say this now as it won't make a difference but he'd get my vote - if I had one.

For the title FAVOURITE CLASSIC ART DROID just pop the name of the art droid you'd most like to grab bronze. It really helps if you use BOLD tags or otherwise make your vote clear.

Cam Kennedy - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=CAMK)

OR

Carlos Ezquerra - more info (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=CARLOSE)

I'll close and count on the morning of Friday 12th February

What the hell is all this? Find out more about the Art Droid Tourneys and Quarter Finals[/s] semi finals (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47294.0) - I've not updated this - cos we know what we're doing right. There's a  tiny bit more about the Semi's here (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47318.0) but it's mainly just a post about what's coming after...

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=47294.msg1050982#msg1050982) again not updated as we're getting good at this now aren't we.

Anything else just ask and I'll make something up.

Carlos Ezquerra

Would the prog be here without him? Dredd, Strontium Dog, countless other contributions. There is only one King Carlos!

I'll add that I grew up on American comics. I never truly had a "favorite" artist but had a few favorites. That all changed when I started reading 2000AD. His art immediately gripped me, it was different than anything I had seen and I knew it was special. He quickly became my favorite artist and I've not looked back. He does humor, horror, action, western, and war comics better than anyone I've seen, he truly was/is the King of comic artist!

Carlos Ezquerra

This is a dream final for me with my two favourite classic artist going head-to-head.

When I see Johnny Alpha in my mind it is Carlos' depiction of the character. He created my two favourite Dredd mega epics as well.

Cam's art is the art that I immediately felt in love with when I started reading the prog. He is Rogue Trooper in my mind. His Dredd and MC-1 of wonder. He created some of the most memorable Dredd characters like Kenny Who? and the The Taxidermist.

So my choice is Cam Kennedy

Cam has delivered some outstanding work over the years, but for me it has to be King Carlos.

Carlos

The only way I can approach this is to ask myself "who would I want to see one more strip from, at the height of their artistic peak?".  For that, I'd go for an early-ish Carlos Strontium Dog, thankyouverymuch.

So, Carlos.

There could only ever have been one result so I'm very happy to be voting for Carlos Ezquerra

Clear choice for me: Carlos Ezquerra.

Carlos, so, so much Carlos.

SBT

Carlos Ezquerra

Kennedy for me

cam

Carlos forever!

Cam Kennedy.

Kenny Who, 2 Ton Tony Tubbs, Chopper, the best judge tech, the best sky-surfers, the best back-ground tower-blocks, the best action posss, Rogue Trooper, The VCs. Late period Cam pancake-butt & wonky Eagle dredd.

Cam Kennedy

 Carlos Ezquerra.

Look, Cam is extraordinary, my favourite Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper artist, and outside of this comic (and competition) my favourite Star Wars artist too.

But who created characters, worlds and told a story - every story - like Carlos. I'm never not going to vote for Carlos Ezquerra as my favourite 2000AD artist, because he is 2000AD.

You said it Colin, Carlos has already beaten a slew of 'final' contenders on his way to the actual final - apart from those beaten out by Kennedy. So in a way this Tourney worked out pretty prefectly as a definitive assessment that Carlos is indeed the top fave classic artist. Assuming he wins this last round of course...

But yeah, I'm voting hard for Carlos Ezquerra.

(and glad I never had to cross the bridge of weighing up Carlos vs Massimo, that would've broken me)

Quote from: TordelBack on 09 February, 2021, 01:11:43 PM
But who created characters, worlds and told a story - every story - like Carlos. I'm never not going to vote for Carlos Ezquerra as my favourite 2000AD artist, because he is 2000AD.

Wow this is so true. Carlos is a wonderful storyteller. As I already said no one can do Strontium Dog like him and no one will ever be able to do it in the future.

Sorry, Cam, but it's Ezquerra by a country mile.

That last panel is top 5 Dredd panels for me.

Despite my love of Cam's work, it's gotta be Carlos innit?

I'm not sure if I can make a decision here.  There's Sunday Night Fever, but then there's Necropolis.   I'll think about it but I don't know if there'll be a conclusion for me.

Both great artists, but my favorite between them has always been Cam Kennedy.

It has to be Carlos for his iconic contribution over so many years.

Despite this, we're very very lucky to have had Cam.

Cam Kennedy

Carlos, for his buxom ladies.

I've thought about it. Now, this is going to kill me, as Carlos is the most important artist the prog has ever had, and of course, he was an absolute master - 2000ad will never be the same without him.

The thing is, and there's only a hair's breadth in it, but I kind of prefer Cam Kennedy's style, for reasons I've outlined ad nauseum in previous rounds.  So, Grud help me, I will vote for Cam.

Remove Cam's contribution to the prog, you have a terrible gap n the comic.

Remove Carlos's and you simply have no comic

Carlos

Carlos

Carlos Ezquerra.

YIKE! Didn't do a last call - maybe I didn't want the whole thing to end!

Well we have to so really last chance folks as this one will close in the morning. This has all been so much fun I will genuinely be sad when its over...

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 11 February, 2021, 05:48:19 PM
This has all been so much fun I will genuinely be sad when its over...

Yes, thanks so much for running these contests! They have been a blast. Any plans for what's next?

