Line #52 Creator/AlexRoss


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alex_ross_at_work.jpg]]
2
3	->''"There have always been naysayers. People who absolutely thought painting superheroes wasn't going to work. I had try to prove those people wrong."''
4	-->-- '''Ross''', ''The Art of Painted Comics''
5
6	'''[[TropeCodifier The]]''' Comic Book Painter.
7
8	You remember those realistic-looking paintings of superheroes that made it plausible to imagine people running around wearing those costumes? They're probably the work of this guy.
9
10	Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an American {{painter\|s}}, character designer, and plotter who set the bar for painted comic book art. After discovering ComicBook/SpiderMan on an episode of ''Series/TheElectricCompany1971'', Ross became a huge fan of the superhero genre and attempted to emulate artists like John Romita Sr. and Creator/GeorgePerez when he decided to become an illustrator in the industry. Soon, however, he discovered the painted works of artists like Creator/NormanRockwell and envisioned superheroes being drawn in the same style and quality. With this goal in mind, Ross graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago and pursued work in the comic book industry. He hit it big with his beautifully crafted recreations of iconic Creator/MarvelComics moments and characters in ''ComicBook/{{Marvels}}''. He continued his success over at DC with ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'' and later with ''ComicBook/{{Justice\|DCComics}}''. Ross is also in the creator-owned side of things with works like ''Uncle Sam'' and ''ComicBook/AstroCity''.
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12	Ross also worked on artwork for ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'', ''Film/SpiderMan2'', and ''VideoGame/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse''.
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14	Due to the [[ScheduleSlip lengthy process of painting his art]] (he forgoes digital for more traditional methods), you'll seldom see him actually draw interiors. Nowadays, he's stuck with cover art (mainly at Marvel), character design, or whatever he feels like doing. [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt Nobody's really complaining, though.]]
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16	He's [[AuthorAppeal also fond]] of {{Reconstruction}} and GenreThrowback. He's [[TakeThat not fond]] of MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks. Or ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} (at least until Creator/HughJackman came along).
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18	Has no relation to the equally talented Creator/BobRoss.
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20	Official [[http://www.alexrossart.com/ website]]. Official [[https://twitter.com/thealexrossart?lang=en Twitter]].
21	!! Works:
22	[[index]]
23	* ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentAvengers''
24	* ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManDanSlott''
25	* ''ComicBook/AstroCity''
26	* ''ComicBook/EarthX''
27	* ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk''
28	* ''ComicBook/{{Justice\|DCComics}}''
29	* ''ComicBook/KingdomCome''
30	* ''ComicBook/{{Marvels}}''
31	* ''ComicBook/ProjectSuperpowers''
32	[[/index]]
33	!!Alex Ross's works provide examples of:
34	* ArtShift: Don't let his photorealistic style fool you; Ross is very capable of drawing in the styles of other mediums or artists. Take for instance this ComicBook/{{Shazam}} [[https://web.archive.org/web/20190418194344/https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/echoes_of_shazam_web1200.jpg piece]] which was confirmed to be hand-drawn.
35	* AuthorAppeal: Ross really likes [[MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks The Golden Age]] and MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks.
36	** He's also a big fan of ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'', so references are abound.
37	* TheCameo / CreatorCameo: He'll often paint other characters, celebrities, or other comic creators into the panel.
38	* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Since he uses models and reference photos for his work, the use of this trope is more clear than other examples.
39	* ConvertedFanboy: He couldn't care less for the ComicBook/XMen, especially for Wolverine. It wasn't until Creator/BryanSinger's [[Film/XMen1 film]] and Creator/HughJackman's performance that Ross wanted in on the [[ComicBook/NewXMen movie-inspired relaunch]]. He also replaced the unflattering portrayal of Wolverine as a fat, lazy drunk in ''ComicBook/EarthX'''s sequels with the much more dignified and badass version from ''ComicBook/DaysOfFuturePast''.
40	* CreatorsPest: [[invoked]]
41	** Famously dislikes Kyle Rayner Green Lantern, and goes out of his way to avoid drawing him.
42	** He used to heavily dislike Wolverine until Hugh Jackman's performance turned him around.
43	** He's also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTZLbpSKic4 admitted]] to not liking ComicBook/{{Venom}} due to his general disdain for NinetiesAntiHero type characters. As such, he disliked painting him for covers and for his lineup of Marvel villains, even lamenting in the linked video how good the latter piece turned out.
44	* FormerlyFit: Ross has a habit of having various characters in alternate future stories gain some weight in the intervening time. Sometimes it's a blatant TakeThat to characters he doesn't like, other times it's ultimately just a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome about how some people normally age.
45	* OnlySixFaces:
46	** Reusing the same models over and over for reference can only do so much when painting a buttload of superheroes who are supposed to have different appearances. Martian Manhunter is essentially Superman but with a bigger brow and painted green.
47	** Due to his painstaking {{painting\|s}} process (especially for lighting and perspective purposes), Ross has a penchant for following the most immediate model he can pull at the moment he needs it: himself. As such, some of his most known character models have facial features that resemble his own.
48	* ParodyAssistance: He's drawn a cover for ''Magazine/{{Mad}}'' that parodies his grandiose style of painting... by having Superman and Batman awkwardly trying not to acknowledge Alfred E. Newman attempting to epically pose alongside them.
49	* ProductionPosse: [[invoked]] He can usually be found working with Creator/KurtBusiek as his partner in crime. When he's the one heading the project, he'll usually bring in Jim Krueger to help him with writing while he plots.
50	* PromotedFanboy: Ross was a fan of ''Anime/BattleOfThePlanets'' and jumped at the opportunity to draw covers for the Creator/TopCowProductions adaptation. Later, when ADV released the original ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' on DVD, Ross came on board again to draw art for the DVD boxsets and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhGYL0xlrM4 be interviewed about the series]]. His art is now considered synonymous with the series to the point where Creator/SentaiFilmworks reused his art for their Blu-Ray release of ''Gatchaman'', and included an artbook of Ross' work with said release.
51	* {{Reconstruction}}: Besides his more idealistic works, the man's artwork in general makes it plausible that these people can go out in those costumes and fight crime without looking silly.
52	* SuperheroesWearTights: Played with. One of the features of his artwork consists of how superheroes would actually look on spandex without leaning into FormFittingWardrobe territory. So, yeah... those are wear and wrinkles on Batman's pants because he's wearing clothes that are supposed to look like clothes.
53	* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[invoked]]As a concept artist, Ross has tried his hand at providing preliminary designs for potential reboots or just alternate costumes. Most infamous are his design sketches for Creator/SamRaimi's ''Film/SpiderMan1'': a Spider-Man redesign which would eventually be the inspiration for ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'' and a [[https://i.imgur.com/kabqIrD.jpg medieval-looking Green Goblin]].
54	* WriterOnBoard:
55	** The stuff where he has a big hand in the writing ''will'' have some sort of TakeThat towards MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.
56	** And also, Gwen Stacy is Peter Parker's TrueLove, not Mary Jane Watson.

Context Creator / AlexRoss