Manga: Reference, guides and reviews

Book SynopsisAs The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide kicks off its sixth decade, the Bible of serious comic book collectors, dealers and historians returns with its 51st edition. In addition to the latest prices, the Guide will feature an extensive array of market reports that break down the marketplace's incredible boom during COVID-19! We take a look at Dick Tracy's 90th anniversary, how disabilities have been portrayed in comics, the latest inductees for The Overstreet Hall of Fame, and more. Static/Hardware cover by Denys Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz.

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Book SynopsisHow to Draw a Graphic NovelEach lesson is supported by striking illustrations by graphic novel artist Marco Maraggi, with professional art tips delivered in the style of a graphic novel by renowned Italian cartoonist and comics lecturer Otto Gabos.The book also includes biographies of cult creators and a recommended reading list of famous graphic novels and comic books both past and present.How to Draw a Graphic NovelTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Orientation 2. Before Drawing 3. The Basics of Working 4. Get Started 5. You Finished Drawing, Now What?

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Book SynopsisThis stunning book explores the rich mythology of Assassin's Creed, featuring the art and history of the series from the first groundbreaking game through the graphic novels to the DLCs. Highlighting the lush and vibrant art that has become a hallmark of the series, this luxury coffee-table book brings the game's famous historical locations and figures to life and explores the evolution of each iconic Assassin and Templar.

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Book SynopsisAttention kawaii and fashion–loving tweens! Now you can learn to draw your own adorable manga fashions with this fun-to-read guide by award-winning middle-grade graphic novelist Misako Rocks!   Misako is a Japanese manga comic artist who moved to the United States to pursue her dreams. With her online and in-person drawing lessons for children, and now with her Learn Manga with Misako series of books, she strives to help the next generation of young artists and readers bring their imaginations to life.   Combining drawing tutorials with motivational messages that encourage artists to draw and think freely, How to Draw Kawaii Manga Fashioninspires kids ages 7 to 12 to unleash their creativity in the most entertaining way possible.   This engaging and easy-to-follow book includes:   Helpful tips on how to use the book Instructions for drawing kawaii-style accessories

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Book SynopsisWondering what the essential Judge Dredd stories are? Need to find out how long The Ballad of Halo Jones ran? Well look no further, Earthlets – the 2000 AD Encyclopedia is here!Timed to concide with 2000 AD's landmark 45th anniversary, this 336-page hardcover with dustjacket and explosive brand new cover by artist Stewart K. Moore is a must have for comic book fans. For the first time, the 2000 AD Encyclopedia celebrates 45 years of cutting edge sci-fi, biting dystopian satire and glorious fantasy by giving readers chapter and verse on this enthralling universe of thrills, detailing the characters and stories that have helped make 2000 AD a groundbreaking comic book and major cultural force.With jaw-dropping illustrations by some of the world’s top artists alongside detailed profiles on the stories and characters from the pages of this legendary comic, from the luckless Aaron A. Aardvark of Judge Dredd to the weaponised (but very polite) undead crusader Zombo.Discover fascinating facts about the acclaimed art and script droids behind 2000 AD’s success, including industry legends such as John Wagner, Alan Grant, Alan Moore, Mark Millar, Grant Morrison, Jock, Brian Bolland, Mick McMahon, Carlos Ezquerra and many more. With a foreword by 2000 AD’s longest-serving editor Matt Smith, this hardcover collection is indispensable for all dedicated Squaxx Dek Thargo and an essential addition to any comic fan’s bookshelf.Trade Review“…the 2000 AD Encyclopedia is noteworthy for its effort to catalog the many strips and characters featured in Rebellion’s long-running British science fiction comics, for the information and enjoyment of new and veteran readers.” - Medium.

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Book SynopsisThe full, skyrocketing story of the Fantastic FourMarvel's original super hero family!Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, the Thing Individually they all have incredible powers, but together they are the Fantastic Fourlegendary heroes whose legacy has shaped the Marvel Multiverse.Before the Avengers ever thought of assembling, the Fantastic Four were busy safeguarding Earth against a rogues' gallery of super villains, such as Doctor Doom, the Frightful Four, the Wizard, Mole Man, and many more.In this latest addition to DK's comprehensive, in-world super hero Ultimate Guides, you''ll find everything you need to know about Marvel Comics' first-ever hero team. Following a foreword by top Fantastic Four writer Ryan North, a timeline of the FF's adventures, detailed character studies, key storylines, and in-depth explorations of iconic comics bring the team's thrill-packed story right up to date. 2024 MARVEL

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Book Synopsis“In Gonick’s work, clever design and illustration make complicated ideas or insights strikingly clear.”—New York Times Book ReviewLarry Gonick, master cartoonist, former Harvard instructor, and creator of the New York Times bestselling, Harvey Award-winning Cartoon Guide series now does for calculus what he previously did for science and history: making a complex subject comprehensible, fascinating, and fun through witty text and light-hearted graphics. Gonick’s The Cartoon Guide to Calculus is a refreshingly humorous, remarkably thorough guide to general calculus that, like his earlier Cartoon Guide to Physics and Cartoon History of the Modern World, will prove a boon to students, educators, and eager learners everywhere.Trade Review"How do you humanize calculus and bring its equations and concepts to life? Larry Gonick's clever and delightful answer is to have characters talking, commenting, and joking-all while rigorously teaching equations and concepts and indicating calculus's utility. It's a remarkable accomplishment-and a lot of fun." -- Lisa Randall, Professor of Physics, Harvard University, and author of Knocking on Heaven's Door Gonick is to graphical expositions of advanced materials as Newton or Leibniz is to calculus. The difference is that Gonick has no rival. -- Xiao-Li Meng, Whipple V. N. Jones Professor of Statistics and Department Chair, Harvard University Larry Gonick's sparkling and inventive drawings make a vivid picture out of every one of the hundreds of formulas that underlie Calculus. Even the jokers in the back row will ace the course with this book. -- David Mumford, Professor emeritus of Applied Mathematics at Brown University and recipient of the National Medal of Science I always thought that there are no magic tricks that use calculus. Larry Gonick proves me wrong. His book is correct, clear and interesting. It is filled with magical insights into this most beautiful subject. -- Persi Diaconis, Professor of Mathematics, Stanford It has no mean derivative results about the only derivatives that matter... A spunky tool-toting heroine called Delta Wye seems the perfect role model for our next generation. -- Susan Holmes, Professor of Statistics, Stanford A creative take on an old, and for many, tough subject...Gonick's cartoons and intelligent humor make it a fun read. -- Amy Langville, Recipient of the Distinguished Researcher Award at College of Charleston and South Carolina Faculty of the Year

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Book SynopsisHergé's Tintin cartoon adventures have been translated into more than fifty languages and read by tens of millions of children aged, as their publishers like to say, 'from 7 to 77'. Arguing that their characters are as strong and their plots as complex as any dreamt up by the great novelists, Tom McCarthy asks a simple question: is Tintin literature? McCarthy takes a cue from Tintin himself, who spends much of his time tracking down illicit radio signals, entering crypts and decoding puzzles and suggests that we too need to 'tune in' and decode if we want to capture what's going on in Hergé's work. What emerges is a remarkable story of hushed-up royal descent in both Herge's work and his own family history. McCarthy shows how the themes this story generates - expulsion from home, violation of the sacred, the host-guest relationship turned sour and anxieties around questions of forgery and fakeness - are the same that have fuelled and troubled writers from the classical era to the present day. His startling conclusion is that Tintin's ultimate 'secret' is that of literature itself. Appearing on the eve of the release of a major Steven Spielberg Tintin film, Tintin and the Secret of Literature should be avidly devoured by not only Tintin lovers but also by anyone with an interest in literature, philosophy or art.

