Novel Graphics

From Pages to Pictures.

Above: Sgt. Daniel Hayes (aka Minute-Man) leads a convoy through a Middle Eastern town in a scene from Minute-Men: Execute & Run. Art by Jeffrey Harris.

Our previous installment featured Minute-Men action figures created by designer Jason R. Hogue.

A creative Artist with 30 years experience in design, production, illustration, and marketing, Jason wowed us with his line of action figures based on our Minute-Men characters. So much so that Chris (aka producer, entrepreneur, and brother Christopher Connolly) is looking into releasing a limited-edition set to coincide with the debut of Minute-Men: Execute & Run. When that happens, we’ll be sure to let you know about it.

In this installment, we’ll look at the work of another artist whose efforts are contributing to the Minute-Men universe.

The Minute-Men Art of Jeffrey D. Harris

Above: A scene from the novel Minute-Men: Execute & Run, as envisioned by artist Jeffrey Harris.

A professional designer and illustrator for more than 40 years, Jeffrey Harris is perhaps best known for the internationally syndicated feature Shortcuts, which mixes bold, colorful artwork with fun facts to create a series that entertains as it educates. Distributed to more than 450 newspapers worldwide, Shortcuts reaches more than 30 million readers each week.

In addition, Jeffrey has created artwork for a proposed graphic novel based on Minute-Men: Execute & Run.

Though the fully illustrated version is still in the planning stages, we’re giving newsletter subscribers a peek at one of Jeffrey’s scenes.

Hit play on the player below and let us know what you think.

Newsletter Challenge #4

Artists have been illustrating the written word for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, and in some instances, the illustrations have made such indelible impressions that they’ve become forever identified with the author’s work.

With that in mind, consider the following illustrations.

Each illustration is from a well-known book. Can you identify any of the titles and authors? Do you know the names of the illustrators? (Hint: one of the books was illustrated by the author.)

The first respondent to correctly identify one or more of the books pictured above will receive a copy of Minute-Men: Execute & Run upon its release on October 14. (Though not illustrated, that edition will nonetheless feature a powerful cover by graphic artist Dany V. You can see that cover here.)

As an alternate question, can you recommend an edition of a novel with particularly strong illustrations?

The best way to respond? Simply click the button below:

We’ll share highlights of the responses we receive when the next newsletter is released on July 22.

Special Delivery … or, The Mailman Delivered a WHAT?

Our previous newsletter challenge featured pictures of some incredibly weird things that a kid could order through the mail back in the 1950s and 60s.

Above: An illustration by Arthur Radebaugh (from his series Closer Than We Think) depicts mail delivery in the future … as imagined in 1958.

Live monkeys, Asiatic insects, X-ray glasses! Our June 24 newsletter includes pictures of some of those outrageous mail-order items. You’ll find them pictured here:

And to find out how accurate readers were at identifying the one mail-order item that was even too outrageous for the 1960s, click the button below:

Call to Action!

Above: Minute-Man Daniel Hayes by Jeffrey Harris.

The Minute-Men need your help.

If you’ve enjoyed our videos, challenges, and glimpses behind the scenes of Minute-Men: Execute & Run, please tell at least one other person about our newsletter. To quote rock historian Andrew Hickey, “Word of mouth is the best way to get information out about any creative work.” So, please spread the word. You can do so via the button below:

And … if you haven’t yet subscribed to this newsletter, now’s the time. It may no longer be legal to order live monkeys through the mail, but getting the MM:E&R Newsletter delivered to your ebox every two weeks is as easy as clicking the button below:

Our next installment drops on July 22. We’ll meet you there!