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Bob, I just realized the updated website should have been out and clicked over to see...."YES, it has…and WOW! Was I blown away with the new look! Nothing to slam your previous web designer, I thought she did a heck of a job with all the monthly updates she had to crank thru...but this lady you have now DESIGNED a website! Give my kudos to her for the new look. Also--great new graphics, Bob. I love the War Machine graphic. If that piece of art is lying around and you're in need of an April 15th birthday gift for your pal Lar, look no further! LOL Also, is it possible to get a signed color copy of that beautiful Silver Centurion Mark II? I abso-friggin-lutely LOVE that design! THAT’S what I always pictured that armor should have been. It needed to be more Japanese Samurai-looking and you nailed it. That’s all...I just had to comment on the new design on the site. Later, Larry Clay |
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Dear Larry, I'm pleased that you are so elated with the new web design. I've been meaning to reformat the whole site for some time now, but didn't have the time or, frankly, the expertise to accomplish the task. Fortunately, my new assistant, the lovely and talented Sorah Suhng, took it upon herself to reduce the site in size and redesign all of the individual pages. I was unhappy that the site had gotten so large that we had to scroll forever just to get to the end of the page. I feel that the new inset window designs are far more user-friendly and reduce the overall load time. As far as the Silver Centurion design, next time I have a package going out to you, I will be sure to include a color copy of it for you, buddy!
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Bob- I'm so glad that you will be involved in my favorite character again- even if only in a small way. You made Shellhead the hero I remember him to be. I'm not quite sure if I like the update to your web page though! The little scrolling windows are kinda small! Thomas Lang |
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Thomas, This issue with the scrolling windows is something that has been brought to my attention a couple of times, and is one of the reasons we put a scrolling disclaimer on the main page. The site IS best viewed on a 1024 X 768 resolution screen and the compatibility with other browsers (such as Firefox) is iffy at best. Therefore, some viewers may see background images duplicated, or the inset window as small. This site will be in a constant state of construction in the months to come. With each update, and sometimes inbetween if we think of something on the fly, small additions, changes, and/or alterations will occur. We are currently working on bridging the gap between the Internet Explorer viewing options and the other available browsers. But F.Y.I.-- I believe we will be keeping the resolution of the windows locked at the current settings, as that is the most commonly used dimensions. We hope that you stick with us while we continue to enhance and improve this site.
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Dear Mr.
Layton, They put John Byrne's version of Iron Man on the postage stamp instead of your classic Iron Man. I don't mean to say John Byrne is not as talented as you are, but your version of Iron Man will stand the test of time.
Sincerely, P.S. Oh by the way. Seth Vandable is doing a gorgeous sculpture version of your classic Iron Man. It is sweeeeeeeet! Check out hardhero.com not hardheroes.com. |
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Dear CIMF, I don't feel like I was necessarily robbed. It would have been really cool to have my art on an official U.S.P.S. stamp. However, decisions on what art to use are usually made by people in licensing departments, who wouldn't know a Bob Layton from a Bob Barker.
I happen to think that John Byrne and Gene Colon are tremendous talents and deserve to have their art on the stamps regardless if it's Iron Man or any other character. So--we'll just leave it at that. As far as the sculpture goes, I went and checked out the link and it's tooooootally rockin'! Thanks for turning me on to that!
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Dear Mr. Layton, My name is Robert Yee and I am head of R&D at Art Asylum and worked in a limited capacity on the Iron Man "Demon in the Bottle" statue that recently hit the market for Diamond Select. We recently received our studio comps for this project and would be honored if we can send you one. Please tell me where you would like the statue sent to or if you are in the New York area, you are also welcome to stop by the studio. On a side note I would like you to know that I spent my formative years reading your work on Iron Man and still look at those years quiet fondly. Thanks for inspiring me on both an artistic level and showing me that details are meant to move the story, not bog it down. Regards, Robert Yee The Art Asylum Inc.
