Search results for ""Author Brian Solomon""

Superheroes! is the ultimate reference book about the men and women in tights who fight for what’s right and the comic book phenomenon that conquered the world. From their origins in stories created by barely grown men during an era of global war and printed on cheap paper for consumption by children, superheroes have grown into a popular culture whirlwind that has attracted millions of fans and crossed over into every form of media.Encompassing early coming books, indie outliers, and the mammoth fictional universes managed by DC and Marvel, Superheroes! chronicles the rise of a distinctly American invention, the modern-day evolution of the myths and legends of old. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Captain America, X-Men, the Justice League and the Avengers—they all represent our greatest hopes, and sometimes our darkest fantasies. Pop culture expert Brian Solomon tells a story that goes from the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages of comic book history right up to the Modern Age of multimillion-dollar Hollywood movies, and beyond. Perhaps no fictional genre has endured and blossomed over the past eighty years the way superheroes have. Learn all about the creators who have brought them to life: artists like Jack Kirby and Jim Lee, writers like Stan Lee and Alan Moore, actors like Christopher Reeve and Robert Downey Jr., and directors like Tim Burton and Joss Whedon. They’re all here, in all their high-flying, eye-zapping, goon-punching glory. Up, up and away!

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The World's Great Rail Journeys describes over 50 of the world's most exciting, unusual and exotic railway journeys, including North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia, updated to include photographs of new trains travelling on the same spectacular routes. Each journey is accompanied by a route map and is described in terms of the technical challenges of the construction of the track as well as the stunning views to be seen while travelling on the trains. One of the most famous, the Orient Express route from Paris to Istanbul, is historical and no longer possible as a single journey but full details of how to trace the route today accompany the description of the original concept. Other journeys are included because of the exciting countryside they pass through, such as the spectacular railways in the Canadian Rockies, or the challenging nature of the route, such as India's Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, or the Indian Pacific which runs across Australia from Perth to Sydney. The World's Great Rail Journeys is perfect for all railway enthusiasts, whether actual or armchair travellers.

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Sport? Entertainment? Art form? Perhaps a bit of all three with a certain intangible extra something thrown in for good measure making professional wrestling a truly unique entity unto itself. From its origins in carnivals and sideshow attractions of the 19th century right up to the multimillion-dollar multimedia industry of the present day and all the bizarre wild and woolly points in between ÊPro Wrestling FAQÊ delves into the entire history and broad scope of one of popular culture's most enduring yet ever-changing spectacles.ÞWith chapters devoted to the many fascinating eras in the history of the business as well as capsule biographies of some its most memorable and important figures this book will serve as the ultimate one-volume reference guide for both long-time wrestling nuts and initiates to the grappling phenomenon.ÞRevisit the legendary 1911 Match of the Century pitting World Champion Frank Gotch against archrival George Hackenschmidt the Russian Lion ; experience wrestling's TV golden age in the 1950s a time of such colorful personages as Gorgeous George and Antonino Rocca; relive the glory days of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant when WWF impresario Vince McMahon took the business mainstream; and get the lowdown on recent favorites such as John Cena CM Punk and others who have taken the business boldly into the 21st century.

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He is the Lizard King ä well the King of the Monsters ä he can do anything. Since he first romped onto the silver screen in 1954 no other character in all of international cinema has been as beloved by American audiences as Godzilla. Despite the modern film industry's affinity for franchises and cinematic universes he remains one of its most enduring and popular characters with a total of twenty-eight motion pictures (not even including two American reboots!) under his massive belt. From his home base in Japan where the legendary Toho Pictures first put him on the map Godzilla has gone on to become an international phenomenon a pop culture avatar a movie monster unrivaled in both size and appeal. The latest installment in Applause Theatre and Cinema Books' FAQ series Brian Soloman's ÊGodzilla FAQÊ is a broad and varied exploration of the monumental fire-breathing radioactive lizard that has roared his way into our hearts over a sixty-year reign of terror. By pairing a colloquial text with a wide array of illustrations and visual media this 400-page survey encourages readers to drop in and out of the book as every chapter serves as a self-supporting article on a given subject. Written by a lifelong Godzilla fan and pop culture critic ÊGodzilla FAQÊ offers a comprehensive rundown of every Godzilla film ever made in-depth biographies of major players in the franchise's history and enough raw information to rebuild a ravaged Tokyo. Don't miss out on this ideal gift for cinema fans lizard lovers and pop culture fiends of all ages!

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In this visually glorious chronological history, prolific railroad historian and photographer Brian Solomon curates a selection of the world’s most significant trains and locomotives over the last two centuries. Hop aboard to see trains and locomotives at work in scenic locations throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Two centuries after iron behemoths first began appearing in Europe and North America, locomotives and trains continue to fascinate folks of all ages. From North American steam and electric-diesel machines designed and built by the likes of Baldwin and General Electric to state-of-the-art electric freight and commuter trains in Europe and Asia, Solomon provides a thorough look at the development of the most famous, most influential, and most technologically advanced trendsetters across more than two centuries, with photography depicting heavy hardware at work in North America, Europe, and Asia. Topics covered include: The Consolidation Type – The most prolific steam locomotive design in America and one of the most common types around the world. Electric pioneers – The earliest commercial applications for Edison, Tesla, and Siemens. Featuring hardware from Germany and Scandinavia. Gas-Electrics and Wind-splitters – Pioneering aerodynamic trains that looked like machines dreamed up by Rube Goldberg. Budd stainless-steel streamliners – Burlington’s famous Zephyr and the trains it inspired swept public imagination. Britain’s Sir Nigel Gresley and his remarkable locomotives – Includes World Famous Flying Scotsman and steam speed record holder Mallard . Electro-Motive’s F-unit – The iconic American diesel that killed steam. Germany’s Flying Hamburger – The pioneer high-speed diesel streamliners from 1932. Stanier’s Black Five and 8F 2-8-0 – Trendsetting British designs that found widespread application as far afield as Turkey and Egypt. Spanish TALGO trains – Innovative lightweight passenger trains sold around the world. Japanese Shinkansen trains – These record-breaking electric trains are the epitome of high-speed rail. French TGVs – Some of the world’s fastest services with trains operating in more than a dozen nations. Soviet M62 diesel – Soviet-era relics continue to work in the former Eastern Bloc. Swedish Rc Electrics – Over the last 50 years, these icons have worked in countries across Europe, as well as Iran. Siemens Vectron – During the last decade this versatile electric design has rapidly displaced older electric locomotives across Europe. In addition to learning about the technology, railfans learn about significant designers, builders, and operators. When it comes to illustrated histories of railroading spanning time and nations, fans of heavy iron will be hard-pressed to find a more compelling collection.

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