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Book
December 9, 2005
The Plucker
I first 'met' Brom on the cover of Deadlands, the Role-Playing Game. I was hooked. I began searching out other art by this man, and have not yet found a single piece of his that I do not like.
So imagine my delight, when, perusing the Fantasy section of my local Mega Book Store I find an entire book of his work. As I take it off the shelf and begin to leaf excitedly through the pages, I learn this is no simple art book. It is an illustrated novel. Art and Story intermingled.
The Plucker is not a 'graphic novel' - at least not in the modern 'comic book style' sense. It is a full portfolio of art unto itself - but the images are part of a well told story.
The story is a modern fairy tale - just as grim and dark as the original. Young Thomas is growing up, and moving on to older-boy toys. The favorites of his youth are relegated to the shameful status of 'under the bed.' But when his father brings back a new doll from a far away land, it spells doom for Thomas and all his toys. Only brave Jack, and his box, can save them all. It is a story about love - but it is not a 'happy bubbly' story. It is ugly and visceral, and it calls out to be read again and again. Though it is about a child and his toys, it is not a children's story. The language and descriptions of violence could just as easily have come from a snuff film as from Brom's twisted imagination.
The book is big. Not your typical Mass-Market hardcover. At more than twelve inches on a side, this tome will look quite lovely if left to mingle with all those other coffee table books you've got lying about. It's 160 pages are printed on a semi-gloss paper so heavy they could justifiably be called 'lightweight cardstock' (They feel like about 40# paper). I was constantly checking to make sure I was only turning one page at a time. Some pages are dense with text, others less so. A number of full page illustrations are found through the book - but regardless of size, all the illustrations are beautifully rendered and really bring the story off the page. It is absolutely worth the price of admission.
If you like dark fantasy, or fairy tales, or exceptional art, then this book is definitely for you.
I give it Five Stars.
The Plucker
$24.95 US / $34.95 Can
Abrahms Publishing
ISBN: 0-8109-5792-2
Imaginosis Books
Posted by Shannon on December 9, 2005 9:19 PM
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