The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death Hardcover

In 1981, three Mexican-American brothers self-published their first comic book, Love and Rockets, and "changed American cartooning forever" according to Publishers Weekly. Published by the graphic preservation masterminds at Abrams ComicArts, The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death is an expansive, definitive deluxe hardcover studio archive. The notoriously private artist has opened his personal files for the first time, revealing never-before-seen sketches, childhood drawings, and unpublished work. This massive coffee-table tome serves as the ultimate retrospective compilation tracking the legendary ink line layers, expressive panel compositions, and character turnarounds that built independent comic history. 

Spanning a monumental 224 pages of high-contrast visual layouts and heavyweight archival stock, this comprehensive chronicle presents an unmatched look inside professional comic development pipelines. Get an inside look at the raw ink-and-paint process packed with a wealth of production extras, including insight on alternative punk scene histories, character model sheets, and step-by-step layout designs. Follow along as the author tracks the intricate visual development of some of the most memorable and fully formed characters the comics world has ever seen—including definitive design traces for Maggie Chascarrillo and Hopey Glass from his iconic Locas stories. His female protagonists, masterfully delineated with humor, candor, and breathtaking realism, come to life within California's Mexican-American culture and punk milieu's heyday. Every premium portfolio page is packed with professional-grade comic art lines, fine production pencils, and insightful creator reflections. 

Individual chapters compile spectacular visual layouts, character designs, and worldbuilding portfolios: