Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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(A third brother, Mario, contributed to early issues but has since hung up his nib.)
Best story
Jaime:I really like howThe Love Bunglerswrapped up 30 years of the comic.
That approach worked at the time, but its not something I could repeat.
Some of it is a little cringey, but its out of my hands.
Gilbert:Only for reference because otherwise I see all the things I should have done.
Best character
Jaime:Maggie.
Gilbert:Theyre all my children.
I think the best-written one, the one that stands the test of time, isLuba.
But thats part of reality.
She started as this bombshell, but I liked that she was mad all the time.
Where was a good place to go with her?
I thought she might have started a revolution, but now shes ousted and hiding out.
That was the first idea for her andPalomar.
Best male character
Jaime:I like Ray.
He was another one I had to figure out.
Who the hell is this guy?
Im still learning about him.
Im enjoying his old-man qualities, his Im gonna sit back and watch these kids destroy themselves mood.
Gilbert:I cant even think of male characters that are important.
But I love his first Heartbreak Soup story and the stories in between.
Gilbert:My favorite Jaime panel is not just because its so well done.
There are some robots, Maggies on her knees, and shes happy.
Just the shading with the pen was so engaging and hit the right note.
Youll notice a lot of superhero and tough characters are unhappy with everything they see.
I never understood that.
At the end of the day, wed end up in some suite with people like Matt Groening.
Youd mix with different people, and everybody was mostly cool because we were all in the same boat.
It was a new world of comics.
Jaime:They all kind of run together for me.
Crazy stuff is usually happening to someone else.
In real life, Im not that adventurous.
I remember going to strip bars with Dave Stevens, but is that wild and crazy?
I just loved him so much and was starstruck.
And then it was my turn and I looked at him and smiled and just walked away.
I didnt know what to say after those guys.
We went with him, and Kirby showed us all the stuff that you see in history books.
We were giggling the whole time because we loved it so much.
And he was saying, Those are my kids.
I would have been furious if Id known what was gonna happen with the movies.
Eighty-five percent of the goddamn billion-dollar Marvel industry is based on Jack Kirby.
It was even a surprise to me.
As I was writing that story, I was going,This is not good.
But I let it go because I knew it would have an effect on readers.
Jaime:People seem to like The Death of Speedy.
I think of more people to kill every once in a while, but I dont.
Sometimes its too easy, you know?
I think about real people Ive known how did their deaths affect me?
Did I just say, Oh, wow, and go back to work?
They died in their 40s or even earlier.
After a while, my younger brother would go, Hey, guess who died?
Its sad, but [whistles], everyone, stay alive if you could.
