B. Krigstein, Vol. 1, 1919-1955 - Hardcover

Greg Sadowski

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1560974664 ISBN 13: 9781560974666

Publisher: Fantagraphics, 2002

Synopsis

The first comprehensive retrospective of one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century, who began his career as one of the most innovative comic book creators of his generation. A gigantic retrospective/biography/critical assessment of one of the most important cartoonists in the history of comics, who went on to become a renowned fine artist and teacher in New York. The author had full access to Bernard Krigstein's archives and files and has written a compelling biography of the artist from his childhood in New York to his days as a comics artist from the late '40s to the early '60s, and through his post-comics career as a fine artist, commercial illustrator, and teacher. Krigstein is renowned as one of the great innovators working within the commercial comics industry: his story about a Nazi commandant, "Master Race," published by the legendary EC Comics, is studied in college courses and considered one of the most fascinating formal experiments in comics. This book reproduces many of Krigstein's comics stories as well as many of his commercial assignments (such as the line of paperback covers he did for the reissues of Joyce Cary's novels) as well as his fine art paintings. Most of this work has never been seen outside its original publication. Most of the comics stories are obscure and have not been reprinted since their initial publication (mostly from the '50s) and his fine art has only appeared in galleries and exhibitions. Krigstein (1919-1990), classically trained in Fine Art, was a Brooklyn-born painter who was one of the first practitioners who approached comics with the respect, integrity, and psychological depth of a serious artist. After an innovative and contentious decade, he was forced to abandon the field due to its narrow-minded and formulaic tendencies, which continue to this day. This first of two volumes traces Krigstein's groundbreaking comic-book work at Hillman, Atlas, DC, and EC, as well as his parallel development as an illustrator and painter.

About this title

About the Author:

Greg Sadowski is a writer, editor and designer (B. Krigstein, Supermen!, Four Color Fear, Setting the Standard: Alex Toth; Action! Mystery! Thrills!) living in Washington State.

Review:

In this lavish, over-sized, full-color hardcover, Sadowski presents a biography of Krigstein and a critical assessment of his work....Highly recommended. -- Library Journal, 1 September 2002

Indispensable and definitive, this is the last word on the subject....Grade: A. -- S. A. Bennett, Comics Buyer's Guide, 7 December 2001

Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down....[A] masterpiece. -- Tony Isabella, "Tony's Tips," Comics Buyer's Guide #1493, 28 June 2002

This book should be mandatory reading for anyone wishing to be a "professional" artist. Grade: A+. -- Robert Scott, Comics Buyer's Guide, 7 December 2001

[C]opious writings by Krigstein and interviews with many peers, friends, and family...a fine art book about a fine comics artist. -- Atomic, Fall 2002, Lloyd Chesley

[S]uperb and lavishly illustrated biography....Krigstein finally gets his due in spades, and it looks damn snappy on the coffee table. -- Austin Chronicle, Marc Savlov, 16 August 2002

[T]he most comprehensive analysis of one man's comic art career that the industry has ever seen. -- Comic Shops News, Cliff Biggers, 8 January 2002

[W]ell-deserved and long overdue. Essential reading. Grade: A. -- Jeremy Schorr, Comics Buyer's Guide, 7 December 2001

About this edition

• Publisher: Fantagraphics
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1560974664
• ISBN 13: 9781560974666
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 300