Review by C.J. Bunce
Maybe it’s the movie. Maybe it’s the character. Maybe it’s the unique format. Titan Books’ latest (15th) volume in its Marvel Studios Infinity Saga library is simply the best yet. A treasure chest of Spider-Man imagery and a chronicle of one of the MCU’s best movies, The Art of Spider-Man: Homecoming will have you marvelling at page after page of web-slinging through the holidays. Available now here at Amazon, the 256-page hardcover packs inside so many images of Spidey that aspiring artists could use the book as a comprehensive photo reference. More than that, writer Eleni Roussos has chronicled the development and design for what should be on your list as the best Spider-Man movie yet, and one to include in your Top 10 of all the MCU movies.
What’s inside?
Design is something I’ve mentioned before in my reviews of this “making of” series. But this book is different. It has the added fun of being formatted like a high school yearbook. So although it still contains those great “full-bleed” two-page spreads featuring the poster-worthy concept art you’d expect, much of the book is written freestyle, like it was scribed by a (smart) high school student (it references Angourie Rice’s character, Editor-in-Chief Betty Brant in the yearbook notes). And it’s just as a student staffer would do, documenting the key events of the movie–all consistent with the movie’s tone. Many of the photos are added to look like they were selected by the yearbook staff. It’s very well done.
It’s not only a book of concept artwork. The close-ups of different iterations of the web-slinging devices have probably not been included elsewhere, and they provide a good resource for anyone trying to cosplay Spidey. Similarly, readers will get to see several color combinations, emblem locations, and eye styles considered. It even includes the web-wings originally featured in Amazing Fantasy Issue #15 that were used in the flying sequences of the movie.
One section is devoted to the bad guys, including the concept art behind Michael Keaton’s super-villain Vulture–including lots of wing and helmet ideas considered and discarded. Did you know Robert Downey, Jr.’s Iron Man received an updated suit for his brief appearance (courtesy of artist Phil Saunders)? It was inspired by his appearance in the Ultimates comics. And yes, the movie’s trip to Washington, D.C. is cleverly included in a yearbook school trip section.
Look for contributions by director Jon Watts, Marvel chief Kevin Feige, the production team, head of visual development Ryan Meinerding, and director of photography Salvatore Totino. Back for more from the earlier MCU films are key concept artists including visual development illustrators Phil Saunders, Josh Nizzi, and Alexander Mandradjiev, production designer Oliver Scholl, costume designer Louise Frogley, visual effects supervisor Janek Sirrs, visual effects producer Diana Giorgiutti, and propmaster Kirk Corwin.
This one’s for all the Spider-Man fans out there. Don’t miss the 15th entry in the new re-issued, re-formatted Marvel movie library, The Art of Spider-Man: Homecoming, out this month and available here at Amazon from Titan Books.
Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the series: Iron Man: The Art of the Movie here, The Art of Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 2 here, Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Art of the Movie here, Captain America: The First Avenger–The Art of the Movie, here, The Art of Marvel Studios’ The Avengers here, The Art of Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 here, The Art of Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World here, The Art of Captain America and the Winter Soldier here, The Art of Guardians of the Galaxy here, The Art of Avengers: Age of Ultron here, The Art of Ant Man here, Captain America: Civil War – The Art of the Movie here, The Art of Doctor Strange here, The Art of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 here, and The Art of Spider-Man: Homecoming here.
Along with the other entries in the MCU, Spider-Man: Homecoming (reviewed here in back in 2017) is streaming on Disney+.
