Heros—Proof Positive!!!

We have now reached that very exciting moment with Book Palace Book's epic 'Heros The Spartan' project, when we finally have a first glimpse at the printed proofs of what the team have been working on for the last eighteen months.

There is a lot of careful checking to be done, but the printed pages are looking nothing short of stunning, with razor sharp repro of the scanned 'Heros' pages looking every bit as vibrant as the day the were first published in the Eagle some fifty years ago.

Next week we should be receiving the mock-ups of the leather slip-cased edition, which crams in an extra 24 pages scanned from the original art in a sumptuous leather binding, but for now our energies are focused on any last minute tweaks that need to be made to ensure that this gi-normous book (each spread of 'Heros' is reproduced at the same size as the comic was printed) is as perfect as it deserves to be.

This had been a tremendous undertaking and we have had a lot of help from dedicated Bellamy collectors from around the globe. The introductory chapters, which feature Dez Skinn and Dave Gibbons interview with the great man (many thanks to both Dez and Dave), also include mouthwatering reproductions of key examples of Bellamy artwork, which are largely sourced from high resolution scans and add an extra zing to the whole production.

The location of Bellamy Heros originals was as problematic as can be anticipated with artwork of this vintage. The search was ongoing throughout the eighteen months that this project occupied us and we did manage to unearth a lot of Heros artwork that had remained unseen for decades. One of the spreads high on our list was, of course, the famous massacre of the fifth legion, which was one of the strip's many high spots in terms of artistry. We did locate the spread in question, but the collector had the artwork framed and was extremely reluctant to let us near it, let alone prize it out of it's frame. After a lot of pleading, he did provide us with a photo which captures the main action of the scene and which was good enough to run in the book, we would have loved a razor sharp scan of the entire spread, but we were really pleased to be able to reproduce at least a sizeable chunk of the artwork and at the same time we managed to locate another three spreads which again have added a lot of extra lustre to what is already a very desirable book.

This is without doubt, the most ambitious project that Book Palace Books has invested in, and the production costs reflect this. It is, therefore doubly, heartening to see such a healthy demand from people who are determined to ensure that they don't miss out on what is a very limited print run (600 copies of the regular edition and 120 copies of the numbered leather edition), to the extent that the sheer volume of pre-publication orders we have received have just about cleared our production costs.

So to all of you who have pre-ordered and all of you who have helped in our quest to make this the ultimate tribute to the incredible artistry of Frank Bellamy—a very big thank you.

The  waiting is nearly over!

Inside King Solomon's Mines

We thought that you'd like to see a few more details from the three H. Rider Haggard stories and so I've picked an example from each of the four artists.

Above is a page of Bill Baker's art from early in the tale. He uses a lot of detailed line work that renders even "talking heads" panels with life.

Here is a page from when C.L. Doughty took over the strip. His work is similar to Baker's in terms of the detailed line work but there's an added dynamism to the compositions, especially with our flying friend in the last panel here.

Here's a nice painterly page from the Allen Quartermain story illustrated by Mike Hubbard, a totally different conception to the first story.

Here we have what may be the books highlight Montezuma's Daughter illustrated by the great Jesus Blasco combining approaches with pen and ink line work accented by watercolours.

I hope that this has whetted your appetite, the book is available here.

H Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines

There aren't many books of British comic strip reprints that could boast the talents of Jesus Blasco, Mike Hubbard, C. L. Doughty, Bill Baker and John Millar Watt in all one volume... but that book is here! And the strips, reproduced from original artboards, has never looked better.

Gathering together three classic adaptations behind a Millar Watt cover, this latest title from Book Palace Books contains King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain and Montezuma's Daughter. The first should need no introduction as it is one of the most famous of all adventure novels, written in a delightfully readable and fast-paced style that means it can still be enjoyed today – unlike many books from the Victorian era, which are too slow and plodding for a modern audience. The artwork is some of Bill Baker's best and one wonders what led to the strip being taken over by the equally talented C. L. Doughty part-way through. Doughty was the more dynamic of the two artists and the strip was none-the-worse for his arrival.

Allan Quatermain is the sequel, in which the hunter and adventurer of that name introduced in King Solomon's Mines, returns to Africa after persuading his friends from the latter book to accompany him. The artwork here was produced in line & wash by Mike Hubbard as a follow-up to his beautifully rendered version of KSM for Ranger.

But for me the star of the show is Jesus Blasco with a barnstorming adaptation of Montezuma's Daughter, which takes up almost half the book. The long, rambling story begins as a simple tale of revenge but takes in a shipwreck, slave trading, swordfights, capture by Aztecs, torture, sacrifice and vengeance. Phew!

Wrapping up the volume is a lengthy introduction from editor Steve Holland which reveals the story behind the stories and how his novels were inspired by his own travels and explorations of Africa and South America.

Heros Update

 

Everyone will be pleased to know that we have just sourced another 2 Frank Bellamy Heros the Spartan originals which will be included in the deluxe leather edition of Heros. The book is now ready to submit to the printers. In two weeks we will have the final proofs to check and be ready to print. This book is going to be a landmark publication and a book that enthusiasts of Bellamy's art have been waiting for for 60 years. Advance sales are already topping 30% of the print run. Do not miss out on this unique opportunity to own a piece of comics history.

Of Illustrators, Heros and Art Shows

Firstly, I must apologize for my overlong absence from blogdom. But work, work, work - much of which, in a somewhat ironic fashion, emanates from this blog. Insofar as my blogging activities have led me (at the behest of the Svengali - like Geoff West and his assemblage of Elven executives - aka the good people at the Book Palace) to commit my enthusiasms to the printed page.




