I'm with you here. Explosions are super tricky. I'm not one with experience to make credible comments, but the trend seems to be mostly cut and paste or custom Pshop graphics. This usually clashes visually with the artists' beautiful pictures. There must be more techniques to produce gunfire and explosions so they look tasteful and realistic to blend with surrounding images. Pshop magic can produce jet burners/ exhaust very nicely.
(off topic)
I like this comic style (Taurus striking the Trooper) action graphic in the last frame...
http://generalsjoes.com/dioramas/mi...sdepilogue2.htm
Agreed. Explosions are tuff.