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The Art of Sean Phillips HC by Eddie Robson, Sean Phillips (2013) Hardcover
The Art of Sean Phillips is a lavish, career-spanning retrospective of the acclaimed artist behind Criminal, Sleeper, Incognito, and Fatale. Sean has personally selected the very best, most interesting examples of his art for inclusion, from comic strips assembled with childhood friends in his bedroom, through his work for British girls' comics and 2000AD, to his role as a key artist in the early years of Vertigo, through his superhero work for Marvel, DC, and WildStorm, and finally from his creator-owned series with Ed Brubaker. Also, the renowned artist has been extensively interviewed, along with many of his key collaborators, for the book's in-depth commentary on his work and career.
Hardcover
First published October 15, 2013
7 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Sean Phillips
737 books166 followersDrawing comics professionally since the age of fifteen, Eisner Award-winning Sean Phillips has worked for all the major publishers. Since drawing Sleeper, Hellblazer, Batman, X-Men, Marvel Zombies, and Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, Sean has concentrated on creator-owned books including Criminal, Kill Or Be Killed, Incognito, Fatale and The Fade Out.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 27, 2014
I've been following Sean Phillips's work since I first read Incognito a few years ago. It was the first Brubaker/Phillips collaboration that I read, and it made me a fan of the team from then on. So when I heard he was releasing an art book, I instantly wanted it. It's a beautiful book and also a good read.
It spans his life and career in comics, from starting out as a kid and making comic strips with his friends, to his first paid work, his time at Vertigo, and then his later and more well known stuff like Marvel Zombies and Criminal.
I have to admit, I did enjoy the second half of the book more. I struggled at times until I got around to when he started for 2000AD. But it's still an interesting look at how he's evolved as an artist and story teller.
It also doubles as a look at what the British comic book industry was like back in the 70s and 80s, as he details how he got worked and what companies (many that aren't around anymore) he worked for.
There are interviews with his collaborators, the main contributor being Ed Brubaker. There's nothing from Robert Kirkman, though. There are quotes from him in the book, but these are taken from previews interviews Kirkman has given. He must have been too busy thinking of ways to milk The Walking Dead even more. It is a bit of a shame since Marvel Zombies is what introduced a lot of readers to Sean Phillips's art.
There's a few complete rare strips in here, too. And some licensed work from him that I hadn't seen before.
It spans his life and career in comics, from starting out as a kid and making comic strips with his friends, to his first paid work, his time at Vertigo, and then his later and more well known stuff like Marvel Zombies and Criminal.
I have to admit, I did enjoy the second half of the book more. I struggled at times until I got around to when he started for 2000AD. But it's still an interesting look at how he's evolved as an artist and story teller.
It also doubles as a look at what the British comic book industry was like back in the 70s and 80s, as he details how he got worked and what companies (many that aren't around anymore) he worked for.
There are interviews with his collaborators, the main contributor being Ed Brubaker. There's nothing from Robert Kirkman, though. There are quotes from him in the book, but these are taken from previews interviews Kirkman has given. He must have been too busy thinking of ways to milk The Walking Dead even more. It is a bit of a shame since Marvel Zombies is what introduced a lot of readers to Sean Phillips's art.
There's a few complete rare strips in here, too. And some licensed work from him that I hadn't seen before.
July 17, 2020
Don't consider this a review- I skimmed almost all of the text but read most of the reprinted comics. Great stuff.
I may eventually get around to reading it again later... except now I wanna re-read Sleeper!
I may eventually get around to reading it again later... except now I wanna re-read Sleeper!
July 2, 2022
Phillipse mám fakt rád, výběr z jeho tvorby svou šíří super. Jen to mohlo být napsané zajímavě, možná by neuškodily zásadnější zásahy editora a větší proškrtání.
April 8, 2016
It was Sean Phillips art – along with Ed Brubaker’s masterful plots on such legendary comic books as Incognito, Sleeper and Criminal that got me back into reading comic books again after many years away from the genre following my early teens. This colossal hardback is the perfect tribute to one of the comic book industry’s finest artists; it is full of large examples of his work, and you get to see his finest pieces in even greater detail than when they were in a comic book.
His art style is very much suited to a genre close to my heart; that of hard-boiled crime and his work with Brubaker in particular is oozing with noir, all femme fatales, sinister criminals, corrupt policemen and brooding anti-heroes.
What makes this book all the more fascinating is learning about his very early days as a comic book illustrator working on British girl comics, 2000AD/Judge Dredd and his own personal comic projects with friends. It is a thrill following his evolution from the very early days to working with some of the biggest companies, writers and characters in the comic book industry including Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse and Image.
