History SignatureStyle / ComicBooks

** Kirby's ''other'' distinguishing feature is his character design. We love Kirby, yes we do, but a character he intends to be pretty/handsome will generally land somewhere in the UncannyValley, while a character he intends to be not particularly attractive will be ''hideous''. He's also got a strong tendency to draw any character who's even ''slightly'' muscular as being built like an offensive lineman. Even if they're female.

** He really enjoys [[CListFodder killing off lesser known heroes and villains]] to build up the villains of his stories as well. Taken UpToEleven in ''Comicbook/{{Starman}}'', where the Mist kills the entire roster of the new [[Comicbook/JusticeLeagueInternational Justice League Europe]], save for Icemaiden and Comicbook/{{Firestorm|DCComics}}.

* Simon Furman, who has, of all the dirty jobs, the position of writing approximately 85% or so of all ''{{Transformers}}'' comics since the mid-80s, has a number of "Furmanisms" that will inevitably crop up, hanging above the reader like some vast, predatory bird. You won't believe the things he can do with them: this constant shoehorning of odd phrases into the texts never ends, so what chance do we have of avoiding them? One would think he needs a short, sharp lesson in better writing, but the fans seem to enjoy his odd quirks, and he has reaped the whirlwind of popularity he's gained. He writes virtually everything with these "Furmanisms" and more; can ''we'' do any less? ([[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Furmanism A full list]] can be found at the [[Wiki/TFWikiDotNet Transformers Wiki]].)

* Creator/RobLiefeld: Hugely muscular men and impossibly thin women, usually with the most exaggerated anatomy possible. Lots of ginormous guns, shoulder pads, and pouches.
** His characters tend to have a ridiculous amount of detailed, almost sketchy linework all over their bodies with ultra messy hair. There's even a particular hairstyle, which [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] lovingly named "carrot top", that is in ''all'' of his works. Even if a character has an established hairstyle, it will look like an edited version of this particular style.

** The two other big habits he’s known (and beloved) for are [[JigsawPuzzlePlot Jigsaw Puzzle Plots]] with LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters and [[AnyoneCanDie butchering huge amounts of characters]] when given the chance. He’s especially infamous for the latter, to the point that when he guest-wrote an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', the very first thing he reportedly said to the showrunners was “who do I get to kill?”.

* Comics written by Creator/GrantMorrison tend to have endings that go way too fast so that everything can get tied up. The ''World War III'' arc of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]'' -- his last on the book -- features ''all of humanity'' developing superpowers. We get to see it for three pages. However, works featuring his own characters rather than pre-created ones tend to have better endings.
** Morrison also has a propensity to get rather... "out there" with his plot concepts, with speculative fantasy, genre mash-ups, meta-textual elements, alternate character interpretations, and general synesthesia being common. This all results in [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs questions of his ideas origins]].
*** With ''Comicbook/TheInvisibles'', Morrison has openly admitted he used his drug experiences as an inspiration for parts of it, going as far as including transcriptions of a tape of him and his friends tripping on LSD in a scene in the comic where King Mob and his friends do the same.
** Many of Morrison's comics also feature a character who looks not unlike [[AuthorAvatar Grant Morrison]]. This is most explicit in ''Comicbook/AnimalMan'', where [[spoiler:Morrison actually appears as himself, the writer of Animal Man.]]
*** A strong runner-up in the AuthorAvatar sweepstakes is King Mob in ''Comicbook/TheInvisibles'', whom Morrison freely admitted (everywhere except in the comic itself) was his stand-in. The relationship got '''weird''' when Morrison came down with a life-threatening and hard-to-explain illness after writing a story that saw King Mob severely tortured by the baddies. Morrison took full advantage after recovering by throwing King Mob into some blatantly hedonistic storylines in the hope that it would make his own life sexier.

* In his ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'' stories, ReneGoscinny will often have people who have held a grudge, acted like [[DirtyCoward dirty cowards]], or like total jerks for the entire story [[AssPull suddenly come to their senses on the last 2-3 pages]]. EasyEvangelism is sometimes involved. If the story has a RoadTripPlot, there will usually be a traitor in the midst. If it takes place in a town, the BigBad will sometimes establish his stronghold by forcing a local business owner, at the point of a gun, to "sell" him his business.

* Creator/BrianMichaelBendis:
** When it comes to dialog, he is known for what is called "[[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic Bendis Speak]]"."Bendis Speak?" "Yes, Bendis Speak. Do you know what I'm talking about?" "You mean Bendis Speak, like in those comics, from that writer?" "Yeah, you know, like the writer. Brian Bendis." "Brian ''Michael'' Bendis?" "What?" "The writer. I think he's credited with three names. Pretentious middle name-kinda guy. "Oh." "Yeah." He also tends to [[{{Padding}} "decompress"]] stories by having characters repeat themselves. Bendis writing for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' led to many scenes of the world's greatest superteam just shooting the breeze, [[ContemplateOurNavels talking about life.]] He also does this thing where his - his characters, they'll stutter fr- from time to time when talking for a long time.
** He has a trend of absolutely trying to break his characters, especially female ones. ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' - Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy, ''Alias'' - Jessica Jones, ''New Avengers'' - Spider-Woman, ''All-New X-Men'' - Jean Grey, ''Uncanny X-Men'' - Magik.

* When it comes to dialog, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis is known for what is called "[[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic Bendis Speak]]"."Bendis Speak?" "Yes, Bendis Speak. Do you know what I'm talking about?" "You mean Bendis Speak, like in those comics, from that writer?" "Yeah, you know, like the writer. Brian Bendis." "Brian ''Michael'' Bendis?" "What?" "The writer. I think he's credited with three names. Pretentious middle name-kinda guy. "Oh." "Yeah." He also tends to [[{{Padding}} "decompress"]] stories by having characters repeat themselves. Bendis writing for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' led to many scenes of the world's greatest superteam just shooting the breeze, [[ContemplateOurNavels talking about life.]] He also does this thing where his - his characters, they'll stutter fr- from time to time when talking for a long time.

* When it comes to dialog, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis is known for what is called "[[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic Bendis Speak]]"."Bendis Speak?" "Yes, Bendis Speak. Do you know what I'm talking about?" "You mean Bendis Speak, like in those comics, from that writer?" "Yeah, you know, like the writer. Brian Bendis." "Brian ''Michael'' Bendis?" "What?" "The writer. I think he's credited with three names. Pretentious middle name-kinda guy. "Oh." "Yeah." He also tends to [[{{Padding}} "decompress"]] stories by having characters repeat themselves. Bendis writing for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' led to many scenes of the world's greatest superteam just shooting the breeze, [[ContemplateOurNavels talking about life.]] He also does this thing where his - his characters, they'll stutter fr- from time to time when talking for a long time. Whether it's realistic enough depends upon your- your personal opinion.

* When it comes to dialog, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis was considered the [[Creator/QuentinTarantino Tarantino]] of comics, but eventually his lack of range started to show through.
** He isn't very good at character voices, so over half of his characters sound like Peter Parker-esque [[WorldOfSnark quipping machines.]] (He ''did'' write good stuff for ''Spider-Man''.)
** "Bendis Speak?" "Yes, Bendis Speak. Do you know what I'm talking about?" "You mean Bendis Speak, like in those comics, from that writer?" "Yeah, you know, like the writer. Brian Bendis." "Brian ''Michael'' Bendis?" "What?" "The writer. I think he's credited with three names. Pretentious middle name-kinda guy. "Oh." "Yeah."
** He also tends to [[{{Padding}} "decompress"]] stories by having characters repeat themselves. To the point where it's a joke that he's not "writing for the trades," he's writing for the omnibus. Bendis writing for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' led to many scenes of the world's greatest superteam just shooting the breeze, [[ContemplateOurNavels talking about life.]] His [[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic 'real talk']] style of dialog became a parody of itself, with Creator/GrantMorrison [[TakeThat trying his hand]] at "Bendis-Speak" in ''ComicBook/GreenLantern (Blackstars #2'').[[note]]In case it's not obvious, the whole issue is written as a roast of modern comics.[[/note]]
** The character Kong in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan''. A character shamelessly and clearly based on Bendis himself (they both look like the illegitimate son of ComicBook/TheKingpin), who later entered into a relationship with ComicBook/KittyPryde. It's become apparent that Bendis has an obsession with ramming her into every comic he writes, regardless of whether it makes sense, from ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' to ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''.
** Bendis also does this thing where his - his characters, they'll stutter fr- from time to time when talking for a long time. Whether it's realistic enough depends upon your- your personal opinion.
** ''Also'', he has a trend of absolutely trying to ''break'' his characters, especially female ones. ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' - Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy, ''Alias'' - Jessica Jones, ''New Avengers'' - Spider-Woman, ''All-New X-Men'' - Jean Grey, ''Uncanny X-Men'' - Magik.

** He really enjoys [[CListFodder killing off lesser known heroes and villains]] to build up the villains of his stories as well. Taken UpToEleven in ''Comicbook/{{Starman}}'', where the Mist kills the entire roster of the new [[Comicbook/JusticeLeagueInternational Justice League Europe]], save for Icemaiden and Comicbook/{{Firestorm}}.

** He also tends to [[{{Padding}} "decompress"]] stories by having characters repeat themselves. To the point where it's a joke that he's not "writing for the trades," he's writing for the omnibus. Bendis writing for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' led to many scenes of the world's greatest superteam just shooting the breeze, [[ContemplateOurNavels talking about life.]] His 'real talk' style of dialog became a parody of itself, with Creator/GrantMorrison [[TakeThat trying his hand]] at "Bendis-Speak" in ''ComicBook/GreenLantern (Blackstars #2'').[[note]]In case it's not obvious, the whole issue is written as a roast of modern comics.[[/note]]

