Printed In Blood have opened preorders for their new Mars Attacks: Artbook, celebrating over 60 years since the original Mars Attacks trading cards from TOPPS that appeared in the US in 1962.
This hefty book, the result of a successful Kickstarter last year, available here, is a collection of past and recent art from an eclectic selection of artists from around the world, including Commando cover artist Simon Pritchard, inspired by the legacy of Mars Attacks in pop culture from the original cards to comic books – but not the Tim Burton film from the 1990s, due to the studio having different licensing.
Artists whose work features also include Edgar Ascensão, Nicky Barkla, Josh Beamish, Dani Blázquez, John Dimes, Brian Johnson, Richard Lane, Daniel Mcnamara, Rich Ragsdale, Shaun Stroup and Chad Sugg, Cody Vrosh and Dexter Weeks, and scans of modern card and comics art by Joe Jusko, Zina Saunders, Ken Steacy and Fred Harper.
“I painted two pieces for the book,” says Simon , whose latest Commando cover, No. 5951, “Humpback Heroes”, is on sale now. “[They’re] based on my love of the original 60s cards that came out of the previous decades obsession with invaders from space and the gruesome and gory horror sci-fi comic books that America banned during the Eisenhower era.
“I’m very proud to have have my two paintings included in the book among so many great pieces of art including much of the original 1962 artwork.
“My own film poster, book cover and comic art for all the work I get commissioned to create is completely hand painted,” Simon emphasises. “It’s important to me that my work is strictly old school, I insist on my work being created to reflect art painted during the 50s, 60s and 70s decades primarily, long before digital and modern methods crept in and changed how tactile and visceral film, book covers and comic book art used to be and that’s exactly what I aimed for here. I think they both look authentic and that’s what matters to me.
“The entire book crammed with wonderful art is highly recommended to fans of Mars Attacks and 1950s/60s science fiction so check it out.”
Printed In Blood was born from a mutual love of horror movies, art and design and the wealth of artistic talent working today who you may or may not be aware of. We see ourselves as curators of a legacy of pop culture that has been growing for decades. As curators of that art, they hope to be able to bring to you things that will add to the beauty of your own environment, wherever you choose to be.
• Order your copy of the Mars Attacks: Artbook direct from Printed in Blood
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, downthetubes News, Merchandise, Other Worlds
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