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Post by CharlesX on Feb 27, 2023 20:02:35 GMT
After a big thread quite a while back about what makes the best FF book, I say we can have one about something almost as important to me - what is your favourite FF artwork, and just what makes good FF artwork?
As a rule, I would say the early FF was often strong on interior artwork (covers could be variable, sometimes being below-average or containing spoilers), early Scholastic was not good, while the two recent Scolastic works have seen a real improvement in artwork quality (especially the cover pictures, which have done away with those awful portholes), they are too comic and cartoonish for my taste, though I don't doubt some will consider them the equal or even better than Puffin and Wizard.
- Well-drawn with some skill - Sometimes contain elements important for a puzzle or clue (such as the scar cleverely placed on the wrong side of Sorrel in Siege, but unlike the missing number in the Rhino-man in Scholastic's Creature Of Havoc) - Convey a sense of atmosphere of the book (for a Jackson work this can very much add to the horror, for a generic one it adds to the general world-building, which is important for an rpg) - Portray the world and plot points (similar to the above, but those authors such as Green who specialise in world-building more than atmosphere, it makes a difference when reading Spellbreaker, Bloodbones, or Robin Waterfield)
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Post by Wizard Slayer on Mar 1, 2023 13:38:01 GMT
For me there are two types of artwork that are the best. One is the type which like you say gives the book a real sense of atmosphere, usually dependent on the artist having a very particular (maybe even divisive) style. The other is that type that embellishes the story - lots of intricate extra detail that isn't necessary or required, but makes you what to just pause reading and spend some time studying and appreciating the art each time you come to it. Often this type will include a few full-page illustrations that deserve to be posters.
Oddly, I'm not sure I'd place any artwork in both categories. (I've not read anything other than Puffin, by the way.)
Very much limiting myself to those that spring quickest to mind, Slaves of the Abyss falls into the first category. Individually the art doesn't stand out especially, yet somehow the style makes every illustration feel linked to the others, like they belong in that book's part of the world and nowhere else, not even other books illustrated by the same artist. A contentious example would be Freeway Fighter - generally the art is poorly rated (the artist had a ridiculous deadline) but weirdly for me the emptiness of the backgrounds and the lack of surrounding detail evokes the featurelessness of the world involved, making it somehow fit.
One the second category, City of Thieves is wonderful, and I can always picture the four-armed Lizardman Champion in Battleblade warrior.
I'm also a big fan of well-done/thoughtful mini illustrations, especially when they relate to the story e.g. the Thief Skills in Midnight Rogue.
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Post by pip on Mar 1, 2023 19:49:02 GMT
Iain McCaig's art for Deathtrap Dungeon is my favourite. It is so amazingly well-drawn, full of details and atmosphere. I wonder how long it took him to draw each picture. I reckon his art is part of what made the book a classic. Of course, Ian Livingstone was also at the top of his game there, but IMO the book wouldn't be the same if it had subpar artwork. It's one of those rare occurrences where everything clicks and every person involved delivered.
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Post by misomiso on Mar 1, 2023 23:18:11 GMT
John Blanche's work in Sorcery is amazing.
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Post by King Gillibran on Mar 2, 2023 7:59:32 GMT
For me there are two types of artwork that are the best. One is the type which like you say gives the book a real sense of atmosphere, usually dependent on the artist having a very particular (maybe even divisive) style. The other is that type that embellishes the story - lots of intricate extra detail that isn't necessary or required, but makes you what to just pause reading and spend some time studying and appreciating the art each time you come to it. Often this type will include a few full-page illustrations that deserve to be posters. Oddly, I'm not sure I'd place any artwork in both categories. (I've not read anything other than Puffin, by the way.) Very much limiting myself to those that spring quickest to mind, Slaves of the Abyss falls into the first category. Individually the art doesn't stand out especially, yet somehow the style makes every illustration feel linked to the others, like they belong in that book's part of the world and nowhere else, not even other books illustrated by the same artist. A contentious example would be Freeway Fighter - generally the art is poorly rated (the artist had a ridiculous deadline) but weirdly for me the emptiness of the backgrounds and the lack of surrounding detail evokes the featurelessness of the world involved, making it somehow fit. One the second category, City of Thieves is wonderful, and I can always picture the four-armed Lizardman Champion in Battleblade warrior. I'm also a big fan of well-done/thoughtful mini illustrations, especially when they relate to the story e.g. the Thief Skills in Midnight Rogue. Your right about city of Thieves. Printing out some full page illustrations of ones like the city gaurd on paragraph one you notice so much. That one if you look closely shows houses a river a thief being chased across a roof etc. Amazing. I can never decide my favourite illustrater. Ian Mcaig, Russ Nicholson, Tony Hough, Andrew Chapman or Martin Mkenna
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Post by linflas on Mar 2, 2023 8:08:10 GMT
I would say that the art of "Freeway Fighter" is quite logical in terms of apocalyptic feeling, precisely because of the emptiness of the backgrounds. Nice coincidence after all.