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Book SynopsisEver wondered what a superhero eats for breakfast? Do they need a special diet to feed their superpowers? The odd metabolisms of superheroes must mean they have strange dietary needs, from the high calorie diets to fuel flaming bodies and super speeds, to not so obvious requirements for vitamins and minerals. The Secret Science of Superheroes looks at the underpinning chemistry, physics and biology needed for their superpowers. Individual chapters look at synthesising elements on demand, genetic evolution and what superhero suits could be made of. By exploring these topics, the book introduces a wide range of scientific concepts, from protein chemistry to particle physics for a general scientifically interested audience. With contributions from leading science communicators the book hopes to answer some of these important questions rather than debunk or pick holes in the science of superheroes.Trade ReviewCover-to-cover, the book is short and sweet, an experience populated with quintessential superheroes and comic history (the authors' knowledge is impressive). It introduces a wide range of topics that can captivate a diverse range of readers - from those with general science knowledge to comic book and film enthusiasts. What I enjoyed most about this book was how well it made difficult concepts understandable. -- Cam Meze * Nature Reviews Chemistry, Volume 1, 2017, Article Number 0089 * I found this book very inspirational - I do not think that there are many books that join fundamental science and popular fiction in such an engaging way! [A]n illustration of the fact that serious subjects can be explained in a fascinatingly clear way to which broader audience can easily relate. -- Darja Lavogina * Darja Lavogina * The secret science of superheroes is fun, engaging and suitable for superhero fans of any level. -- Aurora Walshe * Chemistry World, December 2017 * The Secret Science of Superheroes is quite possibly the best book I have read that uses science fiction as a vehicle for science fact. -- Michael Follows * Physics World, November 2017 * Much like superheroes, scientists tend to assemble...at conferences or science festivals. At one such event, the 2016 Manchester Science Festival to be precise, a team of like-minded scientists came together to try to suss out the real-world science behind everything from Wonder Woman's lasso to the Hulk's gigantic transformation. The result is The Secret Science of Superheroes - an eclectic collection of essays by 15 scientists and science communicators, edited by Mark Lorch and Andy Miah. While not explicitly a sequel to James Kakalios's The Physics of Superheroes, this book is greater than the sum of its parts and fills many of the gaps when it comes to other sciences including biology and chemistry. It is clear from the preface that the book does not aim to debunk the science (which is easy) - instead, it considers how science might make the superheroes plausible. Each section is concise and faster-paced than similar books, as the authors each had to fit their contributions into 15 or so pages. Laced with gentle humour, every chapter ends with a list of references for the interested reader. In biology, the book covers key issues such as evolution, epidemiology and cancer. Louise Gentle, from Nottingham Trent University, writes about the evolution of superpowers but starts with an excellent explanation of natural selection, before suggesting that X-Men mutants could originate from a founder population. Embryos develop structures reminiscent of gills, a testament to life evolving in the oceans. It is conceivable that an environmental trigger might lead to the expression of this ancestral characteristic and the appearance of Aquaman. Gentle shows that many living creatures possess the superpowers claimed by our superheroes and this refrain echoes throughout the book. For example, shape-shifting comes as naturally to the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) as X-Men's Mystique. By using muscular hydrostatics to squeeze through an aperture the size of a pound coin, a 273 kg octopus outdoes Elastigirl. Although she can stretch any part of her body by 30 m, Elastigirl gets undone by the effect of turning forces - the further she stretches, the smaller the force she can apply - one of the few places in the book where we are confronted with the limits of superheroes. To a greater or lesser extent, all of the writers strayed from their superhero brief. For example, Isabel Pires, a life scientist at the University of Hull, uses the Hulk as a metaphor for how cancers develop. Paul Coxon, a materials scientist at the University of Cambridge, talks about lithium, though he cleverly weaves it into the superhero world by suggesting that we should not overlook the super elements we already have at our disposal. Felicity Heathcote-Marcz, at the University of Manchester, tells us that Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth was most likely a comic-book manifestation of the lie-detector test. After all, William Moulton Marston, who dreamt up and wrote the first Wonder Woman comics, also developed the systolic blood pressure test, an integral part of the polygraph. Rob Miles, from the University of Hull's school of engineering and computer science, writes about big data, computers and artificial intelligence, but he starts by talking about Tony Stark's (aka Iron Man) home computing system "Jarvis" (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System). Miles then turns his back on superheroes, veering to "homicidal HAL" in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: a Space Odyssey, before going into the Turing test, personal assistants such as Apple's Siri, and even Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Miles closes by talking about recent, possibly state-sponsored, cyber-attacks and the dangers of big data. While Spider-Man is arguably the best superhero vehicle for explaining physics, the University of Surrey's Suze Kundu makes a persuasive case for using Batman and his costume to showcase composite materials. Kevlar would be a good choice for his suit, as it is bulletproof. This is because it spreads the force of an impact over a wide area, and this effect could be enhanced by incorporating a non-Newtonian material such as D3O. Already used in beanie hats worn by snowboarders, it stiffens on impact, turning the hat into a crash helmet and deforms slightly to absorb kinetic energy. Weaving in carbon nanotubes would enhance its tensile strength and provide a figure-hugging Faraday cage. Carbon is a conductor so Batman would be insulated from electric shocks, while heat would be channelled along the tubes. His cape could be made from "memory cloth" and the desired shape could be activated by an electrical current. If it were made of something like Nitinol, it could pop back into shape. Shape-memory materials are already in use as arterial stents and underwiring for bras. Of course, all these superheroes really need crumple zones or an airbag to avoid injury but this would compromise the visual spectacle and we are prepared to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story. Meanwhile, scientists are developing supersuits for soldiers and people with disabilities, inspired by science fiction. Brian Mackenwells, of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, tries to trip up the Flash, who can run at a maximum speed of 140,000 mph (or just shy of 63 km/s) - an ideal pretext to talk about the physics of re-entry from space. Mackenwells uses the "isentropic gas equation" to work out that the temperature of someone running at Mach 182 would rise by 3.4 million DegreesC. Three strategies are used for space re-entry vehicles to minimize heating: ablation, where some material absorbs thermal energy and changes state; emission, where thermal energy is absorbed and then emitted as electromagnetic radiation; or using heat sink material with a high specific heat capacity, which is the only option open to the Flash. Mackenwells works out the Flash's specific heat capacity to be around 7 billion J kg-1 K-1, making him an amazing human heat-sink. Very few typographical errors sneaked in, though the book could have benefited from a few tables of data rather than some of the infographics used. Despite these small niggles, The Secret Science of Superheroes is quite possibly the best book I have read that uses science fiction as a vehicle for science fact. -- Michael Follows * Physics World * The secret science of superheroes is a collection of scientific essays that were written by a team of science writers over a single weekend, then compiled and edited by Mark Lorch and Andy Miah. While there are plenty of equations, diagrams and mind-bending concepts, it's definitely not a textbook. It's far too silly to be a textbook. In fact, there is a wonderful juxtaposition in using well-considered logical scientific arguments to explain the (often ridiculous) comic book world by, for example, predicting and understanding the physical properties of Captain America's vibranium shield or asking how easy it would be for Elastigirl to give birth. What I loved about this book was the fact that each chapter was independent and unique, and each had a different approach - which makes sense as each chapter is written by a different author talking about their own favourite subject in their own way. The secret science of superheroes addresses all of those niggling inconsistencies that hardcore nerds have grumbled about during movie marathons, but it also breaks the science down in a fun and easy-to-read way for the comic book novice. I honestly think this book would appeal to anyone, regardless of their scientific education. Let's face it, is there really a better way to learn about epidemiology than by choosing which virus would best enslave humanity? The secret science of superheroes is fun, engaging and suitable for superhero fans of any level. Not to mention a great way to learn how to laugh like an evil genius. -- AURORA WALSHE * Chemistry World * In worlds where superheroes exist, I often imagine how such powers could be possible. These are worlds in which we often have to suspend belief. But what if we didn't? The authors - a banded `super' team of scientists - of The Secret Science of Superheroes aim to explore the many scientific principles underpinning the superpowers we marvel at. This book is composed of short, concise chapters that delve into individual superpowers and provide examples of comparable abilities exercised in the world we live in, whether they appear in nature or spawn from technology. The reader is challenged to consider what sort of nutritional intake Spider-Man would need to kickstart his crime-fighting day, or how the ins and outs of Batman's suit allow him to keep Gotham City safe. Cover-to-cover, the book is short and sweet, an experience populated with quintessential superheroes and comic history (the authors' knowledge is impressive). It introduces a wide range of topics that can captivate a diverse range of readers - from those with general science knowledge to comic book and film enthusiasts. Each chapter is structured similarly and is accompanied by educational illustrations by Andy Brunning, providing the perfect blend of entertaining and informative material with plenty of references for the reader to peruse should he or she want to explore the science a little more. The sheer diversity of the content means that not all chapters may appeal to you. However, I would dissuade against skipping them. On first glance of the contents page, I had an opinion on what chapters I thought I would enjoy the most. How wrong I was; do not judge a chapter by its title. A highlight of the book included an exploration into how Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth could be made from aramid rope - a type of material made from Kevlar - with an absorbent layer that allows a truth serum drug, such as sodium pentothal, to permeate the skin of the captive. What I enjoyed most about this book was how well it made difficult concepts understandable. For example, one chapter focuses on the Hulk and his transformation from Bruce Banner as a model to explain the biological processes of cancer. These types of discussions - based on our present understanding of disciplines such as genetics, materials science and physics, among others - could inspire those interested in comic books and films to take up the study of science. Superheroes such as Batman and Iron Man were my exposure and gateway into science; these characters made science cool, and this is exactly what this book does. It is hard to read this book and not wonder what ability I would want. I often overlook the adverse effects and the dark side of power. This book explores these trade-offs and made me rethink what power I would want - remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Those with a keener hawkeye will notice a few mistakes, but these can be forgiven. After all, the authors embraced the power of The Flash and wrote this book in just 36 hours. This book does what it sets out to do: it introduces a wide range of scientific concepts in a fun, light-hearted and understandable tone. Occasionally, we have to accept that, sometimes, superpowers are just magic. However, the world as we know it may be working towards `super', with advancements in technology and the development of military supersuits, memory materials and programmable polymers. As one of the authors states, "The science behind superheroes is not entirely outside the realms of the physical possibilities that operate within our world." Science is a marvellous field that might just make the impossible possible. -- Cam Meze * NATURE REVIEWS | CHEMISTRY *Table of ContentsThe Breakfast of Superheroes; The Evolution of Superpowers; The Hallmarks of Hulk; Supervillainy 101; How to Build a Super Soldier; The Real World Super Metal; Is it a Ceramic? Is it Graphene? No it's Vibranium; The Science of Super Suits; Why Doesn't the Invisible Woman Bump Into Things?; The Flash: The Fastest Man on Fire; You've Got to Learn to be More...Flexible: The Mechanics of Marvellous; Big Data, Big Heroes and Bad Computers; The Wonder-ous Truth: The Workings of Wonder Woman's Lasso; Super Frequently Asked Questions

