MA – Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross

Alex Ross appears at the Norman Rockwell Museum on Saturday November 10, 2012 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Commentary at 7 p.m. Autographs (limit of 2 – 3 items per person) with the artist to follow.

Press Release:

Over the last two decades, caped crusaders have literally been flying off the pages and covers of comic books and graphic novels, due in large part to the work of one very talented illustrator: Alex Ross. Known for his unique, photorealistic renderings of such beloved superheroes as Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man, Ross helped revitalize the comic book industry, capturing a new generation of readers, and bridging the gap between comic and fine art.

This fall, Norman Rockwell Museum will present a comprehensive look at the career of the artist who has been called “the Norman Rockwell of the comics world.” “Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross” will be on view at the Museum from November 10, 2012 through February 24, 2013.

“Heroes & Villains” is the first museum exhibition celebrating the art of Alex Ross. Organized by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the exhibition features more than 130 works, including paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures from Ross’ personal collection. Spanning the artist’s life and career, the exhibition features rarely-seen works—from his early crayon drawing of Spider-Man, created at the age of four, to his groundbreaking work for such books as “Marvels,” “Justice,” and “Kingdom Come.” “Heroes & Villains” reveals Ross’ personal and artistic goal to redefine comic books for a new generation. The exhibition also pays homage to the artist’s inspirations, including original work by his mother Lynette Ross (who was also a successful illustrator), Frank Bez, Andrew Loomis, and Norman Rockwell. Also featured in the exhibition are works by Andy Warhol, a huge comic book fan, including his “Myths” series, which mirrors many of the subjects depicted in Ross’ work.

“Norman Rockwell Museum is thrilled to be able to present the work of Alex Ross,” says Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt. “Just as millions of readers in the 20th century were introduced to the world of art courtesy of Norman Rockwell, that tradition continues today thanks to Ross’ beautifully painted illustrations, which combine photographic realism and imaginative storytelling.”

“Norman Rockwell has been one of the greatest influences on my art, and it is an enormous honor to be featured in the museum dedicated to his work,” notes Alex Ross. “I have always looked upon Rockwell’s style as the peak of what one could hope to achieve artistically. The artist’s realistic execution and eye for composition are things I aspire to, knowing that he performed a quality of work that isn’t easily achieved. It is a major career achievement for me to have my work in company with his.”

A members opening event for the exhibition will be held on Saturday, November 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a rare appearance by Alex Ross, who will also be conducting a book signing during the evening event.
About Alex Ross

Born in Portland, Oregon in 1970 and raised in Lubbock, Texas, Alex Ross grew up in a world of colorful, painted images. Ross’s mother Lynette was a successful illustrator in the 1940s and 1950s, the same time that Norman Rockwell was becoming a household name.

At just three years of age, Ross was drawing TV commercials from memory. The following year, he began drawing images of his favorite superheroes—Superman, Captain Marvel, and Plastic Man. By the time he was 13, he was drawing and scripting comic books. At the age of 17, Ross went on to study painting at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he was influenced by Salvador Dali’s hyperrealism, as well as by such classic American illustrators as Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker.

Ross began his professional career as a storybook artist for an advertising agency. At the age of 19 Ross received his first comic assignment from Marvel Comics – a comic titled “Terminator: The Burning Earth.” Five years later, Ross created the illustrations and cover art for “Marvels,” a full feature comic book, co-written by Kurt Busiek. Ross’s photorealistic gouache technique showcases superheroes and villains such as Spider-Man, the Human Torch, Captain America, and Galactus. His sophomore project, “Kingdom Come,” is a comic in which an alternate DC Universe is filled with aging superhero forces including Superman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern, who come out of retirement to fight modern super humans.

Ross won the Comic Buyer’s Guide Award for Favorite Painter seven times in a row, resulting in the retirement of the category.

To learn more, visit the artist’s website: http://www.alexrossart.com

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262

IL – Dynamite Art Signing

Superstar artist Alex Ross signs at Keith’s on Saturday, December 10th, 2011 from 1:00-4:00PM! Mr. Ross will be signing his new art book from Dynamite, along with all his previously released materials.

