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DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book

Seventy five years!?  Hard to believe but DC Comics has been around for 75 years.  I've enjoyed reading its comic books for over 50 years.  In fact, DC Comics was my introduction to comic books.

When I was five years old I was stuck in a hospital for a week recovering from having my tonsils taken out.  Since my Mom couldn't be there the entire time, she came up with a clever way for me to pass the time.

You guessed it-comic books!  Each day she would stop by the neighborhood Salvation Army and Good Will stores and pick up a stack of comic books at two for a nickel-most were DC Comics.  Occasionally she would buy new issues off the stands at a whopping ten cents each!

I can still remember thrilling to the adventures of the Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom, Adam Strange, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and a library of books filled with DC superheroes, adventure and science fiction titles.  Most were Silver Age with the occasional Golden Age surfacing.  Of course I had no idea that the books I held would one day go on to be classics and worth a small fortune.  I was hooked.  From that point on I read comic books-I still do.

DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book, with commentary by Robert Schnakenberg and published by Quirk Books, is a treasure trove of classic images.  Included in this oversize book are 100 ready-to-frame classic DC comic book covers starting from the Golden Age on up to modern times. On the flip side of each poster is a commentary about the title, anecdotes and recollections by the cover artist along with two additional cover reproductions.

This is what collecting and reading comic books is all about.  Flipping though its pages I was swept away by a wave of nostalgia by both the old and new images.  It reaffirmed why I love comic books so much. 

Buy a copy today, savor every page and image and relive the magic that only DC Comics can deliver.    

Cul de Sac

Cartoonist Richard Thompson has unique way of looking at childhood and people and life in general.  Just one look at his Cul de Sac comic strip will confirm that conclusion.  Cul de Sac stars preschooler Alice Otterloop and her misadventures in her neighborhood and at school.

Each and every day brings strange new people and adventures Alice's way-or so she believes.  After reading Cul de Sac Golden Treasury: A Keepsake Garland Of Classics published by Andrew McMeel Publishing you're sure to come away with a off-kilter view of life and living of your own.

Follow Alice as she copes with preschool, the beach, growing up, her neighbors, holidays and the many unexpected twists and turns of life seen through the eyes of a child enriched by her imagination. 

     

 

Civil War And Hot Wheels

Of all the wars the United States has taken part in the Civil War is the most popular when it comes to collectibles.  Perhaps Civil War collecting is so popular because of the nature of the war.  This was no war where we sent troops overseas, this was a war where brother fought against brother, family against family and state against state.

Here in the South the Civil War is still very much alive, at least in spirit.  Many great battles were fought in the South and Rebel pride flourishes.  No one condones the South's use of slaves.  Rebel pride goes far deeper than that.  Southerners are proud of their heritage just as much as, if not more so, than Northerners.

The popularity of the Civil War is evident by the many reenactments taking place across the country and the plethora of Civil War artifact recreations.

In Warman's Civil War Collectibles by Russell E. Lewis and published by Krause Publications, Civil War buffs have a complete Identification And Price Guide at their disposal.

Inside everything from documents to uniforms to weapons, flags, surgical kits, personal items and more fill each page with full color photos accompanied by informative historical text and price ranges.  This book is far more than a book about Civil War collectibles, it's a great reference book about the war that nearly tore the United States apart.

Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide 3rd Edition by Michael Zarnock is a great pocket size carry-along guide for the novice and veteran Hot Wheels collector.  Speaking as a novice, it's especially helpful to me.  Just a few years a go I wouldn't have known what a Redline or variation were, let alone what to look for.  Warman's has been a great help.  Inside this small Values And Identification Field Guide, Hot Wheels fans are presented with over 800 color photos, listings of Redlines, pricing and lots of other invaluable information.

Dreamscapes Myth & Magic: Creating Legendary Creatures And Characters In Watercolor

One of my favorite mediums to work in is watercolor.  The fluidity of line, the soft, subtle shades of color that can be achieved and ability to blend colors so smoothly together make it a wonderful way to paint.  However, it is one of the most difficult painting mediums to master and takes a good deal of skill. Unlike oil paints that you blend colors and make corrections over an extended time or acrylics that dry quickly and can be easily corrected by painting over mistakes, watercolors are far less forgiving.

A great deal of pre-planning must be made in order to assure a viable final watercolor painting.  There's only so many corrections that can be made despite the quality of the paper painted on or the pigments used.  Overworking of watercolor muddies an entire painting.  Only by carefully applying pigment in planned layers can a final product be successfully created.

Dreamscapes Myth & Magic: Creating Legendary Creatures And Characters in Watercolor by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and published by Impact Books!, provides step-by-step instructions on how to create a successful fantasy watercolor painting beginning with pencils, the proper way to lay down colors and in what order and the final 'tweaks' that make a genre painting a success. 

The author provides lessons on illustrating and painting a myriad of fantasy settings, creatures and characters accompanied by precise informative text and tips.  It's a great instructional book on how to create beautiful and lush fantasy watercolors.

Incredible Comic
Book Women

Longtime comic book artist and new author Tom Nguyen (and his bevy of beautiful babe models) present Incredible Comic Book Women: The Kick Ass Guide To Drawing Hot Babes! published by Impact Books!

Ask any veteran or wannabe comic book artist and almost without exception when asked, “What is the most difficult thing to draw?” and they’ll answer—women. Trust me, I know, I have difficulty myself.

There’s something about the way that women are put together: their curves, torso area and faces that makes drawing women difficult, but not impossible. The biggest mistake young artists make when drawing women is they tend to make them look too muscular and use too many line-especially in their faces. The whole secret to drawing women is economy of lines and simplicity of form-any drawing of a woman should emphasize the soft, subtle curves of their body, their grace and most importantly their beauty.

Tom Nguyen understands the complexity of drawing women. His new book offers step-by-step instructions, with illustrations and photos, on how to draw faces, facial features, hairstyles, expressions, age variations, dynamic poses and lighting effects and five full-length demonstrations that simulate real-life “assignments from cover art to a complete comic book page are also included.

Artist of all sorts will want to study this book as it offers excellent advice and tips on drawing women of all shapes, sizes, ages and ethic backgrounds. Hot chicks-even hotter art!

Wheels, Antiques, Rocks, Glass And Shoes

When author Michael Zarnock and Krause Publications state that the 4th Edition of Hot Wheels Variations is The Ultimate Guide they weren’t kidding! Just one look at this massive book clocking in at 5,500 number packs and with 3,100 photos includes a full identification and price listing of every Variation and it’s cool to look at to boot!


Warman’s 44th Antiques & Collectibles book by Mark F. Moran is the ultimate guide to everything antique ranging from glasswares to war memorabilia. Trusted since 1948 this guide is the bible of any serious collector with comprehensive listings, historical data and current market trends and prices. If you collect, then this is the book for you.

Before seeing Collecting Rocks, Gems And Minerals by Patti Polk I never realized how many different types of geological goodies there were. Look for full identification, values and lapidary uses. This book is packed with color photos, interesting mineral facts and full features. Rockin’!

Glass Collectors are sure to want to pick up Warman’s Depression Glass Field Guide 4th Edition by Ellen T. Schroy. Full value and identifications are included as are full color photos of each piece along with linear pattern recreations, prices and abbreviated historical facts.

Caroline Ashleigh and Warman’s Shoes Field Guide tracks the history of footwear from everything from athletic shoes to cowboy boots and everything in between. Look for values and identifications, promotional and historical documents and much more as you jump feet first into collecting shoes.

Star Trek: The Children Of Kings

I applaud Pocket Books and author David Stern for writing about a seldom explored era in Star Trek lore: the years that the starship Enterprise was captained by Christopher Pike.  As any old ‘Trekker” knows, (I’m not a “Trekkie” since I am a fan of the series since it first broadcast in 1966), Pike was originally supposed to be the Captain of the Enterprise when Star Trek went on the air.

But, in a surprise move NBC requested a second Star Trek pilot be made that was less “cerebral” since NBC considered their audiences too dumb to understand at the time and so Gene Roddenberry replaced Pike with Captain Kirk-a man of action and notorious womanizer.

In the original series' pilot Christopher Pike was the Captain, Dr. Boyce (I like that name) the physician, Number One the First Officer and Mr. Spock the Science Officer.  Their missions took them to both hostile and welcoming worlds that were as every bit as interesting as any Captain Kirk’s crew explored. 

Captain Pike had a strong sense of discipline and loyalty to his crew.  Less congenial than Kirk, Pike was a man who lived by the book but with the capacity to look outside the box for solutions when necessary.

In The Children Of Kings Captain Pike and his crew discover that Starbase 18 has been destroyed and all clues point to the Klingons and a new secret weapon.  But, Pike is not so sure, especially when the Orions are thrown into the mix. 

Do the Klingons have a new cloaking device and what of the Orions who have long been known to practice piracy and what of the Captain and crew of a disabled Orion ship that the Enterprise assists?

Regardless who, or what, is to blame for the destruction of Starbase 18, the threat of total annihilation hangs over the heads of Captain Pike and the Federation unless the threat is stopped.  The Children Of Kings explores the tenuous relationship between the Federation and the Orions and delves into the reasons behind the tensions between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.  For a Star Trek history lesson be sure to pick up The Children Of Kings.

Sparky

When I was young I tried never to miss a day reading Peanuts by Charles Schultz.  When we got the paper everyday it was easy to do, but there were times when we didn’t so I would read neighbors’ papers, scrounge through trash on trash days to get the comics and when all else failed I bought the early compilations of Peanuts strips at the bookstore.

I loved Peanuts then and I still love it today-even though Charles Schulz is no longer with us.

Beverly Gherman and Chronicle Books present a loving tribute to Charles “Sparky” Schulz in Sparky: The Life And Art Of Charles Schulz.  What a charming and heartfelt book.

Author Gherman looks back at his early life of Sparky and the things and events that would shape his unique comedic take on life.  Learn about his early days as a boy that drew constantly, even when visiting his father’s barbershop.  Discover his early sports aspirations and what events led up to his creating peanuts.

It’s a nostalgic look back at his life complete with anecdotes, good times, bad times and his eventual overwhelming success as a cartoonist.  The book is brimming with Peanuts art as well as some art that many may not be familiar with.  It’s a wonderful book about a wonderful man and his imaginary friends that thrilled readers for nearly 50 years.

Street Fighter: The Complete History

There’s no denying the Street Fighter is a pop culture phenomenon.  When it was first introduced as a video game by Capcom in the 1980’s it became a gamer favorite.  And why wouldn’t it?  It was a surefire combination: players got to choose from an impressive roster of fighters, big and small, male and female, who would then proceed to knock the #$%*! Out of each other!  Admit it, isn’t that what a video game is really all about-one guy trouncing another?  Sure it can be an armored, super, futuristic soldier or a cute little whatchamacallit-but it all all boils down to someone or something beating up another someone or something and Street Fighter does it best.

Author Chris Carle and Chronicle Books present The Complete History of the game, its many manifestations, its fan base, merchandizing and plethora of characters both loved and hated by fans.

It’s a colorful collection of art, screen captures, cosplaying, conventions and merchandise complemented by historical and fun facts, insider info and much more. 

The Art Of Toy Story 3

When Toy Story hit theaters in 1995 it wowed audiences.  Never before had a feature length computer animated movie been seen.  Audiences went wild and before long the movie’s studio, Pixar, became famous all over the world.  Subsequently Pixar has released a number of computer animated movies, all under the Disney banner.  It wasn’t long until Pixar became part of Disney.

Toy Story opened the door for computer animated movies released over the last 15 years.  But as good as some of the movies are, no one can beat Pixar Studios when it comes to concept and implementation.  Pixar remains at the forefront of computer animation and with each release audiences are amazed with its technical wizardry.

The Art Of Toy Story 3 by Charles Solomon and released by Chronicle Books takes readers inside the inner workings of how the movie was created.  John Lassiter provides the preface with Lee Unkrich and Daria K. Anderson collaborating on the foreword.

The book consists of pages filled with color character designs, scenery and interior designs, color and textures studies, storyboards and script refinements and alterations.  Look for Marquette photos, on location study sessions and documentation of every phase of the production.  It’s an insider’s look at what it take t make such an innovation and ground-breaking production.  Look and enjoy!

Rough Justice

I first encountered artist/writer/designer Alex Ross’s work in the defunct Now Comics Terminator mini-series. Even then, at such an early age (not yet 20) Alex’s talent was evident. His mastery of facial expressions, anatomy, page layout and use of color far exceeded what one to expect to see form one so young.

From Now Alex went on to produce the ground-breaking maxi-series for Marvel Comics aptly named Marvels and soon after the Kingdom Come series for DC Comics. Since then he has produced dozens of comic book covers, a score of comic book stories for regular monthly titles, mini and maxi-series, one-shots and a handful of original series for both Marvel and DC.

The new Rough Justice hardbound book from Pantheon Books by Ross, with editor Chip Kidd, offers a sneak peek into Alex’s creative process by showing sketches and design ideas for the work he’s done for DC Comics. Inside readers witness Ross’s exhaustive research methods when creating characters and stories. Character designs, cover sketches, storyboard layouts, color studies, logo design, vehicle and environment refinements and hundreds of sketches fill each page along with personal notes and observations and anecdotes by the artist.

Alex’s art can best be described as reality meeting fantasy. His characters are rendered as if they were real, with stunning lighting effects, innovative costume designs and easily identifiable characters (no cookie cutter likenesses).

As a designer and artist I can appreciate the sheer volume of work, effort and time put into each sketch and final piece. The book makes for a fascinating journey into the mind of one the best artist in the industry and one of its most influential and ground-breaking creators.

Wonder Woman

Author Robert Greenberger, with a foreword by legendary comic book artist George Perez, and Universe Publishing present the ultimate Wonder Woman book aptly entitles Wonder Woman: Amazon, Hero, Icon.

This massive tome sports an Alex Ross painted cover and is brimming to near overflowing with artwork depicting the Amazon Princess since her first adventures as written by William Moulton Marston (the inventor of the lie detector) and illustrated with subtle S&M references by harry G. Peter.

Created to appeal to young girls as Batman and Superman appealed to young boys, Wonder Woman was an instant success and has been continually published since her first Golden Age appearance.  Over the years she has transformed from a simple female Superman to a goddess complete with mythological roots.

The book carefully and lovingly traces her comic book career through the decades complete with full color illustrations, character designs, short story reprints, special promotional art and dynamic full page and two-page spreads by some of finest talent in the industry. 

This book contains more than just the history of Wonder Woman; it is filled with facts and recollections about the history of comic books beginning in the early days of the Golden Age.  It’s a real treasure trove of information and visual treat that will fascinate readers for hours.  For an upfront look at Wonder Woman in all of her various versions over the decades, be sure to pick up a copy of this book.

 

Teenager And Litter Box

Two new titles from Andrew McMeel Publishing hit the shelves and both deal with unwanted pests: cats and teenagers-just kidding!

In A Zits Guide To Living With Your Teenager (I’ve had two and my hair is still falling out from the encounter) Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman explore the strange world of the teenager.

This small hardbound book contains classic parent/teenager situations that any parent can identify with. Clever comments accompany each cartoon strip. They wouldn’t be as near as funny if they weren’t so rooted in the truth.

For an encounter of a different type check out Treasury Of The Lost Litter Box Get Fuzzy Collection by cartoonist Darby Conley.

The book is comprised of reprinted daily and Sunday comic strips starring everyone’s favorite pet comedy act: Bucky B. Katt and Satchel Pooch. Follow their misadventures as they, and their strange group of friends, make their human owner’s (Rob Wilco) life a roller coaster ride with no seat belts, broken tracks and no way to get off.

This time around Bucky goes Hollywood, there’s hygiene for pets, booger hide and seek and other hilarious outings. If hilarity has a name it must be Get Fuzzy.

Watching M*A*S*H*,

Watching America

For eleven years the CBS comedy/drama series M*A*S*H entertained the America TV viewing public,  Derived from the dark Vietnam era war comedy movie of the same name the series continued the misadventures of the doctors and staff of the 407th M*A*S*H* united set during the Korean War.  The Mobile Army Surgical Hospital personnel were responsible for patching together wounded soldiers not far from enemy lines. 

Tensions were high and nerves frayed and yet soldiers and medical personnel held it together, amidst the insanity, to do their jobs.

For the first three years the series positioned itself as an anti-war platform against the Vietnam War using parallels between the Korean War and the then current conflict. After the third year and the departure of McLean Stevenson as Colonel Henry Blake from the series, the show took a more social commentary approach cleverly commenting on current social trends such as women’s rights, divorce, etc. 

Through eleven seasons the cast, with some changes, included Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John, Henry Blake, Radar O’Reilly, Colonel Potter, Hotlips Houlihan, B.J. Hunnicutt, Charles Emerson Winchester, Frank Burns, Max Klinger and Father Mulcahy who coped with the war, matured and developed as characters.  All of the characters went through significant changes.

Watching M*A*S*H*, Watching America, written by James H. Wittebols and published by McFarland and Company, Inc., examines the long running series, its changes over the years, its social relevance, its characters and stories and most important of all its unswerving dedication to quality and attempt to be more than just a comedy about war.

