Written by Ramin Zahed
Foreword by Jeff Koons
Art by Sony Pictures
Published by Abrams Books
I don’t go to movies anymore. Never thought I’d say that but it’s true.
The last time I went to the theater was in 2019 and I haven’t seen anything yet that looked good enough to draw me back.
I can’t afford to rent or buy them streaming when they’re new, either, as they generally cost more than they would have if I’d seen them at the theater.
Thus it is that as I write this review of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: The Art of the Movie, I have yet to see that highly-praised movie itself!
So how does one approach a book like this? Simple. It’s an art book. Says so. There’s even a rather effluvious Foreword from eclectic artist Jeff Koons.
The book’s main text, though, is credited to one Ramin Zahed, who, while informative about characters and their histories, and offering numerous comments from the folks behind the film, seems mainly just there to fill the gaps between the big, colorful paintings, character sketches, model sheets, and scene grabs. I don’t even recognize any of the artists’ names here but I found myself taking long, lingering looks at many of the larger vistas. I even copied one cityscape and made it my computer wallpaper!
To say this is not your father’s Spider-Man is an understatement.
Heck, this ain’t even MY Spider-Man. But it sure looks like a fun and fascinating version of Spider-Man, based on the 224 pages of exciting images found in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Art of the Movie.
This is the way movie tie-in books should be done.
Booksteve recommends.
