Studio Space

Offering a unique glimpse at the way that the finest comic artists work, visiting their studios and getting into their mindset, Studio Space also discusses the training that the artists undertook, their big break, and whether their working methods have changed over the years.

Showcases the creators of Watchmen, 300, Sin City, Hellboy, and many more!

VOYA

This coffee-table-sized book's subtitle makes clear the contents. Twenty comic artists are profiled, from Frank Miller and Mike Mignola, (their work on Batman and Hellboy has received a wider audience this summer thanks to Hollywood films) to Howard Chaykin and Sergio Toppi (who may not be as well known outside comic circles). Each illustrator has his own chapter, which is separated into segments. "Getting started" explains how the artist broke into the business, while "The studio space" describes not only his work area but also his methods. Finally most illustrators then provide information and background on individual comic titles. There are no female artists profiled here, but that omission says more about the comics industry than about the editors of this book, which is generously illustrated with examples of each man's work. The graphics, paintings, and drawings are printed beautifully, letting the reader observe the details and the efforts that went into creating them. Although it might be enough to dive right into the interviews and art, movie director Guillermo del Toro and author Michael Moorcock provide a wonderful start to this comic feast with their introduction and forward. A select bibliography provides information on what books the featured images came from. If you have budding artists or comic fans in your library, they will happily pore over this title for hours, seeking inspiration and lessons. Reviewer: Geri Diorio