The Ordeal of Robert Mitchum
Artists: Rick Geary (Penciller) , Rick Geary (Inker) , Rick Geary (Writer)
6 Comments - 352 Views - 4 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionIt surprises me that Rick Geary does not seem to be valued and appreciated as much as he deserves. His [relatively modestly-priced] commission list seems to have been open for, like, forever, and his most recent projects have been financed via crowdfunding. Speaking as an outsider, ie a non-North American, Rick Geary’s material appears to often be about the quirky, exciting and attractive glamour of the USA. I’d have thought he would be to the US what someone like Raymond Briggs would be to us in the UK: a National Treasure.Two themes, if that is the right word, that run through a lot of his work are movie-star celebrity and true crime, and sometimes they intersect like in this example. The reason I picked this strip to acquire is not because I am a big fan of Robert Mitchum, although I have seen and enjoyed a number of his films and he is a remarkable screen presence (IMDB writes “an underrated American leading man of enormous ability who sublimated his talents beneath an air of disinterest.” What a splendid description, that could partially be applied to someone else.) but because of that drawing throughout but particularly of the mophead. How the heck do you draw a mophead like that? I have spent a lot of time with mopheads (that is not a euphemism) and Geary's delineation is as virtuoso an example of draughtsmanship as, say, Brian Bolland’s spaghetti man, or Wonder Woman’s hair as drawn by George Pérez. Absolutely incredible. Sometime towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century RG with the help of his friend/representative Mark Rosenbohm started selling a lot of his work on eBay with low three-figure starting prices. This was work that he had been holding onto for twenty or thirty years. Being a fan since the late 80s I was a little worried as to what this signified, but how was I to find anything out? In the end I did nothing and I am happy to report that RG seems to be alive and well and as proficient as ever. The drawing in his latest crowdfunded project is as unmistakeably “Geary-esque” as it has ever been and the colourwork typically sumptuous. It is well known that certain US entertainers – a comic film actor/director and an underground comic artist come to mind – who although not unappreciated in the US are looked on as near-mythic genius-gods in continental Europe. Here’s hoping that Rick Geary gets his due recognition and long may he continue. [It was mentioned on Steve Wright’s afternoon radio show yesterday that today is the anniversary of Robert Mitchum starting a two-month jail sentence in 1949 for possession of marijuana.] Social/Sharing |
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artless artmore 
Member Since 2013
Posted on 2/10/2022
Wonderful page! I enjoyed and agreed with your commentary. There are several outstanding US indie comic artists who were prominent in the 80s and 90s who now are nearly forgotten, and others who are now celebrated. I haven't figured out what determines who winds up on either side of that line.
Simon Ma
Member Since 2013
Posted on 2/14/2022
artless artmore wrote:
Wonderful page! I enjoyed and agreed with your commentary. There are several outstanding US indie comic artists who were prominent in the 80s and 90s who now are nearly forgotten, and others who are now celebrated. I haven't figured out what determines who winds up on either side of that line.
Thank you for your kind words. And it is an interesting point you make to which I sadly have no answer. But was it ever thus? How many paintings did Van Gogh sell in his lifetime? One or was it two? As for his accomplished much-lauded contemporaries? Good in their own way but they are the artists people rush past to get to the Van Goghs in the major galleries. Not sure who the outstanding US indie creators you refer to are, but if you mean those from the Fantagraphics stable then I could not agree more. Success involves a lot more factors than just talent and ability.
artless artmore
Member Since 2013
Posted on 2/15/2022
Simon Ma wrote:
Thank you for your kind words. And it is an interesting point you make to which I sadly have no answer. But was it ever thus? How many paintings did Van Gogh sell in his lifetime? One or was it two? As for his accomplished much-lauded contemporaries? Good in their own way but they are the artists people rush past to get to the Van Goghs in the major galleries. Not sure who the outstanding US indie creators you refer to are, but if you mean those from the Fantagraphics stable then I could not agree more. Success involves a lot more factors than just talent and ability.
I like a lot of Fantagraphics creators, some of whom get too little love perhaps, but I think FG generally does a good job of promoting (if not excessively paying) their artists and writers. IMO, a couple outstanding 80s and 90s era comics creators whose indie work doesn't command the prices it should are Terry LaBan and William Messner-Loebs, for instance.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
Posted on 2/10/2022
Pretty nice likeness and caricatures in his style more suited to illustrations than action. It has story and substance in what it communicates and exists to make a statement.
Simon Ma
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 2/14/2022
Marcus Wai wrote:
Pretty nice likeness and caricatures in his style more suited to illustrations than action. It has story and substance in what it communicates and exists to make a statement.
Thank you for your astute comment. I have never thought about it before but there is something to it. I am sure you know the other strand of RG's comics which are illustrations accompanying lists of items (eg Condos, office equipment, motels etc) or snapshots of ordinary everyday events. However, if you have not seen it I would recommend checking out the fill-in, standalone issue of Doom Patrol (ish 20) he did which is not only wonderfully meta, but also gives a good example of RG's flowing sequential panel art chops.
Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 4/6/2022
Lovely page. The mophead thing? I think the artist is channeling how boring prison life is. You would obsessively study a mophead too if you were stuck behind bars for that long. I would be so bored I would be naming the individual segments.
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