Yes, they started turning to shit in the 2000's. It was slow at first, almost imperceptible.
Even as late as 2011 the art was still competent, but by that point, but a certain intangible quality was gone. It didn't have the boldness of the 60-70's, or the attitude of the 80's-90's. It didn't have... anything. It was competently executed nothingness, which in my experience, is what you get when you ask a professional artist to draw something they have no interest in. You get technically good work that has no soul and ends up looking like cereal box art.
The 2010's basically saw all of the artists who'd come to prominence in the 80 and 90's either retire or get quietly, or not so quietly driven out of the industry.
Today, western comics once again have artists who are interested in what they're drawing - but they are no longer professional artists. They are instead amateurs with connections. The result is art that is as ugly as the souls of its creators.
I tried to get back into comics several times with the various reboots. The only series that really pulled me in were the lesser known titles like Animal Man, not the big cinematic names.
You're right about the artists. American artists have basically come and gone. "Artsy" tumblr garbage is what's left. That's why you're seeing more and more South American artists who grew up on the old style and are able to emulate it quite well, along with their own flair.
Let's be real, western comics have been shit for a lot longer than that.
Yes, they started turning to shit in the 2000's. It was slow at first, almost imperceptible.
Even as late as 2011 the art was still competent, but by that point, but a certain intangible quality was gone. It didn't have the boldness of the 60-70's, or the attitude of the 80's-90's. It didn't have... anything. It was competently executed nothingness, which in my experience, is what you get when you ask a professional artist to draw something they have no interest in. You get technically good work that has no soul and ends up looking like cereal box art.
The 2010's basically saw all of the artists who'd come to prominence in the 80 and 90's either retire or get quietly, or not so quietly driven out of the industry.
Today, western comics once again have artists who are interested in what they're drawing - but they are no longer professional artists. They are instead amateurs with connections. The result is art that is as ugly as the souls of its creators.
I tried to get back into comics several times with the various reboots. The only series that really pulled me in were the lesser known titles like Animal Man, not the big cinematic names.
You're right about the artists. American artists have basically come and gone. "Artsy" tumblr garbage is what's left. That's why you're seeing more and more South American artists who grew up on the old style and are able to emulate it quite well, along with their own flair.