Mondo's "Planet of the Apes" Movie Poster Series

The five prints included in this post have already gone on sale as a set, and IMMEDIATELY sold out, but since there'll be a few more copies of each poster sold separately later today (minus Edmiston's "Go Ape"), I wanted to write a brief review for each print available. It's what I do. Let me start this entry off by saying I honestly think every single piece of artwork here is insanely impressive - there's not a dud in the set. And there's no denying that Mondo, and all of the artists involved, really brought their A-game to this anthropoid abundant series. Now on with the show!

Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 415

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I really, really like Martin Ansin's Planets of the Apes poster. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's my favorite in the collection. I saw this design printed on wood at SDCC last year and was very close to pulling the trigger, but thankfully my fiscally responsible doppelgänger got the better of me. As usual, Ansin's eye for composition and his ability to create some truly jaw-dropping photorealistic primates is on full display here. I'm not sure if this is at all intentional, but it looks like all the characters included in this poster come together to form a vague skull-like shape. Color me intrigued. Bottom line: it's another stunner from Martin Ansin and almost assuredly going to make it into my top 10 of 2012. To learn more about the artist, be sure to visit martinansin.com and follow him on Twitter @martinansin.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Ken Taylor
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 395

I feel like Ken Taylor's posters always have a somewhat reverential quality to them. I don't mean that in a bad way, that's actually one of the things I really like about his work. Ken's monolithic arrangements remind me of a shrine or altar in their construction, which is absolutely perfect given the Planet of the Apes film he's covering (please note the nuclear bomb being worshipped in the poster's center). Also, I love the color scheme! It just exudes dark, dingy, dankness! If you'd like to find out more about artist Ken Taylor, head over to kentaylor.com.au.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Rich Kelly
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 320

I'm a huge fan of Rich Kelly's work, and I think this may be his strongest piece yet. Rich's pencil-sketch style only emboldens his slightly askew interpretation of the characters and their proportions, lending the artwork a smile-inducing and slyly surreal appearance. Out of all of the posters in the series, I think this is easily the most pleasant surprise in the pack. And if what I've been reading is true, I'm not the only one who feels this way. To learn more about artist Rich Kelly, be sure to visit rfkelly.com, his storefront and follow him @TheRichKelly.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Phantom City Creative
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 370

The Planet of the Apes poster series from Mondo, is pretty much a who's who of incredibly talented artists that I'm completely obsessed about. As proof of that, I'd kindly like to direct your attention to Phantom City Creative's Conquest poster above. Phantom City has put together a wonderful looking design that evokes the propaganda of yesteryear. Seriously, if you put a Che beret on Caeser, I could picture this being plastered on city walls and used as a rallying cry for the enslaved apes. Here's one for the little guy ape! For more info on Phantom City Creative, be sure to visit phantomcitycreative.com, their store, and follow them on Twitter @PhantomCityCrtv.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 345

I think out of all of the prints mentioned here, Florian's poster is the one that most needs to be seen in person to be appreciated. Returning to my ecclesiastical comparisons, if Ken Taylor's artwork is similar to a shrine or altar, than Bertmer's work brings to mind a medieval stained-glass window belonging to a creepy church that may or may not have dabbled in ritual human sacrifice during the early 1350s. It's just pure evil. The man is also known for his crazily ornate borders, so I can't even imagine what this will look like in-hand. Spoiler: it's going to look great! To learn more about Florian Bertmer, checkout his website at florianbertmer.blogspot.com and the Moon Editions store.

All of these posters, except for Jason Edmiston's "Go Ape" print which, due to time constraints, I didn't have time to write about, will be individually available for purchase through Mondo later this morning (1/27) at a random time. Be sure to follow @MondoNews for all the drop details. Good luck! Now get off my lawn, you damned dirty apes!

Best Twenty Posters of 2011

Wow. This was a really, really, REALLY difficult post for me to compile, and there's a pretty good chance that if you asked me what my favorite posters from 2011 were a week from now, you might get something slightly different. With that said, I think I've created a pretty kickass list and, believe it or not, they're not all Mondo releases! When putting this together, the only restriction I imposed on myself was that all eligible artwork had to actually be purchasable at some point last year. Now onto the good stuff!

