Tag: J. David Spurlock

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With Further Ado #320: Book Review – Frazetta, The World’s Best Comics Cover Artist

With Further Ado #320: Book Review – Frazetta, The World’s Best Comics Cover Artist

Posted on by Ed Catto

In the 1970s, we had a lot of catalogs delivered to our home. It was kind of like Amazon Prime on paper, now that I think about it. And one catalog I requested absolutely freaked my mom out. Bill and Steve Schanes’ 1977 Pacific Comics Catalog was delivered to my house with a stunning Frank Frazetta cover. “The Ghoul Queen”, the illustration used for this cover, showcased a saucy woman, regally lording over her creepy minions. Her choices for clothing (or lack thereof) were just fine for a teenaged Ed Catto, but they didn’t quite meet my mom’s standards.

I was able to intercept this catalog before my mom and her scissors were able to censor it.

This cover was another masterpiece by Frank Frazetta. It was originally used, perplexingly, for a National Lampoon cover.

The enduring nature of Frazetta’s work is evident, as I see there’s a copy of this catalog on eBay right now for $299. I have a suspicion if you buy anything from that catalog, Bill Schanes isn’t going fulfill your order.

The innate power, classic skill and enduring impact of Frank Frazetta’s comic covers are the focus of J. David Spurlock’s new book Frazetta, the World’s Best Comics Cover Artist. It’s another beauty published by Vanguard Publishing.

This lush book is billed as the definitive reference, and it’s not an overstatement. Spurlock examines all of Frazetta’s comics covers, and then, like a pop culture detective, explores how each one was used and re-used on various subsequent covers. Of note: this book is a sequel, after a fashion, to 2022’s Frazetta’s Book Cover Art.

The printing is rich and nuanced, all the better to bring out the intricate majesty of so many of Frazetta’s paintings. The colors and composition grab readers by the throat until they cry, “Uncle!” My wife and I visited the Frazetta Museum not too long ago, but I think a book like this is the next best thing.

Frazetta’s early covers from the ‘50s, the traditional comic covers for Ghost Rider, Thun’da , the EC line, and all the rest are there too. In fact, the slipcased deluxe edition includes those covers in inks (without color), presumably shot from the original art.

Vanguard offers two versions of this: the traditional HC book and another with a slipcase with a completely different Frazetta illustration.

My only regret: I wish I had purchased this beauty when it came out in March. My dad would’ve loved it. He died at the end of May so he missed it. He and I would’ve commented and dissected each cover together, Our love of art books was a great bond for us. And of course, we still would have had to hidden this one from my mom.

This is highly recommended – make sure that Santa knows this is on your want list.

Frazetta: World’s Best Comics Cover Artist – Definitive Reference Hardcover
By J. David Spurlock
with art by Frank Frazetta (naturally)

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vanguard Productions
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 175 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1934331899
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1934331897

One more thing – Vanguard has a killer 50% off sale on certain titles. Check them out here and tell ‘em With Further Ado and Pop Culture Squad sent ya.

With Further Ado #206: Conventional Fun

With Further Ado #206: Conventional Fun

Posted on by Ed Catto

You know how “The Holiday Season” starts right after Halloween and continues until a little while before the NFL playoffs? For comics, and geek culture, I feel like we’re in that time right now. We’re in the thick of convention season.

This past weekend, when driving home past Morristown, NJ, I decided not to stop at a convention there. It looked like a great con: with top guests like Louis Simonson, her husband Walter, Howard Chaykin and more. But you know what? I reasoned there were so many conventions, for me, on the horizon, and I kind of needed to get back home anyways.

Locally, this weekend in Rochester, specifically July 16th, there’s another comic convention. It’s the third Empire Comic Fest. They seem to keep getting better and better. These are fun shows run by professionals, like Ken Wheaton, who just love comics. And especially love back issues. Mike Grell is the featured guest and I’m sure he’ll be lots of fun. More info here.

