Modern Masters Volume 14: Frank Cho (Modern Masters (TwoMorrows Publishing)) Review

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Modern Masters Volume 14: Frank Cho (Modern Masters (TwoMorrows Publishing)) ReviewFor anyone who has not seen Frank's work this might be considered quite the treat. The interview is in depth, revealing a lot of what makes Frank tick. Unfortunately, for anyone who has been following Frank for the last ten odd years this is pretty much the same thing as has been seen in other publications. I read a revealing interview with Frank in The Comics Journal, Comic Book Artist and other sources so there really isn't much that's new. Frank is a candid subject, he's comfortable in his skin and it shows. His story of his formative years as a 6 year old from Korea, moving to and growing up in America, moving a lot after he arrives and life with his working class, practical parents, is nice. His efforts as a regular comic strip artist creating Liberty Meadows is all good and fine but I was hoping to find out the final fate of that comic strip and the comic book carrying it that was supposed to continue where the strip left off. After 38 issues, nothing.
He's a busy artist, very much in demand, and that's a good reason to put his creation on hold but I'd like to read if there are plans to continue his very funny Liberty Meadows.
The artwork featured ranges from his days in his late teens all the way up to his recent work on the Avengers. Unfortunately a lot of it has been used on other occasions. I was hoping to see more from his sketchbooks and some of the rare work from unfinished projects as well as little seen pin-ups.
Bottom line, seeing as this book is primarily for the same people who are likely to have already been following Frank's career, there's not much new here. That's not so much a complaint as it is an observation. The title's worth owning and certainly worth the read but it's not something that reports on anything not already presented in other sources.
Frank's a wonderfully talented guy. I'm waiting for the book that really drives that fact home in no uncertain terms. First step; stop asking him if he likes drawing bombshells and proceed forward.Modern Masters Volume 14: Frank Cho (Modern Masters (TwoMorrows Publishing)) OverviewMonkeys! Dinosaurs! Beautiful women! These are the things Frank Cho loves to draw... especially beautiful women! Luckily for his fans, he excels at it. In 1997, the writer and artist introduced Liberty Meadows to the world, which quickly gathered a dedicated following. The winner of many prestigious awards - including The National Cartoonist Society Award and the Charles Schulz Award - Frank Cho ranks as one of Marvel Comics' top current artists, and his work on Liberty Meadows, Shanna the She-Devil, Spider-Man, and The Mighty Avengers, among others, is simply irresistible. Now, learn about the man behind the monkey in Modern Masters Vol. 14: Frank Cho, as Eric Nolen-Weathington takes an extensive look into Cho's career and creative proces. The 120-page book features a career-spanning interview with tons of art, including many rare and unpublished pieces, a large gallery, and an 8-page color section on this true Modern Master: Frank Cho!

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Mort Walker'S Private Scrapbook Review

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Mort Walker'S Private Scrapbook ReviewMort Walker is truly a gifted man. This book chronicles his life, drawings he made as a child which ultimately led to a career as a cartoonist. We are treated to the other strips Mort Walker breathed comic life into; we are introduced to "Hi & Lois," a spin off of "Beetle Bailey." (Lois is Beetle's cousin).
Camp Swampy is one of the FUNNIEST comic stops in the funny paper! Sarge, Beetle Bailey, Gen. Half-Track and the gang are a SCREAM! I actually wiped tears of laughter from my eyes when I read this book. Beetle Bailey is truly one of the FUNNIEST strips to ever grace the newspaper!
We, the readers, are treated to the evolution of Beetle Bailey, indolent college student to Beetle Bailey, the work dodging private. We watch the metamorphasis of Sarge from a slightly husky man to the large, lovable irate officer he became. We laugh with Cookie, who looks like Sarge in a chef's hat. We scream over bunny-toothed Zero, Ms. Buxley, the aptly named secretary and General Half-Track, who's eyes never leave Ms. Buxley. The entire Camp Swampy crew will have you in stitches! This is truly a brilliant work that will leave you wanting more.Mort Walker'S Private Scrapbook OverviewMany cartoonists have successfully caused brief splashes of excitement throughout history but simply don't have what it takes to command the world's attention for half a century. That is, unless you're comic genius Mort Walker, beloved creator of the cartoon strips Hi and Lois and Beetle Bailey. Mort Walker's Private Scrapbook provides a comprehensive look at the life and work of this suave cartoonist for his legions of fans and aficionados of the comic world alike. In this extensive work painstakingly compiled by Walker over the course of two years, he collects his earliest artwork, reveals who his characters are based on, follows the development of his creations, and relates a fascinating perspective about the evolution of the cartooning world. This full-color scrapbook is a unique glimpse into the window of cartooning that only award-winning veteran artist Mort Walker could provide. This book will be essential for comic strip historians, collectors, and faithful fans.

