What are your thoughts on artists who get accused of swiping?

[ComicsOdysseyPodcast]

Swiping is when an artist copies (not traces) a pose, a background, a panel or sometimes even an entire page.

Keith Giffen was accused of this and examples were shown how he was using panel compositions that Jose Munoz had drawn and publishing it in DC Comics. He was excoriated in a Comics Journal article and apologized. But his style from there took off in a very new direction. Suggesting that the swiping was part of his creative process.

As an artist myself, I know that it is necessary to study other artists in order to learn new things and improve. So when is it appropriate to swipe? Is it ok to swiped if it's only a small component of the drawing? Like a an arm, a face, a tree? Or is it appropriate to swipe and call it an "homage"? Or maybe it's appropriate to swipe if the artist is swiping for a wide variety of sources so much so that it becomes his own style?

Where is the line for you? Do you even care about these sorts of things? Or do you just read the comic and never wonder about the provenance of the images?

 

[Mid-Nite Reading]

On a personal note, I view comics as a union of both art and story. Therefore, if a significant portion or the entirety of the comic contains copies, then perhaps it is an offense towards the original artist and the one swiping for limiting themselves creatively to the point of bankruptcy. If it is a homage, then the act should be made clear (For example, Anniversary Issues, Incorporating the Initials of the Original Artist that is being paid homage to in the piece etc.). Otherwise, it spoils the reputation and comic itself.

 

[ComicsOdysseyPodcast]

On a personal note, I view comics as a union of both art and story. Therefore, if a significant portion or the entirety of the comic contains copies, then perhaps it is an offense towards the original artist and the one swiping for limiting themselves creatively to the point of bankruptcy. If it is a homage, then the act should be made clear (For example, Anniversary Issues, Incorporating the Initials of the Original Artist that is being paid homage to in the piece etc.). Otherwise, it spoils the reputation and comic itself.

What would you consider a "significant portion"?