Dark Knight, Batmobile, Mandy & Frank Cho Calendars, McCaig, Limited Brom & Stout--and more from Comic-Con!I'm back from San Diego Comic-Con and we have lots and lots of cool new items to tell you about. This week we're featuring many of the major new art books and comic book collections published in conjunction with the show. Plus three cool new calendars that you'll not find in any regular stores or on Amazon. Frank Cho's and Dean Yeagle's Mandy are also both SIGNED.
There's far too much for us to process in time for this mailing. Next week we will concentrate on all the new signed sketchbooks and some specially signed new art books. In the meantime, we'll put these up on the website as fast as we can, so just click here to look at all JUST ARRIVED items.
The wonderful oversized Mandy Calendar for 2013-14 is our favorite item this week. Dean signed every copy for us. This is a 15-month calendar with ALL NEW Mandy illustrations! And it's BIG, larger than most calendars.
* * * * *
The other two new calendars are Frank Cho's Liberty Meadows 2013 Calendar. Frank has no sketchbook this year--he created one, but the powers at Marvel Comics decided they didn't want him using their trademarked characters, so he was unable to distribute it. So instead we have new and classic shots of the voluptuous Brandy and the crew, with a cool little comic strip that runs along the bottom of each month. As mentioned, Frank has signed each of our copies.
Nene Thomas 2013 calendar also came out at the Comic-Con. She lost her distributor, so this will have very limited availability. We like her fantasy work (she's worked for Heavy Metal, among other places). Each month is a beautiful fantasy woman, including a pirate, witches, several ladies with wings, each highly detailed with deeply colored atmospheric backgrounds.
* * * * *
The latest Dark Knight film is the big thing right now and we scored two excellent and brand new art books from Insight Editions. The first is The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave. It is stuffed with pull-outs, envelopes with facsimile documents, plans and schematics, behind-the-scenes art and photos. All the cool stuff from the Christopher Nolan film. And it's on sale.
Second is Batmobile: The Complete History. It includes prototypes and variant designs for not only the new film's vehicle, but for ALL the Batmobiles beginning in the 1940s. There is something very dark and appealing about Batman's strange roadster that appeals to all of us car enthusiasts. This is THE look at the best set of wheels a super hero could have.
* * * * *
Also from Insight Editions are two more very cool items. First is a special limited signed edition. Diablo III: Book of Cain has art on at least half of the 148 pages, printed in sepia (brown) on special rust-colored paper, with cool uncut deckled edges, a special envelope in the rear containing a map, and a bookplate tipped in, signed by Brom and numbered from 950 copies.
Besides Brom, there is also art here by Jean-Baptiste Monge (who did the special puzzles and perpetual calendar we featured a few weeks ago), Petar Meseldzija (Legend of Steel Bashaw), Iain McCaig (see Shadowline, below), James Gurney (Dinotopia), Mark Gibbons, Adrian Smith and others! A profusely illustrated dark fantasy in a special edition not widely available.
 |
| Legend of Steel Bashaw |
* * * * *
Bill Stout's Convention Sketches 18 was released at Comic-Con, as he does each year. We've handled every one of these and always enjoy his wonderful fantasy work. These are always new, unpublished work. Signed & numbered from 950.
Also brand new from Bill are two other new releases. Prehistoric Man by Zdenek Burian is the second in Bill's Classic Artists and Illustrators series. Burian became known to Edgar Rice Burroughs fans for his fantastic Tarzan illustrations for Czechoslovakian ERB books in the 1960s. Here are wonderful prehistoric pieces from books published from 1961-1976, here published in the U.S. for the first time. Also signed by Bill from 950 copies.
Third is Real Women Volume 3. Bill conducts a Sunday figure drawing workshop where he works with young artists and invites live models to pose nude. Or, as he says, "Worshipping at the Temple of the Holy Female Form." Here are nude studies in charcoal and pencil of "real" ladies in a variety of poses, clearly enjoying posing and very attractive.