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The Flash Gordon Serials, 1936-1940: A Heavily Illustrated Guide Review

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The Flash Gordon Serials, 1936-1940: A Heavily Illustrated Guide ReviewI absolutely loved this book. It is loaded with great pictures and behind-the-scenes stories that explained a whole lot for me. When I was younger watching these serials, there was a lot of disjointed scenes as well as inconsistent names of people and places. I was amused to learn that my confusion was the result of how tightly-budgeted these movies were and how Universal severely-cut corners. If the actors blew their lines, someone redubbed their voices or let the blooper stand. Footage from old silent movies was frequently used for some action sequences. The musical soundtracks of all three serials were taken from many other Universal productions, yet have become so familiar to fans that we believed it was created primarily for Flash Gordon. There's a lot of great humor, too. (There was a scene in "Trip to Mars" where Prince Barin and Zarkov are up on a roof trying to break through a skylight to save Flash, and after frantically searching for something useful, Barin reaches off camera and produces a handy crowbar to do the job!) If you ever enjoyed these movies, I highly recommend this book to you.The Flash Gordon Serials, 1936-1940: A Heavily Illustrated Guide OverviewFlash Gordon, Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, the most expensive and popular movie serials ever made, have been favorites of movie and comic fans for decades. The first serial was even designated a cultural treasure after being selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1996. This is the first book-length guide to the serials. Arranged in a chapter-by-chapter format conforming to the structure of the three original films, the work provides full cast and crew information, plot synopses, and production notes for each film. The work also includes a wealth of background information on the films and more than 150 photographs, along with interview quotations from cast members Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, and Caroll Borland. Three appendices provide an overview of the serial film Buck Rogers (1939), select filmographies for 50 of the most prominent Flash Gordon cast and crew members, a complete list of the serials' film and television remakes.

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Complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy Volume 4 (v. 4) Review

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Complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy Volume 4 (v. 4) ReviewTo anyone who is a fan of Dick Tracy, or just a fan of the old "adventure" comic strips, this series is essential! These are well bound, high quality printings, showing the complete run, no skipping a strip to save space.
In this volume you have the finish of the Lips Manlis/Bob Honor saga, in which Tracy tries to set a well known crook on the straight and narrow. You have the Purple Cross gang, Johnny Mintworth, and the first of Chester Gould's famous Grotesques, The Blank! This is crime-busting at it's best.
Throw in the introduction by Chester Gould's successor in writing the strip, famed mystery writer Max Allen Collins, and you have an enjoyable read, with the only downside that it leaves you impatiently waiting for the next volume to come out!Complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy Volume 4 (v. 4) OverviewPresenting the forth volume of IDW Publishing's deluxe hardcover collection of Chester Gould's timeless comic strip, Dick Tracy. Volume Four once again contains over 500 comic strips from the series' early years, this time covering material that originally ran from July 1936 through January 1938.