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Book SynopsisDiscover over 100 Marvel super heroes with this pocket-sized, collectable guide!Marvel Comics: Mini Book of Heroes is the ultimate on-the-go handbook to the amazing heroes of the Marvel Universe. Filled stats, origins, and secret identities, this mini book is perfect for fans who want to learn the ins and outs of their favorite heroes. From the most iconic heroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine to fan favorites like Squirrel Girl, Moon Knight, and Beta Ray Bill, this book truly has everything on the very best of Marvel Universe.  Look for the Marvel Comics: Mini Book of Villains companion guide available in finer books stores everywhere. 

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Book SynopsisDo you think that the Ozone Hole is a grunge rock club? Or that the Food Web is an on-line restaurant guide? Or that the Green Revolution happened in Greenland? Then you needThe Cartoon Guide to the Environmentto put you on the road to environmental literacy.The Cartoon Guide to the Environmentcovers the main topics of environmental science: chemical cycles, life communities, food webs, agriculture, human population growth, sources of energy and raw materials, waste disposal and recycling, cities, pollution, deforestation, ozone depletion, and global warming?and puts them in the context of ecology, with discussions of population dynamics, thermodynamics, and the behavior of complex systems.

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Book SynopsisLearn all you ever wanted to know about Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and all the Super Heroes on the Avengers roster. Marvel Avengers Ultimate Guide Updated Edition details all the key storylines and events that fans need to know, such as Avengers Vs. X-Men, Infinity, Secret Wars and Civil War II, the formation of the Avengers Unity Division and the creation of an All-New, All Different Avengers team. This jam-packed new edition fully updates the Avengers'' timeline and existing character histories, and features profiles of new Avengers characters including: Shang-Chi, Sunspot, Cannonball, Smasher, Manifold, Captain Universe, Hyperion, Ex Nihilo and Abyss, Starbrand, Nightmask, Captain America (Sam Wilson), Thor (Jane Foster), Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Nova (Sam Alexander), and Wasp (Nadia Pym).Marvel Avengers Ultimate Guide Updated Edition also features artwork from tTrade ReviewHeroically distilling decades of the comic-book team's history * Total Film *

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Book SynopsisEmbark on an amazing adventure through more than 80 years of DC Comics history!Explore the evolution of DC Comics from Superman first taking to the skies in 1938 to the Rebirth of the DC multiverse and the final countdown of the Doomsday Clock. Comics, characters, and storylines are presented alongside background information and real-world events to give readers unique insights into the DC Universe.Now fully updated, this spectacular visual chronicle is written by DC Comics experts and includes comic book art from legendary artists such as Bob Kane and C.C. Beck to latter-day superstars like Jim Lee and Tony Daniel, and many more of DC''s finest talents. Includes two stunning prints.Previous Edition: 9780241181287 & DC Comics. (s19)

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe sixth sensational installment in the Hard Case Crime books of Ms Tree, private detective, from famed Hard Case Crime author Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition)! Fans of pulp noir and hard-boiled detective crime fiction will love this seminal collection of classic comics.

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Book Synopsis"The definitive educational title to bring readers through the journey of comic strips from the perspective of British history... a whole new world of information and staggeringly beautiful art." - Comic BeatThis wildly entertaining and educational tome is a journey through the history of British comics - from the birth of the 20th century to the 80s invasion of American comics by the likes of Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons and Kevin O' Neill (to name but a few), right up to today's up-and-coming British art stars and the talents of tomorrow. Revealing the extraordinary history of the UK's prolific comic book industry from the 19th Century to the 21st, this ground breaking volume celebrates the incredible artists who made a huge impact on British comics and would go on to revolutionize the industry on a global scale. Featuring a Who's Who of talent, including Brian Bolland, Yvonne Hutton, Dave Gibbons, celebrated greats such as Don Lawrence and lost masters like Reg Bunn and Shirley Bellwood. Author and 2000 AD artist David Roach takes us on a journey through time detailing the surprising and fascinating evolution of the art from its humble beginnings to its current world-conquering status. Including artwork from a vast number highly-acclaimed artists, carefully scanned from original artwork, Masters of British Comic Art is the definitive study and celebration of a beloved industry.Trade Review"The definitive educational title to bring readers through the journey of comic strips from the perspective of British history... a whole new world of information and staggeringly beautiful art." - Comic Beat

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Book SynopsisDiscover over 100 Marvel super villains with this pocket-sized, collectable guide!Marvel Comics: Mini Book of Villains is the ultimate on-the-go handbook to the criminal masterminds of the Marvel Universe. Filled stats, origins, and secret identities, this mini book is perfect for fans who want to learn the ins and outs of their favorite villains. From the most iconic villains like Doctor Doom, Red Skull, and Thanos to fan favorites like Loki, Magneto, and Doctor Octopus this book truly has everything on the very worst of Marvel Universe.  Look for the Marvel Comics: Mini Book of Heroes companion guide available in finer books stores everywhere. 

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Book SynopsisUncovers the gripping untold story of how the US government used comic books as propaganda tools to help wage World War II and the Cold War.Trade Review"I'll be frank: I love this book. Hirsch's writing is crisp and exciting and it's a joy to see the history of comic books and the Cold War United States told from such a fresh angle. This fun, sharp book is one I'll be thinking about for a while."-- "Daniel Immerwahr, author of How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States"Table of ContentsIntroduction: Making an American Monster 1 This Is Our Enemy 2 The Wild Spree of the Laughing Sadist 3 Donald Duck’s Atom Bomb 4 The Devil’s Ally 5 American Civilization Means Airstrips and Comic Strips 6 The Free World Speaks 7 Thor Battles the Vietcong Conclusion: The Ghosts among Us Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisEvery significant Marvel Comics character, location, weapon, gadget, and vehicle: one ultimate encyclopedia.Packed full of incredible facts and stunning images, this authoritative encyclopedia contains more than 650 entries and features a foreword by the legendary comic book writer Roy Thomas.All of Marvel''s iconic super heroes and villains are here, from Captain Marvel to Corvus Glaive and Iron Man to Gwenpool. Amazing vehicles are examined, such as the Avengers'' Quinjets and S.H.I.E.L.D.''s Helicarriers. Magical artifacts, including Thor''s hammer Mjolnir, are analysed and extraordinary locations, such as Wakanda and Asgard, are explored. Advanced technology is explained, including Iron Man''s incredible armor, and key events in the Marvel Comics universe are richly unpacked.Presented in a stunning slipcase with original cover artwork by esteemed artist Adi Granov, Ultimate Marvel is the perfect gift for Marvel Comics fans. It is an ideal go-to resTrade ReviewHefty hardback Ultimate Marvel runs through every significant character, location and vehicle in the company's history, with lashings of comic art and cut-away diagrams. * SFX *Table of Contents 1: Foreword by Roy Thomas 2: A Marvel Comics Events Timeline 3: Super Heroes and Villains: Golden Age 1: Captain America 2: Clash of the Marvels 4: Atlas Age 1: Roll Call 5: Marvel Age 1: Fantastic Four 2: Hulk 3: Spider-Man 4: Spider-Man’s Destiny 5: Thor 6: Iron Man 7: Doctor Strange 8: The Avengers 9: Cap Joins the Avengers 10: X-Men 11: Scarlet Witch 12: Daredevil 13: Black Widow 14: The Evil of Ultron 15: Roll Call 6: Bronze Age 1: Incredible Journey 2: Wolverine 3: Doom Victorious! 4: Roll Call 7: Modern Age 1: Two Against Carnage 2: Roll Call 8: Heroic Age 1: A Civil War 2: When Worlds Collide… 3: Roll Call 9: Vehicles 1: S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier 2: Blackbird 3: Hell on Wheels 10: Weapons and Technology 1: Stark Industries 2: Iron Man’s Armor 3: Shield of Liberty 11: Cosmic Powers 1: Pyrrhic Victory 12: Magical Artifacts 1: Goddess of Thunder 13: Planets and Realms 1: Kree Genocide 14: Countries and Places 1: Xavier’s School/Jean Grey School 2: Avengers Mansion 3: Atlantis Destroyed! 15: Index 16: Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisMelanie Scott has written and contributed to a range of comic book related publications, including The Periodic Table of Marvel, Black Widow: Secrets of a Super-Spy, Marvel's Greatest Comics, Marvel Ultimate Fact Book, and Ultimate Marvel.