Although set in the 1950s the show is as relevant today as it was when first broadcast in 1972.

Firefly: Still Flying

It’s a positive testament to a TV series, its writers, actors and staff, when although short run (just over a year) the series still is as popular as ever with fans and continues to garner new fans. 

What made Firefly so unique is that is was a science fiction TV show unlike any other science fiction show.  Set in the future, the series harkened back to the rough and rugged days of the American West, when might made right and the law of the frontier held sway. 

You were just as likely to see a traditional handgun amidst the high-tech surroundings as your were to see leather clad ‘Cowboys” mingling with alien races.

In Firefly: Still Flying, Titan Books presents new stories from the writers of the original TV series as a celebration of Joss Whedon’s acclaimed TV series.

Look for character bios, behind-the-scenes photos, storyboards, production art, prop photos, spaceship designs and models and lots of other ‘goodies’ that make the book not only a joy to read but to look at as well.

Classic Bible Stories

Two stories from the scripture: Jesus: The Road OF Courage and Mark: The Youngest Disciple are reprinted in full color in Titan Books’ new Classic Bible stories hardback. 

Originally printed in the British comic Eagle and drawn by such legendary comic strip artists as Frank Bellamy and Frank Hampton, the stories illustrate key moments in Jesus and Mark’s lives as envisioned by modern day artists. 

What makes these stories so interesting is that the artist took great efforts to depict the scenes as they would appear set during biblical times.  Costumes, setting and surrounding looked as they did hundreds of years ago.  Not dry or sterile in their presentations, the images are vibrant, full of energy and laid out in dynamic style with lots of action, plenty of pathos and presented as serious stories.

It’s obvious that a great deal of attention was given to details, historical accuracy and story telling technique.  The stories never talk down to the reader, rather they seek to instruct, inspire and enlighten the reader. 

Jeremy & Dad

Andrew McMeel Publishing presents a Zits tribute-ish to fathers and sons by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman.

In typical hilarious fashion the often tenuous relationship between boys and their dads is explored through the eyes of Jeremy Duncan- the tousled hair teenager with the knack for always getting in hot water with his parents.

In this compilation of recent and classics comic strips Jeremy and his father Walt find common ground (especially when it concerns Jeremy’s mom and Walt’s wife) and points of contention-specifically Walt’s lack of techno know how.

Speaking as father of a teenage girl (19) and a son, now 23, I can sympathize and identify with Walt.  Both of my kids seem like they're talking a foreign language when they start spewing techno-babble and yet, like Jeremy and his father, there are things both my children and myself can share a common interest with.

It just so happens, like Jeremy, my son loves old Rock and Roll-much of it from the period I grew up in.  And, like Walt and Jeremy, as we grow older we discover that we have a lot more in common than we thought.

Zits is a wonderful commentary about parents and their kids, sprinkled with humor and yet often containing nuggets of truth.  I read it every chance I get in the newspaper.

The Complete Peanuts:

1975 To 1976

When most book series, cartoon strips, TV series or other popular culture icons reach their 25th Anniversary they tend to get a little stale and predictable.  Not so with Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip.

 

In fact, Peanuts never seemed more relevant, irreverent, timely, topical or funnier than when it hit its 25th Anniversary as evident in Fantagraphics Books' newest Peanuts anthology reprinting strips from 1975 to 1976.

 

Here's just a few of the highlights that made the strip so memorable.  They include Peppermint Patty hiring Snoopy as a watch dog only to have him incapacitated by her waterbed, Charlie Brown's Valentine vigil, Snoopy and Linus's truffle hunt, Snoopy playing tennis and other classic moments.

 

For a real appreciation of Charles Schulz's genius for creating classic daily and Sunday comic strips for over 50 years take a look at the newest book from Fantagraphics to witness a true American treasure's work.

 

 

 

Prison, Planet, Cloudy, Warcraft And Eastwood

Insight Editions has released a quintet of titles dealing with TV and movies.  All are exquisitely designed and jammed full of photos and art.  If you've never given Insight Editions books a look you need to give them a try.  Each and every volume, regardless of subject matter, is a small work of art filled with lush illustrations, high resolution photos and informative text.  The books themselves consist of high-quality paper stock that guarantees clean crisp image and text reproduction and tight, clean binding, with or without slipcases. 

The TV series Prison Break is one of the most innovative and original series to come down the pike in some time.  Centered around two brothers who are unjustly imprisoned by the mysterious Company and then escape, has had viewers guessing and second guessing what is going on each and every episode.

