Subject: TOOT for 2/9/07: Modern Masters Volume Nine: Mike Wieringo | Author | Messages | 
Tony Isabella
Posts: 1882
 | Posted: 2/9/2007 6:31:45 AM | TONY’S OTHER ONLINE TIPS
for Friday, February 9, 2007
The MODERN MASTERS series of books from TwoMorrows “celebrates the lives and work of the greatest comic-book artists of our time,” or so it claims on the back cover of each new volume. If I were of a mind to quibble - and, apparently, I am - I would mention that the books all showcase post-Silver Age artists and that most of those artists have spent most of their careers creating super-hero comic books. Which leaves out a great many of the other “greatest comic-book artists.” And which is not to say TwoMorrows shouldn’t follow its spandex bliss. They dig super-heroes. I dig super-heroes. I enjoy their super-hero-centric books and magazines. It’s all good.
MODERN MASTERS VOLUME NINE: MIKE WIERINGO by Todd Dezago and Eric Nolen-Weathington [$14.95] is a 8-1/2" by 11", square-bound trade paperback delving into the life and career of a fan-favorite - and you can include me among those fans - who has distinguished himself on the Flash, the Fantastic Four, his creator-owned TELLOS, and a whole bunch of other spiffy comics. The book’s 124 pages features a encompassing interview with Wieringo and big glorious bunches of covers, story pages, preliminary drawings, and pin-ups, several of them in big glorious full-color.
I like Wieringo’s work because it’s bouncy, dynamic, fun, and just plain human and because he recognizes that job one is to tell the story in a manner both clear and exciting. From his back-and-forth with frequent collaborator Todd Dezago, it’s also clear he’s a good guy to work with. From Wieringo’s recollections of his family and his youth, it’s obvious his adventure and fantasy works retain that all-so-vital one foot in the real world. I knew I liked his work before I read this volume. I have a better understanding of why I like it after reading it.
MODERN MASTERS VOLUME NINE: MIKE WIERINGO is a bit on the high end, price-wise, but it’s an indispensable book for the artist’s fans. It earns four out of five Tonys.
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As always, review items can be sent to me at:
Tony Isabella
P.O. Box 1502
Medina, OH 44258
© 2007 Tony Isabella
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