Bruce Timm is good, yo. Not great, but really good. And his new book, Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm, is a worthy purchase for long time fans and new ones. It's obviously a departure from the kinda stuff we're used to seeing him do for Warner Brothers Animation, but it is strong. I had a few problems here and there as my opening line implies, but overall, I'm glad I plunked down my dollars.
Published by the steady and sturdy Flesk Publications, Timm’s tome is a 304 page, full-color, “t & a” extravaganza. Lots of ladies; not a lot of clothing. And that’s actually one of my issues. Playboy Magazine got it right years ago by posing their models with props: shoes, boots, belts, outfits, placing them in environments — what have you. Parlor tricks to elevate the fantasy. They figured out early on that you’ll bore your reader to tears if you just shoot a naked woman.
“Here you go, guys, she’s naked.”
Don't get me wrong, Timm doesn't go for bawdy or lewd. And he draws elegant female characters, for sure. He just didn’t put a lot into some of the set-ups. For my taste, there are way too many shots of girls who are simply, disrobed.
That aside, I have to agree with Adrian on Timm's approach: his color game is always on-point. He made gorgeous choices in the book as far as palette is concerned. Bruce is one of the few guys out there that can make local color come off with real mood and intent.
The introduction for Naughty and Nice was written by the ever humble Jim Steranko and it’s about what you would expect. The word “babe” is used to no end. (As a matter of fact, I think babe is in his title!) Still, it was probably smart for Timm and Flesk to get a nod from a guy like Steranko. This isn’t a book exploring strong, capable women as equals in our society; it’s good girl art. A tip of the hat to an era-gone-by (kinda like Steranko himself).
Overall, I recommend this one. Flesk does a solid job with their art books, and Bruce Timm, despite my crits, has the goods.
- SWAiN
**I meant to review Timm's book earlier this year when it first came out (lazy). And I borrowed the pic above from Parka Blogs. Hope they don't mind.
Got to take a bit of issue with the review. The book is a lot of the same, though varying colour and some technique. The secret of Timm is in the eyes. These aren't strong progressive women, as you said, but they are strong women, owning the "camera".
In a world where awesome, brilliant and amazing are tossed about left, right and centre, starting a review with not great but really good is, like it or not, damning with faint praise and is probably what most set me to writing.
Keep up the good work.
(RE: Thanks for the point/counter point, Billy. I was trying to speak from the heart and shoot from the hip, too. Like you said, so many people heap crazy praise and never offer a criticism, I felt it, so I wrote it. I do dig the book, though, and overall Bruce is mighty talented. Take care, my man. - S)
Posted by: Billy Hynes | April 23, 2012 at 14:17
Personally, the first thing I've felt since getting it is that I want another one to offset hundreds of pages of women in various states of undress. Not that I want a big book of buff men but something which shows a bit more versatility.
Maybe we'll get it, probably won't sell as well.
Posted by: Billy Hynes | April 23, 2012 at 22:20
tips of the hat to eras gone by are some of Steranko's meat and potatoes and more power to him for it. sounds like a better choice couldn't have been made. i'd look at anything Jim recommends.
Posted by: John Farwell | April 24, 2012 at 19:53