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Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Transformers Artists?

I rather enjoy the comics work Greg Land, currently drawing Symbiote Spider-Man. But it helps when he's on point, and being challenged by a writer. His Namor kiss from Uncanny X-Men is still a standout moment few artists could have approached. However, he does have a history of getting a little lazy and going for the trace option. Time and time and time again – with the suggestion that it may be taken from porn. He certainly wouldn't be unique in that – Jim Balent used to trace from issues of Hustler when drawing Catwoman. But now we have the internet and he was caught time and time again…

Such is John Gallagher, who has been drawing Transformers comics covers for some time now, with a run of exclusive retailer variants for Sad Lemon Comics. But readers are starting to notice the traces – and even the direct cut, paste and manipulates on a few of his covers. There's using reference and then there's photo manipulation. And courtesy of the heavy lifting on the TFW2005 boards by Nevermore, MegaDolrailer, Scoff, Fallout, and Dan The Art Guy.

Take this cover by John Gallagher, a retailer variant from Sad Lemon Comics

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

And look at Jetfire's left leg (your right)

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

And side by side…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

 

But what about his gun and other leg, surely they are original…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

And side by side,

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

And while you're at it for Starscream…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Zoom in…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

That's a familiar looking pose from above…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Mind you, that's a different looking face. So look at this box art for Starscream…Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

And go side-by-side with their faces.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Or look at this toy PR shot and this cover with Shockwave.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

 

Think that added gun is original?

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Sadly not. Or compare the following Dinobots card artwork from the Transformers Legends card game.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

To John Gallagher's covers… and while Grimlock's head looks a little different…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

That's because it came from a different card. And there's more to come… want to know where that Swoop came from pom the cover above? Here's that image as used beforehand, which Gallagher appears to have flipped for his own purposes.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

 

The Legends Cards artist also chose to make comment, posting;

Unfortunately this cover is a blatant swipe from an old Transformers Legends card set piece I drew for Grimlock in both modes. I didn't give permission for this artist to swipe my Grimlock artwork for this new Transformers cover. I look at this cover and see my work completely uncredited.

Generally it's very much frowned upon in the comic book community to swipe from another artists' artwork. Many artists may work from photos in their finished pieces, sure. However copying someone else's drawings whilst making only a few minor alterations is a much more serious matter.

Normally if an artist were to borrow a pose or composition they should always credit the original artist. Homage pieces are common, but should state "after" and then the artists' name.

It's very rare that I'd post on any forums as a rule, but I felt I should weigh in on this.

And still they came… another John Gallagher cover…

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

And the toy ad from Sideshow.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

That cover had additional variants as well.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers? Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Which needed additional swipes. Box art and a Facebook photo from someone at Thailand Comic Con 2017.

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers? Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?
And again, side by side…
Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?

Is John Gallagher the Greg Land of Tarnsformers?
Just be grateful Transformers don't do porn. Okay, okay, don't do much porn…


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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