Friday, March 26, 2010

Uncanny X-Men #522 Art


46 comments:

Anonymous said...

aw, fantomex is so sweet <3

Anonymous said...

Heinous art. Dazzler looks fat. Psylocke looks... "special"

Anonymous said...

The flower pot looks like its made out of EVA

Anonymous said...

Love the art. Better than Land and Dodson fore sure.

FSaker said...

LuckyStar, CmX, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR THE SCANS!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!

The panel with Fantomex giving Betsy some flowers is really cute, although I'm not sure if he's giving them to her or she's just telling him where to place them. Let's assume he's giving them to her, shall we? (BTW, is he using E.V.A. to carry the flowers? E.V.A. rules!)

I liked Dazzler's panel as well; I wonder if Alison now is devoting herself to be a super heroine or if she still has plans in the music industry. She could (and should) do both things; chasing bad guys in real life could be a great publicity for her singles, albuns, concerts, etc. And no, I'm not joking; Fraction should show her singing more often.

And it seems it was indeed Rogue who was standing next to Betsy in that uncolored panel that Portacio posted a week or two before...

Anonymous said...

hate when they make psylocke so asian. it definitely doesn't fit the timeline since other artists are consistently making her more white looking 98% of the time. hate everyone's hair. i even like dodson and land better.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I know they were going to cast Beverley Mahood as Dazzler in X3 before that cameo got scrapped, and one need only Google photos to understand that - although cute - she has a *really* wide face. (I don't mean the photos where her long flowing hair is covering most of the facial surface, I mean the closeups where you can tell that the distance between the left and right side of her face is similar to the distance between Chicago and Africa. But. . .

Why . . . WHY . . . WHYYY do they have to draw Dazzler like the person they were going to (mis)cast as her for the movie? Dazzler didn't have a football face in the comics before X3. Is some evil mutant growing her face out of control? Pretty much every artist now is drawing Dazzler with Beverley Mahood's ginormous head and long flowing hair, so there must have been some decision for them to do that. That is STUPID. PLEASE GIVE DAZZLER BACK HER NORMAL UNSWOLLEN FACE WITHOUT THE PIRANHA JAW, SHE LOOKS DEFICIENT.

Anonymous said...

Um, to the person who doesn't like Psylocke looking asian because other people were drawing her white... that is just poor. She was drawn asian since Acts of Vengeance onwards, before the artists with no ability started drawing her caucasian. Just because some pencillers are used to drawing their own porn and got so used to drawing white girls because of personal preference, doesn't mean they can't learn how to draw asian girls. They have a job to do and their job is to draw preexisting characters as they are and she is japanese. Get real.

Dr. Doom said...

I agree with the above. Psylocke is in a mostly Asian body, she should be drawn to reflect that. I'm very please with Portacio.

Anonymous said...

well she still looks ugly as sin and like a stupid anime cheeseball character so i prefer porn drawings to some tacky two bit manga. psylocke is more appealing pretty with better hair and fuller features. she's ugly when they give her minature eyes to emphasize her asianess.

Anonymous said...

Well, I think you're just bitter because British Betsy is dead...

Evander James said...

@ anonymous -- the one who hates asian psylocke

Psylocke IS asian. no denying that. And just saying she's "ugly" as asian is not only ignorant and immature (not to mention shallow), it's also irrelevant to even care if Psylocke has to be pretty.

She isn't amazing because she's pretty, she's amazing because of her powers, her overall being, and her character itself -- not the way she's drawn.

captainfur said...

Did Portaccio ever learned how to grab a pencil?

Anonymous said...

Im not really a fan of the art and I think if a writer is going to let the art do the talking, he had better be working with a great artist. I have noticed this a lot in uncanny, pages with just art and no text, although the end of this issue seemed to be the most I have ever seen. The start of the second half of the book has very little writing and the last four of five pages have none at all. You could argue that it was plotted this way, but its a bit of a cop out and seems more like the writer had other things to do. I hope that this is not a trend as a few writers are handling more and more books at Marvel. It's kind of like trying to get away with using bigger font or bigger spacing when you are asked to write a 10 page paper for school, it just doesn't cut it for me or justify 3.99 per issue price tag.

