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Woodwork: Wallace Wood 1927-1981
Wally Wood is one of the most celebrated comic artists of all time. His legendary career runs from the glory days of EC Comics extraordinary line of science fiction titles to the brilliantly subversive Mad Comics (and, later, Magazine). He produced extraordinary illustrations for magazines like Galaxy after EC folded, and worked on the some of the most fondly remembered stories published by Marvel Comics in the mid 1960s. He also co-created the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and was a pioneer in self-publishing.
This massive tome is the American edition of a museum catalogue that accompanied a gigantic career retrospective on display in De Palma Spain in 2010, the largest such exhibit ever devoted to this incredible artist.
Presented simultaneously in two languages, English and Spanish.
This massive tome is the American edition of a museum catalogue that accompanied a gigantic career retrospective on display in De Palma Spain in 2010, the largest such exhibit ever devoted to this incredible artist.
Presented simultaneously in two languages, English and Spanish.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2012
46 people want to read
About the author
Wallace Wood
754 books36 followersWallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he claimed to dislike. Within the comics community, he was also known as Woody, a name he sometimes used as a signature.
He was the first inductee into the comic book's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, in 1989, and was inducted into the subequent Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame three years later.
In addition to Wood's hundreds of comic book pages, he illustrated for books and magazines while also working in a variety of other areas — advertising; packaging and product illustrations; gag cartoons; record album covers; posters; syndicated comic strips; and trading cards, including work on Topps' landmark Mars Attacks set.
For much of his adult life, Wood suffered from chronic, unexplainable headaches. In the 1970s, following bouts with alcoholism, Wood suffered from kidney failure. A stroke in 1978 caused a loss of vision in one eye. Faced with declining health and career prospects, he committed suicide by gunshot three years later.
Wood was married three times. His first marriage was to artist Tatjana Wood, who later did extensive work as a comic-book colorist.
EC editor Harvey Kurtzman, who had worked closely with Wood during the 1950s, once commented, "Wally had a tension in him, an intensity that he locked away in an internal steam boiler. I think it ate away his insides, and the work really used him up. I think he delivered some of the finest work that was ever drawn, and I think it's to his credit that he put so much intensity into his work at great sacrifice to himself".
EC publisher William Gaines once stated, "Wally may have been our most troubled artist... I'm not suggesting any connection, but he may have been our most brilliant".
He was the first inductee into the comic book's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, in 1989, and was inducted into the subequent Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame three years later.
In addition to Wood's hundreds of comic book pages, he illustrated for books and magazines while also working in a variety of other areas — advertising; packaging and product illustrations; gag cartoons; record album covers; posters; syndicated comic strips; and trading cards, including work on Topps' landmark Mars Attacks set.
For much of his adult life, Wood suffered from chronic, unexplainable headaches. In the 1970s, following bouts with alcoholism, Wood suffered from kidney failure. A stroke in 1978 caused a loss of vision in one eye. Faced with declining health and career prospects, he committed suicide by gunshot three years later.
Wood was married three times. His first marriage was to artist Tatjana Wood, who later did extensive work as a comic-book colorist.
EC editor Harvey Kurtzman, who had worked closely with Wood during the 1950s, once commented, "Wally had a tension in him, an intensity that he locked away in an internal steam boiler. I think it ate away his insides, and the work really used him up. I think he delivered some of the finest work that was ever drawn, and I think it's to his credit that he put so much intensity into his work at great sacrifice to himself".
EC publisher William Gaines once stated, "Wally may have been our most troubled artist... I'm not suggesting any connection, but he may have been our most brilliant".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 8, 2020
Of all the many different compilations of Woods' career that I've seen, this is the most comprehensive, but also the most adult. Not for kids. Lots of beautiful illustrations and samples from comics, magazine and newspaper strips. Too much cheesecake and x-rated for my taste. I prefer his science fiction, and examples like his EC and Daredevil issues. No question he was a visionary genius with a tragic end.
May 7, 2019
“Woodwork”
'Woodwork', from IDW Publishing, is readable and enjoyable for both Wood initiates and non-initiates alike. I discovered the art of Wally Wood as a young comic reader when I saw the smooth lines graceful body renderings in Marvel Comics 'Daredevil' #5, first series, to for me most notably in 'Daredevil' #7 where he redesigned the hero's costume from yellow to red, a thru staple to present day, and had him battling the Sub-Mariner. Those battle scenes were carefully plotted, drawn, and balletic in their structure. I hooked more into Wood than the character ... until Frank Miller came calling. I looked into Wood's career and found out about his work with EC Comics and Mad, Charlton and Atlas. Since I couldn't afford to buy the old originals I had to wait far into adulthood to get reprints, compilations and specialty books featuring Wood at his best.