What he is less well known for are his amazing portraits, still-life paintings and landscapes, and this book has plenty of examples for fans looking to get more from Sean than just comic book stuff.
It adds a greater dimension to his artistic prowess, and goes some way to dispelling the unfortunate view of many “critics” that comic book artists are not REAL artists.
Phillips’ work - along with that of Alex Ross of Marvels fame - could easily grace the walls of the finest art galleries in the world and not look out of place. I think this book will eventually get an update, as Sean’s most recent work The Fade Out was released after this book was published. I hope that someone in the industry decides to make a weighty Brubaker/Phillips retrospective someday, as they are in my opinion the greatest double act in the industry today (sorry Snyder/Capullo!).
I count myself privileged to have met Sean, 2 years ago at a signing in Edinburgh and was able to chat for around 20 minutes on his art and his style, as well as get some of my favourite pieces of his signed. The thrill of meeting someone you hold a lot of respect for can be deflating, but Sean is a very laid back guy and genuinely seems to enjoy chatting with fans.
My favourite piece he has done is in the front & back cover to Incognito #1, with Zack Overkill lighting a cigarette from a burning dollar bill, while chaos and destruction reign in the background. Sean said that he was honoured that I loved this piece so much; it was a favourite of his but few fans ever comment on it, and that someone in Los Angeles bought the original painting from him a few years previously for $20,000.
Suffice to say if my numbers ever come up in the lottery, I may be contacting Sean to get the details in order to make that lucky (and rich) person an offer they can’t refuse!
His art style is very much suited to a genre close to my heart; that of hard-boiled crime and his work with Brubaker in particular is oozing with noir, all femme fatales, sinister criminals, corrupt policemen and brooding anti-heroes.
What makes this book all the more fascinating is learning about his very early days as a comic book illustrator working on British girl comics, 2000AD/Judge Dredd and his own personal comic projects with friends. It is a thrill following his evolution from the very early days to working with some of the biggest companies, writers and characters in the comic book industry including Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse and Image.
What he is less well known for are his amazing portraits, still-life paintings and landscapes, and this book has plenty of examples for fans looking to get more from Sean than just comic book stuff.
It adds a greater dimension to his artistic prowess, and goes some way to dispelling the unfortunate view of many “critics” that comic book artists are not REAL artists.
Phillips’ work - along with that of Alex Ross of Marvels fame - could easily grace the walls of the finest art galleries in the world and not look out of place. I think this book will eventually get an update, as Sean’s most recent work The Fade Out was released after this book was published. I hope that someone in the industry decides to make a weighty Brubaker/Phillips retrospective someday, as they are in my opinion the greatest double act in the industry today (sorry Snyder/Capullo!).
I count myself privileged to have met Sean, 2 years ago at a signing in Edinburgh and was able to chat for around 20 minutes on his art and his style, as well as get some of my favourite pieces of his signed. The thrill of meeting someone you hold a lot of respect for can be deflating, but Sean is a very laid back guy and genuinely seems to enjoy chatting with fans.
My favourite piece he has done is in the front & back cover to Incognito #1, with Zack Overkill lighting a cigarette from a burning dollar bill, while chaos and destruction reign in the background. Sean said that he was honoured that I loved this piece so much; it was a favourite of his but few fans ever comment on it, and that someone in Los Angeles bought the original painting from him a few years previously for $20,000.
Suffice to say if my numbers ever come up in the lottery, I may be contacting Sean to get the details in order to make that lucky (and rich) person an offer they can’t refuse!
May 17, 2022
Not bad. I enjoyed it, but didn't think it had what I think is Phillips best work. I preferred what he has done with Ed Brubaker to almost everything else here.
I like comics, and art, but usually don't have the patience to wade through all of the biographical material in one of these retrospectives. Sean seems like and interesting guy, but not so much that I wanted the blow by blow account of his career.
I like comics, and art, but usually don't have the patience to wade through all of the biographical material in one of these retrospectives. Sean seems like and interesting guy, but not so much that I wanted the blow by blow account of his career.
March 31, 2022
Great book on sean phillips career from start to about 2013. Quotes from sean and his various collaborators throughout the years. Man he has pumped out so much work and it was interesting to see the quantity, quality, and variety of styles.
March 5, 2020
Read and bought the year it came out. He's one of my favourite contemporary artists who both honours the past and has his own unique talent. His perfect partner in comics is of course Ed Brubaker. What a team!
A must read if you like his work.
A must read if you like his work.
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August 9, 2019Art-book dedicado a Phillips.
November 6, 2019
731 - 2019
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews