NUCLEUS X Artist Edition

NUCLEUS X is a boxed set of four 8x11 inch full color, stunning softcovers (over 200 pages) of the 10th issue of the fanzine that pro-artist Mark Wheatley began publishing back in the 1960s as a young fan. These pages are filled with his own artistic history, tributes to other artists such as Dan Smith and Walter Jardine, full color paintings and illustrated stories, several from Robert E. Howard and E.R. Burroughs novels (Conan, Solomon Kane, Dejah Thoris and John Carter), reviews, and more. The quality of work here is magnificent. - Bud The entire package is a multi-media extravaganza that includes bookmarks, trading cards, posters, FIVE 11x17 art prints--three signed--and even a full 16 track Prog Rock music CD. While NUCLEUS X is mostly a one-man show, contributors include Neil Gaiman, Dave Cockrum, Marc Hempel, Bob Smith, John Workman, Bernie Wrightson, Jeff Jones, Mike Kaluta, Howard Chaykin, Gray Morrow, Roy Krenkel and others!! The prints are "Elegant Dejah," "Schneewichen (Snow White)," "Heroes of Barsoom"--all signed. Plus two more with wonderful retro-paintings from 2023 promoting Reading. One is a space girl and alien, relaxing with a book on a spaceship; the other is three girls sharing books in a magnificent forest. Both were drawn in 2023. The styles of these "reading" pieces channel the pulp illustrators for one, and N.C. Wyeth and Franklin Booth for the other. The three Mark started down the road to being a creator for comics, books, games, TV and film by publishing this fanzine when he was a kid. To this day, it remains the most fun Mark has ever had as a creator. You'll see that for yourself as you dig into these full color, amazing pages. And let's not forget the rock and roll of this project – "The Multi-Musicverse." Delve into a CD of Mark's original music, filled with theme songs Mark personally recorded for his comics and graphic novel series throughout the years. The melodies for "Breathtaker," "Frankenstein Mobster," "Mars," "Radical Dreamer," "Return of the Human," and more will enrich your readings of the comics and graphic novels. In a different life, Mark says he might have had a career in music. Back in the day, he turned down recording contracts with Columbia and Capital simply because he was already contracted to create monthly comics. Joining him on this musical adventure are guest musicians Rich Rankin, Ted Steranko (Jim’s little brother), comics creator Timothy Truman, Frances Cincotta, and others. The CD was mastered and remixed by Rich Mouser who has done the same for Dream Theater, Weezer, Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic and others. The artwork here alone is a knockout. Mark has become a first class painter and this is packed with fine work by him. I had a hard time limiting our scans to as many as you find here, there was so much fine work. This is an absolutely amazing package--in one volume, his tributes to other artists reminds me of Jim Vadeboncoeur's Images magazine, with eye-popping work by super pen and ink masters (Jim Steranko himself is a big fan of Walter Jardine). This is to me a magnum opus of his finest work. I'm eager to read it cover to cover. - Bud