Insight Editions and writers Christian Trokey and Kalinda Vazquez present The Official Companion Book To The Greatest Escape On Television.  Each and every page offers behind-the-scenes info and pictures from each of the show's seasons.  Learn the secrets both in front of and behind the camera complemented by lots of candid photos and revealing text.

The Art Of Planet 51 is a square bound hardback book by Danny Graydon with a foreword from Gary Oldman.  The book consists of a short story synopsis, lots of production art of characters, locations and vehicles.  Look for charter bios, storyboards, color studies and sketches-lots of sketches.  All thought the movie didn't fair so well at the box office, this new book is a real eye-pleaser and lots of fun to read.

A huge hit for Sony Picture's Animation, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meat Balls, based on the award-winning children's book, translates perfectly to the printed page.  The huge hardbound book comes in a sturdy slipcase, both lavishly illustrated front and back.

Written by Tracey Miller-Zarneke with a foreword from Judi Barrett, The Art And Making Of Sony Pictures Animation's Cloudy With A Chance Of Meat Balls gives readers a complete text and art rundown of the entire hilarious movie.

Look for complete character bios and illustrations, color studies, location illustrations, ground-breaking visual effects-such as clouds and some really cool special inserts.  What other book offers you things like scratch and sniff stickers, Top Secret schematics, a map and shopping guide, Flint's Car schematic: before and after, a fold-out weather map, screen savers, a burger guide and more?  Now that's my kind of book!

There's a reason why World Of Warcraft is the most popular online game ever created.  A solid story, spectacular art, incredible special effects and a game friendly playing environment make it extremely popular with gamers.  A whole world-universe-is open to gamers with new scenarios and environments being introduced almost on a daily basis.

The Cinematic Art Of World Of Warcraft Wrath Of The Lich King is as every bit as impressive as the game itself.  Discover how the game came about, who the key players are, what they look like, how special visual effects and panoramic vistas were created, modeling, texturing and surfacing secrets, rendering and sound creation and more in illustration filled pages with accompanying text that reveals the how and why.

Randomly inserted translucent envelopes contain final production art that make the cook a complete package of fantasy art as imagined by the geniuses behind the online game.

Most readers and movie goers associated Clint Eastwood with his Western an Detective movies and recently his WWII films.  I actually started watching Eastwood when he was one of the co-stars on the Rawhide TV Western series.  Even then his charisma and screen presence could be seen.

While filming the series Eastwood traveled to Spain to film the Spaghetti Westerns he would become so famous for as The Man With No Name.  After a string of several other Westerns Clint would make a series of movies starring as character he would become most closely associated with his entire life: the no nonsense police detective: Dirty Harry.

Clint Eastwood ICON: The Essential Film Art Collection by David Frangioni with essays by Thomas Schatz, chronicles Eastwood's long cinematic career via movie posters form all over the globe.

The oversize hardbound book breaks Eastwood's career by decade and showcases his many films via movie posters.  It makes for a welcome nostalgic trip down Memory Lane of Clint's stellar cinematic career. 

50,000 Pearls Fans

Can't Be Wrong

Andrews McMeel Publishing presents the latest compilation of Pearls Before Swine daily and Sunday comic strips by Stephan Pastis.  Sporting a cover that spoofs Elvis Presley's famous golden suit album the book offers a playful tribute to the singer going so far as to list the 'song credits' and volume number.

Of course Pearls' cast of characters give Pastis a hard time for his blatant rip-off of the album on the reverse side of the book.  Pretty clever.

Inside readers witness that same madness that makes the strip so enjoyable from Rat's often cruel and sarcastic outlook on life to Pig's sweet, innocent and naive take on day-to-day events.

Add in Zebra and his nemesis Croks, Goat the brain and the occasional appearance by Pastis and you have a collection of hilarious strips that are irreverent, poignant and profound all wrapped up in one side-splitting package.  Be sure to check out the 'guest stars' comic strip characters, soldier Duck and that other animal and humans who have the misfortune of getting entangled in the insanity.

Wacky Packages New New New

Maybe it's because I was in advertising for so many years and saw my share of product designs or that many of my favorite cartoonists from bygone years illustrated them or that I love the crazy trading cards Topps put out in the 1970's that I get such a kick out of Abrams Books new Wacky Packages New New New book.

