The Brunner Mystique vol.1
After Image - The Art Of Frank Brunner - The Brunner Mystique vol.2

                                             (1976/1978 - Hakins / Johnson (self-published))  

     [-BELOW THE LINE-]   ( both volumes produced by Steven R. Johnson & Bob Hakins)    These would be a nice books, if they had a real spines.  Instead, they are stapled on the fold.  I understand that there was a small amount of hardback editions produced for both and if so, then the proper spine you would imagine those having would get them a placement roughly two-thirds down on The List.  The first volume is only 40 pages, counting the inner & outer covers, with 22 full-page reproductions and two pages with multiple images.  The covers are striking paintings and all the interiors are pen-&-ink.  Dr. Strange & Howard the Duck represent the majority of the gathered images, but all the others are a lot of fun too.  The center is the single well-done double-page spread.  The other pages are an interview, a sideways drawing, a photograph, a chronology & several checklists of his career-to-that-date.  In both books, a couple of his female creations are nude, but not objectionable.  If you have MYTHOS and EYES OF LIGHT there are still 14 'well-presented' pieces here not found as such in them.


     [-BELOW THE LINE-]   56 pages total and 37 of them have large well-represented images spotlighted.  A handful of color pieces, including the front & back covers are standouts, while the rest are his impressive drawings (including a couple of Marvel comics covers in their pen-&-ink stage).  There are two double-page spreads which are reproduced nicely.  The other dozen-and-a-half pages carry a biography, some effusive commentary, his own short comments about the works, photographs, sequential art, a sideways image and a few color paintings displayed only in black-and-white.  Among the exhibits are Dr. Strange, Elric, Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonya, Howard the Duck, along with portraits of Alice and her hookah-smoking caterpillar.  If you have MYTHOS and EYES OF LIGHT there are still 18 'well-presented' pieces here not found as such in them.


Related books

  Vanguard's Frank Brunner collections

  Brunner's Beauties  [BELOW THE LINE]

  Carnal Delights  [BELOW THE LINE]

  Frank Brunner portfolios  [BELOW THE LINE]



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