This is a very circuitous way of saying that the blog has been in a state of inactivity, whilst yours truly races to meet publishing deadlines for illustrators issue 3 and Heros the Spartan. The former is now print ready and with the aid of my talented team, including my associate editor Bryn Havord, who has brought a lifetime's experience of working as an award winning Fleet Street art director and designer to the mix. Before Bryn acquiesced to come on board, I was only hazily aware of the devices and disciplines essential to ensure that readers absorb information in as pleasurable a manner as possible. I thought "widders and orphans" populated the streets of Dickensian London and Midge's dicks were impossible to detect without the aid of an electron microscope - not to mention the dynamics of the running turn - essential to maintaining readership momentum and not just something for the cinder track. Bryn has not only put me straight on these essentials but as art director and associate editor of Woman's Mirror in the 1960s he was also a prime mover and shaker when it came to commissioning many of the artists who were creating a real revival of illustration in the pages of UK and US magazines. Not only does he know a lot of these artists but he is a truly engaging writer, which was one of the things that really hooked me when I discovered some of his postings on Leif Peng's fabulous blog; Today's Inspiration.

Meanwhile as Steve Holland has already flagged up, issue 2 of illustrators is now out and is regarded by everyone that has got back to us, as even stronger than issue 1, not that we are in any way ashamed of issue 1, as in all these exercises, we are on a steep learning curve and there is always room for improvement, particularly in the early stages of a project such as this.

Heros, I am pleased to say, is now very close to completion, we are just finalizing some of the additional images to be included in the leather edition (second of the two cover images) and adding a few captions to the introductory section of the book - all other work is now complete - phew!!!

Lastly, but by no means leastly, Book Place Books are taking a stand at the Science Museum hosted Works on Paper Art Show, which is running from this Wednesday 31st January from 2.00 pm - 9.00 pm and then from Thursday 11.00 am - 9.00 pm and then Friday 11.00 am - 8.00 pm, Saturday 11.00 am - 6.00 pm and finally Sunday 11.00 am - 6.00 pm. Tickets for two can be obtained free by visiting the this link. This show is a real delight and is an essential visit for all collectors and enthusiasts of illustration and artwork for books, comic strips, newspaper strips and all aspects of illustration in it's widest sense.

Illustrators #2: In review

Issue two of Illustrators is a warm welcome at this chilly time of year. This latest foray into the world of art—from its understated cover through 96 pages of stunning colour by some of the most talented artists in the world—is a delight.

Front and centre is David Wright, an artist whose work has been severely under-exposed for years. You might be forgiven for thinking that Wright is a closely guarded secret, revealed only to a handful of artists who cite him as an influence. Thankfully, the appearance of Carol Day on the internet in 2008 led to a widening of the small circle that knew about his talent. The website that promoted Wrights' famous Daily Mail strip was run by Roger Clark, who describes his discovery and devotion to the strip in this issue. The man behind the pen is the focus of a long and informative lead feature by Illustrators' editor Peter Richardson, compiled with the aid of Patrick and Paul Wright—David Wright's sons and both talented artists themselves. A third son, Nicky, was an occasional telephone pal of mine who would call up to chat about horror comics.

Wright was a major British pin-up artist of immense talent, so it is marvelous to see some of his earlier work displayed as well as rare sketches and roughs. News that there is a book focusing on his pin-up art in preparation is very welcome.

C. L. Doughty should need no introduction... but sadly he does. David Ashford romps through Doughty's years as an artist of swashbuckling comic strip and touches on his many years as an illustrator for Look and Learn. As the compiler of Pages From History, I'm well aware of Doughty's immense talents as an illustrator. Hopefully his appearance here will help spread the word wider that Doughty deserves to be better known.

Raymond Sheppard may be a recognised name but I have to admit that I knew very little about his background, a problem now fixed thanks to Norman Boyd's excellent biographical essay. From winning awards at the age of seven to turning freelance at 21, Sheppard's rise to stardom was accelerated by his talent for drawing animals. A meticulous researcher and a superb draughtsman, Sheppard died far too young, only 45 when he died in 1958.

The fourth and final feature is a look at the work on Renato Fratini. Although Italian, a lot of his work appeared in the UK, perhaps most famously on the film poster for From Russia With Love. Fratini was able to move effortlessly between posters, magazine illustrations and book covers, from bodice-rippers for Fontana Books to posters for Carry On movies. Fratini also died young, aged only 40.

John Watkiss describes how he approaches a colour sketch for The Walking Dead and there is a brief gallery of art by Jordi Penalva, plus reviews and letters. Another fine issue ... and we now have issue three to look forward to, with Fortunino Matania, Andy Virgil and Peter Maddocks in the line-up.

Illustrators #2 is available from Book Palace Books.

On Sale Now

 

Just a quick word to let you know that after a Christmas and New Years' cruise around the Med Illustrators issue 2 is now with us in the warehouse. Those of you who have a subscription or have already ordered this issue will receive it in the next few days.

 

Check these great articles:

 

A Brush with Fitzrovia

The Elegant Art of David Wright

My Affair with Carol Day
Lipstick in My Collar - Roger Clark Confesses All

Blades and Brocades
The Historical illustrations of Cecil Doughty

Under the Great Arch of Heaven
The Pure and Sparkling Art of Raymond Sheppard

Taking the Rough with the Smooth
The Revolutionary Paperback & Film Poster Art of Renato Fratini

The Studio
John Watkiss Gets Under the Skin of the Walking Dead

The Gallery
Jordi Penalva's Fleetway Super Library covers

 

You can order a copy here:

 

We think that there is a great mix of articles in this issue from newspaperstrip art, pin-ups / fashion and historical adventure to name but three. £15 cheap! (With apologies to Mad.)

 

Right back to sticking stamps and mailing envelopes.

See You Soon. Best Dave