Drew Struzan has worked as a magician for over forty years, rendering some of cinema's most historic and iconographic imagery via the art of the movie poster. He has witnessed the rise of the one-sheet from humble advertising ignominy to collectible art with intrinsic value... and he has also watched the form of decay back to its basic form as a mere marketing tool...

To most people the name Drew Struzan will mean nothing. But you can bet that everyone has owned or been impressed with one of the countless movie posters he has created over the years. Struzan is responsible for some of the most iconic movie poster images of the last 30 years, from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Star Wars: Episode III. This is the first book to cover his movie work in depth. Featuring over 300 pieces of artwork, including previously unseen poster art for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Hellboy II, this is a treat for movie buffs and artists alike.

From 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark to 2008's Star Wars: Episode III and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, this book features highlights of Struzan's career and includes plenty of concept art that never made the final selection. This aspect alone is worth the asking price - it's extremely interesting to see the concept ideas for the Back to the Future movies. Not only that, but each project includes background information on what was going on with Struzan's private life at the time and how he had to struggle with the studios who never seemed to know what they wanted.

It also includes artwork for movies that was rejected, including Crocodile Dundee and Raiders of the Lost Ark (where Struzan's work was not used in America, but was featured on the posters when the movie was released throughout the rest of the world).

As a teenager I had posters of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Back to the Future II and III posters on my bedroom wall. I always wondered about the artist who drew these works of art, and now I no longer have to. This is a wonderful book that every movie lover should own.

10

Darren Rea