"The Strange Death of Alex Raymond (Bookplate art)" by Carson Grubaugh and Dave Sim

“The Strange Death of Alex Raymond (Bookplate art)” (2021)
by Carson Grubaugh (1981- ) and Dave Sim (1956-)
7.75 x 11..75 in., ink on heavy paper
Coppola Collection

In "The Strange Death of Alex Raymond," Dave Sim, legendary creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, and Carson Grubaugh, talented and creative artist across multiple media, explore and examine the line-making techniques of some of comics' greatest photorealist creators.

The story of this graphic novel is as twisty as the Büyük Menderes River (in Turkey, from which we get the word “meander”). But I digress; the artistry is straightforward and impressive. And thanks to work of master production designer and line-smith, Sean Michael Robinson, the integrity of the printing and reproduction is truly unmatched.

The Strange Death of Alex Raymond is self-contained in a 320-page, 8.25x12 inch oversized hardcover book.

From April 28 – May 22, 2021, the book is available for its normal retail price at a pre-sale Kickstarter, along with (as long as they last) a S/N limited edition.

Kickstarter.com, search for "The Strange Death of Alex Raymond."

There was also one (morbid) reward tier in the Kickstarter, a 1/1 edition with the original art for the bookplate, affixed to the book, along with a few pages of original art (“morbid” because the tier price of $906.56 is the date of the titular death).

Yes, yes… that was me who got it. I also picked up some other art that I liked from the book.

This is the original art from the bookplate, which is actually pasted (quite appropriately) in the book, creating the 1/1 edition. Yes, indeed... the original art is pasted into the book.

Carson did all of the art. Dave collaborated (approved) the design.

The 1/1 edition ended up as number 183/301 because Carson did not grab a blank book. Haha.

The additional images show a close-up from the original art, and its position in the book, as well as the 183/301 bookplate. There is a 1/1 bookplate coming that will be remarked.

Elsewhere in my Carson Gallery: the bonus bookplate that I commissioned for the inside back cover. Do not miss it.