Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood

Some artists try to build a legacy that will transcend after their death, Wally Wood would not be that artist. His life he took in his hands, a troubled artist but a great artist. Sometimes the net is like a rummage of rare finds, and I found Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood by Bhob Stewart printed by TwoMorrows Publishing. Here is a perfect opportunity to read the whole book online for free, I would strongly recommend buying the book, TwoMorrows has an amazing line of books about modern and past comic book artists.

Bhob Stewart’s long-awaited Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood is the definitive book ever produced on the career of one of science fiction and comics’ finest artists. In addition to a remarkable memoir of life at the Wood Studio, former Wood associate Bhob Stewart also provides a biographical portrait, tracing Wood’s life from Minnesota to Manhattan while exploring the humorous spirit, dark detours, and psychological twists of a gifted maverick who often went against the grain. From childhood drawings and ambitious teenage samples to an endless parade of pages for a variety of publishers – Avon, EC, Fox, Marvel, Warren, and more – plus illustrations for Galaxy Science Fiction, this is the most stunning display of Wood art ever assembled. Many of the artists and writers who knew Wood personally have also contributed articles and essays, making this book a huge compendium of imaginative art, insights and critical commentary. Bill Pearson, executor of the Wood Estate, has made available rare drawings directly from Wood’s own files, while noted art collector Roger Hill, an authority on artists of the EC era, provides a wealth of obscure, previously unpublished Wood drawings and paintings.