Classic Comics Illustrators: The Comics Journal Library (Burne Hogarth, Frank Frazetta, Mark Schultz, Russ Heath and Russ Manning) [Paperback]

Frank Frazetta (Author), Russ Heath (Author), Burne Hogarth (Author), Russ Manning (Author), Mark Schultz (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Comics Journal | Publication Date: July 25, 2005

Edited by former Comics Journal editor Tom Spurgeon, the fifth volume in the acclaimed Comics Journal Library series celebrates five of the great all-time comic book artists. Frank Frazetta, Burne Hogarth, Russ Manning, Russ Heath, and Mark Schultz are the modern masters of illustration, here collected in their own words under one gorgeous, wrap-around cover. Together, these artists bridge almost 70 years of comics and fantasy art tied to tradition, craft and an emphasis on the human form. Frank Frazetta is unquestionably the preeminent fantasy and science fiction painter and illustrator of the second half of the 20th century. Burne Hogarth is well known as the visionary illustrator of the Sunday Tarzan series from 1939 to 1950, and the innovative educator who founded New York's school of visual arts in 1947. Russ Heath best work was on Westerns, especially Arizona Kid and Kid Colt, Outlaw, which stood out for their realistic artwork and details. Russ Manning created the fondly-remembered science fiction comic series Magnus, Robot Fighter, a superhero series that stood out because of Manning's excellent artwork. Mark Schultz (Cadillacs and Dinosaurs) is a man caught in the apex of his work's influence within the field and provides an altogether different perspective on great art's role in great comics, discussing his forays into Hollywood and more. Copiously illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Spurgeon is a former managing editor of The Comics Journal and the co-author of Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book. He runs TheComicsReporter.com, one of the most prestigious and acclaimed comics news and criticism websites online. He lives in Silver City, New Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (July 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560976527
• ISBN-13: 978-1560976523
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 11.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,347,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT THROUGHOUT, April 29, 2006

By 

popular culture lover (Travelers Rest, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Comics Illustrators: The Comics Journal Library (Burne Hogarth, Frank Frazetta, Mark Schultz, Russ Heath and Russ Manning) (Paperback)

Although some of these interviews may have been printed elsewhere, much of it was new to me and the illustrations are large, excellently reproduced and stunning. There is a wealth of information here and the production values are exquisite. I heartily recommend this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More like 3 and 1/2 stars from me, October 12, 2005

By 

Richard A. Tucker "Tucker at large" (Pembroke Pines, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Classic Comics Illustrators: The Comics Journal Library (Burne Hogarth, Frank Frazetta, Mark Schultz, Russ Heath and Russ Manning) (Paperback)

I'll try to be brief. This is a great book for anyone who hasn't read the old interviews contained within this volume. However, I have read these interviews over the years and so there are no insights for anyone else who read them in The Comics Journal over the years. The art contained within this volume, on the other hand, is quite wonderful and a good deal of it is different, an update from the original interviews. Make no mistake, this book is a great art collection with insightful, if older interviews to round it out. The large format is guite nice for showcasing the art as well.
If you've somehow missed the interviews this is an opportunity to get into the heads of some stellar talents in the illustration and comic art field. With a line up a talent featuring the works and words of Frank Frazetta, Russ Manning, Burne Hogarth, Mark Schultz and Russ Heath, it's hard to imagine how the editors at TCJ could mess this up and, of course, they didn't.
My big beef is the lack of better Manning and Heath art. The examples are fine but I hoped for better, perhaps rarer samples.
That's a small complaint.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Artwork, June 7, 2007

By 

N. Franklin - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Classic Comics Illustrators: The Comics Journal Library (Burne Hogarth, Frank Frazetta, Mark Schultz, Russ Heath and Russ Manning) (Paperback)

I haven't finished reading all the text yet... actually I would have preferred somewhat less text (it could have been edited down considerably) and more space devoted to the artwork. Also I wouldn't have included Russ Heath, whose focus is more on war and westerns while the other artists seem to have more in common with each other... more sci-fi, fantasy, Burroughs based illustrations. Oddly the picture of the cover posted by Amazon shows Dave Stevens as one of the artists featured in the book, but in fact he is not in it at all... though that would have been nice. Anyway, if you have room for this large sized book on your shelves it is a nice one. These guys are great artists, all you have to do is include proper quality reproductions of their work and you can't go too wrong.