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I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond Review

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I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond ReviewI was fortunate to read an advance copy of this book, and I was truly amazed at what a wonderfully uplifting and inspirational story "I'm Walking As Straight As I Can" was. There have been a lot of ups and downs in Geri's life and career, and a lesser person might have come across as whiny, complaining and bitter. But Geri tells her story with humor, grace and honesty, with her integrity intact -- and in the end, you finish the book with a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes. You'll be amazed at what she has gone through, and so incredibly happy for her. It's unfortunate that the advanced press for this book concentrated so much on her sexual orientation, making it sound as if it's nothing more than yet another in a long (and sometimes boring) list of "coming out" stories. In actuality, that's just a small portion of her life. From her childhood dealing with cerebral palsy, through her struggles to make it in show business (and let's face it -- Hollywood doesn't exactly cast people with disabilities every day), and her ultimate success with her stand-up career and recurring roles on "Facts of Life" and "Deadwood," Geri tells her story in an upbeat, matter-of-fact tone without one iota of "whoa is me." When you finish, it may even put your own troubles into perspective, helping you realize that if Geri wasn't going to let her struggles defeat her, there's no reason why you should either. This book truly is a must-read!I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond OverviewBorn with cerebral palsy, Geri Jewell inspired a generation of young people when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television, with her groundbreaking character, Cousin Geri, on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life.

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Serenity, Vol. 2: Better Days Review

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Serenity, Vol. 2: Better Days ReviewA few years ago fans of FIREFLY/SERENITY were given a rather lack luster series called THOSE WE LEFT BEHIND. There isn't a great deal of narrative squeeze space right now in the Serenity universe. The reason is that Joss Whedon and his stars still hope to make another movie. Whether it would be a direct to DVD (which is more likely) or a a theater release is an open question.
There there have been rumors from time to time that Universal, given the impressive and steady sales of both FIREFLY and SERENITY on DVD, was at least interested in considering a DVD film at some point, but so far nothing has materialized. But as long as there is a chance of a continuance of the story of Mal, Zoe, River, Simon, Jayne, and the rest of the crew of Serenity, Joss Whedon is not going to reveal the remaining major secrets about his characters. In commentaries on the film SERENITY, Whedon in particular mentioned Inara's story as the great unexplored mystery. The first film cleared up most of River's untold story, which leaves Inara's. And, of course, Shepherd Book, who will not be part of a future movie because of his death. His backstory will be covered in the next Serenity comic series, focusing exclusively on him and the story that he had been unwilling to tell in either the TV series of the film. It is at least tentatively titled A SHEPHERD'S TALE. But like THOSE LEFT BEHIND and BETTER DAYS, it will be another prequel, this one a prequel to FIREFLY as well. After that, I doubt if we wee much more in the way of Serenity comics, since Whedon clearly doesn't want to pick up at the end of the movie SERENITY. If Universal doesn't move forward with a film (they have exclusive rights to the franchise until the middle of the next decade and even then for films only -- TV rights revert to 20th Century Fox at that time), Joss Whedon might be tempted to tell the rest of the story, presumably is a comic closer in length to ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL, rather than the two short Serenity comics that we have seen so far.
As I stated above, this three-episode sequence is a considerable improvement over the earlier THOSE LEFT BEHIND. There are some adventures that truly are similar to those in the TV series or film. Though not as satisfying as another film or TV series, it adds to the canonical body of adventures our heroes have embarked on. Because of its odd placement in the period of time after the TV series but before the film, not much can really happen of great import. You know no one is going to die (Joss Whedon basically invented the body count as we currently recognize it on TV) because of the later film. And River, who emerged as the ultimate lethal weapon in the film, is still self-contained and only minimally interactive with the outside world (though we the most memorable graphic in the series is a full page portrait of River having all her fondest desires realized). But given that, Whedon's team did a great job of creating a fun and funny and interesting story.
In my review of THOSE LEFT BEHIND, I did not recommend that fans of the TV series and movie give it a read. I definitely recommend this. This succeeds in all the ways that the earlier book failed.Serenity, Vol. 2: Better Days OverviewSerenity: Better Days follows everyone's favorite space cowboys in a thrilling, action-packed adventure, where Mal and his crew take on a heist that promises a big payoff. But when one of Serenity's crew is taken captive and tortured, the gang must put their enduring differences aside and work together to save one of their own, even if it means losing the cash prize of a lifetime! Joss Whedon returns to the world of his blockbuster film Serenity, reuniting with Brett Matthews and Will Conrad, his collaborators on the bestselling 2005 series Those Left Behind.

