Alex Ross SDCC Universal Monsters

[hedrap]

Couldn't find a thread for this in Monsters or Comics...

https://www.alexrossart.com/Classic-Universal-Monsters-to-Premiere-at-SDCC-2017_b_61.html?mc_cid=c71ea337bd&mc_eid=c6cf85400c

[LordMudd]

In other words, just repeat what has already been done and add nothing to it.


CCC.

[rykerw1701]

In other words, just repeat what has already been done and add nothing to it.


CCC.

I'm not a huge Universal Monsters fan, but I like Alex Ross interpretation. It's not that far removed from how the monsters looked back in the day, but that's his style. Any kind of art is very subjective.

[enyawd72]

In other words, just repeat what has already been done and add nothing to it.


CCC.

Why the negativity? Ross added a lot. The actual scenes depicted in the films have been expanded upon as they are presented here. The character poses and compositions are new, original and very striking. Like looking at a deleted scene from the film.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I love the Wolfman, with Sir John ready to strike. Captures the whole crux of the father/son strained relationship!

Chris

[hedrap]

Like looking at a deleted scene from the film.

That's what I felt, too. It's a cross between the classic and modern (pre-60's) camera angles the camera crews didn't have the ability to pull off at the time.

[palitoy]

Why the negativity? Ross added a lot. The actual scenes depicted in the films have been expanded upon as they are presented here. The character poses and compositions are new, original and very striking. Like looking at a deleted scene from the film.

Yeah, I think they're fantastic.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I would buy prints of all of these. Not sure where I'd hang them, but I'd buy them!

Chris

[PNGwynne]

I like these a lot, I suppose getting a set is impossible.

I want to gripe about no Phantom but, ach, the others .

[Werewolf]

I think they look really good.

[LordMudd]

and yet again, no love for Fritz Lang's Metropolis, or Forbidden Planet. There are other classics that are being ignored.


CCC.

[PNGwynne]

I love all sorts of genre films: Metropolis, Der Golem, Dr. Mabuse, Forbidden Planet, A Matter of Life and Death, The Thief of Baghdad, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.

Robby from Forbidden Planet has decent licensing, but not of these competes with the pop-culture saturation and notoriety of the classic "monsters."

I'll bet Ross is a fan of some of these others, too and would consider a commission. But there is also an overall consideration of marketability.

It's notable that the silent Phantom isn't included, so I'm not sure other "silents" would be considered. Actually, I'm surprised the Invisible Man made the cut--but of course Uni doesn't have to pay likeness rights thereof.

[Werewolf]

It's notable that the silent Phantom isn't included, so I'm not sure other "silents" would be considered.

Universal tends to ignore the Chaney Phantom because the movie is in public domain. That's why they generally favor the 43 version in marketing.

[palitoy]

and yet again, no love for Fritz Lang's Metropolis, or Forbidden Planet. There are other classics that are being ignored.


CCC.

You're right, Ross is awful for celebrating Universal with these beautiful paintings. I expect him to paint all my favourites as well, including a seven part series on "Choo Choo and the Philly Flash"

[PNGwynne]

Universal tends to ignore the Chaney Phantom because the movie is in public domain. That's why they generally favor the 43 version in marketing.

I know, but that just confuses me more. Joe Public probably now thinks of Andrew Lloyd Webber, but fans always single out Chaney. And it seems to me Uni leans towards the '25 film...I don't know of a single '43 licensed product, but there are many '25 versions. I have no idea where the likeness rights reside, but of course I see your point regarding the ownership of the films themselves.