I love this time traveling part of the Ragnarok Job storyline. Wulf in full viking mode! Time grenades! Trolls & dragons! Ezquerra goodness:

(https://ibb.co/bRsLGYj)

Quote from: Rogue Judge on 11 February, 2021, 06:04:25 PM

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 11 February, 2021, 05:48:19 PM
This has all been so much fun I will genuinely be sad when its over...

Yes, thanks so much for running these contests! They have been a blast. Any plans for what's next?

Yep "Dredd Epics Ranked - Better" or DER-B is coming very soon. Still some logistics and prep to do but slowly getting there. So next week we'll have a like precurser to something a big bigger I have place - with a Favourite Art Droid Champion of Champions type thing. But that will be very short and sweet.

So many choices have been bloody difficult all the way through the competition. The first couple of progs of 2000AD I was ever exposed to included Carlos Ezquerra and Cam Kennedy art. Mindblowing stuff as a young fella. Their storytelling, their characters, their worlds: all top notch and the standard by which all others are judged. Their environments had real weight and they both could switch from comedy to tragedy with a master's ease.
I can't split them. I asked my young fella who he would pick as the top 2000AD artist at the very beginning of this brilliant competition and he just said without blinking: "It's Carlos". He's right, but my *favourite* art droid pick is going to to be swayed by my love of the underdog. So the man who is underdog in this contest and who brought to life so many great 2000AD underdogs: Jacob Sardini, Two Ton Tony Tubbs, Chopper, and of course Kenny Who? is going to be my choice for this ultimate competition: Cam Kennedy is my pick.

VOTING CLOSED



Well what a fun thing that was and at the end there was really like doubt about the winner. Someone (Greg M I think (?) - where for are thou Greg) said why I'd included Carlos when I'd excluded John Wagner in the writers tourney and while I knew Carlos would be a favourite but art is so subjective that I genuinely wasn't convinced he had it in the bag. He's the most influencial artist without doubt, but do folks think he's the best... well over all its a resounding yes!!!! And

CARLOS EZQUERRA

Has resoundingly been voted the boards favourite Classic artist.

And wow what a comprehensive victory this has been. He's literally won votes against all the other artists I thought had a realistic chance of winning this competition on the way - the draw has been cruel - but nothing could stop him and that is testament to the artistic talent of the man. I've been blown away by the response in support of our now undisputed KING.

Let's not lose sight of Cam Kennedy however. He got more votes coming up against Carlos then anyone. Has had won votes against some unbelievable talent and for me is utter deserving of his second place. Even here against a talent so fair ahead of the field so many of the individual calls have been marked as close and its only the unstoppable that has stopped him I imagine.

Two great artists. What a privilege two have witness these two great artists careers.

I vote for the man who shot the Manfred Fox tunnel backwards.

I voted Cam, but it was always going to be Carlos, wasn't it?  And I don't mind one bit that he beat my choice.  An absolute legend and one of the cornerstones of 2000ad and British comics in general. 

Great contest. Great winner. Well done for organizing this Colin YNWA!

Let me add my voice here thanks Colin for this great tourney.

Quote from: broodblik on 12 February, 2021, 11:41:55 AM
Let me add my voice here thanks Colin for this great tourney.

And me.
Cheers for organizing this Colin - even though the outcome could have been predicted by an algorithm running on a circa 1987 Casio watch, it was great fun.

+1 thanks Colin for organising the art droid tournaments.
Enjoyed choosing my faves so much I have now risen to the rank of Sub Basement Sewer Unit on this esteemed forum  :)

Yes, sorry, should have said it too. Thanks a million, Colin. This, and your other tourneys, have made lockdown that little bit more manageable.

This has been a fun way to engage with the forum, great work and thanks again Colin. Really looking forward to Dredd Epics Ranked - Better!

And congrats to King Carlos! Kennedy, McMahon, Bolland  etc. are all legends, but there is only one winner, and it had to be Carlos!

Yep, add my voice to the thanks Colin. You've made this place a continuing joy with these tournaments.

Now, I suppose the real question is: knowing what we now know about the tastes of forumites with regards to characters, strips, writers and artists etc... statistically which single prog should be the "best ever"?

SBT

Quote from: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 12 February, 2021, 03:44:54 PM
Now, I suppose the real question is: knowing what we now know about the tastes of forumites with regards to characters, strips, writers and artists etc... statistically which single prog should be the "best ever"?

You'd be surprised how close that is to one I've got planned for down the road... not actual best Prog as I think the offical anwser to that is 335 (or around there) isn't it.

Quote from: Rogue Judge on 12 February, 2021, 02:50:34 PM
Really looking forward to Dredd Epics Ranked - Better!

You may regret saying that as I'm trying something a little different and it has - Well nice try but that didn't really work did it - written all over it!

Thanks for all the lovely words folks. I'm genuinely chuffed these tournaments have served their purpose and made folks love the forum just a little bit more and join a long side a host of other wonderful things we have going on at the moment to bring make the forum more popular (when you look at the data) than its been for a long time.

I will say again I think while setting them up is one thing, its actually all the fantastic participation that actually makes them fun and the threads have become joys to behold - so I'll say it again - thanks to everyone who contributes.