Rhys Cooper's "Mad Max" Double Bill Posters

The planets must have aligned, as Tommy Good, the same folks who brought us posters for Once Upon a Time in the West, A Clockwork Orange and Apocalypse Now, are set to unleash a Mad Max and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior double bill print by artist Rhys Cooper. Here's a fun tidbit that everyone reading this probably already knows: both Tommy Good (the company) and Rhys Cooper (the artist) are based out of Australia. Why is this important, you ask? Well, technically it's not. Good art is good art no matter where it comes from, but Mad Max is probably the most celebrated Ozploitation film ever put to celluloid, which in my mind makes these prints all the more authentic. I think Lord Humungus would agree, don't you?

Mad Max Double Bill (Regular Version) Rhys Cooper 12" x 36" - Signed and Numbered $33 - Limited to 170

Mad Max Double Bill (Hand Embellished Variant) Rhys Cooper 12" x 36" - Signed and Numbered $53 - Limited to 60

Rhys is the master of the 12" x 36" print. He just is. He's done similarly-sized work for Skuzzles, Mondo, and more recently, his self-commissioned Drive print. I can't exactly say why he tends to favor more lean and lofty poster proportions, but he does, and I've always appreciated the lankier layouts that can so elegantly break up a wall covered exclusively in 18" x 24" and 24" x 36" works of art. But enough about that, let's get into the real meat and beans of this post apocalyptic poster.

Mad Max Double Bill - Close-up

I honestly think these may be my favorite prints from Rhys Cooper yet. Now, hear me out: sure, I've got a shotgun shell-sized soft spot in my heart for all things Mad Max (who doesn't), but I think, maybe more so than any movie he's ever done a poster for, the Mad Max series is the perfect fit for Cooper's controlled-but-chaotic aesthetic. I picture two long-lost siblings, finally reunited, both of whom really like to blow shit up. As I'm sure you can guess (even if you haven't seen the movies), there's no shortage of insanity or violence in the first two Mad Max films, and these posters nail the burnt-out, brutal, dystopian landscape, which is wonderfully conveyed by the sun-baked yellows and reds and, oh yeah, the blood splatter. Finally, there's absolutely no way to ignore the inherent coolness "Mad" Max Rockatansky embodies just by standing there and looking badass, and Rhys has done a great job reproducing Mel Gibson's imposing figure and icy stare circa 1979. Also, there's a freaking skull superimposed over his face! There's a lot to like here, and way, way, way more to talk about, but the bottom line is this: if you're of the male persuasion, or a fan of some seriously over-the-top Ozploitative films, or you just like badass things, then these are the posters for you.

Mad Max Double Bill - Close-up

Both versions of Rhys Cooper's Mad Max / Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior movie poster will be available through tommygood.com tomorrow (3/7) in the US, which will actually be Thursday (3/8) in Australia. The regular version measures 12" x 36", is limited to 170 and will cost $33, while the hand-embellished variant, AKA the "DEATH ON WHEELS: Driver of the Apocalypse" variant, will be limited to 60 and will cost $53. A quick note on the hand embellishments: the painting by Rhys on the variants was created with gouche in a combination of brushstrokes and splatter techniques, meaning no two will be the same. Be sure to follow @ThisIsTommyGood for the exact release info, and for additional Rhys Cooper artwork, head over to his Studio Seppuku store.