THE FINALISTS!

Well here's hoping your Christmas was all you hoped it would be.
So as we kill time waiting for 2012 to kick off and the good times to roll, we pay brief salute to the last titles to arrive here in 2011, the year we threw open our doors!

KRAZY KAT & THE ART OF GEOREG HERRIMAN

HC 176pp Color, Black + WHite,

Abrams.

A collection of essays and rare artwork celebrating the unique, whimsical talent of Krazy Kat creator George Herriman.

Genius and unique are terms too often and too easily bestowed by reviewers trying to put a favorable gloss on their subject but in the case of George Herriman they are fully merited.

HOT GIRLS COLD FEET: TERRY MOORE SKETCHBOOK

SC 60pp COLOR, Black + White

Abstract Studios

Terry Moore the creator of girl friendly fan favorite "Stangers in Paradise" presents a selection of convention commissions and sketchbook images for your delectation, most of them featuring pretty girls with colds, or is that just my reaction to the way he draws noses?
BTW couldn't get you a cover image the w.w.w. is only displaying the title page, still call in and we'll happily direct to you this cute little number.

BEN CALDWELL SKETCHBOOK # 14 & 15 AMAZONIA/DARE DETECTIVES

SC 80pp Black + White

Phew I'm exhausted having typed that title! OK this is obviously two books in one,

Ben hasn't released a sketchbook since 2007 clearly he's making up for it and so this a bumper collection of development work from his two most celebrated projects, the gorgeous Wonder Women piece from DC's outstanding Wednesday Comic anthology and his creator owned Dare Detectives.

(DC's Wednesday Comic is available here in both VO and VF, it's full of top creators delivering wonderful stories in a format bigger than anything seen before.
While Ben's two Dare Detective will be available next week in a brand new integral edition.)

If you aren't familiar with Ben's work then you are in for a treat as we received  three other sketchbooks by this gifted draftsman and like Amazonia/Dare Detectives they're all signed by Ben.

We've also his dynamic retelling of Homer's sequel to his well received first effort the Iliad, the Odyssey.

This could be the curtain call for books received in 2011 and if it is then hopefully you are of the opinion that it's been a good year for beautiful books.

Take good care and we look forward to seeing you here soon, 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

SEASON'S GREETINGS

We're making this announcement a bit late because air lines and freight agents play fast and loose with freight at this time of year and our delivery for this week is much later than normal!
Still as we enter the home stretch to Christmas let me take this opportunity to wish all our customers and those of you who follow the Blog a stupendous Christmas and a very happy New Year.


Hmm 2012 happens to be a year the Mayans had booked for cataclysm, the world as we know it ending but I'm not expecting the skies over Kansas to fill with rapturous bloated nudes floating to heaven, thankfully.
For sure this wont be an easy time for us, our empty leaders, political and commercial, are bereft of ideas and the will to address the issues afflicting us as the remote elite become more remote and more elite.
This will be a time for keeping ones spirits up and if we at Pulp's Art, Comics and Toys can assist with that then we're happy to do so.


One event shortly occurring in 2012 which I know will bring a fair bit of cheer will be the release of the gorgeous Flesk books, The Art of Craig Elliott and Naughty & Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm; so straight away - first week of January, John the publisher tells me - there are reasons to be cheerful!
And as the year progresses we'll continue bringing to you the best books on illustration and 2D entertainment art we can get our hands on, right up to Armageddon if that's what's going to happen.


So enough of this bipolar seesawing between gloom and cheer let's run through the new books in house this week.

CEDRIC DELSAUX DARK LENS

HC 118pp Color

Editions Xavier Barral

Familiar urban landscapes from right here on planet earth are populated with people and things from the Star Wars galaxy, in these atmospheric and compelling photographs by Cedric Delsaux.
These images prove the gigantic talent of the designers behind the SW films and also of Cedric Delsaux given their look of absolute authenticity.

(Yes it's not an illustrated book but a customer asked and we aim to please so here it is.)

GRIS GRIMLY'S ATRUM SECRETUM

HC 180pp Black + White

Baby Tattoo

Gris Grimly's punk goth aesthetic has been pleasing the terminally angry and despondent for several years now.

If you like Tim Burton's style you are pretty sure to like Mr Grimly's, so why not call in and take a peek at this very cool collection of his sketches.

