10 Things Everyone Always Gets Wrong About Comic Books
3. The Importance Of Artists
Back in 2017, the then Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, Axel Alonso, stated that comic book artists don't really "move the needle." By that he meant that readers tend to follow writers more than they do pencillers, inkers and colourists, and though writers do tend take centre stage when it comes to promotional materials, Alonso's conclusion was poorly judged.
While a writer's contributions to a given comic are invaluable (that itself has never been in dispute), artists shoulder most of the work. There's no underestimating just how talented comic book artists are either, and that goes double in regards to the following they command. Good art is intrinsic to a comic's success, and when a fan-favourite artist signs on for a book, readers pay attention.
In truth, it's not so much writers themselves that "move the needle", but entire creative teams themselves. Dozens of creators have managed to cement formidable partnerships over the years, and yet many artists still find themselves undervalued by publishers and even the general public.
Without Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby, there'd be no Spider-Man, no Fantastic Four, and maybe even no Marvel Universe as we see it today. Add to that the fact there literally wouldn't be comics if there weren't any artists, and Alonso's comments are made even more bizarre.