128 page Trade Paperback - By Chris IRVING and Eric NOLEN-WEATHINGTON
Enchanting—that is the best word to describe the artwork of Charles
Vess. Whether with his book illustrations, his paintings, or his comic
book stories, Vess’ work has enchanted readers for years. The winner of
two World Fantasy Awards (one with Neil Gaiman for Best Short Story for
Sandman #19; the second for Best Artist for Gaiman’s novel, Stardust,
which will be a major motion picture in Summer 2007) and two Eisner
Awards, Charles Vess has proven himself to be one of the greatest
fantasy artists of our time. Chris Irving and Eric Nolen-Weathington
are proud to present an in-depth look into Vess’ career and creative
process in this latest volume of the Modern Masters series. This
120-page book features a career-spanning interview with tons of art,
including many rare and unpublished pieces, a large gallery, and an
8-page color section on this true Modern Master: Charles Vess!
ISBN-13: 978-1-893905-69-6
ISBN-10: 1-893905-69-1
Diamond Order Code: DEC063948
Reviews:
- by Stefan Blitz on Forces of Good - 21 April 2007
- by Cat Eldridge on The Green Man Review
- by Gordon Flagg on Booklist - 2 May 2007
Irving, Christopher and Nolen-Weathington, Eric. Charles Vess: Modern Masters, v.11. 2007. 120p. illus. TwoMorrows, paper, $14.95 (9781893905696). 741.5.
Despite
his quiet, delicate style––a far cry from the in-your-face,
action-oriented approach that dominates mainstream comics––Vess has
carved out a successful career. He has tackled his share of superheroes
(the graphic novel Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth
[1990] is his high point in the costumed-crimefighter biz) but is
better attuned to fantasy, as Vess’ self-published comics collected as The Book of Ballads (2004) attest. Indeed, Vess is best known for collaborating with writer Neil Gaiman on several issues of Sandman, the Harry Potteresque comics miniseries The Books of Magic (1993), and Gaiman’s novel Stardust (1999). Although
Vess lately has turned more to book illustration and gallery shows,
this volume focuses on his comics work. In a lengthy interview, he
discusses early influences, retraces his career, and discusses his
creative process. His gorgeous artwork, including some highly
impressive juvenilia, appears on every nearly page. The best, however,
is saved for an “art gallery” section of full-page reproductions, many
in color. ––Gordon Flagg
YA: Vess’s work with Neil Gaiman ensures youth appeal. GF.
