For the Boys

Rating:
Summary: Just OK
Review: Great idea...disappointing execution. I totally enjoy Joe Phillips' work, but I think, after buying and review this book, as well as The Adventures of Joe Boy, I should limit my "dosage" of these playful "boys" to one or two cartoons at a time.

Rating:
Summary: Some serious talent!
Review: Okay, I will say this right off the bat... I'm a HUGE Joe Phillips fan, and adore his work (especially the calendars), so its no real surprise that I was really pleased with my purchase of "For the Boys". I suppose the only thing that didn't make me really flip out over it was that the vast majority of the work was stuff that had been previously published, whether it was in the calendars, cover art for Xodus magazine or on his website. Having said that though, it was nice to see the calendar images away from their "calendar context", and to just enjoy the total beauty of the "Joe-niverse".

If you're a Joe fan, the book is well worth having... if you're a fan of those lush coffee table photo books, it might make a nice change from all that black and white photography. Joe fills his art with such beautiful colours as well as intricate detail, its hard NOT to fall in love with it.