SOTHEBY'S AUCTION FOR ED PISKOR'S HIP HOP FAMILY TREE ARTWORK! Bid now online at the links below. Live auction happens September 15! SLIPCASE VOL 3-4 COVER: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-original-slipcase-art-for-volumes-3-4-of PUBLIC ENEMY TOY DESIGNS: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-original-artwork-designs-for-public BASQUIAT AND RAMELLZEE PAGE FROM HHFT: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-ramellzee-basquiat-original-artwork-from HIP HOP FAMILY TREE VOL 3 COVER: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-run-dmc-original-cover-art-from-volume-3 SLICK RICK PINUP: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-slick-rick-original-art-for-pin-up-in LL COOL J: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-ll-cool-j-original-art-from-page-72 FAT BOYS:www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-fat-boys-original-art-for-issue-9-splash GRANDMASTER FLASH IN THE PARK: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-park-dj-original-artwork-for-page-2 -------------------------------- Ed's Patreon: www.patreon.com/edpiskor Jim's Octobriana 1976 Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/jimrugg/fluorescent-blacklight-outlaw-comic-book
It's really eerie when you notice he'll draw an ugly bad guy and use the exact same scowling face over and over as if he's tracing himself. But a lot of the early comics, before formulas were discovered, had these strange, dreamlike elements. Have you ever seen the Batman story where flowers have human faces? Or the Spectre story where he makes a guy's head disappear, so he can read the thoughts directly from the exposed brain? The difference between pre-war and post-war comics seems to be that in the former the artists controlled the story, and in the latter the editors took control. And back then, most of the artists were kids.
I love how this book presents the comics as-is and waits till the end to deliver the biographical stuff, which totally flips your perspective on the guy. Also, I've been watching your vids for a couple months, and I just now realized that 1.) I'm a fan of both you guys' work and 2.) You're like 5 miles from my house. So cheers from a fellow Pittsburgh comic fan :)
There's something about the weird, quirkiness of Hanks art and stories that remind me of the days in middle school where you'd doodle stories with your friends, making them up as you go and just having fun. Hanks's personal life seems to have ended tragically, and while I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone, it seems strangely consistent that a man of his creative predisposition should have come to some dark end.
Some of my happiest days was in middle school where we'd each created our own hero comic and we'd kill the other guys' hero (or sometimes kill the friends themselves, in a cameo, for extra insult to injury!). It was always done in a way where there was no way their hero could be resurrected. Then a friend would pass a note to you continuing the fight (cut to the tombstone of their hero "You thought the Plutonian was dead. You thought the Plutonian could be defeated!?!?" A hand punches up through the dirt. It ends with your guy getting scattered atomically into a black hole and their hero saying, "Finally, it's over. The evil is over"). We just kept one-upping the death methods. Needless to say, our art teachers did not approve of the carnage.
Most Golden Age stories start with the protagonist overhearing a newspaper boy yelling about something crazy happening, which stirs the hero into action. Fletcher Hanks' story starts with the newspapers reporting Stardust as the crazy thing that's about to happen to Earth.
This was a random purchase by me when it first came out. I thought it was modern artist being ironic and pulling a hoax about it being a lost golden age comic series. Kind of reminds me of Basil Wolverton but stranger.
I think it's notable that, unlike a good number of GA creators, Fletcher Hanks was not a young man. For context, Fletcher Hanks Jr. was a decorated fighter pilot - in WWII! I think this may have played into Hank's bizarre style: he had a lot of years (and, obviously, anger) to feed off of
You're right. Like the absurdist or existentialist writers in the post war period. I think some people had seen such horrors, only the absurd made sense.
I love that book! It was just so different from everything I had read up until that point. I remember Erik Larsen's Next Issue Project came out shortly after and introduced me to a lot of characters I had never heard before.
Boody Rogers is another strange comic artist you should talk about, he’s very unique, his stories are humorous, His art is just so surreal and captures that similar art style. He also has a book that talks about his life, even though I haven’t picked up yet. First herd about him from one of the stories by Craig Yoe.
I have both volumes of the Fletcher Hanks reprints. My friends are divided in there opinions about them. -Half coveting this wonderful look at comics past. -Half wondering if I haven't sustained some sort of head trauma. I love them and celebrate the kooky aspects that put some people off. Thanks for the vid and all your guys awesome output.
I think Hanks may have been shooting for a sort of Burne Hogarth or N.C. Wyeth Tarzan adventure look, which for how early on in the comics game Hanks came in, these influences would probably make sense to... being early 20th century, east-coast book and magazine illustrators.
