Book Review: THE ART OF HORROR

THE ART OF HORROR

Edited by:  Stephen Jones

Published by:  Applause Books

 

  

  If you are not familiar with Applause Books, here is a bit about them from their website:

Applause Theatre & Cinema Books

Now in its fourth decade, Applause Theatre & Cinema Books is America's foremost publisher of theatre, cinema, and TV books. Our books range from biographies of film and theatre luminaries to playscripts, librettos, monologue books, and explorations of film, TV, and theatre history. Applause is an imprint of Globe Pequot.

  I am a huge fan of horror art books, they are so much fun to look through and they contain the history of horror films right at your fingertips.   THE ART OF HORROR:  AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY is one of the best horror art books I have come across.  This beautiful coffee table sized book is a must have for all fans of the horror genre. 

 Here is more about this book, again from the Applause Books website:

The Art of Horror – a celebration of frightful images, compiled and presented by some of the genre's most respected names. While acknowledging the beginnings of horror-related art in legends and folk tales, the focus of the book is on how the genre has presented itself to the world since the creations of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley first became part of the public consciousness in the 19th century. It's all here: from early engravings – via dust jackets, book illustrations, pulp magazines, movie posters, comic books, and paintings – to today's artists working entirely in the digital realm. Editor Stephen Jones and his stellar team of contributors have sourced visuals from archives and private collections (including their own) worldwide, ensuring an unprecedented selection that is accessible to those discovering the genre, while also including many images that will be rare and unfamiliar to even the most committed fan. From the shockingly lurid to the hauntingly beautiful – including images of vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, demons, serial killers, alien invaders, and more – every aspect of the genre is represented in ten themed chapters. Quotes from artists/illustrators, and a selection from writers and filmmakers, are featured throughout.

  I have read a few of these type books in the past, but this is one of the best ones by far!   While a lot of art books just show art and have a caption with a little description about it, this book goes way beyond that with in depth articles about the art, the actors, the films and the characters.  This is much more than just an art book, so by calling it that I feel I am doing it a little disservice.  

  This book doesn't just cover one aspect of horror, it covers it all!   From ancient Egyptian wall drawings found in pyramids representing horrors in real life, to the modern day slasher and monster films.   I like that it also doesn't just cover one type of media.   While there is a ton of horror film art, it also has the art from old comic books and horror magazines.

  THE ART OF HORROR is available now and should be in any horror fan's library!    Here are some pics of what the book looks like on the inside.    Do yourself a favor and grab this book while you can!

CLICK HERE to purchase the book from Amazon

Magazine Review: GORE NOIR MAGAZINE

 As long as I can remember, I have always been a fan of horror comics and magazines.   I grew up reading the old "Fangoria" and "Gorezone" mags, and in later years have mainly read "Rue Morgue" and "Horror Hound" magazines.
These magazines are great, but I always love finding a new horror magazines to read.  

  I recently stumbled across a new magazine called "GORE NOIR MAGAZINE".    I came across their booth at a horror convention and the beautiful covers on these magazines instantly caught my eye, especially the Return of The Living Dead 30th Anniversary issue, which is the one I picked up and am reviewing here.   This has to be one of the most beautiful magazine covers I have ever seen!   The cover art was done by an artist that goes by "Munk One" and is actually interviewed in this issue!

  GORE NOIR is packed full of interviews with some of your favorite films hottest stars!  For this issue's interviews, GNM talks to Tarman himself, Allan Trautman, as well as scream queen legend Linnea Quigley!  Other interviews include one with William Stout, the production designer for ROTLD, who is credited with the design for the amazing Tarman! 

  Along with the interviews, this issues also featured an amazing ROTLD retrospective, complete with full color pics and some awesome pics of foreign movie posters for the film, most of which I had never seen.   ROTLD is one of my favorite horror films of all time, so this was definitely an awesome discovery for me!  

  GNM also has some great articles and interviews with bands in the horror/metal genre in this issue, as well as an article about tattooist Kat Wilson, who specializes in horror themed tattoos!  The pics of her work are amazing, and if I were ever to get a tattoo, I'm headed to Kat's studio to get it done!

  If you have never read a copy of GORE NOIR MAGAZINE, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy asap!   Check out their website at  www.gorenoir.com for back issues, subscriptions, and other merch!  You can also follow GORE NOIR MAGAZINE on the following social media sites:

Facebook:  @gorenoir
Instagram:  @gorenoirmag
Twitter:  @GoreNoirMag

 

Book Review: SEX AND HORROR: THE ART OF EMANUELE TAGLIETTI

SEX AND HORROR:  THE ART OF EMANUELE TAGLIETTI 
Published by Korero Press


  If you have never heard of Emanuele Taglietti, don't worry, I hadn't either.  But if you are a fan of horror comics like I am, then it is a name you need to know.   I don't know how I have never heard of Mr. Taglietti, but I am glad that I have finally made acquaintance with his amazingly beautiful artwork!    Luckily we don't have to go round up all his comic book art to look at, as Korero Press has compiled some of his greatest works into this beautiful coffee table art book.   Here is a description of the book from the Korero Press website:

In the late 1970s and early ’80s Italy became crazy about the 'fumetti sexy', a home-grown style of erotic comics that subverted every genre with its own brand of twisted humour, violence, and up-front sensuality. Wilder and weirder than you can imagine, they were some of the most outrageous and shocking comics ever produced – most wouldn't be allowed today. These weren’t underground comics: they were totally mass market and their highly erotic covers were seen on every news stand and kiosk across the country. At their peak leading publishers were releasing a new 100-page comic every few days, with artists having to draw 150 to 200 pages a month. In the late 1980s, the advent of video and the global mono-culture of international media companies brought it all to an end. However, the work of one of the leading fumetti cover artists, Emanuele Taglietti, remains highly collectable and has been brought together for the first time in this book, providing a long-overdue look at this forgotten genre.


  This is one of the most beautiful comic art books I have ever seen.  It is a nice, thick book clocking in at 160 pages, all in full color.  Along with each painting that is seen here, there is a brief description telling you the title of the comic it was from, the issue number, and the publication month and year.  Some of the more popular comics have a brief description telling you what the general plot of the comic was.  The book also has a small section at the front that gives some brief biographical info on Mr. Taglietti. 


CLICK HERE to purchase SEX AND HORROR:  THE ART OF EMANUELE TAGLIETTI