Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!
This is my weekly feature
showcasing beautiful covers!
It also provides information,
if available, on their
very talented creators!
if available, on their
very talented creators!
Here's my choice for this week!
Monstress Vol.2: The Blood
Marjorie M. Liu
Graphic Novel, 152 pages
Bloomsbury USA Children's
July 11, 2017
Comics, Fantasy, Horror
Marjorie M. Liu
Graphic Novel, 152 pages
Bloomsbury USA Children's
July 11, 2017
Comics, Fantasy, Horror
My Thoughts About This Cover
I've started to feature graphic novels on this blog, although I'm not really reading that many of them yet. I'm not likely to read this one, either, as it's classified under the horror genre, but I just HAD to create an SCS post on the cover. It is just GORGEOUS! I saw it featured on the blog Musings of a Bookish Kitty, and well, it just drew me in right away!
The artist is Japanese, and that's very obvious in the design style. I love the nod to Hokusai's famous wave in the right-hand side background. Absolutely STUNNING! The wave is also very well-integrated into the overall scene.
The influence of Western art styles -- especially Art Nouveau -- is also evident in this amazing, magical image -- in the decoration on the young woman's coat sleeves, the use of space, as well as in the more realistic depiction of her figure, the cat, and the owl flying overhead, in the upper background.
There's also a touch of humor in this brilliant cover; the contrast between the young woman's steely determination, which shows in her facial expression, is comically contrasted with the abject look of fear on the little girl's face, while the poor cat is getting squeezed, and it seems that he will soon start to squirm! He also looks REAL ticked off! Lol.
I also LOVE the Stempunk vibe at the bottom of the cover, plus the overall Manga look.
All in all, this is an AMAZING cover.
The incredibly talented artist responsible for this BEAUTIFUL creation is Sana Takeda, born in Nigata, Japan. She currently resides in Tokyo. She has no formal art training, which is truly admirable. She simply drew a lot as a child.
At the age of 20, she started out as a 3D CGI designer for SEGA, a Japanese video game company. She got her break illustrating American comics by contacting C.B. Cebulski at Marvel, sending him some of her work. He replied, and she was all set! She is currently a freelance artist and illustrator, and is working on the Ms. Marvel comics.
Takeda has previously collaborated with novel author and comic book writer Marjorie Liu on previous comics projects. Takeda works through digital processes exclusively, which makes her art all the more remarkable! I LOVE the intricacies of her artwork!
I already know that I will be featuring more covers by my newest addition to my favorite book cover (and graphic novel cover) artists' list!!
The artist is Japanese, and that's very obvious in the design style. I love the nod to Hokusai's famous wave in the right-hand side background. Absolutely STUNNING! The wave is also very well-integrated into the overall scene.
The influence of Western art styles -- especially Art Nouveau -- is also evident in this amazing, magical image -- in the decoration on the young woman's coat sleeves, the use of space, as well as in the more realistic depiction of her figure, the cat, and the owl flying overhead, in the upper background.
There's also a touch of humor in this brilliant cover; the contrast between the young woman's steely determination, which shows in her facial expression, is comically contrasted with the abject look of fear on the little girl's face, while the poor cat is getting squeezed, and it seems that he will soon start to squirm! He also looks REAL ticked off! Lol.
I also LOVE the Stempunk vibe at the bottom of the cover, plus the overall Manga look.
All in all, this is an AMAZING cover.
The incredibly talented artist responsible for this BEAUTIFUL creation is Sana Takeda, born in Nigata, Japan. She currently resides in Tokyo. She has no formal art training, which is truly admirable. She simply drew a lot as a child.
At the age of 20, she started out as a 3D CGI designer for SEGA, a Japanese video game company. She got her break illustrating American comics by contacting C.B. Cebulski at Marvel, sending him some of her work. He replied, and she was all set! She is currently a freelance artist and illustrator, and is working on the Ms. Marvel comics.
Takeda has previously collaborated with novel author and comic book writer Marjorie Liu on previous comics projects. Takeda works through digital processes exclusively, which makes her art all the more remarkable! I LOVE the intricacies of her artwork!
I already know that I will be featuring more covers by my newest addition to my favorite book cover (and graphic novel cover) artists' list!!
Online Links
Website
SKTCHD: Interview
comicbook.com: Interview
Image Comics
marvel.com
Facebook
Goodreads
Website
SKTCHD: Interview
comicbook.com: Interview
Image Comics
marvel.com
Goodreads
What do you think of
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!
Okay, that cover is amazing! I love graphic novels but I don't read enough of them.
ReplyDeleteHi, Stephanie!
DeleteYes, it DEFINITELY is!! Glad you love it, too!! : )
I want to read more graphic novels myself! There are some GREAT new Wonder Woman graphic novels that I've seen at Barnes & Noble, that I REALLY want to get and read!!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 <3 : ) : )
I really like this cover. As you mention, it combines a bunch of different styles very effectively. One would think that the steampunk elements would clash with everything else, but it all works together well.
ReplyDeleteI have not read a graphic novel in years but they can be so visually impressive.
Hey, Brian!
DeleteYeah, this cover is just absolutely GORGEOUS!!
I LOVE the mix of styles, too! This artist is just AMAZING! I'm going to be featuring more of her work.
I was surprised as well at how well the Steampunk elements were integrated into the overall design. Just BRILLIANT!!
Yeah, I want to read some more Wonder Woman graphic novels. I've seen several at Barnes & Noble, but they're also available on Amazon. As soon as I can, I'll be getting them!
Thanks for the great comment!! <3 : )
Thank you for linking to my blog! I love Sana Takeda's artwork, and it is nice to get to know a little bit about her background. So thank you for that too.
ReplyDeleteHi, Wendy!!
DeleteOMG, I had not seen this comment.... You're very welcome for my linking to your blog! :) :)
Oh, DEFINITELY Takeda's artwork is AMAZING!! I was happy to be able to provide details about her background! It's not always possible to find out these things on the Internet. The most remarkable thing about her is that she never studied art at any school. I SO admire her for that!!
Thanks for the nice comment!! HUGS TO YOU & MOUSE!! <3 <2 <3 :) :) :)
OMG I love that cover ! I really enjoy graphic novels (mangas especially) ! The touch of steampunk and the famous wave enhance this cover beauty =) ! There are so many different elements but they add up well *.*
ReplyDeleteHi, Sandrine!
DeleteYeah!! It's truly AMAZING!! :) :) SO glad you love it, too!!
I haven't read that many graphic novels, but would really like to. A lot of the artists are SO talented!!
Yeah, that touch of Stempunk, plus the famous wave, really come together VERY well! Takeda is just BRILLIANT!!
Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)