I’ve just never been into the Powell graphic style. I think the Ray Bones snubnose with the skull and sword graphic came out in 1978, so that was definitely a very early graphic even though Wes Humpston had them beat by a year or so. I agree that the Powell style was very influential but I thought their concepts were lame.
The Ragdoll was Sean Cliver’s first full concept to graphic project for Powell and even though I didn’t know that at the time I remember seeing one in person and thinking ‘Woah, no way Powell did something cool!’. Of course Rocco ended up poaching Cliver for World and then they made what I still think are some of the best graphics of all time.
I’m a total nerd, just not a Powell nerd. I respect everyone’s right to have their own opinion, my views might be completely different had I received a Powell deck for Christmas in 1980-something!
And yes there was no nuance or meaningful stuff behind them, but technically the graphics are undeniably good. But when rocco etc took them down I did not mourn their passing
I’m not suggesting you got a Powell deck for Christmas…just accepting that maybe I’ve built up a hard exterior resistance to Powell’s appeal due to the repressed childhood trauma of unwrapping a Lucero Red Cross and not a snakeskin Mike McGill on Christmas Day 1988.
I always loved Powell graphics as a kid, but the only Powell decks I ever had were a couple of secondhand Vallely elephants.
Love the Elephant, love the Rodney with the skeleton and the crown, loved them all really.(yeah yeah I know, “it’s 1990 boys” etc etc)
Here are some pics from a VCJ interview in an old Powell zone, seems relevant (and also a bonus Ray Barbee intro page)
