CONAN RED NAILS Art Book by Barry Windsor- Smith Deluxe Hardcover with Slipcase (Red Nails)

When the "Savage Tales" #2 and #3 first came out with this story, I was blown away. Now, 20+ years later, to see the original art is like reading the story for the first time again. Easily the peak of Barry Smith's artwork for the Conan work.

There isn't much I can add to other reviews here. All the criticisms you've already read are certainly valid. It isn't a perfect product, and it's not available at a perfect price. But in terms of viewing the original art, there is currently nothing better. And I think everyone should have an opportunity to see this work in some way, since you can't walk into a gallery and view it in person. The fans and collectors who pre-ordered this product sight unseen in 2013 probably had the most to complain about, but there are now photos and videos available online for your consideration. They don't do this work justice of course but at least you will have an idea what to expect if you decide this product is worth the extra cost. And if money is the issue, Savage Tales #2 and #3 are some of my favorite illustrated magazines ever, and can still be found for a much more sensible price than issue #1 at least. The Marvel Treasury Edition from 1975 is also one of Marvel's best in my opinion and is very much worth owning, in color, with additional rendering from Barry Smith no less. And if you don't mind a different language in the text, there is also the Dutch Limited Edition release from 2007 called "Rode spijkers", which is a great collection of Barry's work with the story of Red Nails as the centerpiece. This last publication is one that I know next to nothing about, but since a handful of them came with a print signed and numbered by Barry, I'm guessing this is one of the few releases he actually approved of. It is supposedly limited to 1000 copies (?) and prices seem to have crept up since I bought mine, though I wouldn't pay much for it since it was "scanned from the original publication". There are several aspects of this Genesis West release that I find lacking, as other reviewers before me have asserted (i.e. price, wasted space, lack of additional content, etc.), and therefore I deduct two stars from my total rating. However, since it's possible the original pictorial may never get this kind of treatment again, and since this work has continued to inspire me as an artist since I first saw it in the 70's, I still give this release three stars. Barry's work here is worth ten stars at least, but if you're even considering this item then you already knew that. This may be the last time I buy another reprinting of Red Nails. Maybe.

I received the "Conan Red Nails - Original Art Archives Volume 1" this week and would like to make some comments. To start, I own several of the IDW Publisher's similarly themed "Artist Edition" books (Wally Wood, Simonson's Thor, Miller & Mazzucchelli Daredevil, Shultz's Xenozoic Tales and most treasured, Wrightson's Muck Monster) and own a few original pages/pieces of comic art from favorite artists. I'm a graphic designer and illustrator, grew up on (mostly Marvel) comics from the mid 60's through 80's and this kind of release greatly appeals to me. The artist for this release, Barry Smith ranks way up among my very favorite comics artists and this is unquestionably his finest achievement during his run on the Conan comic in the 70's. If I was to rate this book on the quality of the artwork, it would be an easy 5 stars. The reproductions of each page of art looks excellent, revealing nuances such as more detail in the linework, varying shades of the india ink in large black spaces, faint pencil lines, border marks, scribbles, etc. never before seen in any previous printing of the story. The actual story is under 60 pages long and is black and white art photographed (not scanned) in color which shows the yellowing of the original art pages and other subtle discolorations of the art board and artwork that comes with almost 4 decades of age. As with other books of this genre, this is a very large book at 14" x 19". The book comes in a nice slip case. That said, I have to rank this release as a significant disappointment. One of the key points of IDW's "Artist Edition" books is that the pages are printed on matte heavy stock paper that replicates the exact tactile feel of a page of white Bristol 100 lb paper comic art and at the actual size of the original art. This "Red Nails" release by Genesis West Publishing is printed on heavy stock glossy paper much like many large coffee table hard cover art books and the art fills about 80% of the actual page size. Each one-sided page has about a 1/2 inch black border on the larger dark cool gray page, perhaps to mimic the page matted in a fine art frame. You have the comic page on the right page and the left page which is a full page dark grey (they used a *lot* of that spot color for this book!) has a small blow up of art from of one panel from the right page along with a title header graphic listing the page number. From a graphic design standpoint, it's very oddly laid out. In addition, it's easy to get fingerprints on the glossy page and they can crease or dimple if you don't take care when flipping through the pages. While the quality of the reproduced art is equal to the IDW books, this book seems more like a very large art book than a collection of "comic art pages." Another issue I have with this release is the fact the book is padded out to almost double the story page count with frankly mostly unnecessary "supplementary" stuff that adds little to the presentation. Also, there is no input from Barry Smith himself. This all leads to my biggest complaint, which is this book is wildly overpriced for what you get, especially when compared to the superior IDW releases which usually have 3 times the page count and sell from $120 - $160 upon release. Mine was a gift as my wife knows how much I love these kind of books, but I felt bad she spent the money on this particular release. As this is titled "Volume 1" and I understand Genesis has access to other Barry Smith Conan stories, I would guess there's a chance of a "Volume 2" coming out at some point. Based on this release and the pricing, I would not spend the money no matter how dearly I love Smith's art if another book came out like this book's design. In conclusion, I would hope that Genesis publishes a bare bones 2nd edition with just the story on white borderless Bristol Matte Board stock with the page size close to the true actual art size at a more realistic price point sometime in the future.

I'm a collector of original comic art who's had some inside scoop on this project as well as some of the IDW "Artist's Editions" (which I have loaned art to). IDW didn't have access to Red Nails, so it's nice to see the folks at Genesis West make it available to those of us who might care about such things (newly scanned from the original art). There have been some naysayers, and here's my response to the primary complaints: while the paper stock used here does have a so-called glossy finish, it is by no means "shiny." It accurately captures the look of the original art "as is" (complete with production notes in margins, corrections, smudges -- but if you're reading this, you already know that) -- and the line work actually appears sharper than if it were printed on matte finish to these eyes (and the eyes of others who work in graphic design and printing that I've shown it to). Which is better? It's a trade off since this stock doesn't replicate the tactile sensation of holding Bristol board, but hey: would you put your grubby paws all over a painting? Look at the art, don't touch! There are only 60 pages of art simply because that's the length of Red Nails. Having 'Frost Giant's Daughter' or other samples of BWS Conan art appended in this volume certainly would have made this a better buy, but there's a purity of conception to having BWS' masterpiece stand alone (when I listen to "brief" masterworks by CD standards like 'A Love Supreme' or 'Pet Sounds' or 'Plastic Ono Band,' I personally don't want the experience muddied by bonus tracks and b-sides). As such, sure, this book's a little spendy; but A. this is museum worthy art (pop culture or fine art? You decide!) that few of us have access to view since it's privately owned; and B. if a single page from this story were to hit the open market -- a single page! -- it would cost many thousands of dollars to acquire. Like, "five figures" many. In that regard, the price is a pittance. And c'mon, support small press -- this book is clearly a labor of love. Per the above, the decision to print on only one side of the page makes perfect sense: this is an "art" book, and each work of art (i.e., each page) is appropriately given its due. The left side of ANY book, big or small, simply doesn't lie flat -- if printed on both sides, half these pages would have gotten short shrift. All in all this is great art, lovingly captured. I'll continue to buy the artists editions that interest me from either publisher. IDW's been doing an amazing job with the materials they've been able to gain access to, but I'm also foaming to see what Genesis West decides to go to press with next and am more than happy to support the cause.

I just received the book, and it is not AT ALL what I expected. Printed on shiny paper and only one image per page spread, with a lot of filler. Only 69-70 pages of actual art. It appears to be giant "photographs" of each page of artwork, rather than an accurate reproduction of the actual art (on matte paper), which had been done in the IDW Artists Editions. I am a huge Barry Windsor Smith fan, and was Very, Very, disappointed. This is not worth the money. I hope that someone from Genesis West reads this and responds.

