Lynd Ward: Six Novels in Woodcuts

This is possibly the first American graphic novel. You can argue that comic strips like Little Nemo created more graphically and textually ambitious stories earlier, but as far as I know in my limited knowledge this is the first 'comic' intended to be read as a single volume in standalone format. Or six of them.There are six woodcut illustrated stories, completely devoid of words. If you're familiar with KMFDM covers you know how powerful this can be. First, realize that the negative space is just as important as the positive space. Only the right pages of the book are used, and often only 1/3 of the right page depending on the aspect ratio of the print. But this the right choice - forcing your eyes to scan would be counterproductive. These are powerful, completely wordless fables which rely on the power of stark monochrome. Which means...You need to read this twice. The first time skip the introductions and the artist's comments on his works at the end of the book. Spiegelman is a smart man, but he reads things into the narrative that do not entirely match my interpretation, and I think my opinions are just as justified as his on re-reading. That's part of the raw power of such a stark wordless medium. For now just look at each page long enough to comprehend what is going on, then turn the page. Dive in. Do not dissect the art or think too hard about anything right now. You can absorb the atmosphere, such as when the sun is dark and when it's light, or when the prints are red and black, but don't think too long. At this point you will realize that using only the right pages was the correct presentation - this demands a flow of consciousness and scanning would disrupt that.You should find this easy on the first story, 'God's Man', which is almost too facile but works well as a warmup. Do not blame yourself if you have trouble with the second story, 'Madman's Drum'. Frankly, Ward got a bit overambitious here, and the story exceeded his grasp. Stark, wordless illustrations are powerful, but necessarily limit your precision, and he failed to grasp that at this point in his career - A classic sophomore slump. So just enjoy the art, and if you are willing to spend some time later you can make sense of what's going on. But with the third story ('Wild Pilgrimage') he has learned from his mistakes and is increasingly confident. It's a pleasure to read again.Once you've read all six, then go back and read the introduction by Spiegelman (the same in both books) and Ward's comments on the stories at the end, and see how they compare to your interpretations. Now re-read the stories carefully. Take as much time as you need. I'm not a fan of deconstruction, but I do feel your understanding of the story is equally valid - Spiegelman is an (admittedly very well educated) fan just like you, and the artist's own comments are as interesting for what he tried to convey and failed to as anything else. He's not a completely reliable narrator either since the narrative can reveal things he doesn't even consciously understand. But you will have some context for the religious overtones.Really, the only complaint I have with this is that I would much rather have an 8x11 inch version with softcover than this smaller version with hardcover and case. But I'm not going to knock off a star for it - this is definitely a great work of love by everyone involved and I'm glad I bought it.

A superbly compiled collection of work by the renowned artist, Lynd Ward, whose stories are clearly expressed through lucid and deep woodcuts. This is a must-have for collectors of Americana, or for teachers of Social Justice, or for graphic novel enthusiasts. Each novel is handsomely printed on beautiful paper, and each volume contains three novels each. The divisive times in which we live call for illumination and truth; Lynd Ward's novels supply provender for conversation and healing. Highly recommended!

This is a collection of six graphic novels by Lynd Ward, a master of the wood block illustration. The interesting thing about these books is that even it consists entirely of illustrations, it is clearly possible to understand the story and feel the emotions of the characters. I found the illustrations in this set compare very favorably to the ones in hard to find original Ward books. Library of America has done a great service by republishing Ward's works and it is well worth the read.

I purchased this item as a gift for my older brother. He's a self-taught artist and he focuses on producing what he calls "comix" at Unlike Comix. He's always been interested in American craft and 'zines, but he's recently developed an interest in early graphic novels. He unwrapped it and leafed through it and I could tell the quality of the binding was good. The art is produced one piece to a page-pair so that the reader can examine it with great depth before moving on to the next panel. I think this'll be something he'll display proudly.

I bought these as a gift. The woodcuts are amazing- I can't believe the effort that went into these books. I wonder if these books would have even been created in the age of Facebook- each page is a piece of art in an of itself. I was surprised at how well the books were bound given the price. These books were a value.

very well done

These exquisite woodcuts are a marvel to behold. The stories they tell, deeply rooted in the experience of the Great Depression in the US, still serve as a cautionary tale in our turbulent times. Make sure you read the short essays at the end of the book by the author commenting on the works. Very edifying.

I saw these books in their original form as a teenager. I loved them then. Being back with them is a complete delight. Here is an artist the equal of Rockwell Kent. And to get all five novels for the price—divine. If I had tiny criticism it would only be that I wish they were a tad larger. Cheers to however saw this project through. Bless you! I bought two sets, so as to make another person REALLY happy.