Tattoo: A Story [Illustrated Classic Edition]: A Century of Tattoo Legends, the Most Unruly Eccentrics, the Richest Tattoo Designs

　　▎From underground trend to mainstream phenomenon: A century of tattoo legends brought to life!
　　From Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest's iconic rebellious tattoo aesthetic, featuring 176 insect tattoos and 131 bone tattoos on his body, to Rihanna's 20 trend-setting stylish tattoos, and Justin Bieber, who hasn't stopped getting tattooed since his 16th birthday. They are not the only ones passionate about tattoos; there's also Lady Gaga, who maintains a normal half, David Beckham, Johnny Depp, singer Amy Winehouse, heavy metal bands, Harley riders, and the story goes on...

　　In the late 19th century, the most popular tattoo enthusiasts were actually European royals and aristocrats? Over 100 years ago, the first man crowned "the most beautifully tattooed man in the world" looked like a hipster gentleman? A wealthy British girl rebelliously spent her entire 21st birthday red envelope on tattoos just to become a Guinness World Record holder? From Kewpie dolls to Teddy Boys, what classic tattoo designs have been popular over the past century? In the early 20th century, the gaps left by circus freaks were filled by tattooed people?

　　How crazy are tattoo fanatics? One even publicly declared a posthumous auction for his tattooed head! How disgruntled are Russian prisoners? Just look at their tattoo declarations: "Compensate me for my wasted youth," and you'll understand. Are Japanese tattooed men the most loyal? Yakuza bosses, construction workers, and firefighters are all major clients of Japanese tattoo masters. Tattoo designs are full of codes: FTW, the number 13, M, 1%. Don't get them without understanding their anti-social meanings! Each tattoo is a story of an eccentric individual that will make you exclaim, "I'm amazed!"
　　
　　▎Superheroes wear tight suits, they get tattoos!
　　◎Gladiators branded with the mark of "slavery"
　　Tattoos have always been taboo. In Rome, when unruly slaves or prisoners were branded with "ignominious marks," the thrilling heroic journey of "tattoo" as an art form began.

　　◎The Most Beautifully Tattooed Man vs. The Strongest Tattooed Woman
　　In the early 20th century, "Painproof" Jack Tarrant's full-body tattoos caused a sensation, earning him the title of "the most beautifully tattooed man in the world." Irene Woodward was the first woman to earn a living by displaying her tattoos, spinning a plausible tale to audiences: she claimed she got so many tattoos to ward off the fervent advances of Native Americans!

　　◎Villainous heroes who used tattoos to evade military service
　　The US Navy once publicly stated that it would refuse new recruits with vulgar and obscene tattoos. Some young men deliberately tattooed nude women on their bodies to evade military service, becoming a widespread anecdote during wartime. However, tattoo artists and the military later teamed up, adding "new clothes" to the nude figures on these young men's bodies, sending all these clever fellows back to the army! Young men will always be young men.

　　◎Heroes don't cry; even when they lose a fight, they still beautify their swollen faces.
　　Unlike the gleaming tattoo parlors in commercial districts today, in the first half of the twentieth century, most of these establishments were located in dilapidated areas, often even sharing a storefront with barbershops. Sailors could spend their remaining wages on new tattoos after a haircut; workers with bruised faces from brawls could also find a "black eye removal" service here, where leeches would be applied to their eyes to draw out clotted blood, concealing the marks of their pugnaciousness.

　　◎I'm not human anymore! The tattoo that inspired the main villain in Star Wars.
　　Horace Ridler, after retiring from World War I, decided to pursue a performing career, which was obscure and poorly paid. When he decided to have a tattoo artist cover his entire body with "bold zebra stripes" and renamed himself "The Great Omi," this shocking body tattoo quickly swept the globe, even inspiring the tattooed Darth Maul in "Star Wars."

　　◎Buy my head at a high price! But my spirit lives forever.
　　Jacob Vanding's head was covered in colorful tattoos like an amusement park, but his upbringing was anything but joyful. He served time in major prisons like Alcatraz and San Quentin and worked for arms smuggler Al Capone. One day, he publicly put his tattooed head up for auction, making headlines...

　　◎I am a feminist, I get tattoos.
　　Are beauty pageants the sugar coating of evil capitalism? Betty Broadbent intended to use her body, adorned with over 560 designs, as her "beauty pageant wrestling suit" to compete in a televised beauty show! Challenging society, challenging men, challenging aesthetics, her fierce stance made her a legendary figure in feminism.

　　◎Go to prison and reflect carefully!
　　Russian prisoners refuse to reflect! When they tattoo their faces, it means they've given up their chance to return to society in their later years. You can often see the words "Don't wake me up" on their eyelids. Before tattooing words on eyelids, tattoo artists place a thin metal spoon under the eyelid to prevent piercing the eyeball.

　　◎Stop asking, that's my mother-in-law.
　　Heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne's grimacing skull tattoo on his chest was the hottest symbol for heavy metal musicians in the 1970s and 80s. When asked about the meaning of the tattoo, Ozzy Osbourne bluntly replied, "That's my mother-in-law."

　　◎Forever lover, became a forever drunkard.
　　Johnny Depp's most infamous tattoo was "Winona Forever" on his right arm. After he broke up with his ex-girlfriend, actress Winona Ryder, the words were changed to "Wino Forever."

　　▎How to get a tattoo that's cool enough? Learn from the pioneers.
　　According to a Fox News poll conducted in March 2014, approximately 20% of the US population has tattoos, a 13% increase compared to 2007. Today, tattoos are an important mark of personal style—I tattoo, therefore I am.

　　This book, written by British popular culture journalist David McComb, who has delved into the subject for 20 years, traces the timeline of tattoo culture with an incredibly rich collection of 400 images throughout the book. It selects the most striking historical images and archival materials, telling the story of what happened to tattooed people over the past century and what kind of history they created. All the precious images in the book were meticulously selected by professional image editor Tom Broadbent, who scoured collectors, archives, artists, and agents for their cherished treasures, choosing incredibly rare historical shots and comprehensive, rich tattoo designs that are absolutely worth collecting.