Customer Reviews

Arf Forum

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No student of the history of comics and commercial art could be disappointed in Craig Yoe's magnificently-designed ARF books.

Volume Three in the series, ARF FORUM, is (no surprise) a delight to behold: where else will you find artistic titans like Jack Davis, Ferdinand Opper and Max Ernst co-mingling amidst the pages of a single book? Of particular interest to me is the chapter on Kremos, (aka Niso Ramponi), a mid-Twentieth Century Italian Girlie artist whose wonderful work I'd never seen before. Throw in a hefty pile of long-lost comic book covers, a few zesty pages clipped from vintage Men's mags, even a zany contemporary strip by Mr. Yoe himself, and you've got some tasty pickins indeed; all of it so scrumptious, you never want the four color smorgasbord to end!

That's what keeps me coming back to the ARF books; the knowledge that Craig Yoe will once again dive deep into the ash heap of two centuries' popular culture and unearth rare cartoon gems, reminding us of an unfortunate truth: that most of our truly great artists are dead!

Okay, I'll cop to it, the nekkid redhead on the cover got my attention, and my prurient desire to see more of her inside got me to buy. So color me pervy. The comics she was reading had nothing whatsoever to do with my purchase, and it's only now writing this review that I even notice they're there (which tells you where this review is headed). The sub-banner even teases, "ARF puts the strip in comic strips," which one could argue implies more scantily clad comics-ladies within. Yes, I was weak and gave in.

For the comics fanatic, the collector, the connoisseur who knows the details of publishing dates and artists' names, who can name tints and fonts, this is the coolest thing since shredded cheez. But for the other reader, the one raised on the decidedly more Heavy Metal and manga aspects of graphic storytelling, it falls rather flat, way too retro, way too enthusiastic about simplistic Sunday funnies and pulpy comic books from decades gone by.

There is no question that Craig Yoe, Arf's creator/curator/everything else--who strangely receives no mention on this book's/magazine's masthead, but is mentioned only on the back page as the co-director of YOE! Studio--is one seriously creative, imaginative and intelligent fellow, and one who is thoroughly dedicated to all things comics. Not "comic," and most definitely not the graphic novel we all know these days, but traditional, newsstand comic books and the ol' Silly Putty-copy-able Sunday strips.

This book is a loving tribute to the comics of the 30s, 40s, 50s, etc., to those cheapo comic books that Yoe and many others loved and still love so much. But, as the book's subtitle describes when it says that ARF is "the unholy marriage of art + comics," (note that art comes first) this book--it's not really a magazine--is also a deeply respectful and highly knowledgeable tribute to graphic illustration; this issue features late 18th/early 19th fanciful engravings of hell, the late 1800s/early 1900s fascination with dinosaurs and cavepersons, and offers a detailed Max Ernst study.

Faithfully reproduced within are comics classics Krazy Kat, Nancy (as head-shakingly stupid as ever), Smokey Stover, and Harry Hotdog. There are feature articles on artists Bill Holman, William Ekgren and Ted Scheel, and a short spot from O Most Exalted Comics One, Stan Lee.

The book is large format (12"x9") and is expertly rendered, with deep, rich color. This is no pulp book, the paper is heavy, and the art direction and layout are sophisticated. Every page is full of detail and content, lovingly put together by the Arf team. While there are no footnotes, there is a great deal of detail on everything, with captions, authors/artists, and dates, even a note on the various fonts used. There are original artist portraits commissioned just for this book, as well as a both vintage and original caps for each article.

As for my desire to see more of the delicious lady on the cover, I was disappointed. There is no more of her to be found. As for more, ahem, adult content, there is precious little of it, other than some avant-garde nudies in Yoe's own "Jungle Comics," in the portraits of William Ekgren and Ted Scheel, and in some of Scheel's featured work. And there is a concluding feature on Kremos (Niso Ramponi), with 13 of his 1950s cheesecake drawings. Fun, slightly risqué, but not quite what I was hoping for; the front cover's promise of "the strip in comic strips" delievered on its implied promise of a tease, but not on the unspoken promise of an illustrated full monty.

Bottom line: If you're after the raw gore, incredible flights of sci-fi/fantasy imagery and the more explicit sexual depictions, situations and narrative that you find in the titles offered in the SQP catalog, you'll find this publication far too tame. But if you're a professional illustrator, graphic artist, art curator, graphics historian, or just someone who is totally nuts for traditional comics in all shapes and sizes, you will find this book to be an absolute treasure.

I bought the first two volumes in this series, and the third is just as good or better! Craig Yoe does the impossible: he presents comics and art (or comics art) that I haven't seen before. After collecting comic books and comic strips for longer than I care to admit, it's tough to show me something new. Arf Forum, like Arf Museum and Modern Arf before it, has plenty to look at, and most of it for the first time. Some of the material hasn't been seen in decades, other stuff has never been printed anywhere before. It really is like a comic book museum between two covers. Arf Museum isn't for the 13-year-old X-Men fan. It's for adult lovers of the comics artform who think they've seen it all. They haven't, and Yoe proves that with every volume.

This is a fantastic series...and this issue is certainly no exception. For me, the highlight is an appearance by the elusive Smokey Stover (one of my favorite comic strip characters as a kid). Great format, rare stuff...always a pleasure. Worth your money! I've bought them all.

Craig Yoe delivers a thoroughly entertaining and informative read with this edition of Arf. Highly recommended, as are all of the Arf books! Beautiful reproductions, rare artwork & annotation with an attitude. If you have any serious interest in the comics medium you won't be disappointed!

Not close to what I thought it would be. Not very well done. Font used throughout is hard to read. For me, most of the contents wasn't worth having. Don't waste your money.