RENATO ARLEM LOVES JOHN BUSCEMA

Man, I thought the DAVID MACK copying artwork was bad.... well it still is... but check this out (found over at Rich's "Lying in the Gutters").

The COLORED images are from 2006's ANNIHILATION: SILVER SURFER #1, pencilled by RENATO ARLEM.

The BLACK/WHITE images are from 1969/70's SILVER SUFER #4-12, pencilled by JOHN BUSCEMA.
I can't believe Marvel did not catch this full-on swiping of another artist's work, especially Buscema's, who DEFINED the look of Marvel for an entire decade-plus. His work is legend and very well-known by fans and pros.

Doing an HOMAGE is one thing... artists do it sometimes, but usually include a little note telling the comic reader who they are emulating (ex: "After Kirby"). But this... this appears to be full on copying another artists' work panel-after-panel and selling it as his own.

And there's this....

Pulse interview excerpt from May 2006:
THE PULSE: What were some of the things about this particular character that interested you in drawing his adventures in this format?

ARLEM: Not only working in a big publisher like Marvel, but the chance to work with a character that was my childhood favorite, that had been immortalized by the great masters: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and John Buscema. About the style, I think lately great artists have appeared in the comics industry, but one that really caught my attention was Alex Maleev. I really think his art is fantastic and I clearly use his work for inspiration.

[*JIMSMASH NOTE: Maleev, watch out!!!!]

THE PULSE: How tough was it to draw a character like the Silver Surfer that doesn't have a lot of costume and more or less a big shiny guy?

ARLEM: I think what’s hardest is finding positions that don’t make him look clumsy on the board, something like giving balance, being aggressive and light at the same time.

THE PULSE: Who are some other Silver Surfer artists whose work you admired?

ARLEM: Jack Kirby, for the greatness and creative capacity of his work and John Buscema, because he was a master. I think John Byrne also made a fantastic history for the Surfer, the one in which he breaks free from the force field that trapped him on Earth.

THE PULSE: How is being a part of a bigger event a challenge when working on something like this?

ARLEM: I think it’s keeping the material with an attractive quality throughout the whole event, because the work is hard and tiring, but the fans appreciation is gratifying.