[.ca] Mythology 2007 Calendar: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross (ISBN 1599620065)

Packs in color full-page shots of his dynamic art:
The colorful DC comic art of Alex Ross is profiled by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear in their striking Mythology, bringing together the best comics of the Justice League members represented by Alex Ross, one of the foremost DC comics illustrators of modern times. Ross has often been called the 'Norman Rockwell of comics' and Mythology packs in color full-page shots of his dynamic art, blending with Kidd's design talents to bring to life highlights from some of Ross' most memorable stories. Add an exclusive, original Batman-Superman story written by Kidd and painted by Ross and you have a keepsake not to be missed.

Oh DC is not that great.....:
Well, just because Ross has painted them and all, it does not mean that these heroes are really that great. Quite the opposite in fact, they are starting to become very dated. Superman being a hero who represents 1930's ideas and values (most of which are not realistic in the 21rst Century), Wonder-Woman who for years was not written or drawn as a real/multi-dimensional character until George Perez did so in 1987, Batman has been revamped and rewritten several times since Frank Miller's work in 1986 and today he looks like a burned out lunatic, Aquaman has always been "Charlie Tuna" a flat cartoon drawing that is exactly what he is. The Flash and Green Lantern have been two of DC's under-rated heroes. They have this potensial to be really interesting characters, but few writers and artists have been able to show this. Maybe they will finally get their due on the big screen when Warners wises up and hires the right film talent to work on them. That;s the story. DC is full of great promise, but seldom delivers it in the final stories.

Great! Great! Great!:
If you are any kind of fan of the D.C. heroes this book is really a must have! The artwork is incredibly amazing, and there's a lot of it! Alex Ross dips a bit into his personal upbringing and how he got into comics, but that only covers a few pages. The rest of the book is just fabulous artwork. There is a lot in this book from other projects too (such as Justice League: Secret Origins) making this something of a collectors edition. Its really worth the money and is a great coffee table book for the super hero fan in all of us.

Art Appreciation:
I have often thought that, as popular as comic books and superheroes are with some folks, the medium still gets a raw deal from the "establishment". In other words, for every fan that exists, there's still at least one person who says, "Oh, comic books are just for kids". Any time you see an adult comic book fan, portrayed in the movies or on television,more often than not, they come across as a "Nerd" "Geek", or as someone who has trouble getting a date. If only thse who keep those stereotypes alive would take a look at Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross, I think they would gain a new perspective Mr Ross is real asset for the medium.His artwork is nothing short of stunning. The drawings featured in the 288 page coffee table book are so well crafted and detailed, that if I didn't know any better I would swear that they were three demensional. These aren't just your average line drawlings of folks in funny looking pajamas. The depth of expression is astounding Ross takes you back in time to another era, while maintaining a very modern flair I would call him a mdern day Picaso or Rembrandt in his field. Film director M. Night Shyamalan, who made the super hero film Unbrakeable, provides the book's introduction. Collaborating with Ross for the book, designer/writer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spearto further expand on Ross's work. There's also a n exclusive Batman and Superman tale, written by Paul Dini in the book as well. This is recommended for anyone who follows comics. I also hope that a few non-fans, will give it a chance, as well.

A must for any Alex Ross Fan:
Mythology is a complete rundown of the works of Alex Ross. Even since he hit the seen with Marvels, I have been blown away with his incredible attention to detail. No one has brought the characters to life on the pages of a comic book like Alex Ross. The book does more then reprint some of his best paintings. There is tons of detail on how the poses came about and what his inspirations were. His tributes to the golden age of comics can be found in alot of his work.