If I could switch styles with one artist, I’d take Parlov’s. We all throw the word “storytelling” around but few of us really struggle to understand what it means. In my opinion, Goran is a master. I mean check out the last panel on page 6 where a crowd is watching a TV through the window of a storefront. If I had drawn this I would have rendered more of the crowd for fear that readers would think I was lazy, but Parlov pulled it off simply and effectively by drawing a few TVs, some price tags, and a few shadows of the crowd. This way he’s helping the reader quickly through a panel that isn’t meant to be looked at for too long. It’s perfect.
His simplicity is what keeps me coming back. When I read a comic that’s over-rendered I can feel my arms are tensing up because of all the detail. I know what grueling work feels like, so heavy rendering makes me feel bad for the artist even if it looks good. But Parlov is a nice, easy read. I imagine most of his work takes place during layouts where he works out the storytelling. After that he probably does a fair amount of research (check out all the beautiful and accurate shots of NYC). That’s probably most of the heavy lifting because there’s so few lines on the actually pages. He must cut off work at 3pm and rest up for the next day. Or maybe do a few pages a day. Either way, I love looking at it because he makes it look so easy.
I don’t know him nor do I have his contact so I’m just making assumptions here regarding his process. I don’t know a lot about who’s a hot artist and who isn’t, but I hope Parlov is getting a lot of love and a good paycheck because he’s one of Marvel’s best guys.
The other reason I love this book is because I would LOVE to draw it. We’ve all looked around the Marvel or DC universe from time to time and thought “there are WAY too many heroes around here. Someone should thin out the herds.” A few of us have probably come up with a story similar to Punisher vs. The Marvel UniverseI know I have. Mainly because I’d get to draw a bunch of weirdos in capes and tights being killed by the one dude I’m actually into: The Punisher. I’m so jealous.
Looking at Parlov’s art is like staring at a flowing river that looks easy enough to cross. But then you take a step in and drown in the undertow.
S