The Brunner Mystique vol.1 [-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] SEND US A COMMENT (goes via e-mail - all info kept anonymous, but comment itself may be shared . . .) |