This isn't the only book by Gris Grimly's work we have in stock as we've opened an account with Baby Tattoo, publishers of the visually weird and wonderful, here's a few more of their great books.

RAGNAR BIG CITY

HC 180pp Color

Baby Tattoo

Ragnar indulge's his passion for retro and pulp chic in this book of his development work for a future project pitting gorgeous gals in uniform against robots in a futuristic setting, which combines ultra modern designs with those recalling the 60s, get ready for Big City.

THE ART OF SKETCH THEATRE

HC 240pp Color, Black + White

Baby Tattoo

Sketch Theatre is the brain child of Alex Alvarez who wished to draw people's attention to the amazing array of opportunities for the visually gifted.

This book collects work by 50 professional creators who make a living from creating images, be it designing for films, games, fashion, advertising, etc. 

TONY MILLIONAIRE 500 PORTRAITS

HC 192pp Black + White

Fantagraphics

The Maakies man offers us 500 pictures of the great and not so good, as well as some experience learnt the hard way while touring in Europe, fun all the way with the famous and infamous !

So this has been my last missive before Christmas but I'll be back between now and the New Year, here's hoping it'll be peace on earth and goodwill to all.

NEW THIS WEEK AT PULP'S ART DECEMBER 15

A rich haul of books this week readers so without further ado let me introduce them to you.

QUELQUE PART CROMWELL ARTBOOK

HC 200pp Color, Black + White

Akileos

Designed to suit the furiously dynamic style of the artist, this book is a fitting tribute to the punk rocker artist, collecting rare and unpublished images spanning his career and as you'd expect grungy girls and fierce Indian warriors proliferate.

MATTHIEU FORICHON PAR ICI

HC 150pp Color, Black + White

Akileos

Another beautiful book from the publisher of the Cromwell homage noted above and also the team behind the stunning "Sketchy Past" and the delicious "Melange", the artbooks covering work by Peter de Seve and Dean Yeagle.

Par Ici is a loving look at Parisians by the artist Matthieu Forichon, who's work recalls the cool chic of Kiraz and the elegance of Tadahiro Uesegi.

Parisians and visitors can view and buy a selection of Matthieu's beautiful works at the friendly Galerie Arludik but hurry the show ends with the year on the 31st.

ASHLEY WOOD FAT TARINO

HC with Slipcase Color, Black + White

IDW

A terrifically tubby dollop of Mr Wood's high in saturates art, this magnificent book limited to just 500 copies collects the out of print Uno, Dos, Tres Tarino books featuring his signature Boiler Bots and knickerless ladies.

COVER STORY: THE DC ART OF BRIAN BOLLAND

HC 208pp Color Black + White

DC Comics

Brian Bolland's style is one of the more distinctive and refined in the comic field but art this stylish doesn't come quickly, as a result  - and rather like the subject of the last collection of DC cover art, Adam Hughes - his body of work consists chiefly of cover commissions and not sequential narratives, so let's be grateful the powers at DC saw fit to publish this book and this side of Christmas.

J SCOTT CAMPBELL'S FAIRYTALE FANTASIES CALENDAR 2012

Color

IDW

The incomparable J Scott Campbell once again illustrates a very round dozen of the leading ladies from Europe's favorite Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes. 

There's absolutely nothing grim about these beauties who are certain to keep your spirits up through the coming year. 

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES

HC 128pp Color

IDW

Some of the hottest talent in the comic field bring their skills to new tales of Dave Steven's much loved high flying character.

ART & MAKING OF STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC

HC 160pp Color Black + White

Chronicle Books

Take a peek at how they brought this new game of the world's favorite sci-fi fantasy franchise to electrifying life.
Old Republic is set unsurprisingly in a galaxy far far away but this time even longer ago then the antics of Luke and Co., still no C3PO, chirping Ewokes or Jarring Jarring Binks.

By the way if you like Star Wars and science fiction we've recently had restocks of the Drew Struzan artbooks and the book of production art from the impressive District 9.

We also have these three new sketchbooks from Art of Fiction by animation professionals, you probably know each book has a sturdy board cover and is formatted somewhat like a real pocket sketchbook, each book runs to 60 pages of color and black and white art works in various states of finish.

Finally, I should have made mention of this book a few weeks ago when it arrived but with an exhibition and sale of Benjamin's work running at Galerie Daniel Maghen now isn't a bad time.