1. AKIRA Movie Posters by Tyler Stout

Akira Movie Poster (Regular)
Tyler Stout
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 180

Akira Movie Poster (Variant)
Tyler Stout
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 80

I can't get over how stunning these prints are! Tyler Stout has somehow created something that is 100% Tyler Stout, and yet completely different than anything he's ever attempted before. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of his much sought after The Thing and Robocop prints, but this, THIS, is the Stout artwork I long to own. The amount of stuff he was able to pack into these works of art is mind blowing and totally reminds me of the insanity that is Tetsuo's telekinetically rebuilt trash arm. Love it!

2. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Movie Posters by Olly Moss (Review)

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Regular)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 420

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Japanese Variant)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 170

Mondo? Olly Moss? Studio Ghibli? Hallelujah! Olly absolutely nailed the look and feel of this Miyazaki classic, taking care to balance beauty, adorableness, and the almighty forest spirit Totoro. Take note folks: this is how you do a variant. By the way, I recently rewatched My Neighbor Totoro. So good!

3. THE MUMMY Movie Posters by Martin Ansin (Review)

The Mummy Movie Poster (Regular)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 385

The Mummy Movie Poster (Hieroglyphic Variant)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 150

My love affair with Martin Ansin's work continues and this was by far my favorite piece from him in 2011. Not surprisingly, Martin packs so much realism and detail into the mummy's bandaged and shriveled face, that the idea of touching the poster's surface gives me the willies. And remember what I said about the Totoro variant? Well, it holds true for this print as well. Yes, those are actual hieroglyphics people!

4. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Movie Posters by Grzegorz Domaradzki (Review)

Night of the Living Dead Movie Poster (Regular)
Grzegorz Domaradzki
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 250

Night of the Living Dead Movie Poster (Glow in the Dark - Silver Variant)
Grzegorz Domaradzki
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 100

Grzegorz Domaradzki is an artist to watch out for. He's already done some BRILLIANT vector movie concept posters, but this was his first film poster design to actually become a screen print, and it's a pretty amazing one at that. I guess I've got a thing for skulls, because there's not one, but two posters on this list that come together to form the outline of a skull. Very creepy. By the way, a few of the regular versions are still available for sale through Kryptonite Prints & Apparel.

5. DUNE Movie Poster by Kevin Tong (Review)

Dune Movie Poster
Kevin Tong
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100

I had to pick this print up on eBay after it sold out in the blink of an eye, but the inflated price was well worth it. Seriously, this poster is loaded to the brim with desert, sandworms, and backstabbing nobles (oh my). And no matter what you think about the film Dune (I'll admit it's kind of crazy and not a total success), you've got to applaud Kevin Tong for perfectly capturing the insanity of David Lynch's adaptation.

6. HELLRAISER Movie Posters by Florian Bertmer

Hellraiser Movie Poster (Regular)
Florian Bertmer
22.5" x 31.5" - Numbered
Limited to 245

Hellraiser Movie Poster (Variant)
Florian Bertmer
22.5" x 31.5" - Numbered
Limited to 70

Nobody depicts satanic stuff better than Florian Bertmer. That's just a fact. His artwork makes my skin crawl (in a good way), which is why I'm fairly certain Florian has at some point either made a pact with the Prince of Darkness or solved the Lament Configuration, thereby gaining access to the forbidden arts. This was my favorite poster from the Mondo Mystery Movie LA film series by leaps and bounds, and that's saying a lot given all the talent involved.

7. FRANKENSTEIN Movie Poster by Drew Struzan (Review)

Frankenstein Movie Poster
Drew Struzan
15" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 325

It's freaking Drew Struzan! Of course he was going to make the top ten. His gorgeous Frankenstein poster reminds us why he's still the undisputed king of the illustrated one sheet and pays tribute to a monster movie classic. Following Stout's Akira print, Struzan's Frankenstein is probably the most sought after poster in my top twenty.

8. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST Movie Posters by Oliver Barrett (Review)

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Dawn Edition - Regular)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
Limited to 170

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Dusk Edition - Variant)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
Limited to 60

I love these posters! Oliver Barrett is an artist I've been following since his amazing American Splendor print, but I think I may have found my new favorite when it comes to his body of work. And remember what I was saying about my subconscious and altogether creepy fascination with skulls being masterfully inserted into movie artwork (please refer to number four on this list)? Well, here's the second (and final) creative cranium mentioned in this post. These are completely sold out through Tommy Good, but a few are still available for purchase through Oliver's store and Dark City Gallery.