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Book SynopsisSince 1970, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide has been known as "the Bible" of comic book dealers, collectors and historians. In addition to all the new prices, market reports, and Overstreet Hall of Fame inductees, this edition features a 60th anniversary look at Marvel's Avengers and insights into DC's decades of Justice League/Justice Society crossovers. Avengers cover by Kevin Nowlan.

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Book SynopsisA collection of insightful interviews with the cartoonist behind the scenes of the most popular comic strip of all time, Peanuts.

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Book SynopsisSince his murder 50 years ago in Bolivia, Ernesto "Che" Guevara has become a universally known revolutionary icon and political figure whose image is among the most recognizable in the world. This dramatic and extensively researched book breathes new life into his story, portraying his struggle through the medium of the underground political comic - one of the most prominent countercultural art forms since the 1960s. Spain Rodriguez's powerful artwork illuminates Che's life and the experiences that shaped him, from his motorcycle journey through Latin America, his rise to prominence as a leader in Fidel Castro's revolutionary movement, his travels in Africa, his involvement in the insurgency that led to his death in Bolivia, and his extraordinary legacy.Trade ReviewSpain is one of the true giants of the comics medium. He is a singular artist; his work is unmistakable. -- Joe SaccoSpain's take on Che is brilliant and radical. -- Art Spiegelman

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Book SynopsisStory hook, tragic moment, poster, or outrageous character, the covers lured us in. - Paul Levitz, president of DC Comics 2002-2009From the trailblazing works of Bob Kane, to the photorealistic stylings of Adam Hughes and quirky humour of Amanda Conner, DC Comics Cover Art is a collection of the most iconic covers in DC''s history. Stunning artwork is accompanied by expert commentary exploring the significance of each cover, while artist profiles shed light on their creators.Discover the most striking covers from more than 85 years of DC Comics.All DC characters and elements & DC Comics. (s20)

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Book SynopsisBillionaire industrialist, cold warrior, weapons designer, alcoholic, philanthropist, Avenger-Tony Stark, alter-ego of Marvel Comics' Iron Man, has played many roles in his five decades as a superhero. This collection of essays provides an historical overview of an important figure in American popular culture and a close reading of Iron Man's most iconic story lines.