Keith’s Komix
528 S. Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193

Hero Initiative Teams-Up with DC Comics

Press Release:

The Hero Initiative, a charity dedicated to helping comic creators in medical or financial need, most proudly announces their new partnership in the Justice League of America #50 project with DC Comics. This is the first collaboration with DC Comics ever and Hero is chomping at the bit to pull the collection together. The call has gone out and dozens of artists are putting pen to paper. DC has generously donated 100 blank-covered cardstock copies of Justice League of America #50 to Hero, and work is being created by well-known stars such as Jim Lee, Alex Ross, George Perez, Jason Bone, Jim Valentino, and many, many more.

“It’s an honor to participate, not only because this is the first time DC Comics is collaborating with Hero Initiative, but because Hero Initiative is such an important organization to our community,” said Jim Lee, artist and Co-Publisher of DC Comics.

“We’re thrilled to be working in new ways with DC Comics, and showcasing some of the greatest artists and greatest characters in the world,” said Hero Initiative President Jim McLauchlin. “And of course, sales of the covers and the collected book will go toward helping many other comic creators in need.”

All 100 original Justice League of America covers will be published in a book slated for release in 2011, and a public viewing of all covers will be scheduled as well.

IN – Rough Justice Signing

Alex Ross signs on June 26th from 1-4pm at BuyMeToys.Com. Alex will be signing his new art book “Rough Justice” along with his many other works. Please contact the store at 574-271-8697 for more information and event details. BuyMeToys.Com is located in South Bend, IN within driving distance of Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit and Toledo.

BuyMeToys.Com, 6327 University Commons, South Bend, IN 46635

IL – Rough Justice Signing

Alex Ross will be signing and promoting his new book Rough Justice with Chicago Comics on June 5th from 3pm to 5pm.

From the sensational, award-winning artist of the bestselling Mythology: his never-before-seen DC Comics sketchbook.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the stunning black-and-white drawings of the DC characters you loved from Mythology: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Black Canary, and many more. All of Alex Ross’s extraordinary, hyper-realistic paintings start as pencil on paper, and some of them never get beyond that stage. None of these hundreds of graphite sketches has ever been published before, and most of them will make their only published appearance in Rough Justice.
In 2008 Ross became the first cover artist in DC history to work simultaneously on the monthly Superman and Batman titles. All of the designs he created for an entire year–even those that did not make the final cut–are included here. And in an interview with Chip Kidd, Ross reveals his process and how these drawings translate into the finished paintings.
Rough Justice reveals the brilliance and brawn of Alex Ross’s draftsmanship: the foundation of his dazzling images.

Chicago Comics, 3244 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657-1602
www.chicagocomics.com
(773) 528-1983

IL – Rough Justice Signing

Alex Ross signs Rough Justice on May 04, 2010 at 7:00 PM.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the stunning black-and-white drawings of the DC characters you loved from Mythology: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Black Canary, and many more. All of Alex Ross’s extraordinary, hyper-realistic paintings start as pencil on paper, and some of them never get beyond that stage. None of these hundreds of graphite sketches has ever been published before.

Borders, 830 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Alex Ross and Arthur Suydam Exclusives at C2E2

Press Release:

C2E2 Alex Ross and Arthur Suydam Exclusives!

BuyMeToys.Com the publishers of The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles Comic Series, is proud to announce three major Exclusives for the C2E2 Convention in Chicago. Alex Ross, the biggest name in comics, paints two of the most recognizable characters in Fiction: Dorothy and The Wicked Witch! The first Exclusive is a “Dorothy vs. The Witch” 18″ x 24″ Hand numbered Print (limited to 250); of Ross’s upcoming cover to The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles #4. Then an Exclusive Oz/Wonderland 2010 Preview comic, with an “Alex Ross Through the Looking-Glass” Cover. Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies) brings his style to both Oz and Wonderland, with an Exclusive “Through the Looking-Glass” version of his cover to our newest release- The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: Prelude to Evil #1

• The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: Prelude to Evil #1 C2E2 Exclusive Arthur Suydam Cover. Limited to 300. $3.50

• The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles: 2010 Preview w/ Exclusive Alex Ross Cover. Limited to 1,000 copies. $3.50

• Alex Ross “Dorothy vs. The Witch” 18″ x 24″ Print. Limited to 250 and hand numbered. $19.99

All three of these Exclusives will be available as supplies last at booth #1349 April 16-18, 2010.

Only from BuyMeToys.Com and Only at C2E2.