I actually grabbed the complete collection (which is hardcover) on a whim at the Heroes Dead Dog party last year. I mean, the title was "Turn Loose Our Death Rays And Kill Them All." How do you NOT buy that
Of course, there are some exceptions, but I can understand why some feel Golden Age comics are boring, even with Superman and Batman comics. It tends to be horror and sci-fi art that tends to resonate with people more I think. Avon’s Strange Worlds would be a sci-fi comic I recommend you guys check out, with it having artists like Wally Wood and Everett Kinstler involved.
interesting fact in argentina was published in the 40s at least 1 story of stardust it was in black and white , here is the article with 2 pictures of the comic museodeliteraturapopular.blogspot.com/2010/02/fenomeno.html
I'm kind of shocked you guys are labeling Fletcher Hanks work as "Outlaw Comics". I definitely do not see it that way at all. He was desperately trying to be mainstream but just lacked the ability / talent. Alot of of his work is lifted and he's famous for copying his own imsages over and over. I actually love the work don't get me wrong but it's hard to read in the same light after knowing the life he lived
SOTHEBY'S AUCTION FOR ED PISKOR'S HIP HOP FAMILY TREE ARTWORK! Bid now online at the links below. Live auction happens September 15!
SLIPCASE VOL 3-4 COVER: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-original-slipcase-art-for-volumes-3-4-of
PUBLIC ENEMY TOY DESIGNS: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-original-artwork-designs-for-public
BASQUIAT AND RAMELLZEE PAGE FROM HHFT: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-ramellzee-basquiat-original-artwork-from
HIP HOP FAMILY TREE VOL 3 COVER: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-run-dmc-original-cover-art-from-volume-3
SLICK RICK PINUP: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-slick-rick-original-art-for-pin-up-in
LL COOL J: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-ll-cool-j-original-art-from-page-72
FAT BOYS:www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-fat-boys-original-art-for-issue-9-splash
GRANDMASTER FLASH IN THE PARK: www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/hip-hop/ed-piskor-park-dj-original-artwork-for-page-2
--------------------------------
Ed's Patreon: www.patreon.com/edpiskor
Jim's Octobriana 1976 Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/jimrugg/fluorescent-blacklight-outlaw-comic-book
It's really eerie when you notice he'll draw an ugly bad guy and use the exact same scowling face over and over as if he's tracing himself. But a lot of the early comics, before formulas were discovered, had these strange, dreamlike elements. Have you ever seen the Batman story where flowers have human faces? Or the Spectre story where he makes a guy's head disappear, so he can read the thoughts directly from the exposed brain? The difference between pre-war and post-war comics seems to be that in the former the artists controlled the story, and in the latter the editors took control. And back then, most of the artists were kids.
The spectre? The one with the green robe?
I love how this book presents the comics as-is and waits till the end to deliver the biographical stuff, which totally flips your perspective on the guy.
Also, I've been watching your vids for a couple months, and I just now realized that 1.) I'm a fan of both you guys' work and 2.) You're like 5 miles from my house. So cheers from a fellow Pittsburgh comic fan :)
The best thing is that all of it is now in public domain, so anyone can now draw and make their own comics of Stardust the Super Wizard
Anybody else think that Miracleman slightly resembles Stardust?
Yup, it seems to me the creators of that series based their designs in Stardust.
There's something about the weird, quirkiness of Hanks art and stories that remind me of the days in middle school where you'd doodle stories with your friends, making them up as you go and just having fun. Hanks's personal life seems to have ended tragically, and while I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone, it seems strangely consistent that a man of his creative predisposition should have come to some dark end.
Some of my happiest days was in middle school where we'd each created our own hero comic and we'd kill the other guys' hero (or sometimes kill the friends themselves, in a cameo, for extra insult to injury!). It was always done in a way where there was no way their hero could be resurrected. Then a friend would pass a note to you continuing the fight (cut to the tombstone of their hero "You thought the Plutonian was dead. You thought the Plutonian could be defeated!?!?" A hand punches up through the dirt. It ends with your guy getting scattered atomically into a black hole and their hero saying, "Finally, it's over. The evil is over"). We just kept one-upping the death methods. Needless to say, our art teachers did not approve of the carnage.
Most Golden Age stories start with the protagonist overhearing a newspaper boy yelling about something crazy happening, which stirs the hero into action. Fletcher Hanks' story starts with the newspapers reporting Stardust as the crazy thing that's about to happen to Earth.
You guys are broadening my horizons. Thanks for sharing and teaching.
A Fletcher Hanks inspired anthology would be pretty awesome!
