PopCultHQ reviews THE MARVEL ART OF THE BROTHERS HILDEBRANDT from IDW Publishing. Available February 24th, the book features the work of Greg Hildebrandt and Tim Hildebrandt.
Here is PopCultHQ’s Spoiler-Free Review of…
THE MARVEL ART OF THE BROTHERS HILDEBRANDT
Fans of classic fantasy illustration, and Marvel’s most iconic characters, are in for a one-of-a-kind treat with this book!
Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, collectively known as the Brothers Hildebrandt, have been at the forefront of fantasy illustrations for six decades. In the 1970s, their wildly popular and universally acclaimed J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings calendars helped to reintroduce new generations to this seminal fantasy work.
In 1994, Greg and Tim began an amazing relationship with Marvel Comics, producing the incredible Marvel Masterpieces trading card set, featuring all of the House of Ideas’ most incredible characters: Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Panther, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and so many others! That entire set is reproduced here, as well as showcasing model photos and preliminary drawings of the paintings.
Also included is the X-Men 2099 painted graphic novel by the Brothers (written by John Francis Moore), as well as a treasure trove of their entire output for Marvel, all illustrations from 1994 to today—more trading cards, posters, and others, and with insightful commentary, amusing anecdotes, and candid reminisces by the one and only Greg Hildebrandt.
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
THE MARVEL ART OF THE BROTHERS HILDEBRANDT
Over the years, many fine individuals have carved out names for themselves in the world of and illustrating. Whether it is the likes of Monet, Norman Rockwell, or Jack Kirby; these folks produced work that is still heralded today as the finest there is. Then there are the Brothers Hildebrandt. Two bright guys who, during their years, have produced numerous covers for a wide variety of reading materials and fantastic interior art for comic books. Get ready for a literal visual feast that is going to leave everyone who dives in full and satisfied.
Writing: The writing for the book reads like the director’s commentary for a Blu-Ray or DVD. Renowned comics scholar Michael Uslan provides a wonderful introduction that sets the stage. Greg Hildebrandt includes delightful text that gives a ‘behind the scenes’ look at his and Tim’s upbringing, their early efforts as artists, and the various creative steps they went through for each piece of art. This not only adds flavor to an already tasty book, but will help fans gain a better understanding of who the Brothers Hildebrandt are and their work at Marvel Comics.
Art: Epic. Colorful. Eye-popping. A few choice words to describe the artwork that Greg and Tim have produced for Marvel over the years. The different covers, trading cards, and interior pages these two created featuring various Marvel heroes and villains are simply gorgeous to look at. There is such a realistic tone to the work, that one almost half-expects these titanic figures to leap off the pages and into the real world. That level of realism is why these two are artistic superstars and why this book is such a terrific collection of their contributions to Marvel.
PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:
If anyone who loves comics has never stumbled across the names Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, they are in for a treat when they crack open The Marvel Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt. Page after page of amazing stuff, with photos highlighting their lives and creative process, thumbnail sketches, model shots, and more. It reads like a combination biography and art gallery collection, chock full of super-heroic goodness.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
Purchase THE MARVEL ART OF THE BROTHERS HILDEBRANDT online:
Publisher – IDW Publishing
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