Camilla d’Errico’s Helmetgirls hits bookshelves, Feb 27

– by Fatimah Yasin

Camilla d’Errico is set to release a second book with Dark Horse Comics a year after Femina and Fauna: The Art of Camilla d’Errico. Available Feb 27, Helmetgirls follows a similar style to d’Errico’s previous work in fusing manga, steampunk and fine art into a unique aggregate.

The Vancouver artist is a prominent face of pop surrealism. She is an accomplished painter, comic-book artist, illustrator, custom-toy designer and character developer. A few of her clients include Walt Disney, Image Comics, Random House and the Opera Gallery of New York.

D’Errico’s fascination with machinery, which she dates back to her early childhood, is apparent  in Helmetgirls. Wide-eyed girls wear elaborate mechanical headgear. Beauty and machine are in harmony with each other. As the headgear organically extends from the girls’ bodies, the two entities become one.

The depth in the eyes of the Helmetgirls tells a different story to each viewer. The narrative depends on what onlookers see when they gaze into the girls’ eyes; it might be a reflection of their own story.

In the book, d’Errico writes “To me each of these girls is distinct, existing in a world caught between a physical reality and an ether, between the machines of the past and those of the future. The helmets are extensions of these girls that communicate their power and ability to seduce through solid metal.”

Pre-order of Helmetgirls is available here.