Anonymous said...

why would i care about that fat oaf british psylocke with her stupid fat hips and big 80s english hair? i prefer sexy psylocke but drawn pretty. betsys not asian she's eurasian so she shouldnt look like a chinese illustration. she's prettier drawn eurasian and it's just a fact.

Anonymous said...

what is this eurasian business? ethnically her kwannon body is 100% japanese. LOL re: "fat oaf" "stupid fat hips" i could care less about british psylocke also, but this eurasian stuff is just wrong.

to above anon who replied to my post about not wanting a manga cartoony betsy, it just so happens that these artists seem to equate "asian" with "nerd". i agree, she looks like asian reporter trisha takanawa from family guy. CAN THESE ARTISTS NOT LEARN HOW TO DRAW A HOT ASIAN GIRL? there are plenty in real life. can't they google some and trace them for heaven's sake if it really comes to that? all they need to do is take lessons from jim lee. i know not everyone is a jim lee fan but he did psylocke right. none of this eurasian business - he just drew her a hot japanese assassin STRAIGHT UP. why the frig do they have to make her look like my former high school MATH TEACHER??? And why do they have to draw Dazzler with the face of a blowfish??? Ugh.

Anonymous said...

Advice to pencillers - study the face of that chick who played Deathstrike in X2, who was hot, and make it happen on your paper. or hire jim lee as your private tutor so you can stop drawing like an amateur. get with the program.

Anonymous said...

Ok, whats up with this fantomex dude? what are his intentions (if any) with our Bets? Should I give up hope of Bets hooking back up with Angel?,lol

FSaker said...

I liked Portacio's art. Sure, it's not as good as Mike Choi's, Adi Granov's or John Cassaday's, but it's fine. The X-Men don't need to look picture-perfect every issue, and I think his rendition of Psylocke is quite expressive - we can see from her face that she is amused by Fantomex's flowers, differently from Land, where she would just have an outdoor smile in her face or an orgasm expression (or both).

About the comment regarding Fantomex's intention, maybe Fraction is trying to hook him up with Betsy. Then again, he also hinted at UXM #512 that Warren still likes her, and she may like him as well. So, I don't think you should give up hope of the return of the romance between Psylocke and Angel.

Although, like I said earlier, I think she should hook up with neither of them. Betsy is a better character when she is single. So is Fantomex, actually. The girl is allowed to flirt and have a little fun, though!

Anonymous said...

so you just want her to be alone forever? i think the characters need to progress and grow and stop being so one note. psylocke has been without a man for a while now and if you disregard exiles she was flying solo for a while and there's only so much you can get out of that. i would love it if she grew to have a relationship and even a marriage and family. i mean, she is one of the older mutants and i think the sexy ninja needs to settle down if she wants to go anywhere plotwise.

Anonymous said...

I call shenanigans. Anonymous Asian Betsy hater is racist.

Also, I think the rendition is cute.

Anonymous said...

I think the artist might've went too hardcore on the asian features, its like he took reference from a old 1940s anti-war cartoon where the Japanese were drawn laughable squinty eyed.

Anonymous said...

They never age in comics so i wouldnt worry about this settling down stuff. Betsy is better off single if she was in a relationship the majority of her very limited panel time would be shared with someone else.

You dont have to be in a relationship to be awesome or happy

Anonymous said...

Is psylocke supposed to be 100% asian? I never really understood because in the original lady mandarin arc wolverine recognizes her and there was some talk of genetic mixing... I really have no idea what her appearance is supposed to be.

S.E. Andres said...

My guess is that Psylocke was telekinetically putting a vase of flowers in front of an disgruntled Fantomex, jsut to try to brighten his spirits.

I liked the art in the issue. but you can tell when some looked rushed. The first few pages looked amazing, and then it fell apart.

I would have liked Ororo to be there for Kitty's return. Maybe next issue we'll see them reunite.

Anonymous said...

