FAMOUS AND FREAKY MONSTER ART

Just who is Arlis, the Basil Gogos-influenced artist that has been creating cover art for FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and FREAKY MONSTERS since 1996? Looks like we'll get our chance when this new book is released in November. Pre-order this coffee table hardcover now and get lots of extras. Check it out HERE.

From the publisher:

Monsters: Famous and Freaky:  The Classic Horror Art of Arlis

(Pre-Order Premium Collectors Edition, Discounted Price, w/ Free Dust Jacket, Bonus Art Print & Free Shipping!)

(Pre-order.  Limited Time Package Offer.  Ships appx. Nov. 10)

A comprehensive anthology collectors edition of images by Famous Monsters of Filmland and Freaky Monsters cover artist, Arlis.  Makes a great gift for that special Freaky Monster on your X-Mas list.  This special edition book will be a treasured addition to your classic monster collection.  Glossy, full color, Hard Cover Coffee-Table edition with bonus features available only to pre-order customers.  Limited time offer.  Pre-order you copy today.  If you enjoyed our 1998 FMOF 40th Anniversary Fearbook Collectors edition, you'll love this special art book.  See below for details!

Deluxe HARDCOVER COFFEE TABLE EDITION with full color "Nosferatu" cover, Free Dust Jacket, Unpublished Bonus Art Print & Free Shipping.

PRE-ORDER PRICE INCLUDES:

• New, Uncirculated Hot Off The Press Hard Cover Copy
• Your Choice of Free Book Dust Jacket.  Choose from 4 Different Full Color Designs.
• Dust Jackets Will Only Be Availalbe To Pre-Order Customers.  (General Release Edition will have laminated color cover (Nosferatu), but no dust jacket).
• Option To Get All 4 Dust Jacket Variants (Style A with book + 3 variants)
• Autographed Copies Are Available On Pre-Order Copies Only At No Charge.
• No Barcode on Pre-Order copies!  (General release edition will have barcode on back cover)
• Free Hand-signed Unpublished Bonus 8" x 10" Art Print Not Included in the Book.
• FREE SHIPPING BY USPS MEDIA MAIL W/TRACKING NUMBER*

This special edition features:

• Hard Cover Library Edition, Full 8.5 " x 11" size, laminated Full Color cover and premium glossy interior paper.
• 96 pages.
• Packed with photos...Many Full Page, Full Color.
• Over 60 full color illustrations of Arlis cover art from FMOF and FREAKY MONSTERS magazines plus some fine art portraits, sketches, and a selection of Arlis classic monsters restoration art from vintage toys, games, plates, puzzles, wallets, etc.
• The Making of the FMOF #250 Sgt. Pepper inspired cover collage.

PLUS:

Behind the art:  A history of Arlis, background, influences and how he became associated with FMOF and Freaky Monsters magazines.

FREAKY MONSTERS COVER ARTIST

Basil Gogos cover (left), Arlis cover (right)

Since my post earlier today, I've had a couple of inquiries as to the identity of the artist who does the work on the covers of Ray Ferry's retro-monster 'zine, FREAKY MONSTERS. The artist's name is "Arlis" and he has been producing covers for Ferry's magazines since Ferry started publishing FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND back in the early '90s. While the imagery can be compared to those by Gogos the Great, who paints, in reality they are most likely embellished manipulations of photographic images, such as those that can be created by Photoshop and other graphics software. I may be wrong, but that's my somewhat educated guess.

Arlis employs the familiar high contrast style and if his work were from "live" photographs they would be called "high dynamic range" prints in these days of digital photography and art.

Whether or not one finds the work derivative in a negative sense or not is anybody's prerogative, I guess. In my opinion Arlis' work is successful in the fact that evokes iconography from the earliest days of monster magazines. We know it's not up to snuff with Gogos' best (even Gogos had the occasional stinker of a cover), but I think you'll agree that they are more than enough to resonate to fans of classic horror.

NOTE: A "Meet Arlis" article is included in the FREAKY MONSTER FEARBOOK (#17). I do not have a copy of this to refer to, but anyone can still order a copy by clicking HERE.