9. THE BURNING Movie Poster by Phantom City Creative (Review)

The Burning Movie Poster
Phantom City Creative
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 250

Phantom City Creative has been one of those consistently amazing design studios since day one. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I'm sure I could have included several Phantom City designs in this list, but this was by far my favorite poster of theirs in 2011. The Burning is a ridiculous 80s slasher that features a not-yet-bald Jason Alexander, but I'll be damned if this poster doesn't somehow make the movie a more respectable work of art just by association. Beautiful design. Perfect execution. Blood rendered in biblical proportions. Flawless.

10. “FIGURE 1: VULPES VULPES” Art Print by Rich Kelly (Review)

"Figure 1: Vulpes Vulpes" Art Print
Rich Kelly
16.5" x 23.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100
Inspired By: The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox isn't my all-time favorite Wes Anderson flick, that honor goes to The Life Aquatic, but it's definitely up there. This amazing Rich Kelly art print inspired by Anderson's lone animated creation is just a joy to look at. Kelly masterfully depicts the titular Mr. Fox, but also manages to comment on the stop motion production method with gorgeous results.

11. "THE OPEN ROAD" Art Print by Scott Campbell (Review)

"The Open Road" Art Print
Scott Campbell
12" x 12" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 50
Inspired By: Easy Rider

I wasn't sure if this was ever going to be an actual print, since the above artwork was originally part of a larger movie poster for the All Tomorrow's Parties / Criterion Collection screening of Easy Rider, but here we are. Scott Campbell's amazing "The Open Road" poster is one of the jewels in my collection and is still available for purchase through Gallery 1988.

12. THE LIFE AQUATIC Movie Poster by Joshua Budich (Review)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Movie Poster
Joshua Budich
24" x 36" - Signed & Numbered
Limited to 150

Joshua Budich has been an artist that has consistently amazed me and continues to one-up himself with every new poster release. Created for Spoke Art's awesome "Bad Dads" show, Budich's Life Aquatic poster conveys the quirky, colorful, strangely hilarious brilliance of Steve Zissou and company. Highlights include: Seu Jorge playing guitar in the lower right corner, the candy-striped seahorse mucking around under the title, and an angry gun-toting Steve Zissou front and center.

13. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Movie Poster by Jeff Proctor (Review)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Jeff Proctor
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 345

Jeff Proctor really made a name for himself this year with a number of amazing Mondo posters including, but not limited to: Hobo with a Shotgun, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dawn of the Dead, and of course The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This print is utterly horrifying and practically exudes unyielding Texan summer heat...and chainsaw wielding psychopaths. That too.

14. FAIL-SAFE Movie Poster by Lloyd Stas (Review)

Fail-Safe Movie Poster
Lloyd Stas
18" x 24" - Numbered
Limited to 35

Lloyd Stas' brilliant Fail-Safe print combines the obvious and the subtle with amazing results. I think it's safe to say that even if you haven't seen Sidney Lumet's Cold War what if film, you can still enjoy the obvious care and attention paid to this artwork during its conception and creation. Lloyd Stas is another young artist to be on the look out for.

15. DEATHRAP Movie Poster by Jacob Van Loon (Review)

Deathtrap Movie Poster
Jacob Van Loon
18" x 24" - Numbered
Limited to 35

Much like Lloyd Stas' Fail-Safe print, Jacob Van Loon's Deathtrap poster was part of the Kingdom of Nonsense curated "The Machines Are Winning" art show. When I first saw Jacob's design I was immediately drawn in by the confusingly convoluted intertwining of machine and Cronenbergian sentient life form. Is anybody else getting a vague Naked Lunch vibe from this print? If this is any indication of what we can expect form Jacob Van Loon, I hope he starts doing a lot more film-related stuff in the near future.

16. FANTASTIC MR. FOX Movie Poster by Randy Ortiz (Review)

“We Got the Tail, but We Missed the Fox” Fantastic Mr. Fox Movie Poster
Randy Ortiz
18" x 24" - Includes a certificate of authenticity
Limited to 75

Randy Ortiz is somebody I didn't have the slightest familiarity with prior to 2011, but am now avidly following. It's even been intimated that he might do some work with Mondo in the near future - so that's cool. With his Fantastic Mr. Fox print, Randy has crafted something that's minimalist, but by no means simple. I can't wait to see what else this guy has up his sleeves.