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

HC 240pp Color, Black + White

Soleil

Hugo's celebrated work of gypsies, hunch backs and religious zealots in medieval Paris, or at least its first part is here accompanied by evocative illustrations by Benjamin Lacombe.

Hope to see you here at Pulp's Art very soon and thanks for reading.

10 SHOPPING DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!

Hello readers, sorry to anyone who discovered we weren't open yesterday I had an unexpected run in with renal colic and there just wasn't time to organize cover to get the store open, please accept my apologies for this.


Still I'm back in the saddle and the store should continue to be open every day but Sunday from now till Christmas, so that's 10 days in which to get a wonderful book or two for yourself or somebody special.


We look forward to seeing you and hopefully serving you as we count down to Christmas, you support is greatly appreciated. 

A science book at Pulp's Art?

Not since Galileo has a scientist ticked off the church quite as much as Richard Dawkins author of such contentious books as " A Load of Godswallop!" and "God For Nothing!".
OK OK I'm kidding, he didn't write these books but he did pen "The God Delusion"  a timely and trenchant examination of the role of religion in the human experience and an exposure of the flawed  - in his view - thinking behind those championing opinions favoring creationism, the wisdom of the prophets and the existence of a benign creator. 
Since the release of "The God Delusion" all sorts of people have leapt to the attack, fellow scientists who think without the divine the universe couldn't be and theologians who of course argue against a literal interpretation of the holy texts, such as Dawkins uses to diminish their power, though one wonders what theologians think is being sold to the various monotheistic faithful on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at their places of worship, it doesn't strike me that it's nuance! 
Anyway, probably to reinforce his point Dawkins has written this accessible guide to how the universe works, how science has explained the mysterious which so perplexed our ancestors who thought to explain the inexplicable through religion, and it's illustrated by Dave McKean.
So, there it is finally no big mystery, Dave McKean is one of the great contemporary illustrators and this book is packed with his interesting images accompanying some enlightening text. 

THE MAGIC OF REALITY

HC 272pp Color, Balck + White

Free Press

Gifts galore just through our door!

Don't worry readers despite the closeness of Christmas I shan't be laying any rhymes on you beyond those announcing today's arrivals.


OK, I say Today's arrivals but I recognize I've been amiss in overlooking some books which arrived during my vacation and I'll be giving them a billing as well as the brand spanking new.

ART OF SPIDER-MAN CLASSIC

HC 240pp Color

Marvel Comics

Arguably the most popular character in the pantheon of US super heroes, Peter Parker aka the Amazing and Spectacular Spider-man has never wanted for great artists to bring his escapades to life.

This lavishly illustrated artbook showcases the great artists, the great moments and the great characters gracing his adventures down the years, from his debut courtesy of the peerless Steve Ditko to the equally unique style of today's custodian of the Spidey pencil Humberto Ramos.

DEFINITIVE FLASH GORDON & JUNGLE JIM

HC 176pp Color

IDW

The first in a four volume series faithfully reprinting all of Alex Raymond's Sunday Comic Strip Pages from the 1930's featuring Flash Gordon and the lesser known companion piece also by Raymond, Jungle Jim.

It's inspiring to see the refining of Raymond's draftsmanship as it occurred during the creation of these classic strips.

GRAFF WARS

HC 192pp Color, Black + White

Kontur Forlag

Joy, a book about the marriage of Star Wars and Graffiti and not about angry tennis champions from beyond the Rhine. OK I'm perhaps not the man to positively review a book of this sort however I will concede that Graffiti does occasionally have merit and George Lucas has certainly changed the face of cinema and the genres of science fiction and fantasy.

Anyway, this is a visual feast for those who like the antics of creative urban tykes and intergalactic types - er what was that about rhymes again?

THE FUTURE OF EROTIC FANTASY ART

HC 192pp Color, Black + White

Harper Design

I'd hazard a guess that the future of erotic fantasy art is smuttier sirens, naughtier nymphs, more graphic goblins, etc.. and this cheeky compilation would appear to back me up, filled as it is with all of the above and more erotic twists on fantasy themes.

 SHIGENORI SOEJIMA ARTWORKS

SC 160pp Color, Black + White

Udon Entertainment

A gorgeous book celebrating the artistic talent of Shigenori Soejima by collecting his best work from the Persona games as well as art from Stella Deus and Momorio Taisen Pairon.

