Liefeld's Twitter read:
Apparently, because Rob used inkers,(perish the thought), while Kirkman wanted the pages redrawn to be more "Liefeldy". What I love about this, is the fact that, Liefeld deserves a fair amount of critisism for a lot of things, but this is not one of them, and I am 100% in his camp on this one for 2 reasons:
1) They still look like Liefeld's pages; only with a nice slick inked line that actually makes them look a bit BETTER than his most recent lineart (in my opinion). A creator that finishes his pages and brings in a nice inker ON TOP OF THAT, should not be critisized nor told to redraw the pages unless the work is REALLY subpar and makes the publication less likely to sell. Marvel and DC, for the most part, do not have ANYONE redraw interior art unless there are story changes, if only because it takes up an editor's time and makes books LATE. And it IS an insult to a successful professional with decades of experience (Yes, even Rob).
2) No other reason. I'm told, at this point, it's career suicide to argue with Robert Kirkman on any topic. Since, I'm still a freelancer, trying to earn a living, I'll just repost the BC article's comparisons for your enjoyment:
Here’s a comparison between Liefeld’s pencils and the inked pages.
These were layouts, by the way, not pencils, as some have called them. The inker did the "heavy lifting".
Liefeld stated, through a number of posts…
I gave pages to both MAC and Canaan, they did a great job. Kirkman did not feel the same. We argued and went back and forth, put a pretty bitter taste in my mouth.
No one has told me how to present my work in 25 years, I’m
Pretty fed up over the whole debacle.
As a fan I have always loved seeing artists work through the eyes of a variety of inkersvand finishers. Byrne inked by Austin looks different than inked by Layton, looks different than inked by Ordway, but at the end of the day, it’s still Byrne.
Sorry, I can’t produce timely work if I’m told to re-draw pages that I LOVE.
My life is not set up for that.
If I want to evolve my work, expand it, alter the way it looks, without limiting the amount of detail than that’s what I will do. I can’t have the terms of my art dictated to.
The storytelling was approved, the final line art was rejected. The stalemate went on a month. Where are the fans who want their product being served if the production pipeline is shut down.
This does not happen at the corporations I work with. In fact in my 25 years it has never happened.
Yeah, this is a really sour experience. Seriously…..nah….bites tongue.
Again, I run my books the same all over and I have pursued being on time, getting books out as having the most value. From DPC to Hawk and Dove, the 1st rule, every page can’t be a masterpiece, just can’t. 2nd rule, if it can’t be a masterpiece, at least make it presentable, make it interesting.
These pages accomplish that, and then some…they are great pages. No they do not adhere to a strict Liefeld line art, but they fit in and belong in the wheelhouse.And I found this little animated gif that shows exactly how much the inker contributed:
d**n shame.
-Matt Wieman
(with additional information via Bleeding Cool)
Those were some excellent inks. Brought a John Byrneish flavor to the pages. A pity that they led to the end of the book.