The Big Book of Wood

Phoenix: Optics Binding, 2020. Folio. Limited edition of only 15 copies. The present copy is number 4. 593 pages. 593 pages. Wallace (Wally) Wood was known for his influence on both Robert Crumb and Art Spielman. While he "pictured" at least one story for Mad Magazine from its first issue in October 1972 to its last in 1964 (with one exception #68), he collaborated often with Orson Bean, Ernie Kovacs, Danny Kay, Sid Caesar, and most frequently Harvey Kurtzman. What began as a parody of comics (based on a less pornographic version of eight-pagers [or Tijuana Bibles]), soon became the standard for both teen-agers and college students for its humor. Art Spiegelman said Wood read Freud along with Tolkien a combination that one scholar said was as fully Rabelaisian as it is doctrinaire Freudian. He began by taking text that implied sex to what later was developed in the Military News with Sally Forth to the outright items that often have been viewed as near pornography. He was the inaugural inductee into the comic book industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992. In this major production of his art, we have not only the most visually definitive example of his work, but an extraordinary edition made of remarkably durable materials including heavy duty canvas covers and premium goat leather. The slipcase has been lined with velvet to help lower the friction when inserted or removing the book. An extra heavy thick mylar dust jacket has been used to protect the physical book. Besides the images we have made, the process used in designing the book can be viewed on You Tube. The designer-publisher also did the fine limited editions of The Complete Raw (Spieldman), and Ed Sanders F*** You. The Process is beautifully shown on You tube as well. (Optics Press). A further note: pages 543-573 are his correspondence with Richard Prylor for a joint project. His major work for EC and the Marvel Daredevil are classics of the comic genre. The book with slipcase weighs 16 pounds and this will limit shipping outside the U.S. As new.