The Dynamite Art Of Alex Ross
(2011 - Dynamite) 
At 327 pages, this book is a bit larger than optimal, but page after page of striking work is kind of hard to be critical of. 194 pages feature single large reproductions, with an amazing 85% of those allowed to bleed to the outer edges. Then, another 96 pages either collect multiple images together, or less attractively, clutter some dominant art-piece with less impressive photos or model-sheet features. All that does then leave a good number of pages that feature sequential sequences, sketchy thumbnails or layout details. There are five pieces that lie across the central gutter, some more successfully than others. Each of the chapters focuses on particular projects that Ross participated in (sometimes led) and they all start with a healthy explanation of what was being aimed at. Within them as well, the artist's voice is heard quite a bit, as he discusses the details of his designs. That grouping of works by project, while logical, unfortunately has to have the effect of pulling together pieces with the same prevalent characters, rather than the increased diversity and perceived variety had by mixing it all up. The projects all utilize the new excitement inherent in Ross' painted style to re-envision some of today's comic characters, or re-energize many many old ones that have been long since left for dead along this genre's road. Note that throughout there are no page numbers displayed. This book would be significantly recommended by us before Ross' collection entitled MYTHOLOGY, but that volume has no repeats from here, so you will want both, if you like the man's work. This book is grouped with others on a page on this site showcasing collections of Dynamite comics art, but because of its focus on a single artist, it merited its own separate entry nere.
Related Books
Mythology - The DC Comics Art Of Alex Ross
other Dynamite releases
The Art Of Dejah Thoris And The Worlds Of Mars
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