A new hardcover art book dedicated to Mike Mignola’s gorgeously illustrated covers for Hellboy and the BPRD comic series. What’s not to like ? Feast your eyes ! –
There are some material in the first couple of pages that might have been covered in Mike Mignola’s Art Of Hellboy book, but the bulk of the content feature illustrations from his more recent work (relatively speaking) for BPRD and Hellboy that has never been seen outside of the comics themselves.
Seriously, a lot of good stuff in here. I particularly enjoy the cover art for BPRD, which is an amazing series in itself with lots of fascinating characters.
Some Hellboy readers have expressed the opinion that Mike Mignola has gotten lazy over the years and his art work becoming more and more simplified; I agree with the latter – personally I feel his style is now so refined that only minimal lines and skilful shading/shadowing is required to express what he wants to show. Of course, it’s all a matter of taste too.
(above) The cover art for a Hellboy – The Midnight Circus, a backstory comic beautifully illustrated by Duncan Fegredo. Read the book review here.
If you enjoy Hellboy, BPRD or Mike Mignola’s art, this is a requisite purchase. My highest recommendations.
“Hellboy : The First 20 Years″ art book details :
– Dimensions – 9 x 1.3 x 12 inches
– Hard cover, 136 pages
– Full Color
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You might also be interested in these items :
Hellboy – 25 Years Of Covers Art Book Review
Hellboy : 25 Years of Covers
Hellboy – The Midnight Circus Comic Book Review
Hellboy Artist Edition – Mike Mignola Comic Review
Hellboy : Into The Silent Sea Comic Book Review
April 11th, 2014 at 5:50 am
This book looks great. I think the only thing keeping me from it is that I already own most of this work in their original issues. I think that both of those statements about Mignola are true; though I believe he has simplified his lines and become truly minimal in what he does, I think that shows real growth as an illustrator. My only problem, or cause to call him lazy, is that I wish he would actually draw more. Not more lines, just do more illustrations. I understand that he has so much going on now within his universe that he is involved in writing and such, but there are few books out on the shelves every month that are anywhere near as good as the original Hellboy title when he writes and draws it alone.
April 13th, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Zack – Agreed. I would love to see him draw more short story compilations like the ones he did for “Screw On Head”. Witty, whimsical and with great art. Can’t ask for more. :]
July 13th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
if i had to choose between this book and the art of hellboy, which do you think should i spend my money on?
July 14th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
pomo – It’s a tough one to answer because there’s amazing stuff in both – it really depends on whether you like Mignola’s more recent work or his earlier ones. His latest works are more simplified with heavy usage of form and shadows, and his earlier works retain more detail.