Customer Reviews

Al Williamson: Hidden Lands

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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.

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.

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.

Al Williamson is a giant in the comic book industry as well as a master illustrator. This book offers some fine examples of his earlier work.