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The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir Review

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The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir ReviewNot too long ago, the idea of a Batman film franchise revolving around a serious, dark Batman was considered laughable by practically everyone in Hollywood. One individual had the vision and prescience since childhood to see otherwise. Michael Uslan's memoir tells the tale of how a kid with a dream can one day make it a reality - even as the weight of Gotham City is bearing down on you. Born into a middle class family in New Jersey, Uslan's look back through the years wonderfully meshes humor with nostalgia making for a wonderful read, taking the reader on an emotional journey through life's ups and downs, thereby making this book a must read for anyone, comic book fan or not. (It must be noted, however, that if you are a comic book fan, this read is absolutely essential - Uslan's inside account of the industry provides a rare and unique look into its pioneers and evolution). Uslan has fought vigorously for comics to be taken as a serious American art form, capable of masterful storytelling, and even serving as an educational medium. After reading this book, I don't know how it is possible for anyone to make a legitimate argument against such a stance. However, what makes this visually stunning memoir such a stand out is just how much the reader takes away from the book after reading it. Uslan's narrative is a refreshing glimpse into the life of the man who forever changed the world of entertainment, but does not revolve around fame, gossip, and money in Hollywood - that is completely counter to what the author is about. Uslan's story is about passion, hard work, sacrifice, and focusing on what matters in life - namely family and friends. Far from being handed everything on a silver platter, Uslan encourages us all to go against the grain and think creatively, providing us with the life lessons needed to know how to get through times of struggle and rejection to achieve the highest of goals. It seems to live life any other way would be akin to a life spent stuck in Arkham Asylum.The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir OverviewIs any superhero cooler than Batman? He's a crime-fighting vigilante with a tragic past, a lawless attitude, and a seemingly endless supply of high-tech gadgetry. In this fully illustrated memoir, author Michael Uslan recalls his journey from early childhood fandom through to the decades he spent on a caped crusade of his own: to bring Batman to the silver screen as the dark, serious character he was at heart. Uslan's story traces his path from the wilds of New Jersey to the limelight of Hollywood, following his work as Executive Producer on every Batman film from Tim Burton's 1989 re-envisioning to 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. Through it all, he helped to create one of the most successful pop culture franchises of all time.

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Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale Review

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Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale ReviewThose who watched Firefly and Serenity are aware of Book's implied rich past. As the series was unfortunately canceled, we find out very little and all sorts of questions remain open. When I first saw this novel available for sale, I expected it to provide some relief for my curiosity.
To put it bluntly, I am very disappointed. The biggest problem is the extremely short length. You could easily fit all the text on a single page and I could tell you the whole story in 60 seconds. One would expect a book published with the purpose of filling in the gaps of a story to do the thing properly. This doesn't even come close. Furthermore, there are a number of inconsistencies, and we arguably end up with more questions than before.
/* SLIGHT SPOILER */
We know that Book had ties to the Alliance (from that Firefly episode where they heal his wounds), but we find out that there was a "falling out" and they (quite literally) threw him out. Why they would treat him as a VIP, save his life and then let them go (as was done in Firefly) is a complete mystery and we're, once again, left hanging.
/* END SPOILER */
Basically, this is a bad fanfic. Save your money and pretend it doesn't exist.Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale OverviewOne of Serenity's greatest mysteries is finally revealed in The Shepherd's Tale, filling in the life of one of the show's most beloved characters - Shepherd Book! Who was Book before meeting Mal and the rest of the Serenity crew, how did he become one of their most trusted allies, and how did he find God in a bowl of soup? Answers to these and more questions about Book's past are uncovered in this original hardcover graphic novel by rising stars Zack Whedon (Dr. Horrible, Terminator, Fringe) and Chris Samnee (Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps, Daredevil). A pivotal chapter in the ongoing Serenity saga, The Shepherd's Tale is also a rollicking, action-packed epic in its own right.

