Alex Ross

Universally acknowledged as one of the greatest artists in the field of comic books, Alex Ross has revolutionised the industry, transcending the newsstand origins of his profession. Just as Andy Warhol elevated soup can labels into multi-million-dollar artworks, he has transformed comic books with his brilliant use of gouache paint, building on the foundation of the great artists who came before him including Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, Neal Adams and George Perez.

Background

Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Lubbock, Texas, Alex made his artistic debut at three when, according to his mother, he grabbed a piece of paper and drew the contents of a television commercial he’d seen moments before. By age 13 he was scripting and drawing original comic books. Ten years later? He was hired by Marvel Comics to illustrate Marvel’s central characters in the comic book event, Marvels (1994).

Comicbook artistry and other celebrated works

Alex’s work has celebrated the 60th anniversaries of Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman with fully painted, tabloid-sized books, depicting each of these characters using their powers to inspire humanity as well as help them.

In recent years, Ross has applied his artistic skills to outside projects with comic book roots, including a limited-edition promotional poster for the Academy Awards. In 2015, Alex was chosen by Apple Corps LTD to be commissioned as the first artist in over 30 years to paint the Fab Four. Driven by the Beatles legendary music and inspired by the generation’s new trends in art, “Yellow Submarine” is a classic of animated cinema. Alex has often been referred to as ‘the Norman Rockwell of comics’ yet his “Yellow Submarine” piece reveals the similarly powerful influence of master surrealist Salvador Dali, whom Alex has also recognized as a guiding influence on his style.

Forty years ago, Spider-Man learned that with great power comes great responsibility. Looking at Alex Ross, it’s obvious the lesson took.

Looking back, it makes perfect sense that Alex Ross would become one of the world’s most preeminent and well-respected comic book artists. It’s a job he’s been preparing for nearly all his life.

Awards

Having established himself creatively and financially with superhero projects, Ross turned to the real world with Uncle Sam, a 96-page story that took a hard look at the dark side of American history. Like Marvels, the individual issues of Uncle Sam were collected into a single volume – first in hardcover, then in paperback – and remain in print today. Ross would eventually go on to win the Comic Buyer’s Guide Award for Favorite Painter. He won so many times that the award was officially retired.

Alex’s Awards:

• Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Best Cover Artist six times, 1994-2010,
• Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Best Painter/Multimedia Artist five times, 1994-2000
• Harvey Awards Best Artist or Penciller 1994 and 1997
• Harvey Awards Best Continuing or Limited Series 1994
• Harvey Awards Special Award for Excellence in Presentation 1994
• Harvey Awards Best Single Issue or Story 1995
• Harvey Awards Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work 1995
• Comics Buyer’s Guide’s Best Cover Artist 11 times 1995 to 2005.
• Harvey Awards Best Cover Artist four times 1996 -1999
• National Cartoonists Society Comic Book “Reuben” Award 1998
• Harvey Awards Best Graphic Album of Original Work 2000
• Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards – Winner Bob Clampett Humanitarian 2003
• Comics Buyer’s Guide’s CBG Fan Award for Favourite Painter seven times 2003 – 2010