Those who can, do. Those who can't, review.
Or something along those lines. The point is, show me a reviewer, and there's a good chance that you're also showing me a frustrated writer, or artist, or filmmaker. Or, at the very least, you're telling me to look in the mirror.
I admit it up front: all through high school, I harbored dreams of somehow getting into the comic book biz. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. All other fields of employment seemed mind-numbingly dull in comparison. Fortunately, I soon came to my senses. No, I still regard the majority of occupations as mind-numbingly dull, but at the same time I realized there was less of a chance of getting laid off at the drop of a hat if I went into some industry other than comic books. No, I didn't become an accountant (thank God), although my parents probably still harbor the hope that one day I'll come to my senses and go to law school. Actually, I got a job… doing administrative work at a computer company. Remember that part about mind-numbingly dull?
Nevertheless, I've still remained interested in comic books over the years. So, if I can't actually be a comic book creator, then at least I can be a reviewer! Ah, nothing like the heady pleasure of second-guessing comic pros and looking at the industry with perfect 20:20 hindsight! And all from the safety, and near-anonymity, of my computer at home!
Okay, all kidding aside, I felt it important to reveal my biases up front. Yes, I'm a long time comic book reader. Yes, part of me still wishes I could be involved in creating comic books. Yes, in the back of my delusional mind I'm half convinced that I could do a better job than most of the creators out there, despite the fact that the rational part of me fully realizes that if I were in their places I'd probably be writing crap that was twice as bad.
Having said all that, I now feel I can actually go about the business of reviewing comic books. I've laid my cards on the table, admitted to my fallibility and biases. Unlike some reviewers, I do not think I am the Almighty thundering down scripture from the mountain. Far from it. I acknowledge that I am but one person with an opinion. If you disagree with me, indeed, if you think I'm full of complete and utter crap, well, that's your prerogative.
But I do hope that you will give this column a chance. I've always strived to be objective and even-handed (and, in the best of human tradition, have repeatedly failed). So I hope that I can bring at least a modicum of level-headedness to this column, and write some reviews that are more than just the ramblings of a half-wit. At the very least, I hope you'll find these reviews entertaining and interesting. Let me know how I'm doing.
Now that I've gotten throught with the introductions, and other niceties, I think it's about time I cut to the chase and presented at least one review…
The Art of Rudy Nebres - Volume One, $9.95 US, published by SQP
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Rudy Nebres is an artist I was unfamiliar with until a few years ago. Not having read comics on a regular basis until 1989, the first artists I became aware of were more recent entrants into the comic book field. Nebres was by that point in time an artist whose work seldom appeared in the mainstream publications of Marvel and DC that made up the majority of my reading material. It was only after I began attending the Big Apple comic conventions (periodically held in the bowels of a NYC church near 59th Street) that I first discovered Rudy Nebres and his artwork. Mr. Nebres and his wife are frequent guests in attendance at the Big Apple cons. Leafing through his portfolio of work for sale, I beheld works of art lush with detail, sophistication, and class. I began to seek out Nebres' work, at first discovering his mid-90s work for the Harris Comics incarnation of Vampirella. Eventually I learned that Nebres began career in illustration in the early 70s, and he had produced a significant body of work at Marvel, DC, and Warren. Very quickly, Rudy Nebres became an artist whose work I greatly enjoyed.
The paucity of published work by Rudy Nebres in the last decade is regrettable. It's an unfortunate fact that all-too-many older artists in the comic biz sooner or later are neglected by the very industry they devoted so much time and energy towards. Sadly, Nebres is one such example of this. So, when I learned that this book would be published, it was something I was looking forward to.
Nebres has illustrated numerous characters over the years, including Vampirella, Conan, Dr. Strange, and Iron Fist. Unfortunately, that body of work isn't represented in this book, no doubt due to copyright reasons. It's too bad, because I had been expecting an overview of Nebres' career, with examples of his work over the last three decades. I had also hoped for some written commentary, either by Nebres himself or an associate. Nebres did write a foreward to the book, in which he summarizes his career. But aside from that, the book is entirely illustrations.
Nevertheless, putting aside my disappointed expectations, The Art of Rudy Nebres is a nicely-done book. It has sixty full page black & white pieces by Nebres. The print quality is superb, showing off the rich detail of Nebres' work. The illustrations are all fantasy subjects, with an assortment of faeries, swordsmen, barbarians, jungle lords, and warrior maidens. Most are apparently commissions that Nebres did for fans in the last few years. A number bear striking resemblances to Conan, Tarzan, and Red Sonja, but I'm guessing SQP was able to get around any copyright problems because there's nothing that explicitly states that these are those characters. Nothing like skirting all those copyright issues if you can get away with it!
This may not be an in-depth retrospective and analysis of Rudy Nebres career, but it is a nicely produced collection of unpublished work by him. And considering how seldom we get to see Nebres' in print nowadays, it's definitely worthwhile that this was published. Hopefully, as the title indicates, there will be a second volume. And hopefully next time around they'll find some way to cut through the red tape and include a drawing or two of Vampirella!