Written, Created and Illustrated by:
Aaron Blecha and Jason Felix
Website: http://www.monstersquid.com/midwestmonsters.htm
Buy the book: http://www.jasonfelixstudio.com/shop.php
Blog: http://monstersquid.blogspot.com
Every year I walk the aisles of Comic Con, grazing on and sifting through what begins to feel like a million books, pieces of art and sometimes just down right strange and bizarre creations hatched from the minds of artists and writers from around the world. Often I see the same old things again and again. When you have the opportunity to search, you will discover that it can be a challange to find that illusive original concept. Sometimes though (and when I say sometimes I mean not often) something will catch your eye. Sometimes something truly unique will throw you off your pace and beg you to stop. At this years Comic Con in San Diego, that one thing was a book called A Field Guide To Midwest Monsters. The book was created, written and illustrated by two very talented guys, Aaron Blecha and Jason Felix.
Now I have to imagine that many of you readers out there have never been to a Comic Convention so let me explain why the fact that this book standing out is such an awesome achievement. Even at a small comic convention there will easily be over a thousand vendors. On top of the vendors there are the comic stores selling their wares. On top of the stores there are the artists who have purchased a space in artists row and on top of all of that there are the guys that just show up to use an empty table hoping to be noticed. All of these people are looking to entice you. They want more then anything else that you will notice their new comic and become an avid reader of their work. Even the best books can be passed over at an event like this. At the San Diego Comic Con this year there were thousands of these people and over one hundred thousands visitors to boot. Out of all these vendors and books and beautiful pieces of art, A Field Guide To Midwest Monsters stood alone, (I am the cheese).
A Field Guide To Midwest Monsters is hands down one of the most creative, original and fun books I have picked up in years. The title is self descriptive. A Field Guide To Midwest Monsters is designed for the monster enthusiasts of this world. Weather you are the lunatic with an eye for monster hunting or just a fine young nature lover who wants to ere on the side of caution, this field guide doles out the most critical information regarding the monsters of the Midwest. If ever a confrontation with a monster is eminent all that need be done is a quick flip through the guide and not only will you find the most appropriate information on said monster, ie… if it is dangerous. Does it eat meat and what type of computer games it enjoys most. You will also find its Latin name and many other less helpful but very interesting facts.
Aron Blecha and Jason Felix have achieved an incredible feat with this book. Not only have they managed to spark my imagination but also made me laugh. The artwork is so enticing that your eyes tend to creep from detail to detail. The monsters are hilarious. I was impressed by the amount of research and effort they went through in order to document these most wild of wild creatures. A Field Guide To Midwest Monsters effortlessly seeks out the child in us all and drags him (or her) out giggling. Since I’ve had this book in my possession I have flipped through it at least once a day to read about another monster, from the Supreme Udder all the way down to Melvin (If you have to ask about Melvin then you should just go buy the book.).
I am giving A Field Guide To Midwest Monsters five stars, our highest recommendation. This is truly a book that you will enjoy for years. Please make sure to peruse the Midwest monsters site, I linked it at the top of the page. I have also included some of the artwork from the book along with Biographies of Aaron Blecha and Jason Felix. All I have left to say is BUY THIS BOOK, you won’t regret it.
Artist Bio: Aaron Blecha
Check out Aaron’s site: http://www.monstersquid.com/
Aaron Blecha has been cartooning all his life.
Blecha was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin and raised by a pack of slimy yet loving giant squids. Luckily he acclimated to human society rather quickly. On a steady diet of Frankenberry and CheezBalls, he watched 70′s Saturday morning cartoons and read monster books by Maurice Sendak and Mercer Mayer.
Later influences included Stephen King novels, Batman (both Frank Miller and Adam West versions), Universal Monster movies, Star Wars, Marvel comics, Santa Cruz skateboard graphics, and the Toxic Avenger.
After completing his high school senior art project a comic book titled “Captain Calamari”– he went on to the University of Wisconsin. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphasis in Illustration and Design, he went south to Chicago where he worked as a graphic designer.
From there, Blecha moved to San Francisco; where Spazzco Animation Studio hired him. There he directed a few shorts for Cartoon Network Online as well as developed a variety of online games. His work has also appeared in various international film festivals. He has also worked with Warner Brothers and LeapFrog toys.
San Francisco is also the place where he reunited with his high school art chum, Jason Felix. After many nights out full of beer and sketching, the pair hatched the idea of creating the Field Guide to Midwest Monsters.
Blecha has recently relocated to London in October of ’05. He continues to draw as a freelance animator and illustrator.
Artist Bio: Jason Felix
Check out Jason’s site: http://www.jasonfelixstudio.com
Jason Felix was born and raised in the frightening town Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1973. From birth, Jason disliked sports (which is a sin in Green Bay). He spent most of his childhood in front of the TV. A steady dose of Bugs Bunny, Robotech, Scooby-Doo, Voltron, ThunderCats, Justice League, Land of the Lost, The Three Stooges, Adam’s Family, and The Munsters were his favorite shows to watch as a young lad. In between doses of TV, plenty of time was spent playing ‘Kick the Can’, ‘Ding Dong Ditch’, ‘and ‘Murder Ball’.
At 11 years old, Jason was a happy, spirited boy until that fateful day when he watched Alien with his father. Movies that soon followed included Conan: The Barbarian, Blade Runner, Star Wars, and Clash of the Titans and thus began his fascination with fantasy, science fiction, monsters, and creatures. Notebooks and spare scrapes of paper were filled with tons of sketches. Soon after, he began to play Dungeons and Dragons. Full of imagination, wonderful creatures and character designs, Jason’s obsession grew greater. Comic books, “Choose your Adventure” books, D&D modules, and art supplies were the only things found in his room.
Soon after graduating high school, Jason begun to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout as a Fine Arts major. He finished three semesters before dropping out to pursue a career as an illustrator.
At the age of 19, Jason got his start as a freelance artist working for White Wolf games, FASA, TSR, and Wizards of the Coast. With over six years of experience creating artwork for over 40+ books and novels, Jason decided to relocate to San Francisco to pursue a full-time career as a concept artist for film/TV/videogames.
Since then, Jason has worked with numerous companies such as Mattel, Nihilistic Software, Random House books, Wizards of the Coast, and Flagship Studios.The Field Guide to Midwest Monsters
Purchase a copy of The Field Guide to Midwest Monsters Here.
