Superheroes in the Real World: Alex Ross at 55

Posted on January 22, 2025

by Eric S

Wizard magazine (R.I.P.) once proclaimed, “even your mom would like Alex Ross’ comics”—and I can’t think of a better encapsulation of his artwork. Known for his intricately painted images that immediately draw you into the fantastical world of superheroes, Ross brought a degree of photorealism to comic book art that had never been seen before (or since, if we’re being honest). Certainly, artists like Neal Adams, Bernie Wrightson, Brian Bolland, and Frank Frazetta raised the standards of anatomy, lighting, and composition for comics, but Ross’ stories are ones you can practically step right into: the sun glistens off Captain America’s shield, you can see the creases in Spider-Man’s costume, and you can feel the breeze as Superman zooms by.

Breaking into comics in 1990 at the age of 19 with a five-issue Terminator mini-series called The Burning Earth, Ross would go on to paint some of the most important mainstream superhero books of the ‘90s, particularly Marvels and Kingdom Come. He would also provide iconic covers for Kurt Busiek’s Astro City and Alan Moore’s Tom Strong, two of the biggest and cleverest deconstructions of the superhero genre to be released that decade. In recent years, his talents have mostly been reserved for comic book covers (check out Immortal Hulk and Amazing Spider-Man), but his beautiful and experimental Fantastic Four: Full Circle from 2022 shows that he is still a master storyteller.

Although the level of skill he brings to comics is undeniable, I think his greatest contribution is his uncanny ability to get readers outside of the fandom to take notice of a medium that has not historically been recognized for its legitimate artistry. Ross’ work almost has a Norman Rockwell quality that is instantly identifiable and has allowed it to transcend superhero comics. Some may scoff at his mass appeal, but between decades of confusing continuity, gatekeeping by longtime fans, and other barriers to getting into superhero books, there’s something really important about his art’s ability to welcome new readers. So, let’s celebrate one of comics’ greatest ambassadors on his 55th birthday this week by diving into some of his most important, influential, and interesting works!

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