One Man Army: The Action Paperback Art of Gil Cohen

by Gil Cohen (artist), Robert Deis (Editor), Wyatt Doyle (Editor)

ONE MAN Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan, “The Executioner,” applied his select skills and training to target organized crime with the intensity, fortitude, and firepower of an entire division of highly trained specialists. Bolan took on the Mafia, the KGB, and international terrorism with ruthless, relentless determination...and lethal results. ONE MAN Gil Cohen, veteran artist, targeted the commercial illustration market with the drive, skill, and stamina of ten painters. Creating hundreds of arresting cover images for bestsellers and paperback series of every stripe (while somehow also working as a university art teacher), Cohen was a powerhouse producer of memorable covers and a “secret weapon” of publishers who recognized that his dynamic and memorable artwork was invaluable in defining—and selling—paperback novels in a fiercely competitive marketplace. ONE MAN The explosive new art book from The Men’s Adventure Library, produced in full cooperation with the Artist. Exploring the incomparable talents of Gil Cohen through the unique perspective he brought to the Mack Bolan universe, ONE MAN ARMY showcases dozens of his spectacular and iconic original paintings created as cover art for the bestselling action series. A visual chronicle of the ongoing—and ever-expanding—adventures of Mack Bolan and company that spotlights Cohen’s seminal role in establishing the Bolan mythos and legend for millions of dedicated readers. Available in softcover and as a deluxe hardcover with additional content.

140 pages, Hardcover

Published March 23, 2020

Reviews

[Dan Leo]

Bob Deis and Wyatt Doyle have published many fantastic books devoted to the art and fiction of the late lamented Men’s Adventure Magazines that attracted the wondering eyes of millions of adolescent boys and forever-young men from the mid-1950s to the mid-70s, and I do believe I own and have perused endlessly every one of these fine volumes. This new addition to Deis and Wyatt’s Men’s Adventure Library stands out for two reasons: because it is their first production devoted to paperback-book art (as opposed to magazine art), and because this book is all about the great Gil Cohen, one of the true masters in the field. In particular the book concentrates just on one aspect of Cohen’s long and varied career: his work on the long-running “Mack Bolan” series of action-adventure novels, and its spin-off series, “Able Team” and “Phoenix Force”. The opening section of the book gives us an in-depth interview with Cohen, covering how he first started illustrating Mack Bolan, his inspirations for the titular character (primarily Clint Eastwood, although Cohen used his own brother-in-law as his model), and his methods, moving from acrylics to his now-preferred medium of oils. Of special interest to me was what Cohen said about how Bolan handles the firearms he is almost always depicting as carrying (and using!) – an army veteran, Cohen always wanted Mack to be using the weapon in a realistic way, no matter how outrageous the scene of the action might be. Cohen is also meticulous in the depiction of the firearms themselves, and what an arsenal we see in the dozens of explosive and outrageous paintings that make up the bulk of the book: just about every submachine gun you can think of, plenty of assault and sniper rifles, and innumerable automatic handguns – not too many revolvers, because, hey, this is Mack Bolan, and sometimes six bullets are just not enough, y’know? The paintings themselves? Fantastic, in all the senses of the word. Cohen just has a knack for painting a scene that looks like the most exciting moment of the most bad-ass action movie you’ll ever want to see. By the way, I was especially pleased to see that Gil Cohen comes from my hometown of Philly, and that his grandfather and dad ran Cohen’s hardware store, a South Philly institution. Cohen studied at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art – now called the University of the Arts – and later taught there himself for over two decades. Many of my friends over the years studied at the U. of A., and I’m sure Cohen is remembered fondly by them, just as his work is treasured by fans of great action-adventure art.

[Donald]

great book on the art of Gil Cohen for the Executioner and sequel series. Nice selection
of covers and great interview. Strongly recommend it!!!!