17. THEY LIVE Movie Posters by Shepard Fairey (Review)

They Live Movie Poster (Mondo Edition - Regular)
Shepard Fairey
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 500

They Live Movie Poster (OBEY Edition - Variant)
Shepard Fairey
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 500

How could I not include Fairey's only Mondo movie poster on my list? I don't think there's a single artist better equipped to handle John Carpenter's alien invasion meets 1984 by way of Fahrenheit 451 film than street artist Shepard Fairey. This goes without saying, but the print is very pretty up close.

18. PAN'S LABYRINTH Movie Posters by Aaron Horkey

Pan's Labyrinth Movie Poster (Regular)
Aaron Horkey
15" x 37.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 420

Pan's Labyrinth Movie Poster (Variant)
Aaron Horkey
15" x 37.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 125

If I had to choose (please don't make me), I'd have to say that Pan's Labyrinth is my favorite Guillermo del Toro film. It's a wonderful story that blends the real and the fantastical, and is as horrifying as it is beautiful on both counts. Aaron Horkey seems to understand that and has created a print that's gorgeous to look at, but also a bit disturbing.

19. SWAMP THING Movie Posters by Florian Bertmer (Review)

Swamp Thing Movie Poster (Regular)
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 230

Swamp Thing Movie Poster (Variant)
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 90

If you couldn't tell, I'm a huge Bertmer fan. In fact, he's the only artist on this list mentioned twice. Florian created two insanely exceptional posters this year, and while I slightly preferred his Hellraiser posters over his Swamp Thing prints, they're both pretty much perfect.

20. THE FLY Art Print by Dan Mumford (Review)

Dan Mumford's horror movie art print series has been an absolute blast to follow. His organic and stringy line work is the perfect match to Cronenberg's terrifyingly disgusting remake (I use the word "remake" in the loosest sense here). Brundlefly has never looked more gooey, and yes, that was most definitely a compliment.

Well, that's the list! What did you think? What were some of your favorite posters?

Rich Kelly's "A Piece of the Action" Star Trek Prints

UPDATE (10/27): Rich Kelly's remaining copies will be sold through his Big Cartel store tomorrow (10/28) at 10AM EST, but that's not all! Rich will slip some drawings into three randomly chosen tubes containing his Star Trek posters. More details can be found through his Tumblr.

Wow. It's been over a month since I last wrote about a Mondo release. That's kind of nuts when you think about the fact that they release one or more posters every week. Thankfully my lack of Mondo love is to be be remedied by tonight's review of the badass "A Piece of the Action" Star Trek print by Rich Kelly.

"A Piece of the Action" Star Trek Print
Rich Kelly
18" x 24"
$40 - Limited to 260

"A Piece of the Action" Star Trek Print (Variant)
Rich Kelly
18" x 24"
$60 - Limited to 65

I think I can safely say Rich Kelly is one of my favorite artists. He has a very unique and playful aesthetic; it's practically impossible to look at one of his prints without smiling. Kelly's slightly abstract take on Captain Kirk and Spock, complete with long, almost cartoonish legs, decidedly large heads, and some fairly imposing Tommy guns has old school cool written all over it. For those who've never seen "A Piece of the Action," you'll undoubtedly recognize Spock and Kirk, but you may not know the two bosses at the lower corners, Bela Oxmyx on the right and Jojo Krako on the left. This is one of those classic Star Trek episodes, and in all honesty, I think it's better than "The Trouble with Tribbles," if for no other reason than the hilariously complex card game Fizzbin. Seriously, can you imagine a society modeled after old-timey American gangsterdom? It's just too good. Rich even managed to fit Oxmyx's weapon showcase into the background. A perfect poster for a perfect episode.

Rich Kelly's "A Piece of the Action" prints will be available tomorrow (10/14) at a random time through Mondo. The regular version will cost $40 and will be limited to 260, while the alternate colorway variant will be $60 and is limited to 65. As is always the case, be sure to follow @Mondonews for the exact drop details. And if you have any interest in this poster and haven't seen the episode, or even if you have, head over to Netflix, where they have the entire series available for streaming (I think Amazon Prime does too). For more Rich Kelly related information head over to rfkelly.com, his store and follow him at @TheRichKelly. Best of luck everyone and beware the shralk (that's a Fizzbin reference).

Rich Kelly's "Bottle Rocket" Movie Poster

UPDATE 2 (7/28): Rich Kelly's APs are now available through his store!

UPDATE 1 (7/15): Sold out! Be sure to keep your eye on Rich Kelly's online storefront, because he may eventually put some APs on there.

