You wouldn’t be able to tell it by my lack of book reviews, but the majority of my fiction reading this summer has been in the spy/mystery/pulp vein, a trend that started out with the soon-to-be-reviewed The Manual of Detection and built from there.
Back in June of 2006 I featured artist Kevin Dart. His work caught my eye immediately and when I read of his influences and affections I knew I had discovered a kindred spirit. Kevin Dart’s work brings an animated vibe to a Robert McGinnis-like subject matter which generates retro-sexy works of art that make me want to drop everything, pick up a Bond book, and play No One Lives Forever for several hours straight. His work excites and energizes me.
Imagine my ecstasy when a visit to his site earlier this year indicated that July would see the release of his latest project: Seductive Espionage: The World of Yuki 7.
Yuki 7 is the creation of the imagination of Kevin Dart. Through his work, the contributions of friends, and the fantastic writing skills of Ada Cole his imagination is brought to life in this wonderful mock-biography of fictional actress Kimiko Suzuki as femme-superspy, Yuki 7.
Dart explains:
“Yuki 7 was born in the Spring of 2008, when I returned home from working in London….I started a list of things I found inspiring, but I felt were missing from my more recent work. For example, I decided that I wanted to be more deliberate about creating a story within my paintings. Once I discovered the story and the character, the ideas began flowing in a way I had never experienced before. Yuki 7 unified all of the ideas and interests I had before into a single, focused project.”
I fell in love with the book long before it ever arrived in the mail because of the teaser images, which can be purchased from Fleet Street Scandal, of various posters from Yuki 7’s films:
(A Kiss From Tokyo, 1964)
(Danger is a Female, 1965)
(To Catch a Temptress, 1967)
The book itself is a lovely, well-constructed, richly colored work of love. Ada Cole’s words, whether in telling the story of Yuki 7’s rise to fame or in faux ads featuring Kimiko Suzuki, are spot on. The book has a real genuine feel to it despite the fact that it is all made up. The ads and magazine articles and interviews feel real enough to make the book a superb love letter to the spy genre and to all the glitz and glamour of celebrity.
(art by Don Shank)
It was a real stroke of creative genius to bring other talented artists along for the ride. Together they bring the rich history of 60’s fashion and flair to the spy genre.
(art by Ted Mathot)
You can practically hear the 60’s spy themes in the background as page after page of gorgeous artwork and creative wordplay paint a picture of a starlet, a movie heroine, and a film series that you can’t help wishing you could actually see on film.
(art by Bill Presing)
When I see projects like this I get a warm-fuzzy feeling inside, because I know that the creator had an inspired idea and was able to see that dream realized. That makes me happy. I truly believe that whether on a grand or small scale we all have the ability to do that, whether it be in artistic venue or something completed unrelated. I personally get inspired when I see creative visions like this come full circle. I am so happy for Kevin Dart and for everyone who worked on this book because it is fantastic.
It is not too late to own your very own copy of this book. You can steal…er purchase…here, and while you are there scan the shop for Kevin Dart and artist Chris Turnham’s prints and other items.
This book is a hearty 5 out of 5 stars. I’ll leave you with this, the fun trailer for Seductive Espionage. That and a plea to Kevin Dart: Make this film!!! 😉
“A Kiss From Tokyo” Theatrical trailer from Stephane coedel on Vimeo.
WOW! What an incredible trailer! I would love to see this made into a movie as well.
I have also admired Kevin Dart’s work for many years and it looks as if this book is great. Thanks for shareing Carl.
sometimes I find it amazing how many really good artists we find simply because we read books! Would we have found them any other way??
Deslily: There are certainly a great many of the ones I admire that I discovered because of book cover illustrations, that’s for sure. That and the internet are the two biggest sources of art for so many of us.
Jeff: Wouldn’t that be a great animated film? I would love to see it done in just the style of the trailer. It would be so much fun.
Where do you keep finding these gems is beyond me. I love the spy look and gadgets, especially the 60s atmosphere, when the genre reached its zenith. The soundtracks apart from the dominating and sexy femme fatales also excite me a lot.
Kevin Dart’s work is amazing. Thanks for reviewing this. 🙂
Oooh, this looks incredible! This pulp-y art style has always been one of my favorites. I could drool over pulp fiction book covers all day. This was a really neat concept! I’ll have to check it out.
Chris: Me too! I dare not ever go to one of those pulp conventions, I’d probably have a heart attack!
Harry: Its the wonder of the internet, you can find all kinds of great stuff in this virtual land!
You always have the best art-related posts. I am officially in love with the idea behind this book. I’ll definitely be adding it to my wishlist.
How wonderfully retro! This reminds me of Our Man Flint and James Bond movies from the mid-1960s. The Yuki-7 posters look just like movie posters from 1965. And the music from the trailer fits perfectly too. I’d love to a real Yuki-7 animated film. The art style vaguely reminds me of the cover art to the Our Man Flint movies, and the opening sequences to various spy movies back then, that used artistic animation for the open credits.
Jim: Didn’t Robert McGinnis do the posters for Our Man Flint? For some reason I picture him doing those, and I know McGinnis is one of Kevin Dart’s influences…which is one of the many reasons I like his work.
Memory: Thanks, it is fun discovering stuff like this and sharing it with whoever is interested. Isn’t it a great idea for a project? And to not only imagine the idea but to execute it so well is just so inspiring.
O_O What an amazing trailer! I want to see a movie of that. (And I’m not a big spy story fan…)
It sounds like a great idea and a great project. ^-^ (*has something semi-useful to say! It’s a miracle!*
*ducks and hides ^-~*)
I was forced to tell Chris that he sucked the other day, for making me want to buy the Batman book by Neil Gaiman. Me, who has never been particularly interested in Batman. Well, now I’m being forced to tell you that you suck, too! Spy stuff…just never been my cup of tea. Have never even seen an entire Bond movie. Now here you are making me want this. The art is utterly irresistible, and you just made it sound so darn fun. Yep, you both suck.
Debi: The last two Bond films, with Daniel Craig, were fantastic. Particularly the first one, Casino Royale! And the Bond books are actually very, very good as well.
I’m happy to receive the ‘you suck’ honor! If Chris sucks too then I am indeed in good company. 🙂 It is definitely ‘darn fun’ all the way round.
Shanra: Isn’t that trailer the best? I’m so impressed with it.
I’m thinking this qualifies as your first Japanese Literature Challenge 3 read? I mean, with a name like Kimiko Suzuki who acts as Yuki 7… 😉 You’re always opening my eyes to the whole big world out there, Carl, and that is only one reason I’m glad we’re friends.
Bellezza: I was wondering about that myself, although it felt sort of like cheating. Although I do believe part of Kevin Dart’s inspiration and help on the book was from his partner who is, I believe, Japanese!
what Debi said: I’m never really been into spy stories, but now I want this. Booo to you, Carl. Boooo 😛
Nymeth: Boo and I suck! My evil plan is working!!! 😉
I haven’t tried reading a graphic novel yet, but Carl, I’m definitely gonna use your site as a source for graphic works to look for. These selections are amazing! This one’s got such pretty illustrations, looks to me like a mix between Western and Oriental art (reminds of me of Hong Kong… how I loved that place).
Mark David: Thanks, I definitely think you need to try some graphic novels, there are some amazing ones out there!!! If you choose ‘comics’ in my category drop down box you’ll see posts on some graphic novels that you might enjoy.
Oh My God! Awesome trailer! And even more awesome graphics! Argh! I want one!
Michelle: I’m sure Kevin Dart would love you to get one! 🙂 It is a really nicely done book.
The art is amazing, Carl! Wow.
Carl – thanks so much for your awesome review! I’m glad you like the book so much. Ada really appreciated your kind words as well. We’re hard at work cooking up some more Yuki adventures for next year!
Kevin: It is an honor to have you stop by, thank you. You and Ada and all your super-spy cohorts cooked up an awesome book and I look forward to more Yuki adventures in the future!
Claire: Wow indeed!!! 🙂
whooao thanks for turning me onto this, it’s a total DO WANT.