If you’re a fan of Commando comics, then you may want to check out Dazzle Ships: World War One and the Art of Confusion, out later this year.
Yes, it’s nonfiction – but there is a comics connection.
Written by Chris Barton this dazzling picture book explores art, desperation, and one man’s incredible idea for saving ships from German torpedoes in World War One. Dazzle camouflage transformed ordinary British and US ships into eye-popping masterpieces.
Credited to the British marine artist Norman Wilkinson it was his belief painting a ship in a dazzle pattern it could make it difficult for an enemy to estimate the correct range, speed, and heading.
The book art alone looks amazing, and Chris’ reputation as an author definitely makes this a title to look out for.
And the comics connection? The art is the work of Hong Kong born comic artist and illustrator Victo Ngai, a winner of a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal, no less, whose recent work includes promotional art for the IMAX release of Divergent.
The samples of her work on her web site, not only include illustrations for magazines such as The New York Times, Scientific American, The New Yorker and Wired Magazine. There’s also a quite stunning wordless comic to read, I was born in 1930, 3500’N 10500’E which was inspired by her grandparents’ life in China.
• Dazzle Ships: World War One and the Art of Confusion is due out from Lerner/Millbrook Press in September 2017. Pre-irder it now from amazon.co.uk (using this link helps support downthetubes, thank you)
Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, downthetubes News, Other Worlds