250+ page hardcover career retrospective artbook project, from Oni Press, of the American illustrator’s dynamic, intense, reference-based realistic work, including rarely seen covers, character designs, and concepts, goes live on August 11.
Multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher Oni Press has shared with AWN the exclusive reveal of their latest Kickstarter project, “Carbon Based: The Art of Lewis LaRosa,” a deluxe, 250+ page oversized hardcover career retrospective artbook that chronicles the incredible body of work from American illustrator Lewis LaRosa. The tome spans more than 20 years of “high-impact, high-intensity artwork from a modern comics master” who has worked for Marvel Comics, Valient Entertainment, Epic Games, Creative Beast Studio, and others.
The book features art from “Bloodshot Reborn,” “Divinity,” “Harbinger,” “Punisher MAX,” “Savage,” “Shadowman,” “Transformers,” “Uncanny X-Men,” “X-O Manowar,” and many other projects, including LaRosa’s work on T-shirts, art prints, remarques, and his original art. It also includes all-new appreciations by some of the artist's most prominent colleagues and collaborators including Lee Bermejo (“Batman: Damned”), Dave Johnson (“Superman: Red Son”), Matt Kindt (“BRZRKR”), Jeff Lemire (“Sweet Tooth”), Yanick Paquette (“Wonder Woman: Earth One”), as well page-by-page commentary by LaRosa and former Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons and an all-new introduction by Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson.
The campaign includes a Kickstarter exclusive foil-stamped hardcover, a T-shirt, a portfolio set, an exclusive slipcase edition signed and remarqued editions, early bird discounts, and more.
As Oni Press describes, LaRosa has defined himself as one of the most singular masters of the modern comics medium — fusing dynamic reference-based realism, stylized superhero storytelling, and a master’s control of shadow and light to produce a wholly unique, jaw-dropping style that could only be called “carbon based.”
“Carbon Based: The Art of Lewis LaRosa” is the artist’s first-ever career retrospective, capturing his “raw unexpurgated line art in all of its painstakingly rendered intensity, alongside rarely seen covers, character designs, concepts, and more.”
LaRosa told AWN, “My love for dinosaurs stretches back to my earliest memories and beyond. It has simply always been there. I think most kids go through a dinosaur phase; I just never grew out of it. From the moment I was aware of them these reptiles grabbed me by the throat and never let go. In fact, they've only dug their claws in deeper over the years. My love for art, for drawing, for animals and the natural world stems from my insane and all-consuming dinosaur obsession to one degree or another. They are simply the raddest creatures to ever walk the earth, and they can only be resurrected and experienced through the marriage of data fueled scientific research and artistic imagination and visualization.”
Fans can now follow the pre-launch page for the Kickstarter page to get an email when the project launches on August 11.
LaRosa went on to share, “It's happening guys! Thanks to the fine folks at Oni Press, a retrospective of my art spanning over 20 year is in the oven. What an incredible honor. From my early days at Marvel launching ‘The Punisher MAX’ to my years helping reboot the Valiant Universe, this will showcase some of my best work in one lovely tome. I'm making sure to include some rarely seen odds and ends as well as insight into my old school analog process revealing how the sausage is made. Whether it's the muscly figure work, sleek robots or prehistoric dinosaurs, hopefully these images will inspire you to pick up the pencil and DRAW!"
“For over three decades, Lewis LaRosa has developed an art style that is singular and unexpected,” said Gorinson. “LaRosa’s linework crackles with energy and vitality. Looking at a page of his art is a reminder of the potential of the pure power of comic book storytelling. It’s a kick in the head, in the best possible way.”
Source: Oni Press
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
