Paul Pope’s new graphic novel Battling Boy debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and the original art is now the focus of a series of traveling art exhibits in the United States and Europe. Image Comics presents Pope’s large, lush, brushy original drawings, represented here in detail, photographed from the actual art boards, with minimal editorial interference or digital editing. This is a wide sampling from the various touring exhibits, featuring the art in its original format, with text in English, French, and Italian. The book focuses on the subtleties of the drawings in process, replicating the experience of seeing the art in person. 63 originals from Battling Boy are showcased, along with detailed close-ups of the pages.
A critical essay by Charles Brownstein, executive director of CBLDF, is included. Pope himself contributes an essay on the influences behind Battling Boy, as well as his process and technique.