Artist Larry Johnson has been going to town as of late with a series of wonderful releases, the latest of which is the 165-page, full-color, 8" x 11", hardback curation, Worlds of Fantasy.
For Johnson fans, this one covers the glorious gamut of his innovative visions, which cater to alien backdrops, untamed landscapes and pagan interlopers, some frightful and others welcoming, in what covers forty years of the artist's life.
As with his other compilations, Worlds of Fantasy rides on mystery, with images that often stage the advents of adventures, which viewers are encouraged to finish. In other instances, the imagery begs for a genesis or individualized mythology. Either way, the formats are akin to Rorschach springboards, prodding one's senses for meaning and sustenance.
It's hard for me to choose a favorite category among what's submitted, but I do find Johnson's anthropomorphic specimens most inviting, in particular those that frolic among his Dali-esque and Bosch-ian surroundings. Perhaps, this is because I've become an admirer of his Horseman comics, which incorporate much the same elements (and this edition does, in fact, feature several representations derived from the latter). This offbeat, hybrid blend also reminds me of the splendorous turf of Greek/Roman mythology. However, in Johnson's hands, the compositions press the psychedelic and on occasion, even the outskirts of far-reaching futurism. (Think along the lines of Fellini Satyricon, where earthly delights meet starry expansion.)
I'm also captivated by those images that show individuals peering into and/or entering neighboring dimensions. Such scenes are reminiscent of those of Lewis Carroll, Edgar Rice Burroughs and James M. Barrie, while referencing the pop-cultural uncanniness found in The Twilight Zone, The Time Tunnel, Doctor Who and Stargate. (Incidentally, physical struggles insert themselves in many of these examples, often filtered through vibrant eroticism.)
Worlds of Fantasy will fulfill anyone seeking a taste of idiosyncratic wonderment. It's a transcendental experience that unveils Johnson's creme d' la creme, and as it contains a walloping 200 paintings and illustrations, it's guaranteed to bring hours of exploration, no matter which panel one chooses to (re)investigate.
For those interested in Johnson's overall collection of wondrous works, please visit
https://sites.google.com/view/larryjohnsoncomics/amazon-books
and please order Worlds of Fantasy at
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DY7FSX43/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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