The Artist Within

There is no better way to appreciate comics as a visual medium than to recognize the artists who create them. In Greg Preston's new book "The Artist Within: Portraits of Cartoonists, Comic Book Artist, Animators, and Others" he does exactly that. His dramatic black and white photographs of such comic greats as Jack Kirby and Frank Miller, to underground sensations such as Craig Thompson and Adrian Tomine, give us a revealing look into the world of many of the greatest artist of the last century. Featuring 100 portraits, with an accompanying biography for each creator, "The Artist Within" is a essential lesson in understanding the comic book's past, present, and future.

Preston capture the majority of his subjects in their personal studio giving the reader a true since of the environment their favorite artists work in. Thus, unlike meeting these iconic artist at a comic convention or store signing, you meet them in a place that is truly their own. Preston's subsequent triumph is the personality he creates with his images of these comic visionaries. Will Eisner shows a mature charm. Family Circus creator Bil Keane has a persona of studiousness and focus. Robert Crumb is portrayed with the same mellon collie as the documentary of his namesake. Even controversial figures like Marvel current editor-and-chief Joe Quesada is examined with the honest eye of Preston's camera, showing Quesada strengths through his industriousness.

This is a perfect coffee table book for comic fans and casual readers alike.

-Jon