DAVE STEVENS: BRUSH WITH PASSION

I've been chomping at the bit for Underwood Books' release of the Dave Stevens book, "Brush With Passion", since they first announced it at the San Diego Comic Con in 2007. It finally arrived last week and I'm annoyed that I haven't had the opportunity or time to read through it all. But just from flipping through it and reading the first few pages, it looks to be a great book on this fantastic talent. I was a bit disappointed that I was unaware of the deluxe edition with additional art before preordering my copy, but such is life. At least I saved a few bucks.

I didn't realize it was going to delve so much into Dave Stevens' life. Whether that was done as an afterthought as a tribute to him because of his passing, or whether that's the way Dave himself planned it from the outset, I have no idea. But I'm pleasantly surprised that it is what it is. 

There's a photo of Dave Stevens on the cover, and he's sitting in front of a wall covered with the film-poster of his trademark character, The Rocketeer.

It's a bit ironic that the art for that poster wasn't done by himself. But the film poster, illustrated by John Mattos, is a great piece of deco-style art, and it does Dave's character justice. It also happens to be tied for my favorite film-poster of all time, the other being that famous King Kong poster that's made a revival in the past couple of decades. 

For anyone who likes great art that's imbued with a sense of style and nostalgia reflective of the early-mid part of the past century, Dave Stevens is the only artist in recent times that could deliver -- and how.