One of the most incredible surprises for me last year was the artbook from artist Elsa Charretier from a Kickstarter campaign. Charretier is no stranger to Star Wars, having illustrated many of IDW’s Star Wars Adventures, as well as illustrating Aphra Annual 3 for Marvel. On receiving the book, the attention to detail in just about every regard was shocking. The packaging, the extras and yes, even the book itself, was a tome of wonder that just kept on giving the more you explored. The whole project that was sent was a piece of artwork in and of itself and it is a book that I keep coming back to again and again. There was a vast amount of Star Wars artwork included, particularly going through the process of creating comic pages.
When Charretier announced towards the end of last year that Volume 2 would be released, I didn’t hesitate. Within the first few minutes I had backed the collector edition with November commentary edition (Vol. 2), sketch and added on the first commentary edition of November that I had missed during the first campaign. Now what has never ceased to amaze me, is the turn around with Charretier’s projects. I back a lot of Kickstarter games and most of the time I’m waiting well over a year. Having this project drop through my letter box this month was shocking. To have everything sorted in such a short amount of time, to the standard of quality that it is, is mind blowing.
So what did come through my door? Well after undoing the outer cardboard, there was an envelope with ‘Elsa Charretier’. How a plastic envelope can feel so inviting is somewhat of a surprise, but the layout of the letters, of the name, none of this is by accident, every last little thing has been thought about. It just shows the dedication that Charretier goes to ensure that this work is presented in the very best possible way. Of course, the only frustrating part is, you’ve got to undo it! Aside from the books, which I’ll return to in a moment, inside you are greeted by several spectacular sights. The first is a gold foil print of Harley Quinn. The artwork here is exceptional. The foil is on the mirror frames that show Quinn’s true self as she stands as her normal personae. This is what fans have come to expect of Charretier’s work. The attention to detail with the Joker on one of the frames, the action poses in the mirror and the shadows inside and out of the mirror, all of it creates an incredible print. There is also a vinyl sticker of a lady sitting in the water. It has a different use to the print and there’s something about it that makes it a pleasant addition to the pack. The fact that the edges aren’t straight, the fact that it’s a relaxed imaged or just the fact that it isn’t geeky in anyway, it’s worth having. Like the first volume, there is a poster with a black and white side and a coloured side. Again, it’s a different form of the art and it’s this variety that really makes this pack so interesting.
But for me, the absolute gem, the item that I just hadn’t really registered in the campaign, is a mini comic called ‘We Run’. It’s illustrated by Charretier and written by Chip Zdarsky. It’s a simple story yet it has a very powerful message. Personally, going through so much in the last six months, this story really connected with me. This is the sort of story everyone should read and to think, it’s an extra in a Kickstarter. My thanks go to Zdarsky for really creating something so beautiful in terms of story. In terms of art, Charretier couldn’t have done a more perfect job. The action, the settings, the memories, I know this will be the piece I keep coming back to again and again.
That’s quite a lot of extras! Added to this there is also a thank you letter from Charretier, a really personal touch that just adds to the whole thing. In it she also mentions about her new venture, her YouTube channel. If you are yet to view any of these, I can heartily recommend them (the one focused on Batman: Year One is really something!) particularly if you’re a fan of the comic book genre. I really think Charretier has tapped into a very unique idea. As I said, I opted to get the November Commentary Edition Volume 2 (and Volume 1). This is a series created by Charretier and Matt Fraction, I won’t say too much of these here (particularly as Volume 1 is sent separately and I’m eagerly awaiting its arrival) but you can see within its pages the level of detail that the pair have gone to, dissecting their work and sharing their creative insight.
Hopefully you can see, this is not just a book, it’s a lot more. This is a celebration of an artist who is at her prime and sharing different mediums of her artwork. So the book itself? When opening the book, I was greeted by a hand drawn sketch. Although having this in Volume 1, this is no less special, and the individualistic nature of the book makes it even more unique. The book, like the first is split into four sections: Commissions, Department of Truth, Covers and Storytelling Showdown.
Now I will say there is a lot less focus on Star Wars than there was in Volume 1. For me, this makes absolute sense. Charretier has worked on a wide range of franchises and I wouldn’t expect her to omit these just for Star Wars. There are some stunning pieces her, both from a galaxy far, far away and from other franchises. Volume 2 feels like it has a better balance in this regard, which as a fan of her work (whether it be Star Wars or not) I’m very pleased about. The Star Wars pieces to be found here are all in the commission section. We get to see the process for a Luke/Leia picture, from pencilling, to sketch, to the final piece. There’s a stunning Mandalorian piece with Baby Yoda (I still can’t get use to Grogu), the owner of which I am very envious of. Finally, there are a couple of pieces of Rey. There is quite the range of Star Wars here to please most fans, with pieces I’ve not seen before. Yes, it’s a lot less Star Wars than volume 1, but when I read through the commissions section, the breadth of artwork was incredible. Top Gun, The Princess Bride, Batman (just like Volume 1, an outstanding image!), Blade Runner, the list seems endless, and every image has so much to explore. The first volume seemed very focused on particular areas, this volume, Charretier has taken any barriers away and is showing how versatile she can be, applying her craft to anything or everything.
The other three parts, while not Star Wars, are fascinating, particularly if you enjoy art. The second is an in depth look at Charretier’s work on The Department of Truth. My knowledge of this series is non-existent, but if the art I have seen in this book is anything to go by, I will be picking it up very soon. The third part is a selection of covers that Charretier has done. Again, it is the range of different series that are included here that really makes it stand out from Volume 1. Finally, is perhaps my favourite part of the book, the Storytelling Showdown. Here, Charretier enlists the help of Declan Shalvey and Tom King (with art by Mitch Gerads) to showcase how an artist’s approach artwork in different ways. In this section it is Tom King’s script with art by Gerads that is then interpreted in two different ways by Shalvey and Charretier. Not only does this show the uniqueness of Charetier’s work but also of Shalvey. It is this sort of insight that is extremely unique, and I hope we see more of with Volume 3 (which I assume we will be seeing).
In my review of Volume 1, I remember saying it was Charretier’s love letter to the world. It was personal, very focused on some of her most prized works. Volume 2 is certainly an expansion of that, but instead of being narrowly focused, it provides a much grander view of Charretier’s work. It is a bold statement that shows a growing confidence that says, “I’m proud of what I can do and here I am!” There are only a few Star Wars pieces here and when viewed alongside Volume 1, that’s how it should be. Star Wars had its spotlight in the first volume. While not forgotten here (and the pieces here are beautiful), this is about showcasing all Charretier’s work, not some small pocket of it. For some Star Wars fans, that might not be enough. But for fans of Charretier’s work who have found her through Star Wars, this is certainly a book to pick up to understand just how special Charretier’s work is and what this incredible artist is capable of, outside of the galaxy far, far away.
