

It was my chance to illustrate what I consider to be a new classic. When I was asked to create images for the Deluxe Edition of Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief it was a dream come true. My approach has never been just to describe a scene from the book, but to create an illustration that offers tension and mystery-an image that provides just enough information to leave the viewer wanting to know more. That promise is what I tried to achieve when creating the pictures for this incredible series.

That promise let me know that if I read the words surrounding that picture, I could unlock the adventure. What I love about their paintings is not just the beautiful draftsmanship, color and composition, but their ability to capture a moment that held the promise of swashbuckling adventure. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Maxfield Parrish. Many years later, when I became interested in illustration, I discovered the beautiful hardbound editions of these stories featuring the arresting artwork of incredible artists like N.C. I instantly fell in love with the stories of Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, H.G.

This first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.Ī Note for Amazon Customers from Illustrator John Roccoĭear Readers, When I was about eight years old I had the great luck of stumbling upon my father’s collection of Classics Illustrated comic books.

All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus. There's little time to process this news. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. The edition comes in an elegant slipcase with a ribbon bookmark, rough edges, and cloth cover-a perfect keepsake for fans of this truly epic series.Īfter getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. In this stunning collectors' edition of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson's world is brought to life with eight full-color plates by the series jacket artist John Rocco.
