Ishikawa Kyuta was not only a great manga artist! He also illustrated many articles, books, among other things. I recently picked up the relatively easy to find book, 狼王ロボ・灰色ぐまの一生 / Lobo the Wolf King, and The Life of the Grey Bear. Japan seems to have a certain fascination with the stories of Ernest Thompson Seton. There are animes, books, mangas - Many many books and mangas - Depicting these tales by different artists and authors.
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I love how 70's this cover is. It's so perfect.
Sayama Toru wrote this book from Seton's original tales, with commentary provided by Shiraki Shigeru. It's been a fun book to dip into to practice some Japanese and something I would have really enjoyed as a youth.
If you're practicing Japanese and you're a Seton fan, look out for this one! I imagine there's not that much overlap, but you never know.
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Onto Ishikawa Kyuta's beautiful illustrations.
A beautiful introduction to the story of Lobo. It actually spans across two pages, but unfortunately this book suffers a little with the inner binding. Pages are pretty tightly fit together so it's hard to see things that go across the page spread. I love the flat-topped rocks of the New Mexico scenery in the background and Ishikawa's trademark expressions off the bat.
A beautiful introduction to the story of Lobo. It actually spans across two pages, but unfortunately this book suffers a little with the inner binding. Pages are pretty tightly fit together so it's hard to see things that go across the page spread. I love the flat-topped rocks of the New Mexico scenery in the background and Ishikawa's trademark expressions off the bat.
Look at that wolfy face. Ishikawa sure loved to include all those complex muscle contours.
Fun use of black ink, and piercing eyes. Another thing Ishikawa does brilliantly.
His minor instances of cute and silly are so fun to encounter, too!
It's a pity the center squishes so much. This pose is incredible. Maybe I can keep an eye out for a rougher copy that I can debind for a restoration.
On some of Ishikawa's illustrations, I feel a strong influence from Beatrix Potter. Is it just me? Can anybody else see it? The pen strokes, the mannerisms... Especially on the right. Think Tom Kitten spitting. Again, might just be me. I wonder what Ishikawa claimed to be inspired by... I'll have to do some more reading!
Ishikawa has a style of bear that's ever so unique. The mother looks effeminate and the blocky head is just perfect.
Both the expressions in the image - The hunted and the hunter - both look so terrifying to me! Ishikawa really does a good job at those faces that unnerve you slightly. I love also how loose scribbles became shadows so easily in these illustrations.
The front and back are lined inside with this image. I love the white against the green and black. LOVE this style of printing.
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That is all, just a little appreciation post for the illustration of this book!
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