I figure this is worth sharing, since no one can possibly ever agree on this topic.

This cover was posted to Reddit with the headline “Mike Allred’s She-Hulk is the best She-Hulk?”…

Inevitably one user said “I don’t get why people like this guys art. Please explain it to me! to me it looks cheap, lazy, and boring”, to which I responded “It’s graphic and dynamic. Ultimately, people have different tastes.” A second user replied to that with “It’s hideously out of proportion. Comically tiny neck and head, with a huge muscular body. This one is much better:”

This is the image he linked to… 

Not bad at all, but not as interesting as Allred’s, in my opinion. This was my response…

“(referring to Allred’s art) Her neck & head aren’t really that small, compared to her body overall. It’s her shoulders/arms that are broad/large. It’s a stylistic emphasis.

A lot of folks complain about proportions, but you know who wasn’t too hot on proportions? Kirby. He, like Allred, who was obviously influenced by him, made stylistic choices. When you do that you sometimes have to sacrifice realism. So it’s not a question of skill, it’s a question of taste on the viewer’s part.

As an artist who leans more toward a graphic style, I understand what they’re going for. I’m in no way comparing my skill level to theirs, but a lot of folks have made similar criticisms about my stuff. I’m very much aware of what I’m doing, as I’m sure they were/are. I know a hip doesn’t really work like that, but it looks fantastic, so I’m leaving it.

Since the end of the 80’s cape comics, for the most part, have experienced the stylistic equivalent of inbreeding. Many aspiring artists will look no further than comic books for their inspiration, and end up aping styles. That’s why people like Mike Allred, Frank Quitely, Paul Pope, etc. become so divisive - They clearly have broader influences, and that inevitably takes the viewer out of their narrow comfort zone.

And your link doesn’t work.

EDIT: Saw your link - Great drawing, but if we’re focusing on proportions - that waist is way too narrow for a woman that size.”

Basically art is subjective. Big news, I know.