Authored by the Topps Company Inc. and Jay Lynch, Wacky Packages New New New is a compilation of full color illustrations of all 206 rare and hard-to-find Series 8-14 Wacky Packages stickers, with bubble gum, created in the years 1974 through 1975.

Included with the book is a wax pack of four Wacky Packages stickers.  Go Wacky and buy this book. 

Star Trek Online:
The Needs Of The Many

Fans of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine saw the future and the fate of Jake Sisko in the series.  Eventually Jake would become a galaxy renowned writer.  In Star Trek Online: The Needs Of The Many readers get to witness Jake’s writing at its best as he delves into the controversy and mystery of the Long War with Species 8472 who were first introduced in Star Trek: Voyager.

When Captain Janeway struck a deal with the Borg for safe passage through their space if she would help to defeat Species 8472 who the Borg had no defense against the Federation became Species 8472’s enemies by default.

For years Species 8472 infiltrated every aspect of the Federation by using their technological ability to transform themselves into humanoids in key positions.

Dubbed the Undine War, the conflict nearly destroyed humanity with millions of lives lost, alliances tested and the fate of this dimension brought to the brink of destruction.

Hailing from an alternate liquid dimension Species 8472 were not motivated by greed or the need to acquire new space, they were drawn together to fight humanity for a far simpler reason: revenge!

Jake Sisko, along with collaborator Michael A. Martin, has compiled a comprehensive history of the years of long conflict, its effect on every region of known space and the people who occupy it.  Read firsthand the points of view from all factions including the Klingons, Romulans, Humans and others as the pieces of the puzzle slowly come together to reveal a truth far more frightening and far-reaching than anyone could ever imagine.  Look for Star Trek Online: The Needs Of The Many from Pocket Books.

Dennis The Menace

1961-1962

Dennis The Menace literally finds himself up a creek without a paddle on the cover of Fantagraphics Books’ latest Dennis The Menace collection: 1961-1962.

Artist/writer Hank Ketcham really hit his stride beginning in the early 1960s with Dennis.  His cartooning style emerged and  matured that he used on Dennis and continues to use until this day on the strip. 

What started out as a new strip appearing in barely a hundred papers soon blossomed into the thousands.  Dennis the Menace fever struck America and soon little Dennis wannabes began appearing in every neighborhood.  A plethora of small boys dressed in denims, striped shirts, carrying slingshots and tooling around the block on tricycles became commonplace.  The cartoon spawned tons of merchandising as well as a popular TV show starring Jay North as Dennis.  Decades later several movies were made.

Dennis may have been a Menace but he was a godsend to Ketcham who started out as a Disney animator and soon found himself the head of an entire Dennis empire.

Fantagraphics Books has reproduced every black and white single panel strip from 1961-1962 slightly larger than their original print size.  Take a moment to appreciate the artistry of Ketcham and his clever use of layout, movement and pacing as he sets his characters in motion within the restrictions of a single panel. 

   

 

Princess And Comic-Con

Recently I watched Disney's The Princess And The Frog animated feature and I was blown away by incredible art. Animated using traditional hand-drawn cells and with painted background, the films brought to the Silver Screen a new classic that ranks right up there with Disney's other classic "Princess" movies such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

Jeff Kurtti and Chronicle Books, with assist by Walt Disney Pictures, present a beautifully illustrated book that takes art directly from the movie.

Look for character designs, storyboards, background illustrations and scenes taken directly from the film accompanied by text filled with production facts, artists accounts and a preface by John Lassiter along with a foreword from directors John Musker and Ron Clements.  This is pure Disney magic with lush illustrations and fascinating text.

Comic-Con International:  at the mere mention of the phrase comic book readers, toy collectors, movie-lovers and lovers of popular culture grow weak in the knees.  Of all the "Comic Book" conventions held across the United States (and the world) Comic-Con is the granddaddy of them all.  I've never gone, but one day...one day.

Chronicle Books has compiled the ultimate Comic-Con book that tracks the entire history of the historic convention.  Look for sections about the early days of the con including celebrities that attended them, the people who helped organize them and the fans (many who would become professionals in many of the represented media) who made the con possible.

Sergio Aragones provides the cluttered cover (as only he can) and legendary sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury the foreword.  This luxurious oversize hardbound book is brimming with art, photos, historical documents and anecdotes and commentaries for pro and fan alike.  This is a book you can spend hours just looking at, let alone reading.  San Diego Comic-Con International is the Mecca of comic book and pop culture fans.  If you can't attend, buy this book.  If you can attend, buy this book also.  It's that good!

