The Comics Journal

Review of Illuminated Poems

by Tom Spurgeon

1996

Eric Drooker burst into the consciousness of most alternative comics fans with the publication of 1994's Flood! A Novel in Pictures, which won wide critical praise and an American Book Award. Illuminated Poems, which for many will be a glossy-book collection of the Beat-era icon's work, is such a broad and wide-ranging collection that it serves as Drooker's major comics follow-up. As such, it doesn't disappoint.

The collaboration between Drooker and fellow New York City Lower East Side resident Ginsberg seems to be one of editing and placement rather than design and creation: Drooker's work is matched up with existing Ginsberg poetry, and more than a few Drooker pieces look familiar (New Yorker covers). But the art is well-chosen and appropriate, and the two creators' similar sensibilities make for interesting pairings.

Even if you're not a fan of Ginsberg--some of whose best work is represented here, including his signature mid-'50s epic "Howl"--Illuminated Poems is a solid book if you just wish to look at the comics, some of the best work of Drooker's career: silent, vignette-style comics and several single illustrations; full-color, two-tone, and black and white. The reproductions are, to my untrained eye, quite nicely done; as a matter of fact, the whole book is attractively designed. If you're a fan of Drooker's, Illuminated Poems is worth its steep asking price.