"All of the worst tendencies in comic books--the sloppiness, the violence, the cheapness--are opposed by the work of Alex Ross," wrote Richard von Busack in a MetroActive review of Ross's illustrations for the 1999 graphic novel Superman: Peace on Earth. "His art brings back a sense of the tangibility of cartoon characters that readers may not have felt since childhood," Busack further noted. Known for his highly detailed and realistic effects, Ross literally burst onto the comic-book scene in 1994 with his artwork for Marvels, a retro look at the superhero genre created with writer Kurt Busiek that made the illustrator a superhero in his own right virtually overnight. Ross thereafter furthered his reputation by doing the cover art for Busiek's popular "Astro City" series, and with his own miniseries, "Kindgom Come" and "Uncle Sam." Working with writer Paul Dini, Ross has also painted anniversary compilations for some of DC...