Illustrators #51 (magazine review).
Like a lot of people, my first exposure to Jean ‘Moebius’ Giraud (1938-2012) was in the magazine Heavy Metal. I thought his work and that of fellow artist Philippe Druillet had similarities in style and linework, and I think I confused the two from time to time. Making sense of the stories was easier when they were collected together, rather than spread across different issues.
In many respects, Heavy Metal and its French source, Métal Hurlant, were aimed at adult readers. In this issue of Illustrators, editor Diego Cordoba interviews Giraud’s son, Raphaël, about preserving and presenting his father’s career around the world. There are plenty of examples of his work here.
It was interesting to read about Moebius’ early use of digital tablets. The first kind he used showed nothing on the tablet itself, with the drawing appearing only on the computer screen. I’ve tried that and it is exhausting, so I’m not surprised that he switched to a Cintiq, where he could actually see what he was drawing.
In many respects, his fine-line drawing was perfectly suited to digital work even before pressure-sensitive nibs were developed. What follows is a look at several artists influenced by Moebius, including Brian Bolland and Dave Gibbons.
Art Geoff Hunt. All contents copyright The Book Palace Ltd (c) The Book Palace 2026Geoff Hunt (1948- ) has a passion for maritime subjects and managed to combine that with painting to create a very successful career. Strictly an oil painter, he captures the motion of waves and ships from a variety of historical eras.
Alfonso Font. All contents copyright The Book Palace Ltd (c) The Book Palace 2026I’ve never come across Spanish comic-book artist Alfonso Font (1946- ) before, but what a name for an artist. He uses fine-line inking with immense amounts of detail. Some of his work has been translated into English and has also appeared in colour, although you may have a hunt on your hands finding it on the secondary market.
Jean-Léon Gérôme. All contents copyright The Book Palace Ltd (c) The Book Palace 2026There is also a retrospective of Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904), who was both an artist and art teacher. In his time, because of his nude work, he was sometimes regarded as a pornographer. Considering the riotous way he taught art, I can see how his reputation developed.
He also produced a great many historical paintings and was probably one of the artists responsible for shaping how later generations visualised the past. Ridley Scott was certainly influenced by his work when making Gladiator. Never expect us artists to be ‘normal’. It comes with the territory.
Cordoba has also managed to lay his hands on Horatius – Hero Of Rome, drawn by Arturo del Castillo for Look And Learn back in 1972. Most of the pages reproduced are from the original artwork, with the occasional page taken from the comic itself. This is the first time they have been reprinted, and they provide an interesting demonstration of linework and how it can convey motion, lessons that still apply today.
Lastly, there is a look at the evolution of the shark cover for Peter Benchley’s Jaws, from novel to film. The original design by Paul Bacon looked a little bland and was subsequently developed by Roger Kastel into something much closer to the image we all recognise from the movie poster. Design is everything.
If you like fine art and illustration, there is plenty to appeal in this issue, although I suspect the Moebius material will be its biggest selling point.
GF Willmetts
August 2026
(pub: The Book Palace, 2026. 98-page illustrated squarebound magazine. Price: £22.00 (UK), $27.99 (US) via Bud Plant. ISBN: 978-1-913548-90-2. ISSN: 2052-6520)
Check out websites: www.bookpalace.com and www.illustratorsquarterly.com
