"When darkness falls" is the theme in Tony Mauro's work over the years of sexy, gorgeous girls in fantasy or cyberpunk settings. They are like Boris Vellejo but while sexy manage to not have that artist's pornographic of overly muscled body builder themes going on.
The pictures are good and there is a sense most of the women are strong, capable and dangerous, a far cry from the shrinking violets that need rescuing by some knight errant. They are in charge of their lives and will be quite happy to explain this to you.
I have gotten the calendar each year for several years so clearly I like his work but this is year I have to give it only 4 stars. The pictures are good but several of the women seem to have unnaturally thin or extended waists, as if they don't have all their ribs or organs. Yeah I know with slim leggy babes with big boobs on every page, calling something `unnatural' seems an oxymoron but the fact is a couple of these seem so... off as to stretch the ability to suspend disbelief of even the most red blooded hetero male. These are still great to look at but just being aware that some are a little off, affects the overall enjoyment. Still, I fully expect to order the 2014 calendar when it's time comes around so it can't have been that bad.