Mike Mignola Named a C2E2 Guest of Honor (UPDATED)

Via Twitter, Hellboy Creator Mike Mignola is the latest named Guest of Honor for next year’s C2E2, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.

Previously announced guests include Alex Ross, Ben Templesmith, Ethan Van Sciver, Jackson “Butch” Guice, Jeff Smith, and Steve McNiven.

UPDATE – The official press release:

MIKE MIGNOLA TO APPEAR AT C2E2 AS GUEST OF HONOR

Noted Creator of Hellboy is Latest Guest Announcement … Many More Guests to be Revealed in Coming Weeks
Norwalk, CT, October 29, 2009: Organizers of the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) have today announced that Mike Mignola will be a Guest of Honor at the new pop culture convention which is being launched April 16 – 18, 2010 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center. Mr. Mignola joins other previously announced high profile guests such as Alex Ross, who will be a Keystone Guest of Honor at the show, as well as Jackson Guice, Steve McNiven, Jeff Smith, and Ethan Van Sciver, all of whom will be Guests of Honor at C2E2. Show organizers are making it a priority to announce guests early and often to keep all fans fully informed of the dynamic talent from comics, graphic literature, and all corners of pop culture that will be on hand when the show debuts in April.

“Mike Mignola is a brilliant artist, creator, and writer, and I know that there are many fans in and around Chicago who are very eager to see him,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President and Show Manager for C2E2. “Mike’s been a big hit at New York Comic Con and the subject of a lot of fan requests for C2E2. We’re very happy to now reveal – as a Halloween treat – he’ll be joining us at McCormick Place!”

In commenting on his appearance at C2E2, Mike Mignola said: “I’m happy to return to the Midwest and I’m especially looking forward to being in the fantastic city of Chicago!”

Mike Mignola is best known as the award-winning creator/writer/artist of Hellboy, a comic series following an eponymous demon, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, and their fight against various supernatural forces around the globe. The Hellboy saga, beginning publication in 1993, has crossed across comic books, animation, toys, video games, and – in 2004 – a live-action film starring Ron Perlman. Mignola served as a Visual Consultant for both the 2004 Hellboy motion picture as well as its 2008 sequel, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. Outside of Hellboy, Mignola co-authored (with Christopher Golden) the novel BALTIMORE, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire. Mignola lives in southern California with his wife, daughter, and cat.

As noted, Mignola is the latest of several major guests who have already been announced for C2E2. Convention organizers will be announcing many more guests in the coming weeks and months in order to keep fans fully informed of the top tier talent which will be participating in the new show. For more information about C2E2, visit the web site at www.C2E2.com. For the latest announcements and news about C2E2 as well as news about all of Reed’s Pop Culture activity, please visit the group’s official blog, www.mediumatlarge.net, or follow C2E2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/C2E2.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS POP CULTURE GROUP:

The Pop Culture Group at Reed Exhibitions owns and operates the New York Comic Con (NYCC), the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), and the New York Anime Festival (NYAF). New York Comic Con was launched in 2006 and quickly became a dominant presence in the pop culture world of public events. In 2009, 452 companies exhibited at NYCC for a total of 84,000 square feet of paid exhibit space, and it has been ranked by Crain’s New York Business as the second-largest annual event in NYC. C2E2, which will debut April 16 – 18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center, is modeled after NYCC and will provide fans the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite writers, creators, and artists, as well as to see, hear and learn about the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. The Pop Culture Group also operates the recently-launched UFC Fan Expo in partnership with the UFC – the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization – and it formed a strategic partnership with Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in 2008 and will work closely with PAX on the launch of PAX East in Boston in 2010.

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Golden Inking Kirby, Ross, and More for Super-Con

Press Release:

San Jose– The San Jose SuperCon returns to the San Jose Convention Center May 16-17 2009 with their most extensive guest list ever: Michael Golden, Adam Hughes, Frank Cho, Arthur Suydam, Travis Charest, Eduardo Risso, Joe Jusko, Howard Chaykin, Jim Silke, Bruce Dern, Bill Morrison, Marina Sirtis, Joe Benitez, Talent Caldwell, Mike Mayhew, Craig Hamilton, and many more!

Panels, Panels and more Panels mark the event, not to mention the much anticipated costume contest, RoboTech Tour Stop, and Annual Art Auction in which the shows world-class line up of artists will once again provide thousands of dollars worth of one-of-a-kind collectibles up for bid!

