Gil Kane : The Art of the Comics

Rating:
Summary: Enh, depends what you're looking for.
Review: It strikes me that there are two kinds of people who might get this book; fans of Gil Kane who know a lot about his work, and fans of Gil Kane who don't. I fall into the latter category, but I suspect that both groups would be dissatisfied.

Basically, this reads more like a biography of Gil Kane than an analysis of his work. And that's what it is: a biography. The specifics of his work are only discussed in captions next to the pictures, usually consisting of statements to the effect of "This panel is an obvious demonstration of his unusual use of perspective."

Um. I'll take your word for it.

See, I don't have a background in art; I recognize that an image is interesting, but often only if it's pointed out to me, and usually I don't have the vocabulary to express my thoughts, which I was hoping this book could help me with. I'm sure what's unique about the image IS obvious to those who have the background I don't, but I doubt those people would gain much satisfaction from the book, unless they enjoyed nodding in sage agreement and admiration. Unfortunately, I don't feel like it had much to offer those of us without that background, either.

As a biography, then, it is cursory at best. As a book of art analysis, there's simply nothing there.

Occasionally the author's adulation grows a tad wearisome as well; I mean, I know you like the guy, since you wrote the book, and I like the guy, since I bought it; so everybody likes the guy, right? We don't need to keep reinforcing the fact. EXPLAIN to me what you like so much about his work instead of continually stating that you do.

Oh, and just a tiny (and probably unfair) pet peeve of mine; why is it that every serious book of comics criticism has to open with an apology, and a long, defensive explanation of how comics are for more than just kids? Maybe if we stop being so defensive about it, people will stop being so narrow. I dunno.

So, this might be a nice coffee-table collection of Gil Kane's art, if you can afford it. Oh, and the interview at the back was great. Gil Kane was a surprisingly articulate man about his work and the times that shaped it. The writer speaks of having spent the last weeks of Kane's life recording interviews with him; why, oh, why couldn't we have seen more of those?

Rating:
Summary: A must have for fans of comic art, esp. of the Silver Age!
Review: This is an incredible book that is well worth its price. Herman has produced the only book to date about one of the premier comic artists of the Silver and Bronze ages, and provides both a loving tribute and a thoughtful analysis of Kane's work and influence on sequential art. The book is lavishly and profusely illustrated with examples of Kane's artwork, reproduced from both original artwork and the comics themselves. Herman doesn't just tell readers--he SHOWS us why Kane was one of the greatst illustrators ever to work in the comic book industry, particulary when it came to a complete understanding of dynamic anatomy and perspective. If you're a fan of Kane, any of the characters he worked on (from Green Lantern to the Amazing Spider-Man), Silver Age comics, or the comic art medium in general, you HAVE to have this book on your book shelf. I have no doubt that it's going to stand as the definitive book on the late, great Gil Kane.

One can only hope that Herman or someone of his caliber will undertake similar ventures about those comic legends who so far have not had books written about them , such as Steve Ditko, Gene Colan, Will Eisner, Lou Fine, and so on...

Rating:
Summary: A must have for fans of comic art, esp. of the Silver Age!
Review: This is an incredible book that is well worth its price. Herman has produced the only book to date about one of the premier comic artists of the Silver and Bronze ages, and provides both a loving tribute and a thoughtful analysis of Kane's work and influence on sequential art. The book is lavishly and profusely illustrated with examples of Kane's artwork, reproduced from both original artwork and the comics themselves. Herman doesn't just tell readers--he SHOWS us why Kane was one of the greatst illustrators ever to work in the comic book industry, particulary when it came to a complete understanding of dynamic anatomy and perspective. If you're a fan of Kane, any of the characters he worked on (from Green Lantern to the Amazing Spider-Man), Silver Age comics, or the comic art medium in general, you HAVE to have this book on your book shelf. I have no doubt that it's going to stand as the definitive book on the late, great Gil Kane.

One can only hope that Herman or someone of his caliber will undertake similar ventures about those comic legends who so far have not had books written about them , such as Steve Ditko, Gene Colan, Will Eisner, Lou Fine, and so on...