Fantagraphics – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Jaime Hernandez — Brotherly Love

July 31, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Love and Rockets #7, July 1984

Concluding our month long celebration of the “Independents” — Independent creators and projects that continue to impact the comic book medium.

Love and Rockets is likely the most important “alternative” comic book of all time.

For nearly 40 years, The Hernandez Brothers — Gilbert, Jaime and Mario — have brought their unique vision to comics storytelling, completely independent in form and format. There has been nothing quite like it in comics before or since.

To paraphrase Frank Sinatra, they did it their way. And their way was the road to excellence.

This early L&R page by Jaime Hernandez captures the essence of the storytelling and art style that has made him a favorite for years.

In other words, a creator’s creator.

“I was an enormous fan,” says Neil Gaiman, the multi-award-winning author and graphic novelist. “I still am. I don’t really understand why the material of Love and Rockets isn’t widely regarded as one of the finest pieces of fiction of the last 35 years. Because it is.”

Don’t worry Neil. I think the world caught up to its greatness.

*The first issue of Love and Rockets was self published with a print run of about 800 copies. It caught the eye of Fantagraphics, and quickly became one of their most important projects.*

Stan Sakai — Usagi Forever

July 9, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Usagi Yojimbo #124, November 2009

Nearly 36 years of the epic Usagi Yojimbo this year. That’s 36 years of stellar storytelling — and still going strong. A remarkable achievement.

Samurai “funny animals” as if directed by Akira Kurosawa. Japanese arts, folklore and fantasy. Told in clear, well-crafted, and often philosophical episodes.

Genius. Just genius.

Stan is an accomplished talent in all facets of comic book creation: Writing. Penciling. Inking. Painting.

And did I mention his lettering? In addition to lettering his own series, Stan letters Sergio Aragones’ Groo, and for 25 years, he lettered the Spider-Man Sunday comic strip.

This detailed action cover is from the opening chapter of a cool story arc entitled “Town Call Hell”. When it was ultimately collected into a trade, Stan painted a new version. (See below).

Bringing Stan over to IDW was one of my final accomplishments there. It was also one my happiest.

(IDW’s first collection is up for an Eisner award this year.)

*Stan redid his original great cover as yet ANOTHER great cover for the book collection.*

*Usagi in his first appearance, and then his first ongoing series from Fantagraphics.*

Hal Foster — Legend

February 14, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Prince Valiant, February 14, 1960

Hal Foster’s draftsmanship and vivid detail are, as the Library Journal exclaimed, “breathtaking.” He and Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon) are the two most important creators in adventure comics’ storytelling.

There is absolutely nothing — nothing! — I can add to the legend of Hal Foster that hasn’t been said before. It’s like trying to discuss the importance of Elvis Presley. Or why Ernest Hemingway is such an outstanding writer. It’s been done previously, and better.

So, instead, I’m going to let one picture do the job of a gazillion words.

February 14, 1960. Exactly 60 years ago. The 23^rd year of the strip (out of the 33 that Foster wrote and drew himself.) It’s a great example from Foster’s latter era, which focussed less on mythology and fantasy, and more on a “realistic” depiction of the Arthurian legend. The second to last panel is so near perfect in its detail, elegance and clarity, that it appeared as a full cover of a foreign book collection.

When I was a little kid, I would read The Sunday “Funnies” (as they say) each week, but I would stare endlessly at Foster’s Prince Valiant.

I still do.