The Penny Arcade artwork

[Kovac]

For a while now I have started to think that perhaps Mikes art on the strip isn't as good as it once was. Or that perhaps it's just a personal taste thing and he has moved to a style that other people consider to be an improvement.

It still funny as ever but I find that I miss the well defined characters that we had years ago.

The linework is a little all over the place now. In kind of a spastic way.

So is it just me?

Current PA

Older PA

 

[Jiarn]

He made a comment on that in his "news" about 2-3 weeks ago, that he was moving toward that style over the older versions.

 

[Kovac]

It may have been longer ago than that.

I couldn't find the post

 

[checkeredhat]

I find that the massively thick line of the older strip you used as an example really flattens out the characters. I much prefer the new style. Alternating line weights are much more appealing, and create better depth.

 

[Frank]

Without the current style, we never would have gotten this:

I'm totally ok with it.

Gabe's Twitter take on it: @seancw Well I don't plan on going back to drawing like that. Maybe have someone read you the jokes so you don't have to look at the art.

 

[Null]

Gabe's art is in the habit of changing; he'll stay with a basic style for a year or so but every so often you'll see him do a strip in a wildly different fashion as a one off or something. The guy is constantly experimenting with his own art. Different tools and different ideas lead him in new directions artistically.

 

[Kovac]

Gabe's Twitter take on it: @seancw Well I don't plan on going back to drawing like that. Maybe have someone read you the jokes so you don't have to look at the art.

I wouldn't go that far.

I have a bit of a problem with the direction the art has taken but on the whole I still like the strip. I mostly just dislike what he does with that final frame.

Those hideous legs...

 

[drifter]

I seem to recall 3-4 years back (or perhaps further; good lord, has it been that long?) that Gabe commented on how strong an impression John Kricfalusi left on him and how that inspired him to work on his art. Knowing that, it's not surprising to see how his art has changed.

 

[Espy]

Gabe's art is in the habit of changing; he'll stay with a basic style for a year or so but every so often you'll see him do a strip in a wildly different fashion as a one off or something. The guy is constantly experimenting with his own art. Tracing other peoples stuff because he doesn't have time to improve himself lead him in new directions artistically.

FTFY. I mean, thats how professionals do it right? Who has time to actually work on the thing that pays their bills, pff.

Seriously though, his art has consistently gotten better, I look at the images in the OP and think, man he used to do some boring stuff there and now... it's just dynamic and so much more interesting.
Added at: 09:07

Those hideous legs...

I can see how it's not everyones cup of tea, it's way more fluid and stylistic. Personally, once I got used to the style I really started to like it.

 

[MindDetective]

I'm still not used to it. I admire his exploration of his art. I hope he moves away from the current style eventually, though. The first thing that attracts me to a webcomic is the art and the present art simply wouldn't bring me in as a new reader, I think.

 

[Null]

I like how Mike points out his influences, and you can see where he's taking queues from their style at certain points. For instance, he started using the thick black lines and single-curve bodies based off the look of the Clerks cartoon. He's also mention Stephen Silver as a major influence, and you can see that here and there, especially when drawing Kara or Brenna. I think the currently style is a bit more cartoon, but it's also very dynamic and expressive with body language.