As I mentioned yesterday, this item flew in entirely beneath my radar. But neither the solicitation I posted yesterday (to the "Your Favorite Things of the Year" discussion) nor the back cover copy tells exactly what's inside, and the book is shrinkwrapped. This volume is quite similar to an IDW "Artist's Edition" but it is somewhat smaller. It also includes several additional features in addition to seven complete issues photocopied from the original art.
- An introduction by Brian Michael Bendis
- A foreword by John Lind: "The Legacy of 'Jazzy' John Romita and the Marvelous Marvel Bullpen"
- An essay by Ian Chalgren: "John Romita - A Master Class in Creating a Splash Page"
- Every cover from #122
- Seven complete issues: #46, 67, 69, 108, 109, 115 & 121
- Other art such as Romita's first ever sketch of Mary Jane Watson, comic strips art, etc.
The covers are a mixture of color and original art, some presented full page, some four to a page. The "splash page" section includes the original art for 15 of Romita's most iconic splash pages. Although this book focuses on John Romita, it also includes work by other artists, including Jim Mooney, Mike esposito, Gil Kane, John Buscema, Frank Giacoia and Tony Mortellaro. It's a steal at only $60, about half the cost of most "Artist's Editions." For those of you who question the point of making color copies of b&w pages on high quality, non-glossy paper stock, the following blurb explains it better than I ever could.
The following pages showcase art from The Amazing Spider-Man #39 (August 1966) to #122 (July 1973), including all the covers in chronological order, with many rteproduced from the original artwork. Seven full stories are also reproduced from the original art, revealing details that may not be clear in the published versions: strokes from the pen or brush, the intimacy of the lines, and the textures created by different artistic techniques. This level of detail offers a closer view into the artist's intentions and craftsmanship. Each page tells a story through not only the characters and dialogue, but also the choices the artist made--the composition, the expressions, and the use of light and shadow--forging an emotional connection between the viewer and the art. Whether that connection is based on admiration for the artist's skill, nostalgia for best-loved characters and stories, or simply the joy of appreciating art; original comic art has a way of evoking strong feelings and sparking the imagination.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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