Yet another poster that should probably be part of my "Criterion Connection" feature, but I'm (very) lazy, and I want to get this post up before it goes on sale tomorrow (those Criterion posts take me a long time to put together). This print is very easy to like for two main reasons: not only was it created in order to help keep the financially struggling hotel from the film Bottle Rocket open, it also features an amazing design by artist Rich Kelly.

Bottle Rocket Movie Poster
Rich Kelly
18" x 24"
$40 - Limited to 225

It looks like Rich Kelly chose to play this one a little straighter than he's usually apt to do, but there's no denying that this poster was created by an artist who enjoys finding humor and absurdity in his subjects. I think one of the most striking things about this print is Kelly's color palette. Anyone who's ever seen a Wes Anderson film knows the director tends to use bright saturated colors (usually primary) that manage to make everything and everyone pop. Well, it seems Rich rightly caught on to this and has perfectly captured the Anderson aesthetic, and it works marvelously. All in all, this is a wonderful print and puts a smile on my face as I'm reminded of Dignan's (played by Owen Wilson) persistant positivity and his labyrinthine plans for the future.

Rich Kelly's Bottle Rocket movie poster will be available through Mondo at a random time tomorrow (7/15). The poster will cost $40, measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 225. If you need any help assuaging your guilt in purchasing this print, remember that 15% of the profits will go to saving the Bottle Rocket hotel. That's a worthy cause, right? As usual, for up-to-the-minute release info on anything Mondo, be sure to follow @MondoNews. And if you like Rich Kelly's artwork here you'll love the rest of his work at rfkelly.com. He also usually release a few APs down the road through his Big Cartel store. Good luck all!

Rich Kelly's "Figure One: Vulpes Vulpes" Art Print

I originally wrote this post yesterday, but lost everything when my computer crashed. The following entry was the best I could do to piece together my thoughts. Hopefully it makes sense.

I'm kind of shocked this print hasn't sold out, but then again I can't complain, because at least everyone who reads this blog still has a chance to snag one. Rich Kelly sports a playful style that is both unique and a refreshing respite from the voguish minimalist poster craze that's taken over (to be fair, I'm an ardent follower of said craze). For fans of the Wes Anderson animated classic Fantastic Mr. Fox (it may not be considered a classic yet, but just you wait), based on the even more classic children's book, this is a no-brainer. At this point I'd again like to bring up just how insane it is that this print hasn't sold out yet. It's insane that this print hasn't sold out yet. There.

Figure One: Vulpes Vulpes

This really is a gorgeous art print by one of the most interesting artists working today. I really dig how Rich was able to not only lovingly recreate a certain fox sans tail, but was also able to go behind the curtain and depict the probing hands of the stop motion animators at work. I really can't think of any other print or poster that so effectively illustrates both the production process and the product. I'd love to see more prints like this in the future. Bottom line, if you love Fantastic Mr. Fox, hell, even if you're just a fan of stop motion animation, you need to get this.

My brief review of this print pretty much mirror's Rich's comments about his piece, but I'm always interested in where an artist's head is at when he or she is creating a work of art (taken from Rich Kelly's blog):

"I was always quite fond of this image, capturing the manner in which the film was made as well as the darker/adult themes that Wes Anderson always (some more subtle than others) would touch on."

I'm not sure if Dark City Gallery commissioned this print, or if they have some sort of deal with Rich, but that's the place to go if you want to pick one of these beauties up. Kelly's signed and numbered "Figure One: Vulpes Vulpes" giclée measures 16.5" x 23.5" and is limited to an edition of 100. The print will cost £35 (approximately $56 for US folks), so it's certainly not cheap if you need to add international shipping, but there's no doubt that this is something that could be proudly hung on any wall. To find out more about the wonderful work of Rich Kelly, be sure to check out his blog, portfolio and online store. FYI Dark City Gallery still has some of Dan Mumford's insane "The Thing" prints in stock (which I wrote about last month).

As a reminder for those of you that haven't yet entered the Posterocalypse Fighter giveaway, I'll be giving away The Fighter movie poster by Adam Hanson and a mystery print on March 31st to one lucky person who leaves a comment with their name and email address (US only) in last Tuesday's blog post (it was titled "Giveaway - The Fighter by Adam Hanson"). Good luck!