One of the shows most anticipated events in conjunction with the art auction is the “Inking Panel,” where the various artist guests try their hand inking over others. Last year featured the pencils of Adam Hughes and Michael Golden. This year, the pencils have been provided by Alex Ross, Bill Morrison and Mark Schultz with an added pencil piece by Jack Kirby!

Michael Golden has provided inked renditions over ALL FOUR artists, and all four Golden turns will be available in the Annual Art Auction on Sunday. When else do you get to see Golden inking Kirby?!

But then, this whole show is not to be missed for any fan of comics and sequential art! So find your way to San Jose!

For more information on SuperCon the Inking Panel and other programming go to: www.super-con.com

Alex Ross Named Guest of Honor for C2E2

Press Release:

ALEX ROSS TO APPEAR AT CHICACO COMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)
First Guest of Honor is Revealed at Launch Party in Chicago

Web site now live!

Norwalk, CT, April 16, 2009: Reed Exhibitions, the company which organizes New York Comic Con (NYCC) and which recently announced (Feb. 2, ’09) the launch of Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), has today revealed that Chicago area resident and celebrated comic book painter and illustrator Alex Ross will be the first Guest of Honor at the new show which will take place April 16 – 18, 2010 at McCormick Place in downtown Chicago. The announcement was made public at a Launch Party for C2E2 which is taking place this evening at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville, a popular destination point which sits in the shadow of Wrigley Field in the historic Lakeview section of Chicago. The announcement of Mr. Ross’s role as Guest of Honor comes exactly one year to the day before C2E2 is set to open its doors in Chicago.

“We are pleased to be in Chicago and we are very pleased to be able to announce Alex as our first Guest of Honor a full year in advance,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President and Show Manager for C2E2. “Alex has had a stellar career and his artistry speaks for itself. He is at the absolute top of his profession AND he lives in Chicago. We couldn’t have a more perfect Guest of Honor and we are very grateful for this early commitment to appear at our show.”

The Launch Party at Wrigleyville is an invitation only event to Chicago area professionals, press, retailers, and creators. It is an opportunity for all local “tastemakers” to meet and greet the C2E2 team in an informal setting. In addition to announcing Mr. Ross’s role, there will be ample discussion about the show and a chance for all party participants to contribute ideas. Officials note that the announcement of Alex Ross’s participation in C2E2 underscores a direction which they intend to build on; namely, to attract Midwestern talent to the annual convention. “Of course, we will be hosting people from all over the country at C2E2 but our primary focus is on Chicago and the Midwest,” Fensterman continues. “This is a show that will definitely reflect the community and sensibility of the local area and we are going to work very hard to ensure that everyone feels at home. This is certainly one reason we are here at Wrigleyville to have this party!”

Officials note that concurrent with the activities of today’s Launch Party, the C2E2 web site has officially gone “live” and information about the show will be posted as it becomes available throughout the next year. Everyone interested in C2E2 is invited to check out the web site at

www.C2E2.com. Further information about the show is available at Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.MediumAtLarge.net.

ABOUT ALEX ROSS:

Alex Ross’s photorealistic paintings have garnered attention throughout the comics world and beyond. He has made a name for himself as both an artist and a storyteller. He studied illustration at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, then honed his craft as a storyboard artist before entering the comics field. His 1993 miniseries Marvels (Marvel Comics) opened a wider acceptance for painted comics. He followed that with the series Kingdom Come for DC Comics, which remains one of the most successful graphic novels in comics history. He painted a series of tabloids for DC Comics celebrating Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, and Wonder Woman, which were then collected as The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes. Ross co-created the Earth X projects for Marvel and Justice for DC. He is currently working on Superpowers for Dynamite Entertainment and Avengers/Invaders for Marvel. He was the subject of the 2003 book Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross (Pantheon). His non-comics work includes creating the poster for the 2002 Academy Awards®, the opening credits for Spider-Man 2, and multiple covers for TV Guide and Village Voice. For more information, please visit www.alexrossart.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS:

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer. In 2007 Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 39 fully staffed offices.

Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 500 events serves 47 industry sectors, including:

Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, building & construction, electronics, energy, engineering, entertainment, environment, food & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, IT, jewellery, life sciences & pharmaceuticals, property, manufacturing, medical education, packaging & converting, printing & visual communication, security, sports & recreation, travel.

Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.

Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million.