Being torn about ordering this I finally went against my instinct that smelled something amiss. I ordered it through the Previews catalog (Diamond Distributors) and quickly came to regret it. First was the lacking information. The page count was too large and there was no mention of how they were going to fill them, so, optimist that I was I hoped there was a color version, the one Barry himself did, and the original art version. Well, I was sorely mistaken. First, I finally contacted Barry and he quickly renounced the project. He didn't even know about until it was brought to his attention. Other artist editions have gone to the artists or their surviving estates to get them on board. In this case Barry got the snub and later a rumor stated that was because "Barry is hard to work with". Great. A snub and a denigrating comment to justify it. At that point I contacted my friend and retailer and asked him to sell my copy sight unseen. He tried to sell it for a month but no one bit. We worked it out that if after a month he could not sell it he was to send it to me because I don't have to temerity to expect him to eat it. I ordered it, it's my responsibility. The revelation of the padding was shown in July at the Comic Con Int. in San Diego where a galley of the book premiered. That really got on my nerves. Other artist editions are chock full of actual art and not space and paper wasting small blow-ups of panels. Those who contributed written commentary were not even around when the story was released 40 years ago. No slight at George Perez or Jose Villarrubia but they are part of the already over-used filler. The actual book quality is decent, with a heavyweight glossy page stock, and the actual reproductions are fine, even good. However, between the snub Barry Windsor Smith received, especially since his name and reputation sold the book, and the wasted pages that pad the book (and price) I've learned to heed my instincts in the future. That glossy paper is a bit off-putting and I suspect a cost cutting measure. The price was too steep for what was delivered. I'd been conned, my optimism overcoming my caution. The comic business is unfortunately like the all entertainment, rife with hucksters exploiting angles and telling half truths to build up expectations. So, knowing this I still bought this tome. That's on me. That still doesn't excuse the flaws in this effort or relieve the publisher of his responsibility to deliver a better book for the money. Fool me once….

Dear All I bought CONAN RED NAILS ARTIST EDITION by GENESIS WEST a short time ago, and I must say that I AM DELIGHTED with the book. I totally disagree with the opinion of those who defend a printed version on matte paper, like those of IDW. I highly prefer this type of edition, printed in gloss, shiny paper, like generally art books are published. I think it is an illusion to suppose that mate paper has the effect of making an identical version of the original paper art. Wanted or not, its always a reproduction, and for myself I prefer a reproduction in the best quality paper available (the gloss one), and not an illusion of presence with the original art. Also, I don't care about the number of pages, and I don't make a comparison between prices taking into account the quantity of pages, but between the quality of the art. And Barry Smith's art in Red Nails is one of the best in COMICS WORLD HISTORY, be it american, european, japanese, south american, etc. Genesis West decided and well to present only a page of the original art in each 2 pages of its edition, reserving the other page to choose only one drawing, and presenting it in an augmented size. There are several drawings, like one of Conan's eyes, that are absolutely amazing to see in that augmented size. I PLEASE ASK YOU to google "conan genesis west", and in the images section check the original pages of THE FROST GIANT'S DAUGHTER and see how GOOD they are. This is the material Genesis West is planning to publish in the following editions of Barry Smith Conan's art, and they are in need of selling more of this first one to continue this amazing line of publication. SO, PLEASE, don't let them out, nor the Barry Smith fans, like I am. THIS MATERIAL DESERVES, MUST BE PUBLISHED. Thanks for reading my comments. And thank you Genesis West for your great work and effort.

If this product cannot at least meet the standards of IDW then why bother to purchase? How hard can it be in 2013 to produce a book that correctly displays the artwork? Shiny paper and filler pages? No thanks. I will wait for the professionals, especially at almost $200!

Quite simply, this is the finest example of original art editions that's out there. Every page perfectly captures the precise detail of Smith's masterpiece. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny. Buy it. Buy it.