Let’s start with the size and shape, as one of the most defining traits in an art book is their fondness for being coffee table fodder. With an overall square, block-like canvas, Man, Machines & Monsters is perfect. It’s far easier to handle than some of the longer books, such as The Avengers: The Art of Marvel’s Avengers, and by all accounts, allows for far higher quality and natural resolution to the content presented.
And plenty of content there is! Bundled with lots of stickers and two beautiful posters, the book is a serious treat. Each character chapter has a little ID card stuck onto the page, and it’s clear that the publisher knew it had something special on its hand with the film. Pages are printed with a great mix of original concept art, note pages from del Toro and other writers and artists, simple text descriptions and stills from the movie itself.
The attention to detail in a del Toro pic is something special, and it’s obvious how much aesthetic, colours and design matter to the fantasy director. Titan Books have pulled out all the stops in writing content too, with interviews from many of the designers.
There are specific hand-written note pages and doodles in the book that, if you wish, could be taken out and appreciated in isolation. It’s almost as if you have an actual hand-written note or Jaeger blueprint from some of the most creative people in Hollywood today.
Published on Tuesday 18 June 2013 by Titan Books.
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