Wood died in 1981. I didn't notice. I was otherwise occupied in living. Many years later I did notice, and began reassessing and appreciating with mature eyes the work which had so captured my attention as an adolescent. I am not an artist. What my mind can imagine my hand cannot translate into recognizable forms. At my best, I produce scratching and squigglings. With Wood there was no mind/hand separation. What he conceived he created, beautifully. Until his body refused to cooperate with him. This he could not accept. He used his creative hand to opt himself out of his dilemma, not creatively but effectively. He left behind a legacy of his talent for those who would look to appreciate it. I did. I do.
'Woodwork' showcases his work is ways I'd never before seen. His pre-published pencil drawings where he encapsulated what he wanted to later fully develop; pen drawings, inked page art, unique panel structures for pages, comic book covers, frontpieces for hardcover and paperback books as well as their covers, single page renderings for science fiction and fantasy magazines, and complete stories in various genres fresh from his drawing board to my eyes provided them a feast of creativity few other artists have offered.
This book, printed in 2012, is compiled from many contributors and arose from an exhibition of his art at Casal Solleric in Palma City on the Spanish island of Majorca in 2010. I read through it, took a magnifying glass to the many pages of art, and wallowed in the varieties and depth of his talent in a way I never before was able.
If you are a fan of EC Comics, particularly its science fiction and fantasy offerings, this is a book for you. If you are a fan of the beautifully bawdy and raunchy art once offered in the men's magazines of the 1950s and 1960s, this book is for you. If you are a fan of lovely creative renderings of architecture, the human form, and fantastic fantasy and science fiction imagery, this book is for you. Go! Read! Enjoy!
'Woodwork', from IDW Publishing, is readable and enjoyable for both Wood initiates and non-initiates alike. I discovered the art of Wally Wood as a young comic reader when I saw the smooth lines graceful body renderings in Marvel Comics 'Daredevil' #5, first series, to for me most notably in 'Daredevil' #7 where he redesigned the hero's costume from yellow to red, a thru staple to present day, and had him battling the Sub-Mariner. Those battle scenes were carefully plotted, drawn, and balletic in their structure. I hooked more into Wood than the character ... until Frank Miller came calling. I looked into Wood's career and found out about his work with EC Comics and Mad, Charlton and Atlas. Since I couldn't afford to buy the old originals I had to wait far into adulthood to get reprints, compilations and specialty books featuring Wood at his best.
Wood died in 1981. I didn't notice. I was otherwise occupied in living. Many years later I did notice, and began reassessing and appreciating with mature eyes the work which had so captured my attention as an adolescent. I am not an artist. What my mind can imagine my hand cannot translate into recognizable forms. At my best, I produce scratching and squigglings. With Wood there was no mind/hand separation. What he conceived he created, beautifully. Until his body refused to cooperate with him. This he could not accept. He used his creative hand to opt himself out of his dilemma, not creatively but effectively. He left behind a legacy of his talent for those who would look to appreciate it. I did. I do.
'Woodwork' showcases his work is ways I'd never before seen. His pre-published pencil drawings where he encapsulated what he wanted to later fully develop; pen drawings, inked page art, unique panel structures for pages, comic book covers, frontpieces for hardcover and paperback books as well as their covers, single page renderings for science fiction and fantasy magazines, and complete stories in various genres fresh from his drawing board to my eyes provided them a feast of creativity few other artists have offered.
This book, printed in 2012, is compiled from many contributors and arose from an exhibition of his art at Casal Solleric in Palma City on the Spanish island of Majorca in 2010. I read through it, took a magnifying glass to the many pages of art, and wallowed in the varieties and depth of his talent in a way I never before was able.
If you are a fan of EC Comics, particularly its science fiction and fantasy offerings, this is a book for you. If you are a fan of the beautifully bawdy and raunchy art once offered in the men's magazines of the 1950s and 1960s, this book is for you. If you are a fan of lovely creative renderings of architecture, the human form, and fantastic fantasy and science fiction imagery, this book is for you. Go! Read! Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews