Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer Deluxe HC [Hardcover]

Joshua Ortega (Author), Nat Jones (Author), Jay Fotos (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer | Publication Date: May 8, 2008

The iconic painting comes to life in this epic tale of dark fantasy and horror! The land of Iparsia is at war. Two kingdoms fight for survival as an ancient evil sweeps across the land. The Death Dealer returns to Iparsia, but will the dark rider bring an end to the war... or will he bring an end to Iparsia? Critically-acclaimed novelist and comics writer Joshua Ortega (The Necromancer) teams up with cult-favorite artists Nat Jones (Spawn: The Dark Ages) and Jay Fotos (Spawn) to bring forth the first Death Dealer tale fully approved by Frank Frazetta himself!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics; Deluxe Ed edition (May 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582408092
• ISBN-13: 978-1582408095
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE FRAZETTA VISION, October 16, 2008

By 

O. Emmanuelli "ojeanyc" (nyc) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer Deluxe HC (Hardcover)

One star for it being the minimum and another for the gallery and short bio in the back.

I would suggest looking into the SIMON BISLEY rendition from 1995 or so.

I have been a fan of Frank Frazetta's art since i learned who painted The Death Dealer years ago. I am not sure what the writers and artists for this Graphic Novel were thinking when they took on this project. It is understood that many are attracted to Frazetta's work. It exudes power, makes you think of the emotion behind it and makes us fantasy fans wonder the whats and where and many other ideas about the pictured characters he works on. The Death Dealer became an icon that has been followed and imitated. Unfortunately i don't understand the take on this book as it doesnt do justice to what F. Frazetta's work portrays.

I have read the books by James Silke. I am participle to their criticism as them not being complex books, but they do portray the grittiness and many aspects of what The Death Dealer could be about. The story line in this graphic novel, however, doesn't go anywhere and doesn't study the death dealer itself and the art, while nice for other stories, doesn't come close to what other artists have done these days in the comic book world. I am very disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money and just buy the posters, August 17, 2009

By 

Richard A. Tucker "Tucker at large" (Pembroke Pines, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer Deluxe HC (Hardcover)

This is the lowest rating I've ever given any book and even I'm suprised by how much I dislike this collected series. Even more suprising is the lip service being given this substandard series by people who appear to be fans of Frank Frazetta but have not the ability to critique for that fandom. In essence, anything the Frazetta's approve/endorse is good enough for them and this is the very reason why fandom is a bad way to eye any effort, good or bad.

In summation all I can ask of people who are considering buying this book or the comic series to really look at other comics and the graphic medium. Look at the artist Cary Nord and writer Kurt Busiek's run on the Dark Horse Conan series. Look even at the current people on that book who still deliver far better fare and for a lot less money than this series. Tomas Giorello's art and Tim Truman's scripting on Conan have this series beat hands down. Ask yourselves why creators of at least this caliber are not on the Death Dealer series? This is Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer after all. These are among his most dynamic and iconic images. They deserve better.

When I saw the advanced solicitations for this Death Dealer series I confess, my heart sank. Who were these guys and why does it looks so bad, so colorless? Despite that I still bought them. the premise of the Death Dealer rising in a time of need in the midst turmoil between wrongheaded kingdoms is good enough but it quickly lapses into one excuse after another to pit the Death Dealer against bigger and bigger demons menacing the Death Dealer's cohorts. References to, and the use of druids is useless since they either never bother to place them in actual time line in prehistory, or it was such a poor reference that it's easily forgotten, so what's the point in using them? Modern swearing styles are a biut offputting but worst of all is the Death Dealer apparently is just a force to be reckoned with and has no real personality. I get the whole "he's a catalyst" thing. But does he have to be portrayed as just a bludgeon for "good"?
The art itself requires little comment. It's boring, over-textured, with no character on the character's faces and no physical dynamic. It's a lot like the Death Dealer's portrayal, superficial, lackluster and uninvolved. (And I hate the sad, clown eyes the artist instists on drawing on his characters)

As for the much vaunted Frazetta endorsement: remember, the Frazetta's have been routinely conned into giving endorsements they later regretted (even as they were warned that they were entering into bad deals where Frank's talent would be exploited by fauning, spending "fans").
In this case notice all the Frazetta ads and that will tell you all you need to know about the family's endorsement. Seriously, if this series was that great why is every comic/colection in the Frazetta series married to multiple ads for other Frazetta products and promoting the museum (which is only open the summer months)? The work would speak for itself and the ads would be minimal. Overkill is not and endorsement. These books are vehicles to keep the Frazetta name out there.

My opinion stands, never again will I waste my money when my eyes tell me it will not be worth the effort.
If you need to read Frazetta art inspired fare go back to the books that were graced by his covers (Wagner's Kane books, Silke's Death Dealer, Robert Howard's books, Michael Moorcocks Eternal Champion o and others series or Edgar Rice Burroughs' tales). you could push for the re-release of the James Silke novels (Frank had a very active part in the way those stories were crafted).

Above all else, buy the art books featuring Frazetta's art like ICON, LEGACY,TESTAMENT, Rough Stuff or Telling Stories: the Comic Art of Frank Frazetta. At the very least, by a couple of the posters and stare at them a while. I gaurantee they'll tell you a much better story than twice the money will get you buying this collection.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great tribute to Frazetta's most iconic creation. An excellent collector's item., June 9, 2008

By 

C. T. Hunter "chips_books" (Gainesville, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer Deluxe HC (Hardcover)

This big and beautiful book is sure to please fans of Frank Frazetta as well as lovers of comics or great fantasy art. Although it does not contain original Frazetta art, Nat Jones and Jay Fotos bring Frazetta's most iconic character to life like never before while sticking to the style that makes Frazetta paintings so powerful. Together with Joshua Ortega, these artists have created a strikingly vivid atmosphere with mystery, adventure, and beauty that I'm sure Frazetta himself is happy with. This deluxe hardcover edition is of the highest quality, with tight binding, glossy, full-color pages, and a red ribbon page holder. It comes in a black slipcase with a certificate of authenticity stating that it is part of a limited edition and will never be reprinted. Hopefully future Death Dealer stories by this team are produced in a similar format.

The story here is good but short. Even though this volume is over 190 pages, the actually comic story takes up little more than half of that space. It tells the tale of the rebirth of the Death Dealer, who comes to save the lands of Isparia from the menacing Mirahan, a sort of daemon bent on destroying all of life. The Death Dealer himself remains much of a mystery here, never uttering a word, but facing the darkness with grim determination. Other characters in the story are more developed and bring the human emotions of love, fear, bravery, and sacrifice. The story primarily revolves around them.

This deluxe edition also contains a number of very nice extras. A bio about Frank Frazetta written by his son is very good and highlights Frazetta's amazing life so far. Lots of additional art (including finished work and sketches by Nat Jones) fill out this volume nicely. A large portion of this book is dedicated to this extra art making this volume desirable even to those who already own the comics contained within.

Overall, this is an excellent tribute to Frazetta's creation, full of breathtaking art and containing a good story. This limited edition is sure to be a highly sought-after collector's item.