Rich Kelly's "Down By Law" Movie Poster

And Mondo has once again blown me away. Rich Kelly's Down By Law movie poster is a marvel. I briefly wrote about Kelly during my review of Gallery 1988's Multiplayer show, but I'm delighted to be able to dedicate an entire blog post to the artist. Like Ansin, Stout, Moss and Tong, Rich Kelly has a decidedly unique look to his art and has been able to confidently and successfully bring that style to a remarkable number of different subjects. Be it a German expressionistic film, a famous barrell throwing monkey, a heavily tattooed mustachioed man, Chewbacca or Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, his work is instantly recognizable.

Down By Law

Kelly's knack for creating folksy caricatures (a gross oversimplification of his art) that somehow seem cartoony and grounded all at the same time has always amazed me, and his take on Down By Law, one of Jarmusch's most influential films, is no different. With that said, now I REALLY want to see Rich tackle my favorite Jarmusch film, Mystery Train! Can you imagine how cool it would be to get a Jim Jarmusch Director's Series from Mondo and have all of the pieces done by Rich Kelly? That would be mindbogglingly awesome. Sorry. I got a bit sidetracked there. Where was I? Oh yes, you've got the three stars of the film (Tom Waits, Robert Benigni and John Lurie) mugging for the theoretical camera with Roberto looking as happy and as Italian as can be. Jarmusch's films have always been like quirky little slices of heaven for me and that's exactly why this poster succeeds so...successfully. Rich Kelly was able to imbue the poster with his own off-kilter aesthetic and create something that seems to flawlessly channel the idiosyncratic character of the majority of Jarmusch's filmography. His grey palette also seems to perfectly reflect the film's gorgeous black and white photography. Kelly is fast becoming an artist that I get excited about just by the mere mention of his name and I can't wait to see what he (and Mondo) does next!

The Down by Law poster will be available tomorrow (2/16) at a random time through Mondo. Be sure to follow @MondoNews for the exact drop time, though I expect it to be around 9 AM Pacific (could always be wrong). You should also head over to Rich's website and store (he's still got some Beetlejuice posters!) when you've got a moment. And if you've never experienced the beat poetry that is a Jim Jarmusch film, what are you doing here?! Go and buy/stream/steal some movies now!

Gallery 1988's "Multiplayer" Poster Exhibit Part 1

Gallery 1988, a gallery dedicated to pop-culture themed artwork, recently opened a new location in Venice, California and has started things off with a bang, or rather a beep.  Their first exhibit, titled "Multiplayer," is a celebration of video games and the impact they've made on a multitude of artists through a collection of limited edition prints. I've decided to post a few of my favorite pieces that still happen to be available (note: by the time you're reading they might be sold out).

Sam and Max - Drew Millward

This delightfully twisted poster highlights all of the things that made me fall in love with Sam & Max.  The cute and cuddly anthropomorphized freelance detectives live in a twisted world, a world that we all got to experiences through the many Sam & Max games, comics and cartoons.  Millward's "Sam and Max" 19" x 19" art print is available at Gallery 1988's storefront for $40.

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start - Jeff Proctor

Jeff Proctor's "Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start" art print is a celebration of not only one of my favorite games (Contra) as a young man, but also of one of the most cited cheat codes (referring to the title of course). I think this print also shows that Jeff Proctor can do a lot more than zombies, which I really don't think there was any doubt about anyway. This signed and numbered 18" x 24" screen print, limited to an edition of 50, costs only $40 and can be purchased through Gallery 1988's storefront.

Which Way To Dr. Wily? - Markku Metso

I love this print and I really have no idea why. Actually, I take that back. I love this print because it's absolutely beautiful.  Even though I don't completely understand the reference that's being made I love Markku's style.  It reminds me of Jay Ryan, but with a bit more detail, in other words - I really like it. This wonderful 15.5" x "16.75 Mega Man 2 inspired giclée print is available for a low $30 through Gallery 1988.

Kill Screen - Rich Kelly

This King of Kong inspired illustration is the last print I'm highlighting in this post, but it's a doozy.  Kelly's angular style really captures the overly confident Mitchell and the mousy underdog Wiebe, and very much capitalizes on the film's humor.  I've always been a fan of Rich Kelly's muted earth tones and am once again completely satisfied.  This 18" x 24" print is available for purchase right now, is limited to an edition of 100 and costs $30.

To see the rest of the amazing artwork featured in the "Multiplayer" exhibit head over to Gallery 1988's website.  You won't be disappointed.  Game on!