MONSTERS & DAMES 2011

HC 64pp Color

Brandstudio Press

Each year the fabulous artists attending Seattle's Emerald City Comic Convention enter a piece into this annual collection and based on the theme of girls and monsters.

Artists featured include Geoff Darrow, Eric Canete, Bruce Timm, Frank Cho so do check it out.

BLACK SMOKE WHITE LIES

HC 48pp Color Balck + White

Brandstudio Press

Bad boy Tyson McAdoo presents a selection of images featuring the kind of tattooed temptresses who would intimidate lesser men than your intrepid reviewer, me I'm intrigued too see as much as these vixens wish to reveal of their true natures.

ECHO NOUVEAU

HC 100pp Color

Echo Chernik

This handsome tome collects 15 year's work by Echo Chernik, and we mean work, not just her finished pieces but she discusses honestly and humorously just what it takes to be a leading commercial artist.

As well as featuring her Art Nouveau influenced finished art, there's development pieces and a few nice shots of her perfectly formed models, as well as all sorts of tips and advice to the seasoned pro and the debutante.

LIMAN SKETCHBOOK SIGNED & NUMBERED

SC 48pp Color, Black + White

Comix Buro

Here's a  collection of artwork from another lady artist heavily influenced by the artists of the Belle Epoch and the Art Nouveau movement.

Ingrid Liman is a mistress of the elegant and erotic, loose yourself for a few precious moments in her seductive stylish art.

VALP SKETCHBOOK SIGNED & NUMBERED

SC 48pp Color, Black + White

Comix Buro

Take a peek at the fabulous and till now unpublished art of the young Swiss miss behind Delcourt's hit fantasy series Ashrel, as she let's us in on her sketchbook studies.

FAVOLE INTEGRAL

HC with Slipcase 272pp Color

Milady

In one book you have all the hugely successful illustrations of sultry Vampires and Goths - all dripping mascara, pin prick teeth, cascading hair entwined with red roses, standing around ruins and grave yards yes - by the Queen of the genre, Victoria Francés, accompanied by the sad stories which inspired them.

Certain to delight the many fans of the Gothic Romance/Horror sub genre popularized by Twilight and the work's of Anne Rice. 

Aurore

HC 56pp Color

Soleil

We simply love the books coming from Soleil's imprint Métamorphose, just consider they've dropped the sumptuous Daisies by the incomparable Claire Wendling on us and followed it up with the sublime Yaxin Le Faune by Vey and the supremely talented Arenas and now they're laying on us another tour de force and again by a Spanish artist and on occasion an animator, like Arenas, we're delighted to announce, Aurore by Enrique Fernandez!

A fabulous story set among the aboriginal people of a fantasy far North, perhaps Siberia, a heroine with her lupine companion defies demons in this enchanting tale.

LA MARCHE DU CRABE TOME 2

HC 240pp Color

Soleil

Another Soleil imprint publishing fantastic books is Noctamble and their latest is the second book in the amusing trilogy in which the dynamics of aquatic life mirror our own.

By the amazingly talented and hard working - and we suspect hard partying -animator and comic artist Arthur de Pins, Le Marche Du Crabe is derived from an award winning animated short.

CIXI DE TROY TOME 3

HC 48pp Color

Soleil

The latest adventure of the seductive Pirate and thief, Cixi, set in the fantasy realm of Troy, story boarded by Vatine, finishes by Floch.

We also have the deluxe black and white version which is larger, runs to 64pp and includes Vatine's original story boards.

As tempting as it is I won't be making any gift suggestions for the holiday season.
I believe the nature of illustrated books is that just about anyone with the gift of sight can find a book on our shelves from among the thousand plus we stock which would appeal to them, which they'd be grateful to receive or content to offer as a gift.

THE LONG WAIT IS OVER!

Hello readers good news the Brandstudio Press books finally arrived this morning, we've books by comic artists J Scott Campbell and Phil Noto and animation artist Brett Bean, each book is printed in a sturdy hard cover in ravishing full color and looks as good from the cover to the last page, check out the gallery of covers below but before I go here's an important announcement.


We have a sample of each of these new Flesk Publications for you to examine and if inclined to reserve, Naughty & Nice: The Goodgirl Art of Bruce Timm and The Art of Craig Elliott, both books look fantastic but you don't have to take my word for it call in and take an advance peek for yourself!


OK as promised a gallery of covers for those Brandstudio Press books received today:-

nice eh? OK have a great weekend.