* When it comes to dialog, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis was considered the [[Creator/QuentinTarantino Tarantino]] of comics, but eventually his lack of range started to show through. He isn't very good at character voices, so over half of his characters sound like Peter Parker-esque [[WorldOfSnark quipping machines.]] (He ''did'' write good stuff for ''Spider-Man''.) He also tends to [[{{Padding}} "decompress"]] stories by having characters repeat themselves. To the point where it's a joke that he's not "writing for the trades," he's writing for the omnibus. Bendis writing for ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' led to many scenes of the world's greatest superteam just shooting the breeze, [[ContemplateOurNavels talking about life.]] His 'real talk' style of dialog became a parody of itself, with Creator/GrantMorrison [[TakeThat trying his hand]] at "Bendis-Speak" in ''ComicBook/GreenLantern (Blackstars #2'').[[note]]In case it's not obvious, the whole issue is written as a roast of modern comics.[[/note]] "Bendis Speak?" "Yes, Bendis Speak. Do you know what I'm talking about?" "You mean Bendis Speak, like in those comics, from that writer?" "Yeah, you know, like the writer. Brian Bendis." "Brian ''Michael'' Bendis?" "What?" "The writer. I think he's credited with three names. Pretentious middle name-kinda guy. "Oh." "Yeah."

* Marvel comics writer Brian Bendis has a {{Hatedom}} related to his style.
** Typical Bendis dialogue will likely include fucktons of gratuitous swearing, repetitions, repetitions, Buffyspeak up the tuchas, even if it doesn't fit the character, and repetitions.
*** Repetitions?
*** Repetitions.
*** I don't know about repetitions.
*** How do you not know about repetitions?
** Bendis also does this thing where his - his characters, they'll stutter fr- from time to time when talking for a long time. Whether it's realistic enough depends upon your- your personal opinion.
** ''Also'', he has a trend of absolutely trying to ''break'' his characters, especially female ones. ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' - Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy, ''Alias'' - Jessica Jones, ''New Avengers'' - Spider-Woman, ''All-New X-Men'' - Jean Grey, ''Uncanny X-Men'' - Magik.

** Duckist Creator/DonRosa. Not only is his style of drawing highly different from any other artist who draws DonaldDuck comics, his stories are littered with funny background events, in-jokes, continuity porn and are always very well researched.

* Al Hartley used StockVisualMetaphors and effects to an excess in Franchise/ArchieComics, especially starstruck expressions and giant dust clouds. His characters also had a tendency to walk on air, and the title character was a frequent victim of ComedicSociopathy. Though in retrospect, Hartley is probably best remembered for [[AuthorTract his recurring attempts to incorporate evangelism into the same comics]].

* Creator/PeterDavid is known for his [[EnsembleCast Ensemble Casts]], snarky humor, ContinuityPorn, and self-admitted love for [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap rescuing Scrappies]] and [[AscendedExtra fleshing out lesser known characters]].

** If you're reading a ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' comic and the title character has gigantic ears on his cowl, it's by Kelley Jones.

* Jeremy Whitley's stories will often have a very clear pro-feminist agenda, empowering women of color in particular (even the ''villain'' can be an empowered woman of color in his stories, like The Promoter in his ''Thor vs. Hulk'' miniseries). The most common justification for this seems to be that [[WriteWhoYouKnow he's inspired by his black wife and sister-in-law]], and that [[SoMyKidsCanWatch he wants to create good role models for his young daughter]].

* Pat Mills has a thendency of introducing NonHumanSidekick of his main protagonist who annoys people with their CatchPhrase and then have them brutally murdered. Dictionary from ''ComicBook/RequiemVampireKnight'' or ''ComicBook/NemesisTheWarlock'''s familiar (who don't as much says a catchphrase as makes narrator constantly remind readers he speaks gibberish) are two notable examples.

* [[Creator/MarvelComics Stan Lee]] writes ''everyone'' as a LargeHam. Although he is this way in RealLife too ([[AlterEgoActing or at least in interviews]]) [[SelfInsertFic and in his cameos]] so that makes sense.

** His characters tend to have a ridiculous amount of detailed, almost sketchy linework all over their bodies with ultra messy hair. There's even a particular hairstyle, which [[AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] lovingly named "carrot top", that is in ''all'' of his works. Even if a character has an established hairstyle, it will look like an edited version of this particular style.

** Don Martin: Lots of {{Written Sound Effect}}s, motion lines, and extremely gangly characters with huge noses and flat, floppy feet. He is also very fond of coakroaches, Groucho glasses and variations of the FrogPrince story.

* In his ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'' stories, Rene Goscinny will often have people who have held a grudge, acted like [[DirtyCoward dirty cowards]], or like total jerks for the entire story [[AssPull suddenly come to their senses on the last 2-3 pages]]. EasyEvangelism is sometimes involved. If the story has a RoadTripPlot, there will usually be a traitor in the midst. If it takes place in a town, the BigBad will sometimes establish his stronghold by forcing a local business owner, at the point of a gun, to "sell" him his business.

* Comics written by Creator/GrantMorrison tend to have endings that go way too fast so that everything can get tied up. The ''World War III'' arc of ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]'' -- his last on the book -- features ''all of humanity'' developing superpowers. We get to see it for three pages. However, works featuring his own characters rather than pre-created ones tend to have better endings.