Memorabilia in our review of graphic novels – a tribute to five American comic artists – ntower

With these “souvenirs” I would like to present to you a very special graphic novel today, which will probably interest only a small part of the readers. At its core, it's about reverence for American comic artists who may mean something to some of you, but may not be known to the masses. It's about Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Wallace Wood, Will Eisner and Richard Corbin. Italian artist Sergio Punchioni introduces readers to these five comic book creators through five short episodes, as they greatly influenced him and his work. These episodes are included in a frame in which Punchioni introduces these five icons of the American comedy scene to an aspiring comedian.

In the corresponding sections on the aforementioned comics greats, Punchioni uses their artistic styles to demonstrate his admiration. So in the episode that revolves around Jack Kirby, he transports us, the readers, to a distant planet because Kirby worked in “Eternals”, “Fourth World”, and “Fantastic Four” during the period of his creativity, so he loved to travel outside planet Earth in the episodes that Ponchione also provides facts and information About the artists, which doesn't sound didactic, but gives us readers a little more context.

In addition to Kirby, Punchioni is working with Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, as well as Wallace Wood, who you may know from his work at EC Comics or Mad Magazine. Anyone with even a rudimentary interest in comics will stumble upon the name Will Eisner, most likely as a sign of another artist's graphic novel. Because if a work receives a so-called “Eisner Award,” this is still a feature that is advertised on the cover or back of a publication to this day. Finally, I would like to mention Richard Corbin, who was able to express his creative side in the world famous “Heavy Metal Magazine”, among other things. And you probably also know the Meat Loaf “Bat out of Hell” album cover which he also designed.

I can only summarize here the works of artists whom Punchioni admires; In the memorabilia appendix there are short one-page summaries of the artists themselves. It's good to read it, but today you can search for this information yourself on the Internet and find any links there. I have to classify making “Souvenirs” as an experience; An artist wanted to honor his role model and dedicate his small works to them. Punchioni succeeded in this, but whether or not this justifies the first German publication of one of his works is for others to decide. Many of his works have already been published in other countries, and in his home country, Punchioni is working hard and busy in his field.

You currently have the opportunity to meet the artist directly, because Sergio Punicioni will be on site and at the avant-verlag stand at the 21st International Comic Salon in Erlangen from May 30 to June 2, 2024. You can find more information here.