Showing posts with label Epic Illustrated February 1983. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Epic Illustrated February 1983. Show all posts

Monday, February 2, 2015

Epic Illustrated February 1983

Epic Illustrated 
February, 1983
No. 16


February, 1983, and the latest issue of Marvel's Epic Illustrated showcases former Marvel / Conan the Barbarian artist Barry Windsor-Smith; the cover art is titled 'Self Portrait with Wings'. 

Smith's meticulous artwork and colors are finally well-served by a Marvel publication, in terms reduced editorial oversight; quality resolution and color separations; and the choice of 'slick' grade paper.

Archie Goodwin's 'Overview' column praises 'The Beguiling', one of several Windsor-Smith features in this issue. 



'The Beguiling' represents Windsor-Smith's fascination and admiration with the Pre-Raphaelite artist school of 19th century Britain, and Edward Byrne-Jones in particular. Up until the late 60s the Pre-Raphaelite artists had been utterly ignored - even dismissed - by the art establishment, but in part due to the efforts of artists like Windsor-Smith, a new appreciation for the school had gained momentum.

Smith's artwork is a homage to Byrne-Jones's masterpiece, the four-painting series titled 'The Legend of the Briar Rose' (1885 - 1890); this one is titled 'The Briar Wood'.


Posted below is 'The Beguiling'. A case could be made that this was one of the high points not just in the publishing history of Epic Illustrated, but in American comic art / graphic art of the 1980s.........