This was a random purchase by me when it first came out. I thought it was modern artist being ironic and pulling a hoax about it being a lost golden age comic series. Kind of reminds me of Basil Wolverton but stranger.
I think it's notable that, unlike a good number of GA creators, Fletcher Hanks was not a young man. For context, Fletcher Hanks Jr. was a decorated fighter pilot - in WWII!
I think this may have played into Hank's bizarre style: he had a lot of years (and, obviously, anger) to feed off of
You're right. Like the absurdist or existentialist writers in the post war period. I think some people had seen such horrors, only the absurd made sense.
So glad to see Fletcher Hanks get featured here. Easily one of my favorite comic discoveries in recent years.
Those weird Stardust action scenes look like Adventure Time
I really like the sound of Ed's laugh. It's perfect for looking at the Fletcher book. Congrats x Sothebys.
You can tell that this was a huge influence on the Michael Kupperman aesthetic, lettering included
Thanks! Oddly brilliant, I'll have to track these down.
I bought this book when it first came out. It really blew me away, so different from any comics that I had seen up to that point. I love this book!
Stardust was the type of guy that would make the Spectre wet his sheets.
My favorite comic book ever!
I love that book! It was just so different from everything I had read up until that point. I remember Erik Larsen's Next Issue Project came out shortly after and introduced me to a lot of characters I had never heard before.
Oh yeah, I remember that Next Issue project. Such a cool idea, I wish they had done more.
Wow, amazing “obscure” comic! Amazing!
This was fascinating. I feel like I've seen Fantomah before. Awesome design. Wasn't prepared for the sad, tragic ending there for him and his kid. :(
This looks insane! Gotta find myself a copy!
The headless giant absorbing the head of that bad guy is nightmare fuel
Thank you. My kind of visuals.
I just received my copy of "Turn Loose Our Death Rays" the other day. Such craziness.
Boody Rogers is another strange comic artist you should talk about, he’s very unique, his stories are humorous, His art is just so surreal and captures that similar art style. He also has a book that talks about his life, even though I haven’t picked up yet. First herd about him from one of the stories by Craig Yoe.
I have both volumes of the Fletcher Hanks reprints. My friends are divided in there opinions about them. -Half coveting this wonderful look at comics past. -Half wondering if I haven't sustained some sort of head trauma. I love them and celebrate the kooky aspects that put some people off. Thanks for the vid and all your guys awesome output.
Banging out the hits!!
Stardust Movie brought me here Blessings and HUGS! I wonder if the movie is based on Stardust the Wizard? 👑💜
Another world!
I think Hanks may have been shooting for a sort of Burne Hogarth or N.C. Wyeth Tarzan adventure look, which for how early on in the comics game Hanks came in, these influences would probably make sense to... being early 20th century, east-coast book and magazine illustrators.
Now I want to see Superman throw Lex Luthor into outer space. Alive.
I actually grabbed the complete collection (which is hardcover) on a whim at the Heroes Dead Dog party last year. I mean, the title was "Turn Loose Our Death Rays And Kill Them All." How do you NOT buy that
And yeah. I had to work through that thing 1-2 stories at a time, for fear of going insane. lol
Of course, there are some exceptions, but I can understand why some feel Golden Age comics are boring, even with Superman and Batman comics. It tends to be horror and sci-fi art that tends to resonate with people more I think. Avon’s Strange Worlds would be a sci-fi comic I recommend you guys check out, with it having artists like Wally Wood and Everett Kinstler involved.
Nice video. Thanks for posting. have you ever done a show on Mac Raboy?
Looks like proto-Ben Marra material, I really dig it
Creative lost genius
Purchased the HC just now. Far out stuff.
Epic!
interesting fact in argentina was published in the 40s at least 1 story of stardust it was in black and white , here is the article with 2 pictures of the comic museodeliteraturapopular.blogspot.com/2010/02/fenomeno.html
AT LAST!!!
Did Tim Seeley give him cred when he used Fantomas in Hack Slash?
I just think its insane that Fletcher Hanks totally murdered someone in the woods and was never arrested for it.
This guy...
Cool,😎🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯☇☇
🙏🏽
at last!
I'm kind of shocked you guys are labeling Fletcher Hanks work as "Outlaw Comics". I definitely do not see it that way at all. He was desperately trying to be mainstream but just lacked the ability / talent. Alot of of his work is lifted and he's famous for copying his own imsages over and over. I actually love the work don't get me wrong but it's hard to read in the same light after knowing the life he lived
I feel this is way too close to Captain Star. The space hero with no clear habilities, the blue and yellow suit, the absurd achievements.