"Splosh!" By Philippe Corentin (published by Andersen Press, London 2002) - Part 2

 

I was a little annoyed that there isn't much information to be found on the Internet about Philippe Corentin (born in Paris, 1936) - I suspect there will be plenty in French as he is renowned for his cartoons and humorous children's books since the late sixties. The original title in French was "Plouf!"  (which sounds a lot funnier than splosh to me!), published in 1991. The style in unlike any other you'll come across. It reminds me a bit of children's book illustrations from the 30's and 40's but the colours and technique are bright and contemporary. Here's a link of the only biography I could find on the author (not much I'm afraid): http://www.answers.com/topic/philippe-corentin

 

 

"Splosh!" By Philippe Corentin (published by Andersen Press, London 2002)

 

 

 

"The Scout Badge & The Scout Standard" Written By Steve Scholes and Illustrated By Anita Mason (published by The Scout Association, London 1974)

 

 

Weird and funny illustrations by Anita Mason. Couldn't resist buying this one from a second-hand shop even though I have never been interested in any scouts' activities - too late at my age now! But the pictures are great.

 

"Valentina And The Magic Lantern" by Guido Crepax (first published in 1976, this edition is published by Headline Publishing Group, Great Britain, 2012), Part 3

 

 

 

Crepax famously modelled Valentina's image on the legendary 1920's actress Louise Brooks (the pictures below are from her 1928 film, "Pandora's Box").  Considering that she first appeared in his comics from the mid sixties, she must have been at odds with the hairy, hippy youth trends of the day. It captures her Italian elegance and sophistication perfectly.

 

"Valentina And The Magic Lantern" by Guido Crepax (first published in 1976, this edition is published by Headline Publishing Group, Great Britain, 2012), Part 2

 

The deliberate absence of any dialogue or text in the entire book makes it quite unusual and drives the focus directly on the sequence of the drawings and the meaning within them. The story is a journey through Valentina's dream world, revealing her deepest erotic fantasies, passions and, sometimes, fears. The settings change all the time, from science fiction to the world of fashion, costumes and objects from past centuries. Even Crepax himself makes an appearance behind his drawing board, adding to the surrealist effect. Not to be confused with cheap, sleazy pornographic comics - this is a serious and complex story that is designed to work on many levels.  

 

 

"Valentina And The Magic Lantern" by Guido Crepax (first published in 1976, this edition is published by Headline Publishing Group, Great Britain, 2012)

 Now, these comics are different. Italian artist Guido Crepax (1933-2003) added a new dimension to the world of comics in the 1960's and 70's with his unique vision and sophistication. Here's a short biography on the great artist and writer:  http://www.designboom.com/portrait/crepax_bio.html

 

"Forever People", #9, July 1972, Written and Illustrated by Jack Kirby (published by National Periodical Publications, INC, New York 1972) - Part 2

 

 

I picked up this and several other issues of "Forever People" at a car boot sale last year and was so pleased with their immaculate condition and how great the artwork looked! Jack Kirby(1917-1994) was a prolific artist, responsible for the creation of so many comic superheroes - Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, the Silver Surfer, Iron Man to name but a few! The American comics industry just wouldn't be the same without his enormous input over a period of some sixty years. The "Forever People" were probably lesser known characters but the drawings are so full of energy, brilliantly composed for maximum suspense, and with classic sound effects! This Wikipedia article on his life and work is quite extensive but there are many other websites dedicated on his work and many books: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby