Illustrators #46 (magazine review).

This latest edition of ‘Illustrators’ is another odd mix. Starting off with artist/writer Bob Fingerman (1964-), who casually namedrops with knowledge in his interview conducted by Diego Cordoba because he worked alongside them and also has a book collection to back it up. His art is stylised but effective, and it’s hardly surprising he appeared in the likes of ‘Cracked’ and ‘Mad’.

The biggest section is devoted to Dutch comicbook artist/painter Hans G K Kresse (1921-1992|). Cordoba notes his ‘Eric The Norseman’ was translated for the British market, although not when or how wide the distribution was. Artist Julius de Goede knew Kresse from a young age and then as a professional artist himself, and we get a massive dip into his life. Kresse had a proficient use of the brush and did his research for his historical-based pieces.

The third section is devoted to cartoonist Mark Stafford, whose art is, for the want of a better word, crazier in its look. I haven’t come across his art before, and it’s certainly stylistic and undoubtedly fills a particular niche. One ambition he has succeeded in is getting material into ‘Heavy Metal’.

This review looks lighter than usual, but it’s very hard to address such stylised work, as it’s more an acquired taste or, as with Kresse, not likely to come across it in the UK. Cordoba does present artists you might not come across, and it is likely to appeal if these match your taste. There’s also no art book reviews, but that could also be seen as a reflection of the whole book industry at the present. If you love art books, buy some to show you are out there.

GF Willmetts

February 2025

(pub: The Book Palace, 2021. 98 page illustrated squarebound magazine. Price: £22.00 (UK), $27.99 (US) via Bud Plant. ISBN: 978-1-913548-03-2. ISSN: 2052-6520)

Check out the websites: www.bookpalace.com and www.illustratorsquarterly.com.