Visions of Villainy: Chris Samnee

[about_faces]

Since real life has once again become far too real to allow free time for the usual in-depth bloggery, I think it'd be neat to post a gallery of Batman villains as drawn by a single artist of note, someone who has an amazing style of their own who also brings something unique to the Rogues. Today, I'd like to dedicate this post to Chris Samnee.

Comments

[about_faces]

... but I like the way he draws the classic original Cat-outfit.

Agreed! While the Cooke "Goggles-Suit" outfit has always been my favorite version, it's become so ubiquitous that the classic outfit--which I've always liked anyway--has become more and more appealing. Heck, I've even gained a fondness for the 90's Jim Balent purple suit, just because it's been so aggressively erased from all continuity! Too bad we can't have more retro Batman comics where we can see this Golden Age Catwoman more often. Well, besides Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which has almost certainly given that outfit a resurgence of awareness, if not popularity.

I just assume that the kid in the Clayface muck was Robin, but now that you mention it, that whole idea makes for a pretty ingenious and terrifying Bat-trap! And damn it, Clayface SHOULD be that creepy!

I actually agree with the astronaut criticisms of Freeze. It's like when some artists put him in an old-fashioned diving suit: sure, I appreciate what you're going for, and it's kinda cool (hurr) to imagine that Freeze could repurpose one of those suits... but it's not quite right, for some reason.

There's a bit of sex kitten in there, along with a bit of 'whoops, did I do that?' sort of playfulness. Harley should always have an element of fun about her, and this has it.

Absolutely. Even before the Suicide Girl Suicide Squad DCnU version, far too few comic artists seemed to understand these qualities in Harley, making her just another lusty sexpot or something.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but isn't that first Bat-portrait also invoking Harvey? I mean, I'm pretty sure Bats is posing atop one of Gilda's half-shattered carvings of him from the Golden Age.

I was totally wondering if that was Harvey-related too, but oh man, I'd LOVE it if Samnee's intention was to reference that Golden Age story with the giant Harvey bust that Gilda made.

As for that link, no, I didn't catch that one! Sorry! It's been un-grayed! I shall check those out later!

[psychopathicus]

The Balent version was kind of my introduction to Catwoman, so I've always had kind of a soft spot for it. His art style aside, I think it's actually a pretty classy outfit - very simple, very practical, and yet retaining that comic book-y feel. Plus, I think she looks good in purple (and it's a nice nod to the Golden Age version, as well).

It could be Robin, yeah; hadn't thought of that - but wouldn't it be still more ingenious if it were a fake Robin? I mean, Robin (at least the classic version) gets in danger all the freakin' time; the kid can take care of himself, but he's still been put into just about every deathtrap known to man. Bats would think this was just another instance where the kid needed some help, so he helps him out of the pit, they go back home to the Batcave - and now Clayface has infiltrated his enemy's home base...

I'm guessing that that version of Harley was influenced by the Arkham Asylum/City version, which I never liked the design of. I honestly don't think she's all that bad, but she's not the Harley I know, that's for sure.

I think you'll find them interesting - I thought the Penguin entry was particularly on-the-nose.