- Print length : 130 pages
- ISBN-13 : 979-8267772990
- Item Weight : 14.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.31 x 11 inches
6 Out of 5 Stars
I LOVE Science Fiction Art books. I’ve got one featuring Kelly Freas, two featuring Frank R. Paul, another that’s just iconic magazine covers, chosen by Lester Del Rey, and more.
But this addition to the Art section of my library is special, because it not only features an artist who has provided illustration work for many of the publications I’ve published, it includes some of those very same illustrations!
I can say two very positive things about artist M. D. Jackson: he works well with Amazing Stories’ Creative Director, Kermit Woodall (and if you are an artist or a creative director yourself, you know that is an ACCOMPLISHMENT!) and he produces great work that manages to not only fit the narrative being illustrated but adds something as well!
We’re talking here about M. D. “Doctor” Jackson’s most recent – Worlds Dark and Dangerous from the folks at Rage Machine Books (for whom the Doctor has also produced numerous illustrations).
This is a fine example of such things (which, again, I LOVE!), and features some of M.D.’s most well-loved work, including his series of “Hookers Dressed As Comic Book Hero” characters – an offbeat take on such illustrations, one that not only gives the viewer pause, but also reveals the artist’s talents.
There’s a fabulous illustration of Catwoman (who I’ve had a crush on since the original Batman show aired in 1966), The section titled “Images From the Portfolio Files” is probably my favorite section…let me put it this way: I’m a fan anatomy and so is M.D., apparently.
The big thing, the impressive thing, the main reason why you might very well want to hire the Doctor though, is this: he gets “pulp” illustration. You could hang his artwork right next to masters such as Earle K. Bergey, Howard V. Browne, Norman Saunders, George Rozen, and you’d be surprised to discover that M. D. Jackson is a currently working artist!
Which is not to say that his art is “old school”. Far from it! He takes the familiar forms of Pulp illustration and brings them right into the modern era!
(Note: when the issue of Amazing Stories with M.D. Jackson’s cover featuring the inside of a rotating habitat was published, the printer made them too dark, eliminating detail that was important to the image. So here’s a version that is much closer to what should have appeared on our second issue –
Steve Davidson is the publisher of Amazing Stories.
Steve has been a passionate fan of science fiction since the mid-60s, before he even knew what it was called.