Any visit to Jared Aiosa’s comic shop, Heroes Your Mom Threw Out, in Elmira NY is almost like a visit to a comic convention. Jared clearly loves comics, and boy, does he have a lot of comics for sale. Walking through this store instills one with a sense of wonder. Continue reading “With Further Ado #206: Conventional Fun” →

With Further Ado #171: The Original Dracula is Back

With Further Ado #171: The Original Dracula is Back

Posted on by Ed Catto

The world changes quickly. It’s that time of year when Americans unite on the one thing they can all agree upon – to decry the early blitz of holiday marketing.  But it’s inevitable; Halloween gets swept away quickly and it’s Christmas time again – with just a passing nod to Thanksgiving.

But one holiday campaign, a celebration of that spooky stop motion classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas, reminds us that Halloween and Christmas “kind of” go together. Just like the way that Tokyo Pop and Cracker Barrell “kind of” go together with this wonky promotion. It turns out that Cracker Barrel will be distributing copies of a manga retelling of this story.

So, with all that in mind, I rationalize that its entirely appropriate to shine the spotlight, in a November column, on a new spooky book: Dracula: The Original Graphic Novel.

This one is the latest from Vanguard publishing, and it’s a beauty.  Dracula: The Original Graphic Novel is an impressive re-presentation of the 1966 Dracula Graphic novel by Otto Binder (with Russ Jones & Craig Tennis) and Alden McWilliams.

Publisher J. David Spurlock and Vanguard have done it again.  Dracula: The Original Graphic Novel presents this material in lovingly timeless fashion. Each illustration is big and bold, with plenty of room to marvel at the art. Too often, I find, when reading comic strips, I can buzz through them too quickly.  Keeping up with the story can take precedence over drinking in the artwork.

Thankfully, this book almost seems to whisper, “read it slowly” and “enjoy it thoroughly”. Continue reading “With Further Ado #171: The Original Dracula is Back” →

With Further Ado #004: (Not) Afraid of Flying

With Further Ado #004: (Not) Afraid of Flying

Posted on by Ed Catto

I was struck by how many smaller publishers were exhibiting at San Diego Comic-Con. Maybe “smaller” is the wrong word. It diminishes the efforts and passion that’s behind all these efforts. Maybe I should instead call them up-and-coming publishers.

And I’m drawing a line between this idea – the hopes and dreams of small publishers –  and the fascinating book I’m reading, Double Ace by Robert Coram.  It’s the story of one of the most celebrated World War II pilots, Robert Lee Scott, Jr.  He was a war hero who shot down an astounding number of enemy pilots during WWII. 

Comic fans used to love aviation heroes. There were titles like Wings, Flying Aces and Air Fighters. There were heroes like Airboy, Blackhawk, Flying Jenny, Black Venus ( a couple of them, in fact) and Sky Wolf.

Guys of a certain age, like me, graduated from the TV steam punk of the Wild, Wild, West to Baa Baa Black Sheep, a (mostly) fictionalized TV series about another real life war pilot, Pappy Boyington.  Continue reading “With Further Ado #004: (Not) Afraid of Flying” →

With Further Ado #002: Steranko & Vanguard: 25 Projects in 25 Years

With Further Ado #002: Steranko & Vanguard: 25 Projects in 25 Years

Posted on by Ed Catto

My love for Jim Steranko’s work started a little differently than for most Steranko fans. 

When I was a kid, my super-supportive dad fielded my passion for comic book by finding the things he liked so we could share them.  The Phantom and Prince Valiant were longtime favorites of his, but he’d soon come to really enjoy series like Jonah Hex and Master of Kung Fu.

We both liked Steranko’s artwork.  One day he surprised me by ordering Steranko’s History of Comics. I immediately devoured it.  Then he subscribed to Steranko’s Comixscene (which soon become Mediascene). But when I read it, I was perplexed by the peculiar cutouts.  Turns out, my mom had intercepted it from the mailbox, and took her scissors to essentially censor all the sexy pictures from it.

Soon after, Steranko’s The Supergirls arrived – which were gorgeous Steranko pinups, mostly topless, of women in superhero costumes. That one was hidden from me for about 25 years.

So it’s particularly fascinating to me the J. David Spurlock explained to me that he’s done 25 projects with Jim Steranko over the past 25 years.  Continue reading “With Further Ado #002: Steranko & Vanguard: 25 Projects in 25 Years” →