FAMOUS MONSTER MOVIE ART OF BASIL GOGOS PB [Paperback]

Kerry Gammill (Editor), J. David Spurlock (Editor), Rob Zombie (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2006

Basil Gogos changed the face of classic horror with his film monster portrait art. Like a bizarro-world Norman Rockwell, he created magazine covers of Frankenstein, the Creature from the Black Lagoon. the Phantom of the Opera, and countless others in horrifying yet dazzling images throughout the 1960s and '70s. His intense colour and bold, impressionistic brushwork gave a unique sense of drama and sophistication to these iconic characters. Today, collectors fight over his original art-but, with this book, every fan can own glowing full-colour reproductions of his most famous work as well as many previously unpublished paintings and drawings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kerry Gammill, an artist who specializes in Hollywood monster design, is the author of the perennial favourite Drawing Monsters and Heroes for Film and Comics J. David Spurlock, an illustrator and editor, has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: VANGUARD PRODUCTIONS (March 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887591710
• ISBN-13: 978-1887591713
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE JOY OF BEING A MONSTER KID!, May 2, 2006

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: FAMOUS MONSTER MOVIE ART OF BASIL GOGOS PB (Paperback)

If you were fortunate to have been born between 1950 and 1970 or so, you're lucky to be a part of a wonderful fraternity. Like me, you are a "monster kid". Monster Kids are the generation that grew up with Shock Theater and campy horror movie hosts, old Aurora model kits, classic Universal horror films on 8MM, and...a fantastic magazine called Famous Monsters of Filmland. Famous Monsters was edited by legendary collector and Sci-Fi sage Forrest Ackerman and one of the great attractions throughout the years were the magnificent magazine covers painted by Basil Gogos. From Vanguard Productions comes "The Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos." Basil Gogos has rightfully been called, "The World's Most Famous Monster Artist." His bold, expresionistic use of color is what caught the eye of little ghouls like myself and my friends. Edited by Kerry Gammill and J. David Spurlock and with an introduction by Rob Zombie, the book provides a dazzling display of Gogos' art not only from Famous Monsters, but from many other magazines, books, and films.

In fact, his first professional sale was not a monster, but rather a cover for a western paperback (reprinted in the book) in 1959. Gogos did numerous covers in many different genres including westerns, war, jungle adventures, spicy adventures, and more. Dozens of examples of his work from this period are included. His first cover for Famous Monsters of Filmland appeared on the cover of issue #9 from November, 1960, depicting Vincent Price from "The House of Usher". For the first time, kids who were used to only knowing them from black & white films now saw their monster heroes in bold color thanks to Gogos. In all, Gogos did 48 covers of Famous Monsters and they are among the most popular issues for collectors. Everyone has their favorite Gogos Famous Monster cover...for me it was his rendition of Boris Karloff as the Mummy from issue # 58. The fine detail of the withered, dead-eyed mummy still mesmerizes me. Issue #56 featuring Gogos painting of Karloff as the Frankenstein's monster for the Karloff tribute issue is another favorite. Basil provides valuable insight to his legions of fans by discussing the various paints, styles, and techniques that he's employed over the years.

Gogos would eventually move into doing fine art as well as non-monster commercial illustration including work for many years at a New York advertising agency. But much like the victims of those classic monster films, Gogos found he could not, for long, escape his beloved creatures. The 1990's brought a renewed interest in Gogos' monster art and soon he was back doing new paintings for trading card companies, CD cover art for The Misfits and Rob Zombie, and a whole new generation of monster magazines such as Monsterscene, making him more popular than ever. Gogos even did the concept art for a series of U.S. Postage stamps in 1997 that featured the classic monsters. The book features comments and tributes from such luminaries as Sara Karloff, Ken Kelly, Forrest Ackerman, Roger Corman, and Rick Baker. In all there are over 150 color and 50 black & white illustrations in the 160 page book. For monster kids like myself, who are all "grown up" now, Basil Gogos will always have a special place in our hearts. His Famous Monsters of Filmland covers take us back to a simpler time of true chills and thrills and I can think of no other book that would please a monster fan more than "The Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos." Like many of the books from Vanguard Productions, it is available in several different editions: There is a softcover, a hardcover, and a deluxe hardcover that is signed by Basil Gogos and includes a 16 page bonus folio and comes in a slipcase. The Deluxe, signed, slipcased edition was an instant sell-out and is already selling for big bucks on the collector's market. My highest recommendation!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but somewhat disappointing, January 14, 2010

By 

Stephen M. Morrison - See all my reviews
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This review is from: FAMOUS MONSTER MOVIE ART OF BASIL GOGOS PB (Paperback)

Like many who have reviewed this book, I grew up with Famous Monsters of Filmland, and was really looking forward to getting this book because of the fabulous artwork of Basil Gogos that I remember so well. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed - with a title like "Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos", one would expect (at least I did) that it would concentrate on his well-known covers of monster and horror magazines, specifically Famous Monsters of Filmland, for which he is best known by many. Instead, a good portion of the book is devoted to his wildlife, western, military, adventure, and whatnot work. It would have been more accurate to call it "The Art of Basil Gogos", not the "Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos". Also, many of his Famous Monsters of Filmland cover art paintings are cropped - not a whole lot usually, but when compared with the actual magazine covers it's obvious (again, to me at least) that they have been cropped, and I just cannot understand why they would do this. And lastly, a good number of the covers are small, some very small, and are reproductions of the actual FMOF covers, not his actual paintings used to create those covers. Don't get me wrong, I'm still glad I got the book, the quality of the reproductions are great, and it's better than not having a book of his art. But they could have, and should have, done a much better job.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Monster Kid Memories!, March 29, 2006

By 

Martin Arlt "Mad Scientist" (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: FAMOUS MONSTER MOVIE ART OF BASIL GOGOS PB (Paperback)

Basil Gogos is known to monster fans all over the world, if not necessarily by name, then by his art. His paintings of monsters, aliens, and werewolves graced the covers of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. His art brought a dignity to these beasts, and this book reproduces many, many, many of Gogos' works, past and present. In addition to the expected monster images that fill this volume, there are many examples of Gogos' other art, ranging from illustrations from 1960s men's adventure magazines to paintings of subjects ranging from cowboys to wildlife to cityscapes. Each and every image, regardless of medium or subject, is remarkable. Anyone who fondly remembers Gogos' Famous Monsters covers can't possibly be dissapointed with this book! And even those without a nostaligic remembrance of those old monster images (like my wife!) will still find themselves enthralled. A book that truly deserves to be placed on a coffee table where people will look at it!-