 

Firefly Rain

As a young boy growing up in the small town of Maryfield, North Carolina, Jacob Logan was anxious to move away and start a life of his own.  Small town life was not for him and after leaving for college, graduating and setting up his own successfully business his visits home were few and far between.

His life suddenly took a sour turn when his business failed, his personal life was in a shambles and everything seemed fruitless.

Reluctantly he moves back to Maryfield and takes up residence in his childhood home.  Both of his parents had died and are buried on the property.

Jacob hopes his trip home will let him catch his breath and bearings before he decides which direction his life should go.

His old homestead seems to be the perfect setting:  It’s quiet and peaceful and just the place to reflect and regroup.

But when a series of mysterious incidents pile on top of another: lost belongings, stolen car, etc., and no one hears or sees a thing-or do they?

The townspeople seem unusually distant, his ground caretaker, Carl, seems too good to be true and the fireflies…they die whenever they approach Jacob’s home. 

Then there’s the sounds at night, creaking, creepy sounds and the unnerving feeling that he’s being watched-but by who or what?

Something wants him home and refuses to let him leave-but what and why?  Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky, published by Gallery Books, it's a horrific page turner that never lets up. Coming home has never been so scary. 

 

 

 

 

Comics, Comics, Comics!

From Krause Publications comes Tony Isabella’s newest book: 1000 Comic Books You Must Read.  Now this is my kind of book!   I’m a huge comic book fan and read scores of books on the subject.  !000 Comic books is high on my must-read list.

The book is jam-packed with full color cover illustrations of Tony’s picks for the top 1000 comic books every comic book reader must read.  For the most part I agree with all of his choices, although there are a few notable issues absent-such as The Incredible Hulk #181, the first appearance of Wolverine.

Still, the book is a veritable encyclopedia of visual excellence coupled with Tony’s historical notes, personal collecting anecdotes and interesting trivia.  This is an awesome book that I recommend to any comic book reader.  It’s a real treat to look at, loads of fun to read and makes and excellent addition to any comic book collector’s library.

Another great book that any true comic book collector must have for their own is Chris Ryall’s and Scott Tipton’s Comic Books 101: The History, Methods and madness form Impact Books that gets into the meat, bones and guts of the comic book industry starting from the earliest pre-Golden age publications right up to today’s slick and highly commercialized comic books.

The book is an extremely comprehensive guide to all things comic books, from publishers to creators, inside politics and to company policies and why certain things can and can’t been done with characters and titles.

Stan Lee provides the foreword and other notable figures such as Harlan Ellison and Paul Dina offer their own reflections on the industry they love.

If you want to know about the long, and sometimes arduous, history of comic books in the United States this is the book for you.  Brimming with historical facts and stunning artwork, the book is a veritable cornucopia of comic book information.

Learn about publishers come and gone, important and influential comic book writers and artists, pivotal events that shaped the industry and so much more.

Two publications that serious collectors need to have on their shelves both come from Krause Publications.  Comics Values Annual 2009 by Alex G. Mallory features more than 95,000 comic book values from all the many comic book publishers ranging back to the Golden Age.  Titles are listed alphabetically and are oprice3d in near-mint condition.

Wolverine editor is interviewed and a short section on grading comic books is also included.  Any serious collector needs to carry this book with them when looking to add to their collection.

Comics buyer’s Guide’s 2010 Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide 1961 – Present 16th Edition (whew!) is also brimming with black and white photos, 130,000 alphabetically listed titles and prices, a guide to condition grading and a short history of comic books.

Both the Annual and CBG Guide are invaluable resources for the serious collector.     

How To Train Your Dragon

Dreamworks Animation, the folks behind Shrek, introduces a wonderful new fantasy later this year with the release of its How To Train Your Dragon animated feature.  Tracey Miller-Zarneke, with preface by Cressida Cowell and foreword by Craig Ferguson, present The Art Of Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon published by Newmarket Press.

The book is brimming with character sketches, concept art, production notes and developer insights.  The art consists of preliminary sketches to final designs for key characters, the Vikings, the dragons, background art and effects.  Look for details on how the story developed, how much research went into creating the feature and provides and upfront tour of the land of the dragons and their human antagonists.

 

 


The Adventure
Begins at Home

 

 

 

 


SHASTA PHOENIX