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Dear Robert, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtful gesture. Although I will be in the New York area during the NYC Con, I don’t think my schedule will allow me an opportunity to drop by the studio. I feel a little guilty taking the statue for nothing, so if you let me know what you want, I'll be happy to do you an Iron Man drawing in return. Thank you very much for your generosity and for doing such a great job interpreting one of my best known works. Best wishes,
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Mr. Layton, I wanted to express my thanks for signing the Iron Man annuals that my sister brought to the New York Comic Con. I would have liked to meet you but work and family kinda keeps my days busy. I always enjoyed your and David Michelinie's stories during your stints in Iron Man and that's what really got me into reading comics which I still do to this day (and in case you were wondering, I'm normal too, just like my sister). Anyway I do think you should get credit for anything you created, even though that's not how big corporation works. I'm going to order the Metallix series and if it's anything like Iron Man or X-O Manowar, I'm sure I will enjoy it. Thanks again for making me a comic reader. Dan Lynn |
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Dear Dan, You're very lucky to have a sister like yours. She was incredibly charming when I met her at the New York Comic Con, and assured me that she was going through all this trouble because you are the best brother ever. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to meet you in person, but I'm sure that time will come down the road. As far as Metallix goes, if you are a fan of X-O Manowar and Iron Man, you're missing out on a real good time! Not only was it a labor of love for David Michelinie and myself, but it also featured some incredible artwork by the talented Ron Lim.
Metallix #0-7 as well as ALL the other Future Comics Titles are available to order by clicking on the STORE link at the top of this page!
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Hey Bob,
Best of luck, |
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Dear Larry, Thanks for the vote of confidence! Rest assured, that David and I will do everything in our power to "knock this one out of the park!" In fact, David and I have been working on revamping the original plot for the last couple of weeks, and the storyline has taken some interesting turns deviating somewhat from the original plot that was published on this website several years ago. I'm really pleased with the direction we're heading in and I think all of you will be pleasantly surprised by the results. Thanks for your comments,
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Hi Bob, I'd just like to tell you that your work on Iron Man was the best that anyone has ever done with that character. I know it's not the first time you've heard it, but no one has come close. You were the first to make him look like metal. I truly enjoyed reading and looking at those issues. I love your style and the way you draw everything is just perfect. You and John Romita Jr were great. But you by yourself were the best. I copied many of your splash pages when I was growing up. (lol) And I still have every Iron Man up to about #300. That's when things started to go downhill for me so I stopped collecting. Speaking of JRJR, what ever happened to the collaboration you guys were supposed to do with Iron Man? Sometime in the 90's you guys were supposed to come back but didn't. I don't like his new style anyway so it was good he didn't do it. Anyway I just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed your work over the years. It feels good to have said that. Thanks for all the artwork, Vin Ardito |
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Dear Vin, JRJR and I actually completed one issue of Iron Man before I departed to begin my stint at Valiant. I believe the issue was Iron Man #256. We had plans to do a very long run which included Armor Wars 2, but I was faced with one of those career decisions that crop up from time-to-time, and chose to take the Valiant job. So, unfortunately, that collaboration was extremely short-lived. However, if Johnny was ever available to do Shellhead with me again, I'd jump on the opportunity. I happen to think that whatever style he's working in, he's still one of the best illustrators working in comics today.
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Hello Mr. Layton, I've been a big fan of yours for years. Your run on Iron Man has always been my favorite. I just found out that you will be doing a new Iron Man series "The End". Man I am so thrilled about that. You and David Michelinie are the Definitive Iron Man team. Just one request... Please get John Romita Jr. to pencil it with your gorgeous inks/ finishes on top of it. That would be a dream come true! Now if only they (Marvel) would let you and David do the regular series--that would make my year! When will it be coming out? Best Wishes, Kelly Heinze |
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Dear Kelly, First of all, IRON MAN: THE END is not a series--but a forty-eight page one- shot. However, David and I are working on another project, an Iron Man mini-series, that should premiere somewhere around the same time as IRON MAN: THE END. We certainly thought about Johnny as one of the pencilers on these two projects, but his schedule is simply too full for the time being. Though, that doesn't exclude the possibility of a reunion of the three of us some time down the road. As of this writing, the tentative plans are for the books to be released some time around the premiere of the Iron Man motion picture in 2008.
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If you wish to contribute a letter of comment to this page, please send your e-mails to: bob.layton@boblayton.com