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Book Synopsis Superman is the original superhero, an American icon, and arguably the most famous character in the world--and he''s Jewish! Introduced in June 1938, the Man of Steel was created by two Jewish teens, Jerry Siegel, the son of immigrants from Eastern Europe, and Joe Shuster, an immigrant. They based their hero''s origin story on Moses, his strength on Samson, his mission on the golem, and his nebbish secret identity on themselves. They made him a refugee fleeing catastrophe on the eve of World War II and sent him to tear Nazi tanks apart nearly two years before the US joined the war. In the following decades, Superman''s mostly Jewish writers, artists, and editors continued to borrow Jewish motifs for their stories, basing Krypton''s past on Genesis and Exodus, its society on Jewish culture, the trial of Lex Luthor on Adolf Eichmann''s, and a future holiday celebrating Superman on Passover. A fascinating journey through comic book lore, American history, and JeTrade ReviewRoy Schwartz has done a deep dive into the history, mythology and cultural folklore of America’s super-heroes and his conclusions are indisputable. The contemporary concept of the super-hero, as old as the story of Moses, was birthed by Jewish immigrants and first generation Jewish kids from the tales, morals and ethics of their Jewish ethnical roots. The majority of the creators from 1938’s Golden Age of Comics through the 1960’s Marvel Age of Comics were Jewish. Whether it was Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster turning Moses into Superman or Stan Lee and Jack Kirby transforming The Golem into The Hulk, their heroes embodied their Jewish experience. Roy Schwartz analysis is scholarly yet broadly entertaining. He answers many questions and leaves the readers with but one: “If there were no Jews on Krypton where Superman was born, and if he was therefore circumcized on earth, did the moyal have to use a Kryptonite scalpel?" —Michael Uslan, Comic Book Historian and Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie"A deep-dive into arguably the world’s most famous and iconic fictional character and his Jewish influences...This book is a must-have for any fan of superheroes, comic books and Jewish history and literature." —Jerusalem Post, 19th May 2021Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroductionMethodologyPart I. Scriptural Superheroes: The Ancient Roots of the Man of TomorrowSamson, Solomon and Other SupermenParadigmatic Parallels: Superman as MosesSent by His Father: Superman as JesusWorld's Finest: Settling the Denominational DebatePart II. Shticks from the Shtetl: How Jews Created Comics and Caped CrusadersHitler, Hollywood and HoudiniFamous Funnies and Other Firsts: The Birth of Comic BooksThe Big BangPart III. Mensch of Steel: Fulfilling Jewish Fantasy and FaithThe Jewish Experience: Context Is ContentBirthrightThe Secret Identities of Heroes and HebrewsThe Galactic GolemThe Brave and the Bold: Superman vs. ÜbermenschPhone Booth, Voting Booth, Confession Booth: Superman's Religion and PoliticsPart IV. Postwar to Postmodern: Redefining Superman, Comics and JudaismSuperman vs. the Mad Scientist: The Postwar EraIf I Were a Superman: The Silver AgeNazis in Space and Superman on Screen: The Bronze AgeSecond Coming: The Dark AgeSuperman Supernal: The Modern AgeChapter NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIf you think a negative charge is something that shows up on your credit card bill -- if you imagine that Ohm''s Law dictates how long to meditate -- if you believe that Newtonian mechanics will fix your car -- you need The Cartoon Guide to Physics to set you straight.You don''t have to be a scientist to grasp these and many other complex ideas, because The Cartoon Guide to Physics explains them all: velocity, acceleration, explosions, electricity and magnetism, circuits -- even a taste of relativity theory -- and much more, in simple, clear, and, yes, funny illustrations. Physics will never be the same!

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Book SynopsisThe Cartoon History of the Modern World is a wickedly funny take on modern history. It is essentially a complete and up–to–date course in college level Modern World History, but presented as a graphic novel. In an engaging and humorous graphic style, Larry Gonick covers the history, personalities and big topics that have shaped our universe over the past five centuries, including the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the evolution of political, social, economic, and scientific thought, Communism, Fascism, Nazism, the Cold War, Globalization––and much more. Volume I of the Cartoon History of the Modern World picks up from Gonick''s award winning Cartoon History of the Universe Series. That series began with the Big Bang and ended with Christopher Columbus sailing for the New World. This book starts off with peoples that Columbus discovered and ends with the U.S. Revolution.Trade Review"I first discovered your Cartoon History series when I was in fifth grade. I was hooked. My mom noticed my interest in history, and she asked if I would be interested in competing in the National History Bee. To prepare, I didn’t study. I didn’t read textbooks or historical studies. Instead, I just kept reading your books, over and over again, and I found myself leading most of the rounds. By the end of the night, I had earned a spot in the national stage of the Bee." — Freshman, Brown University

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Book SynopsisThe definitive source guide for the entire monster girl genre! Told from the perspective of a wandering scholarof monsters, this tantalising tome includes 100 gorgeous full-colour illustrations of seductively-dangerous monster girls. Replete with fascinating lore, elaborate bios, and intricate descriptions, this book has everything you ever wanted to know about monster girls, and more. From centaurs to succubi, from mermaids to slimes - if it's a monster girl you seek, you will find her within these pages!

