Author: Peter Aperlo
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Released: February 10, 2009

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Watchmen” is a very visual film and it is a film that is perfect to have an art book made for it. Especially since the film is already based on a graphic novel, it just had that comic feel to it. Being a fan of the movie and the graphic novel…this is a dream come true. I have looked over this book numerous times and I still do not feel that I have covered everything in it. I think that is the kind of book I would want to own and add to my collection. The book really adds to the visual aspect of the film and its content.

“Watchmen: The Art of the Film” is broken down into seven parts focusing on Concept Art, Sets, Props, the Owlship, Costumes and Posters. The introduction allow is almost over 20 pages with amazing visuals setting the standard high for the rest of the book. The concept art includes over 60 pages of amazing artwork and references the films storyboards, the graphic novel and also dramatizations never before seen from the film itself. The next section focuses on the film’s sets, which was a really highlight for me personally. They created a world within the film which felt like it was right off the page of the graphic novel. You miss all of the little details that went into this film and this book really showcases that well. The props section is just a very colorful and busy section of the cool shit in the film like gadgets, toys and advertisements. The Owlship has a section of its own that is how cool it is. It goes into great detail for the creation of this amazing vehicle. The costumes in the film are so fantastic and should have been won an award for their uniqueness and complex works of art. The section includes various wardrobes and outfits created for each of the films characters. The last section includes various poster designs from the films featuring each character and other visual creations.

Overall if you have seen this movie, it is guaranteed that you are going to want this book to accompany the film. Or visa-versa, if you haven’t seen this film yet and you checked out this book, it is going to guaranteed make to watch this movie immediately. Like I said earlier, this is just the kind of film that you look forward to checking out the art from it. I wish there were more films like this. It is visually daring and is not afraid to be different and this is the person companion.

Author: Drew & Dylan Struzan
Hardcover: 314 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: October 4, 2011

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If you aren’t aware of the work Drew Struzan, first I suggest picked last year amazing release “The Art of Drew Struzan”. Drew Struzan has created artwork for over 150 movie posters, including “Star Wars”, Indiana Jones” and “Harry Potter”. This book features an additional 250 pieces of art and doesn’t just keep it to movie posters either. It covers movies, record albums, books, comics, stamps and even trading cards. It includes right up-to-date pieces of Struzan’s work including “Walking Dead” and “Cowboys and Aliens” but also of course some of the classics. What I like most about this release specifically is that it includes quite a bit of material that has never been published prior, including some of his personal work.

I feel that this book is a little more personal than “The Art of Drew Struzan”. This one really delves into the man, Drew Struzan, and his work. The first section deals with “Music” ranging from Alice Cooper to “Beauty and the Beast” and the works of John Williams. Next we comes to movies which is my personally favorite section. What I like most is the Struzan did a lot of variant posters that were never used like “Cowboys and Aliens”, since it shows the alien in the poster (sort of). I think it would have made for much better poster. Being a “Star Wars” geek though, the different drawings from that series are truly my favorite pieces of work. What makes this book unique is the commercial and personal works included ranging from portraits of the late Princess Diane to MAD Magazines to female portraits and abstracts. You can really see his range of work and explores some of the not so well known drawings.  This book covers it all.

The book is co-authored by Drew’s wife Dylan and they have been married for over 40 years, which is huge. Also you have to understand if you are married, a wife has a huge influences on their spouses work and I am sure she had her had in many of his famous works. The foreword is done by Drew’s longtime friend and collaborator George Lucas…that’s right THE George Lucas. He really gives a great send off for Struzan’s work and this book. Overall if you follow Drew’s work and are a fan of REAL posters not today’s photoshopped terrors than this is a no-brainer.

Author: Martin Robinson
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to “Halo”, it is one of the most beloved franchises by its very expressive fans.  This book right away has a big shoes to fill.  The book is not only visually amazing but it also covers over a decade of “Halo” ranging from “Halo: Combat Evolved” to “Halo: Reach” to even “Halo: Legends”.  It is a great celebration of the art from the franchise. The book covers everything from characters to landscapes to weapons and includes with sketches and concepts art by many acclaimed artists such as Ashley Wood, Alex Chu, and Frank Capezzuto.

The book features seven chapters spawned over almost 200 pages.  The first is about the “Architects of the Past”.  This chapter focuses on a lot of landscape concept art and includes some never before seen art concepts. Since “Halo” takes place in space, the created for this have endless possibilities and it is great to be able to catch some of that in this images. The second is called “We are Their Instrument” and focuses on the baddies in the game ranging from the Elites to the Jackals to the Hunters.  The third is called the “Tools of Conquest”. This chapter focuses on the vehicles and space crafts used throughout the series. It is something that usually doesn’t get to be enjoyed as much in the game itself. The fourth is called “A Monument To All Your Sings” and focuses on the creatures in the series like “The Flood”.  The fifth is a “Welcome to the Corps” and focuses on the soldiers and weapons in the game from UNSC to ODST to Spartans.  This is easily one of my favorites. The sixth is called “Folks Need Heroes” and focuses on the Spartans kicking some ass in different situations.  The seventh is called “Homeworlds” is the “pretty” chapter focusing on various landscapes and locations.

The book features an introduction from “the face of Halo,” Frank O’Connor.  It is short but sweet and definitely reaches out to “Halo” fans and would get them pumped for this book.  The idea of “Halo” itself just screams “give me an art book”.  There is so much amazing design that goes into the characters, landscapes, weapons and just the “Halo” universe itself.  This book is a true must for “Halo” fans awaiting the next addition to this fantastic series.

Author: Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you think about the comic book duo Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, you just think of a match made in heaven. There wasn’t a genre that the two couldn’t conquer. This compilation delves into the Simon & Kirby Library containing thirty-two stories original published from 1947-49, and two from 1954 & 1955. There are over 300 pages of comics included in this book. The republished comics looks very crisp and just flipping the pages just shows the colorful richness of these stories.

Since there are over thirty titles included, they come from various different platform. There are four stories from 1947’s “Clue Comics”, six from 1947’s “Real Clue Crime Stories”, “Headline Comics” dating from 1947-48 contains the most comics with thirteen, dating from 1947-49 “Justice Traps the Guilty” packs nine comics and lastly two comics from “Police Trap” dating back to 1954-1955. If all those comics aren’t enough for you there is also a spectacular full page cover gallery, including 13 covers.  All in all very impressive and great stories included in this set.

Each story last less than 15 pages at most are short like most 40-50’s serials. The color on the comics are just phenomenal Titans Books did an excellent job restoring these comics on this release and really catered to the fans. Wrapping up this great book is a great introduction by “Road to Perdition” author “Max Allan Collins. His introducing is very insightful and interesting. It also gets you pumped to continue to the next page. If you are a fan of Simon and Kirby, this is a must for your collection.

Related Content

• Book Review “Halo: The Art of Building Worlds – The Great Journey”
• Book Review “Drew Struzan: Oeuvre”
• Book Review “Watchmen: The Art of the Film”
• Book Review “Taxidermied: The Art of Roman Dirge”
• Book Review “The Art of Drew Struzan”