I Have to Live with This Guy Book

If you've read any of Twomorrow's artist biographies you know what you're going to get. This one was a tad different than the norm as it wasn't formatted as an uber-long interview. Rather it had a bit more of a narrative read. But it was still the same basic thing...an overview of the life and work of Joe Sinnott. And for what they are and the creators they cover that's probably fine. You're not going to get an extensive biography or a critical assessment of the creator. It's a nice overview with a plethora of illustrations. Since even most of the greats in comics history aren't getting scholarly biographies these books fill a nice niche.

In this case, though, you can make a compelling argument that we are dealing with one of comics great creators. And one that is probably not recognized as such by most fans, historians or critics...but certainly is by creators. Much is said, and rightly so, about Jack Kirby creating the Marvel look in the 60s. But if Kirby created the dynamic energy, it was Sinnott who provided the polish that made it all come together. It was Sinnott who made the Kirby Krackle really CRACKLE!! Steranko talks about harrassing, begging and bribing Sol Brodsky to get Sinnott assigned to his work because he knew it would look that much better with Sinnott inking it. And Joltin' Joe more than just an incredible inker. One of the joys of the book is seeing commissions and drawings that Joe did without a penciller. I can say without hesitation that a Sinnott western book would have been a joy to behold. The topping on the cake is that he comes across and is universally lauded as just an incredibly nice man.