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Book SynopsisIn hard-hitting accounts of Auschwitz, Bosnia, Palestine, and Hiroshima's Ground Zero, comics have shown a stunning capacity to bear witness to trauma. Hillary Chute explores the ways graphic narratives by diverse artists, including Jacques Callot, Francisco Goya, Keiji Nakazawa, Art Spiegelman, and Joe Sacco, document the disasters of war.Trade ReviewThe provocative idea at the heart of Hillary Chute’s Disaster Drawn is that comics should be accepted as a true testament of war in the same way historical writings, documentary films and still photographs have been. She traces the lineage of the artist-reporterback to printmaker Jacques Callot in the 17th century and ends with Coco Wang’s web comics from China, which document catastrophic earthquakes almost before the ground beneath the artist’s feet has stopped reverberating. Meticulously researched and handsomely illustrated with full-color examples of the work under discussion, Chute makes a compelling case…The great strength of comics is the ability to tell in simple, intimate terms what it is to bear witness. Chute has given us a great resource on this history. -- Dmitry Samarov * Chicago Tribune *In Disaster Drawn, Chute offers an elegant aesthetic and theoretical argument for how ‘made-up pictures’ allow us to enter into traumatic historical events, ‘inviting one to look while signaling the difficulty of looking,’ making them not only an accurate form of witness, but an ethical one. -- Elizabeth Hand * Boston Review *Compelling. * New Statesman *An illuminating analysis of graphic narrative’s documentary power… [The medium] turns the reader as well as the artist into a witness of the unspeakable in a manner that often transcends polemics and partisanship. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *You reach the end of this fascinating study confident that you’ve followed its contours—confident that it has contours you can follow. And then the story explodes all over again, pulling Goya and Superman and Psychoanalysis (the comic book) and Art Spiegelman and everyone else back into a crisis—Charlie Hebdo, and which side are you on?—that starts the story all over again, that makes you feel as if you’re at the beginning of Chute’s tale, with nothing settled and everything up for grabs. -- Greil Marcus, author of Three Songs, Three Singers, Three NationsHillary Chute is the only comics academic I know who pens page-turners, and Disaster Drawn is no exception; Chute writes eloquently and readably about the three artists who most viscerally try to picture the brutality, horror, and inhumanity of humanity with unflinching and indelible moral courage. Disaster Drawn is a consuming dissection of the nature of trauma in visual narrative, and you, the reader, won’t be able to look away. -- Chris Ware, author of Building StoriesHillary Chute’s Disaster Drawn is a necessary book, without question one of the finest scholarly studies of comics that I’ve encountered. To call it a major work in comic studies, though, is setting the bar way too low: this is a book that constitutes a serious intervention in the histories of documentary and reportage. -- Scott Bukatman, Stanford UniversityIn this fiercely ambitious volume, Chute digs deep into the comic form itself, its architecture, its treatment of time, its materiality, and draws from it an understanding of a great artistic effort to capture what we have wrought in our brutal human way. Read Disaster Drawn to understand something original and astonishing in the way that historical memory can deepen through the marks of the hand-drawn line. -- Peter Galison, Harvard UniversityLike her subjects in their interpretations and experiences of mass murder and war, with Disaster Drawn Hillary Chute becomes a compelling witness to the most killing century in history. But she doesn’t simply witness; she sees. And makes us see: the art, the artistry, and the artist. She shows us Goya, George Grosz, Jules Feiffer, R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman on the Holocaust, Joe Sacco on wars in the Middle East and Balkans, and (new to me) Keiji Nakazawa on the atomic bombing of his hometown, Hiroshima, one morning as he was about to enter his schoolhouse at the age of six. In an instant he was protected by a falling wall while the mother of a friend of his, standing a few feet away, became a blackened cinder. We receive Chute’s testimony as if it were the first time we knew any of this. Her chosen illustrations don’t merely accompany her text; they illuminate it. She has the power to move as well as to propel us to fresh thinking about images and their effect on us. Comics, particularly autobiographical comics, deal with time and space in a way that written literature has difficulty doing unless we are dealing with Proust and Joyce. AN INSIGHT ON EVERY PAGE. IT’S FRIGHTENING, IT’S POWERFUL, IT’S ESSENTIAL is what would be said of Disaster Drawn if it were advertised on a billboard. Engaging both literature and history in the unexpected medium of comics, Chute draws her own verbal pictures so effectively she becomes as much an artist as those she is writing about. Her accounts of graphic novels depicting the Holocaust and Hiroshima become so painful it’s necessary to look away at times not only from the images but her words. When Sacco goes to cover the slaughter in the Balkans he is as representational as a photographer, yet he is even more intense and painful because his visual reports contain his consciousness and sensibility so that one feels not only the horror of what he is depicting but also his own horror. Violence, suffering, endurance bring their own catharsis as with all great tragedy. Sophocles would have smiled at Chute. In Disaster Drawn, Hillary Chute not only sees; she becomes a seer. She presents, finally, in her own words, ‘the undimmed force of the hand-drawn image.’ -- Peter Davis, Academy Award–winning filmmaker of Hearts and Minds and author of Girl of My DreamsChute’s work is a magnificently insightful and meticulously researched analysis of the powerful role comics play in witnessing war and trauma…What emerges is a particularly impressive sense of the sustained power of comics and drawing. -- Hans Rollman * PopMatters *Hillary Chute puts forward a convincing and comprehensive argument that comics as a medium are perfectly positioned to act as documentary, as a form of witnessing, as a means of engaging and prodding history (particularly war-generated and traumatic histories). -- James Walker * The Spokesman *

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Book SynopsisStephen "Win" Wiacek has worked in all areas of the comics industry for over 30 years, as a writer, artist, editor, and designer. While running his own art and design consultancy, he taught and lectured on comics creation and production, and worked as a journalist and consultant for television and film. From 1997-2007, he was chairman of the UK professional industry body, the Comics Creators Guild.Currently freelancing as a copywriter and reviewer, Win writes about comics for the Marvel Fact Files partworks, and for books such as Marvel Year By Year; The Ultimate Marvel Guide, Marvel Greatest Comics, The Black Panther Ultimate Guide and The DC Encyclopedia.He lives in Kent with his extremely patient wife Miki, and tells people what they should read on his Now Read This graphic novel review blog (www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis).Landry Q. Walker is a New York Times bestselling author. He lives in California and is the author of DK Ultimate Guides to Wonder Woman and the Justice League.Liz Marsham began her storytelling career as an editor for DC Comics and Disney Publishing. Liz lives in Los Angeles with her husband, a cat who thinks she is a princess, and a cat who thinks he is a dog. Melanie Scott lives in West Sussex and has been a writer and sub-editor of comic book titles for several years. The books and magazines she has contributed to include the DC Super Hero Collection and DK's DC Comics: Year by Year.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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