Press Release
On November 28, TwoMorrows Publishing releases MATT BAKER: THE ART OF GLAMOUR, the new biographical celebration of the fabled “Good Girl” illustrator who, in the early 1940s, became one the earliest African-American comic book artists. As unusual as that was for the time, it wasn’t the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the medium—it was his innate ability to draw gorgeous, exciting women and handsome, dynamic men in a fluid, graceful style. Imagine Dave Stevens (creator of “The Rocketeer” and lifelong admirer of pin-up queen Bettie Page) or Adam Hughes (a comic book cover artist renowned for the sexy, vivacious females that populate his illustrations) working in the ’40s, drawing a new story every month, and you’ll have a good idea of Matt Baker’s place in the industry throughout his career.
Yet few of today’s comic book fans know of the artist or his work, because he died in 1959 at the young age of 38, just as the Silver Age of Comics was blossoming and bringing in a new generation of readers. Matt Baker: The Art of Glamour (a 192-page hardcover with 96 pages of full-color, including reprints of full Baker stories from throughout his career), presents the full story of an impressive career cut tragically short. It features a wealth of essays; interviews with Baker’s friends, family, and co-workers; and a treasure trove of his finest artwork, at last giving the wonderfully talented artist his full due. (NOTE: This book contains mild cartoon nudity, to present a representative sample of Baker’s career. Suggested for MATURE READERS ONLY.)
192-page HARDCOVER with 96 FULL-COLOR PAGES, by Jim Amash and Eric Nolen-Weathington
Print Edition: $39.95 cover price
Digital Edition: $11.95, available only at www.twomorrows.com
ISBN10: 1-60549-032-6
ISBN13: 978-1-60549-032-8
Diamond Comic Distributors Order Code: JUN121310
Ordering link:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=970
In anticipation of this book’s release, TwoMorrows Publishing is letting readers download a FREE PDF PREVIEW at this link:
http://www.twomorrows.com/media/MattBakerPreview.pdf
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Jim Amash has had a multi-faceted career in the arts. As a fine artist, he has exhibited in galleries and museums. He has written for newspapers, gallery catalogs, DC’s Archive series, various magazines, and is an associate editor for TwoMorrows Publishing’s Alter Ego magazine. He has illustrated books, video games, television commercials, and for several newspapers. He as also inked for all of the major comic book companies for the last twenty years, and is currently working for Archie Comics.
Eric Nolen-Weathington is the editor and designer of the popular Modern Masters book series, also published by TwoMorrows Publishing, which began in 2003. He produced two DVDs in conjunction with that series. In 2008 he edited and designed Nick Cardy: Behind the Art, and he has been the designer of DRAW! magazine since 2005 as well as a newspaper designer for the past ten years.
MATT BAKER: THE ART OF GLAMOUR will be in stores on Wednesday, November 28.
Since 1994, TwoMorrows Publishing has been bringing a new day to comics fans, through its award-winning line of magazines and books.