Al Williamson: Hidden Lands [Paperback]

Thomas Yeates (Author), Mark Schultz (Author), Steve Ringgenberg (Author), Al Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2004

Al Williamson stands in rarified air, among the titans of the development of comics as an art form. Drawing from the tradition of the heyday of book, advertising, and comic-strip illustration, Williamson brought a command of craft and dynamics rarely seen, before or since, to a field that had largely valued speed over skill. As part of an amazing stable of young artists at E.C. in the 1950s, Williamson helped change the industry forever although much of his work of the era has remained hidden. This work includes a diverse array of fantasy, science fiction, westerns, war stories, and more that showcases the astonishing range of this master of the form. Al Willaimson: Hidden Lands at last uncovers these stories from his days at Atlas, E.C., Charlton, Harvey, Dell, and more - including collaborations with Roy Krenkel, Wally Wood, Frank Frazetta, and other top creators of the era - most of which have never been reprinted as well as a wide array of material that has never before been published, including fascinating sketches and works from his career's infancy and photos from the artist's personal scrapbooks. Covered in fascinating depth by writers Mark Schultz, Thomas Yeates, and Steve Ringgenberg and gathered from extensive, lively interviews with Williamson, Al Williamson: Hidden Lands is an essential volume for any fan of this giant of graphic fiction as well as for those interested in comics history of the classic era of pen-and-ink illustration.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Williamson is revered by comic-book aficionados for a handful of sf stories he drew in the 1950s for EC Comics. This lovingly assembled tribute shows that his total 1950s work is much larger and very diverse. Three of the nearly 30 stories reprinted here were done for EC; the rest, for smaller publishers. They include work in virtually every genre, from westerns and fantasy to war and romance. Many are collaborations with other top artists, including Frank Frazetta and Wally Wood. Most haven't seen print since their original publication. Their quality varies, for the measly page rates offered by smaller publishers didn't allow Williamson the lavish detail of which he was capable. Still, each piece attests his crisp facility with pen and ink. Prominent younger artists Yeates and Mark Schultz and comics historian S. C. Ringgenberg contribute essays on Williamson's career that are accompanied by rare drawings and photos. Williamson later drew newspaper strips, but his early work is the cornerstone of his lofty reputation. This collection demonstrates why. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (November 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569718164
• ISBN-13: 978-1569718162
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good info, but too heavy on the westerns, May 25, 2005

By 

rampageous_cuss (Under Billy Penn's Hat) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Al Williamson: Hidden Lands (Paperback)

This 222-page + index collection is an interesting but frustrating collection of Al Williamson's 1950s artwork. In addition to representative samples of illustrations and cartoon panels, the book discusses the artist's life from birth, his artistic heroes and collaborators, and the environment in which comic-book artists worked in the 1950s. Note that everything is in black and white.

29 complete stories are included. Mostly 4-5 pages in length, 11 are westerns (some written by Stan Lee) and 8 are science fiction collaborations with Roy Krenkel (9 if you count the reincarnation romance "The Lost Lives of Laura Hastings.") Another romance, a war adventure ("Helpless"), a `horror' story ("Lower Than Hell"), 4 adventures of "Jann of the Jungle," and two historical tales from the EC comic VALOR ("The Champion" and "The Cloak of Command") are also presented in their entirety.

Everyone to their own taste - but I would have preferred having the entire Williamson/Kirby collaboration "The Face on Mars" and Archie Goodwin's first story ("Hermit," with Williamson inking over Reed Crandall's pencils) instead of all the western and "Jann" adventures combined! Furthermore the EC stories, including the sci-fi thriller "Food For Thought" (from INCREDIBLE SCIENCE FICTION #32, 1955), are reprinted elsewhere - samples would have sufficed, and certainly the text-referenced splash panel from "Homesick" should have been included - not everyone can go look it up!

Note that the "Williamson" illustration for vol 1 #5 of VENUS is quite plainly at least inked by Krenkel, although not attributed to him.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Williamson-Hidden Lands- An Excellent Package, November 16, 2004

By 

The Pinto Kid (New York) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Al Williamson: Hidden Lands (Paperback)

All I can say is --WOW-- This is easily the best package of Al Williamson reprint material since the original "Art Of Al Williamson"(some twenty years ago).It includes unreprinted stories from Atlas and ACG,unplublished artwork(Jann Of the Jungle #18 to name one),as well as sketches,panels and pages.
This collection reprints alot of the Atlas Westerns and some of the Atlas sci-fi as well as a romance(?)story.
The best part is that there is very little overlap with any of the previous Al Williamson collection(Art of,Sketchbook,or Adventures).
The one story that I'd have love to have seen reprinted is from Buster Crabbe #5-There's probably a great story about producing that comic to go with it!!
The only way it could be better is if it were a hardcover.

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Williamson was the best!, June 22, 2010

By 

Frank Harper (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Al Williamson: Hidden Lands (Paperback)

This book is worth every penny and more. The content contains material from Mr. Williamson's early career in the 40's to the 60's which more than stands up to time and is worthy of study today. Not only do you get to read beautifully drawn comic stories, but you also get to see Mr. Williamson's sketches, figure studies, and how he developed stories. Additionally, the interviews move along with the stories and art, detailing his humble beginnings in strips, to working with Stan Lee in the 50's, and ending with a well-established style that is loved by everyone. As with his characters, you'll be inspired by his true-life story, that leaves you rooting for a fledgling underdog who comes out on top. Mr. Williamson was without question the best illustrator of all time, and a class act who not only climbed the ladder, but pulled up everyone around him. I am still inspired by his work, and I imagine others will be for years to come.