As a game book illustrator, I agree with the idea that the drawings are here first to reinforce the immersion, even if you don't necessarily like the style (hello Mr Chalk, the "Lone Wolf" series wouldn't be what it is without you, but how badly you drew sometimes!)
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Post by CharlesX on Mar 2, 2023 13:48:32 GMT
Thanks for these great replies. A couple of people have mentioned Freeway Fighter, I don't know if anyone has read the Freeway Fighter comic series and would share their view of it here. I would say publishing an entire comic book series about this gives the lie to some people's suggestion (Malthus Dire, for one) Freeway Fighter was just a novelty and\or rip-off about Mad Max. While I say it's definitely nothing special, I don't think the artwork in Eye Of The Dragon is terrible either, it's old-school and perhaps prosaic like the FF, I would say some of the worst Scholastic art has been COS and GOD, with COS being below-average but at least getting some sense of atmosphere (a light one that doesn't fit the gamebook), where GOD is just really bad (I feel sorry for Vlado Krizan though for having to draw the bum-faced monster!).
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Post by vastariner on Mar 2, 2023 14:07:57 GMT
Is there any such thing as "FF Art" as opposed to Fantasy Art? Or, simply, Art?
From an aesthetic and detail perspective McCaig is my favourite, but then again I might be the only one who adores the woodcut style of Ward and Crosby.
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Post by CharlesX on Mar 2, 2023 14:30:29 GMT
Is there any such thing as "FF Art" as opposed to Fantasy Art? Or, simply, Art? From an aesthetic and detail perspective McCaig is my favourite, but then again I might be the only one who adores the woodcut style of Ward and Crosby. Is there or isn't there a style of artwork particularly suited to FF, maybe a darker one as opposed to more cartoonish styles which have been tried recently, particularly some of the reprint covers? I'm aware they might be trying to pitch FF to a younger audience (dk why tho) and so maybe it's as much about the skill with which it's excuted as the style itself. The better illustrators would transcend FF and indeed Fantasy, although maybe any artist good enough for Tolkien or even Rowling would be smart enough to swap employers  . |
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Post by Wizard Slayer on Mar 2, 2023 16:19:56 GMT
Is there any such thing as "FF Art" as opposed to Fantasy Art? Or, simply, Art? I took "FF Art" to mean the art in the Fighting Fantasy books, nothing more. |
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revenant
Squire
Posts: 21
Favourite Gamebook Series: Zork (just kidding)
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Post by revenant on Mar 10, 2023 0:16:41 GMT
Is there any such thing as "FF Art" as opposed to Fantasy Art? Or, simply, Art? Yes |
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Post by CharlesX on Mar 10, 2023 11:19:58 GMT
Is there any such thing as "FF Art" as opposed to Fantasy Art? Or, simply, Art? Yes In which ways? I say FF has its own distinctive art like CYOA which is basically colourful kids stuff with some darkness and Give Yourself Goosebumps which is horror for teens and pre-teens (I've read little GYG but from what I have read the artwork is merely mediocre like the series). I was never a fan of Stephen Thraves gamebooks but the monsters were well-drawn, unique and bright. As for FF fitting art is important primarily for things like atmosphere and world-building but some FF is arguably written with some skill and at a higher reading age (rather than generic or hack-work) and art can definitely complement that. Having said that, the new Scholastic art has 'tossed the ball' on lots of previous art by going for a style that is both well-drawn and slightly simple, aiming itself at younger kids, which will divide audiences (but is miles better than the low point it hit with Gates Of Death). Prosaic point but I do wish Scholastic would give us better paper quality as well because the current quality is very poor.
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Post by tyrion on Mar 10, 2023 12:30:43 GMT
Is there any such thing as "FF Art" as opposed to Fantasy Art? Or, simply, Art? I think the grittiness of fighting fantasy art is a reflection of its British origins, sharing much in common (including artists) with British rpgs such as warhammer and dragon warriors. Illustrations across these three products tend to be threatening and grim, everyone eats turnips and lives in a squalid town. Compare this to the illustrations in the world's greatest role playing game of unicorns and friendly dragons (an exaggeration, I know). |
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Post by Peter on Mar 13, 2023 4:22:21 GMT
I'm also a big fan of well-done/thoughtful mini illustrations, especially when they relate to the story e.g. the Thief Skills in Midnight Rogue. This is one of the things that appealed to me in Lone Wolf. At the start: "you have a sword/mace/quarterstaff, like this one" and "you can take some meals, which will look like this", etc. Helped to put you in the shoes of your character before you begin your quest. |
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