Re: Psylocke doesn't need to be in a relationship to be awesome - AGREED 110%. Anon poster above who wants her to get married and have babies and all, your suggestion seriously gives me indigestion. GROSS. When Psylocke starts a family the character will become a HAS-BEEN BORE. If there is one trait she shares with Wolverine, it's that they are way more interesting single. If Wolverine had started a family in the traditional sense, he would become Mrs. Wolverina in my books. Similarly, if Psylocke started a family, her future as Momma Betsy with stretch marks and a fat ass would be in the minds of many to be just around the corner. Total formula to turn her into a has-been. I am in agreement with the flirting and fun, especially with mysterious and/or dangerous types. I really like the idea of Fantomex raising a tent for Betsy.

Re: Artists went too hardcore asian - AGREED. Asian people don't have to look like Charlie Chan.

Anonymous said...

newsflash: she's already a has been bore. she's not even relevant. she's never BEEN relevant. she can be stuck in the same old blue thongkini sticking her glowing fist in people's heads for the next 30 years but she will never go anywhere doing the same thing. and no one is really happy when they are alone after a while in reality- it's just a coping mechanism. also i wouldn't mind her sharing time with someone else because it's not any worse than the entire issue being focused on emma and cyclops while everyone else is just far in the background doing the same thing they've been doing for the last few decades.

Anonymous said...

lol you're just saying that because you want her to get married and have babies. that is like saying wolverine is a has been more. maybe in certain ways. but getting her hitched is NOT a way to make her relevant!?? NEWSFLASH.

just because she doesn't change her outfit every day of the week and is not making psylocke babies that does not make her a bore or irrelevant. the fact that her mini is popular and that she has such a fan-base that is increasing with her re-emergence to the x-men scene means: 1) she is relevant again (finally, after ridding her of all that flying telekinetic Hulk-smash stuff out in the middle of nowhere with exiles - yawn); 2) she is obviously going somewhere.

on the contrary, getting her with a man will get her nowhere fast.

sorry, although you have your own ideas i don't necessarily agree with them.

centurion said...

Its nice to see this side of Betsy's personality. I love it. We may even get her to blush :)

Best,
centurion

centurion said...

It doesn't seem like the Asian/Caucasian Betsy debate has been put to rest. I've loved both bodies, and I've been a Psylocke fan post/pre body swap, but the most important aspect of the character in my opinion was always her: a) characterization b) power set c) relevance in X-related stories. Yes, we can all take for granted that she will be "beautiful" that's a standard for superhero women, but the most important aspect is that her popularity grows and she's among the most notable X-Men, as she is now regaining that standard. What criteria would we use to judge whether an asian or white Psylocke is "better" or "prettier" anyway?

Best,
centurion

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

To the she is not relevant etc etc what character is relevant in X-men? who has moved on or changed or developed? apart from the people who are sometimes dead most of the x-men are pretty much the same as they were 10, 20, even 30 years ago. Marvel dont like change, not that much sticks. Im amazed Emma and Cyke have lasted this long, its why i always loved grant morrisons run its like he made a conscious effort to move X-men forward. Wolverine was given his history, he broke up cyke and Jean, outed the school and killed off Magneto sadly most of that has been undone. Look at Kitty coming back, things dont change.

sublimeclown said...

I think this should be Betsy's updated costume: http://windriderx23.deviantart.com/art/Xavier-s-Army-Colored-158642598

J77 said...

--------------
Marvel dont like change, not that much sticks.
--------------

That's mostly true. I think Psylocke is one of the very few characters who have undergone a big change (Acts of Vengeance in her case) and stayed like that afterward.

FSaker said...

"I think this should be Betsy's updated costume: http://windriderx23.deviantart.com/art/Xavier-s-Army-Colored-158642598"

Wow, I couldn't agree more! It looks brilliant!

In fact, this whole art is great (better drawn than the art of many Marvel artists, may I say). I liked the updates in Gambit's and Magneto's costumes as well. And damn, even that ugly mess that Bianchi designed to be Storm's outfit looks good in this art!

Marvel, hire this guy/girl NOW!!!

centurion said...

@FSaker - Hey there. I love this costume. It's sexy, demure, and retains a semblance of the Hand outfit from the 90s.

Anonymous said...

