The Travel-Inspired Posters of Mondo
PHOTO: Mondo’s ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ poster (left) at Comic-Con International 2017. (photo by Jason Leppert)
I attended Mondo Mania at this year’s Comic-Con International 2017 in San Diego—a panel dedicated to the pop culture studio’s film, television and comics posters.
I was reminded how much of its work is wonderfully travel-related.
Before becoming a full-time cruise travel journalist, I was a graphic designer and, to this day, I appreciate great poster art, especially from Mondo. Most of it has a decidedly vintage vibe that I subscribe to and often emulated back in the day. (Just check out my Popular Cruising logo to understand the retro style to which I refer.)
Speaking specifically to my cruise sensibilities was a slide presented early by the panel of Rob Jones (founder/creative director), Eric Garza (creative director), Jay Shaw (creative director/artist), Jason Edmiston (artist) and Tom Whalen (artist).
It was a reimagining of “The Poseidon Adventure” from 1972, made to look like a travel advertisement. While it could serve as a wonderful print for the movie alone, it was actually a promo poster for the 2006 Netflix Rolling Roadshow and the screening of the film that took place aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
It’s a print I would love to have if it wasn’t sold out.
The Burlesque Of North America design marvelously showcases the grand ocean liner in a central medallion surrounded by an art deco wave border and fun sayings like, “Why go on a trip when you can go on the Poseidon Adventure” and “Leave the world behind.”
More playful are Mondo’s Disney posters like the equally maritime “Steamboat Willie.”
Continuing the art deco motif is a symmetrical “V” layout extending from the handles of the wheel with Mickey Mouse front and center. Like the film itself, all the characters are appropriately rendered in black-and-white with only a splash or orange coloring for the geometric logotype.
Even “Pinocchio,”—presented side-by-side with “Steamboat Willie” at the panel and designed by Whalen—has a story familiar to international travelers. Since the feature animated film is based on the Italian children’s novel by Carlo Collodi, it includes references to the volcanic island of Stromboli in villainous character form.
Also looking back through Mondo’s archives, Martin Ansin’s “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” poster is a piece befitting adventure travel with the legendary Nautilus submarine riding the surface as a giant squid attacks ominously from shipwrecks below.
The cool blue coloring of the monochromatic composition is only perfectly interrupted by the crimson red of the monstrous sea creature.
READ MORE: 5 Travel Posters That Prove The Future is Bright
Meanwhile, Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s “Lilo Stitch” poster is far more peaceful, with soft pastels and stenciling reminiscent of “South Pacific.” It’s another beautiful piece with foreground elements and kinetic waves drawing you into the Hawaiian land and seascape as the titular characters relax upon the dry surface of a volcanic rock form.
As much as I love Mondo’s posters, they are tenaciously difficult to procure. With such small high quality screen-printed limited editions, most sell out very quickly.
At a previous Comic-Con, I was lucky enough to receive a larger reproduction of a “Captain America: The First Avenger” poster as a promotion, and it is displayed proudly in my office.
Mondo is thankfully coming out with a book featuring its work for collectors to enjoy. “The Art of Mondo” will be released on September 12, 2017 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon. With 356 pages, one for each day of the year, it will surely feature many great archival pieces.
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