The Art of George Wilson is a book published by Hermes Press in USA in September 2025. The book is written by author, journalist, and screenwriter Anthony Taylor, edited by Daniel Herman, and features an introduction by famed artist Joe Jusko. It celebrates the art of George Wilson, who is best known for his stunning painted covers for comic books and paperback novels during the Silver and Bronze Ages of comics (primarily the 1960s and 1970s).
The American artist George Wilson (1921–1999) was a remarkably prolific and influential commercial illustrator, best known for his dynamic and highly realistic painted cover art for a huge number of comic books and paperback novels from the 1950s through the 1970s. Working primarily for publishers like Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics, Wilson produced hundreds of covers for non-superhero adventure, science-fiction, and mystery titles. His painted covers, which featured cinematic composition, mastery of color, and high drama, often elevated the comic books and were reminiscent of the earlier pulp magazine aesthetic.
Wilson’s extensive output covered a wide array of genres, demonstrating immense versatility in his technical skill. His illustrations graced the covers of numerous popular series, including Turok, Son of Stone, Tarzan, The Phantom, The Twilight Zone, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom, Magnus, Robot Fighter, and the original Star Trek comics. Unlike many of his peers, he worked exclusively as a cover artist and was known for using models and focusing on realistic, yet action-filled, depictions of characters battling a variety of foes, from dinosaurs and animals to aliens and monsters.
During World War II, Wilson served in a highly secretive and unique unit known as the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, or the “Ghost Army.” This specialized unit was composed largely of artists, designers, and engineers whose mission was to stage visual, radio, and sonic deceptions—using inflatable tanks, sound effects, and theatrical maneuvers—to confuse the German forces about the location and size of American units. After his service, Wilson used his fine art training to become one of the first art directors in early television before embarking on his decades-long career as a celebrated, though often uncredited, illustrator who left an indelible mark on Silver Age popular culture.
The hardcover book is an extensive monograph that focuses on over 300 examples of George Wilson’s cover art across 192 full cover pages measuring 23.5cm x 3.81cm x 31.12cm. Many of the featured artworks are scanned from the original paintings. Wilson’s painted covers were strikingly eye-catching, often compared to the style of classic pulp magazines. He worked on a vast number of titles, including:
- Book Covers: His extensive work on the Phantom for Avon Books and Gold Key is highlighted. He also painted covers for other genres like Flash Gordon, romance, adventure, and war titles.
- Comic Books (Dell and Gold Key): Classics Illustrated, The Twilight Zone, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Dr. Solar, Magnus Robot Fighter, Turok, Son of Stone, and Star Trek.
The book includes an in-depth essay by Anthony Taylor and the only interview Wilson ever gave, offering a rare look into the life of this private man. It also reveals his secret past as a member of the “Ghost Army” (23rd Headquarters Special Troops) during WWII, a classified detail during much of his lifetime.
Advertisements for The Art of George Wilson book reads:
What made many of the great adventure comics of the 1960s so attractive were their fantastic painted covers by artist George Wilson. Wilson also turned in hundreds of painted covers for paperback books that range from The Phantom and Flash Gordon to romance, adventure and war titles, all illustrated in the extensive survey of his work. Unlike the majority of comic book covers of the era, Wilson’s covers harkened back to the era of pulp magazines and were spectacularly eye-catching. He turned in efforts for literally hundreds of comics titles – this important monograph on the artist provides examples of every genre he worked in.
Presented are cover paintings scanned from the original artwork from Classics Illustrated, The Twilight Zone, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Doctor Solar, Magnus Robot Fighter, Turok, Son of Stone, Star Trek, Korak, Son of Tarzan, Mighty Samson, Brothers of the Spear, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, Space Family Robinson, Dark Shadows, and The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor to name but a few. This new art book focuses on over 300 examples of his cover art accompanied by an introduction by famed artist Joe Jusko, an exhaustive essay by Anthony Taylor and the only interview Wilson ever gave. This is the ultimate, definitive art book about one of the most important cover artists of the Silver and Bronze ages.
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