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Serenity Volume 2: Better Days and Other Stories (Serenity (Dark Horse)) Review

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Serenity Volume 2: Better Days and Other Stories (Serenity (Dark Horse)) ReviewIf you already have the first Better Days Collection.
This one also has the Wash Out story and two short ones one of which was available to read for free online
Simple repackaged release. Good thing I saw it at a local store before ordering.Serenity Volume 2: Better Days and Other Stories (Serenity (Dark Horse)) OverviewSerenity: Better Days, from Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews, follows everyone's favorite space cowboys in an action-packed adventure, where the crew takes on a heist that promises a big payoff. But when someone is taken captive, the gang must put aside their enduring differences and work together, at the risk of losing their cash prize. Float Out, by comedian Patton Oswalt, examines Serenity's pilot, Wash - always ready with a brilliant aerial maneuver and a terrible one-liner - in a series of exciting smuggling raids! Then, Jim Krueger presents an action-packed story of loyalty and trust with The Other Half. And finally in Downtime, Zack Whedon, writer of the New York Times bestselling Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale, visits the crew as they wait out a brutal snowstorm.

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Alien Race: Visual Development of an Intergalactic Adventure Review

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Alien Race: Visual Development of an Intergalactic Adventure ReviewI would like to start by saying that I am by no means an authority on concept art, although I am a freelance artist. I am also by no means a professional science fiction critic, though I have been a sci-fi fan for as long as I can remember. Lastly, I may have given the book 4 stars but that's only because I can't give it 4 and a half.
Simply put, 'Alien Race: A Visual Development of an Intergalactic Adventure' is a stunning, well put together and artistically inspiring piece of creativity in book form. Designed as a collection of concept art, stories and ideas developed for a possible intellectual property, the book explores the various characters, creatures, environments and plot angles that might go into the creation of a film, animated cartoon, tv series or video game. While no such use of the material in 'Alien Race' actually exists as of this review (unfortunately), the artwork and concepts contained within the pages of this book could easily be from a 'making of the movie' book for a popular film.
Especially impressive is the way multiple artists and designers approached the same or similar concepts in the book. I also liked how they showed the ideas they did not go with, again bringing to mind the concept designs seen in the 'art of' or 'making of' books for currently developed properties like the J.J. Abrams Star Trek film or the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series for example.
So why not five stars? Well, its a personal preference really and has less to do with the quality of the book itself. I felt a couple of the ideas in the book were underdeveloped and would therefore hinder its use as a 'real' property. The 'human team', that is those participants in the 'Alien Race' who hail from Earth, seemed visually underwhelming in comparission to their alien counterparts. Again this is just my personal aesthetic and not a reflection of the work. Also, the Flyers, those creatures that fly in the race, seemed less diverse and astounding then their ground based cousins even though they travel threw the air which is the more exotic environment.
If there is ever an 'Alien Race II' I'd love to see creatures that swim or climb and perhaps some insectoid lifeforms. That said, this book is definitely a triumph in that my only complains are wanting more.Alien Race: Visual Development of an Intergalactic Adventure Overview
Alien Race is an illustrated narrative of an original science fiction tale. Three Art Center College of Design entertainment design students discuss the process of and develop the visuals for one of the most unique stories today - combining action, adventure and captivating art to introduce the reader to the fascinating world of concept design.


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