Um - NO. It's generic. Without the signature arm "rings" it just looks like a "normal" bathing suit. I'm not that desperate for change that I would want her to wear just anything, as long as it shows she went shopping for a new wardrobe. Nay.

Rahsaan said...

I also dislike that "new costume" suggestion. It's a stereotypical Asian dress. Being an Asian character in appearance, it seems like some artist want to completely turn her into a caricature. Why must she have a costume tied directly to her phenotype. (She sure isn't ethnically Asian.) Other Asian characters, like Wondra and Surge don't have "Asian" costumes. It's as if people are trying to force that aspect of her, because she's a Brit inhabiting an Asian body. Can't she simply have a stylish, functional costume that pertains more to her status as a super heroine and not her ethnicity (not even her ethnicity, as she's culturally English)? The Dodson uniform that everyone thought was a uniform until learning it was a wet suit worked best and looked best. Can't a similarly designed outfit be made and just be non-neoprene?

@lejo said...

o_O Whats up with ALL the above hate coments to asians, moms and even to Psylocke´s character?

FYI asian women are beautiful, motherhood makes women more interesting and beautiful and if Psylocke is irelevant to someone then why are they even writting in this post about her in the first place??

centurion said...

I ask that someone define what particular race a "beauitful" Psylocke should be... Whether Psylocke was Asian or Caucasion, she was "beautiful."

sublimeclown said...

Rahsaan - why do you say it's a typical Asian dress - because it has a high collar or because it's a ninja outfit? Because I don't think it's overtly Asian. And she IS a ninja, it just looks like a modification of her current outfit.

Rahsaan said...

sublimeclown,

It looks like a Mandarin-collared top. I probably should not have said typical. My problem with it and the dragon-themed outfits are that it's like the designers are trying hard to force her to be pseudo-Asian. She is a ninja and outwardly Asian. That's true. However, I don't see her running around trying to fit every stereotype now, because she was changed physically. She is ethnically a blue-blooded English woman. I'm not hating on Asian Psylocke. The Key That Breaks The Locke is one of my absolute all-time favorite stories to be honest. (Though I loathe the Kwannon/Revanche retcon that took a beautifully crafted tale and added a bunch superfluous crap.) I just wish that the artists would focus more on her persona and less on her proving how Asiatic she now is via clothing.

P.S.: I realize I may be overanalyzing all of this.

P.S.S.: Digressing, I think it would be cool if the character still utilized her psycho-blasts and her random precognition at times. The pyscho-blasts were cool, because they hinted at her now realized telekinetic potential. And the precog flashes came in handy and seemed to appear when the X-Men really were in serious danger.

FSaker said...

The reason why I loved this outfit for Psylocke is exactly the reason that Centurion and Sublimeclown pointed out: it is an upgrade of her most iconic outfit. Just like Bianchi did to almost ALL the other X-Men (Cyclops, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler; even Storm's tranny white suit resembles her first X-outfit). It also fits with the current X-uniforms from the other X-Men.

I don't think it is stereotypical - at least, it is not more stereotypical than her current Hand bathing suit.

I used to be one of the first people to defend that she got a new outfit and that it shouldn't be a bathing suit. But guess what, most readers (Psylocke fans or not) actually LIKE her bathing suit. It is kinda iconic. So even if I would prefer her wearing some pants, I can accept what the majority wants.

I agree with the 11:21 Anonymous, though: the inclusion of arm rings and thigh rings would make this outfit even better.

Anonymous said...

Gotta keep Psylockes strappies they are just too awesome.

Actually Betsy has been very much into Asian or Oriental culture as Betsy being English would call it. All her bedrooms have been Asian/Oriental, Braddock Manor, X-mansion, Dojo Apartment from Crimson Dawn. She even wore white to a funeral as is an ancient japanese tradition. She also drinks tea from a japanese style tea set. So wearing an asian/oriental outfit which i believe she has also done in the past is not unfeasibe judging by her tastes.

Anonymous said...

I agree - keep the Psylocke "strappies."

Nay to the mandarin collar.

Nay to the new costume in that pic.

Betsy's strappy costume is now a classic. When it's a classic you do not mess with it.

Anonymous said...

amen brother!