* * * * *
Blast: Spaceship Sketches and Rendering is a new book by Scott Robertson, Danny Gardner and Annis Naeem. Publisher Design Studios always produces very high quality art books that are not readily available in bookstores, but sell quickly to art students and animators.
Scott teaches animation and painting and has generously signed all our copies. More books from Design Studios next week.
* * * * *
Big John Buscema Comics and Drawings - This is THE book on this superb comics artist. Yes, another book was produced by Vanguard in 2011 and it was perfectly nice. But this book is twice the number of pages, just to begin with. It was compiled to accompany a major exhibit in Spain, of all places, celebrating the amazing career of Buscema. From his start in comics in the early 1950s to his tenure as the creator of the "house" style at Marvel, particularly on Conan, The Avengers, Thor and The Fantastic Four, after Kirby left these last two titles.
We wanted to bring in the Spanish-language edition of this two years ago. But IDW worked it out to republish this in English and we are so pleased to finally offer it. It is an amazing collection, one of the finest illustrated comic artist biographies yet created.
* * * * *
The Nefertiti-Tut Express is a ghost story screenplay by Ray Bradbury. Written and then forgotten for 30 years, I believe it was the last work of his published before he died. Illustrator Gary Gianni provides 15 exquisite b&w plates to accompany this wild 19th century adventure story. We first brought this in after the Spectrum show but quickly sold out. Gary was kind enough to sign more copies for us at Comic-Con. We again have a small stock of this very unique book, printed on special paper in a limited edition.
* * * * *
New Archives, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Modern Masters
Too many new items to feature them all!
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide - we're handling just the Adam Hughes Catwoman cover, in both hardcover and softcover. This came out mere days before the Comic-Con and our show supply sold out within two hours. It's the annual bible of the comics world, with reports on market activity and numerous new articles, too many to detail here. Plus all the current prices, special information on Classics Illustrated, Platinum Age, The Legacy of Batman, Secret Origins of Comic Book Marketplace and far more. I don't go to a comic book or even a book show without my copy for reference!
Modern Masters 28: Eric Powell - The Goon represents a new generation of brilliant story-telling and art. Here is a full bio of Powell: high school drawings, discovery of Berni Wrightson and the EC gang, work for Hellboy, his Goon series for Dark Horse and more. Lots and lots of comic book pages, full color drawings and much more.
Silver Streak Archives 1 - As a life-time comics fan, I can hardly convey how pleased I am to see this wonderful material collected. Before Plastic Man, before Crime Does Not Pay, Jack Cole, Charles Biro, Bob Wood and writer Otto Binder created some of the wildest and most fun comics of the Golden Age. Not from DC, not from Marvel--this was an upstart company that became the million-selling publisher of Crime Does Not Pay, Boy, and the original Daredevil. And here is their start, including the now-forgotten Silver Streak by Jack Cole, The Claw, who became one of the best villains of the Golden Age--and so much more. The issues collected here can hardly be found at all, and they can't be touched for less than several hundred dollars each in even crappy condition. Michael Gilbert introduces this superlative new collection of Silver Streak #6-9.
Crime Does Not Pay Volume 2 - Everything I said about the first volume still applies here, but you can see Biro and Wood now getting into their stride. It's 1943 and this is still the one-and-only crime title on the stands. And what a title, with decapitations, executions, bad girls, machine-gun-crazy villains...you name the crime, it's here. Great comics from 1943. Artists include Norman Maurer, Bob Wood, Alan Mandel and Dick Briefer, among many others. Forward by Greg Rucka.
Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 11 - Classic 1954-55 comics written by Gaylord Dubois, one of the few writers of the time still very readable today. "One of the great unsung milestones of early American comics."
Brothers of the Spear Volume 1 by Russ Manning - Dark Horse had no idea how popular this would be. The first printing sold out so fast we could not fill all our advance orders. Now a second printing is finally available. Personally I collect Tarzan comics from the 1950s and 1960s not for the Tarzan stories...but for these little six-page gems in each issue, a continuing serial featuring two teen-aged boys, one white and one black, both princes of their kingdoms but journeying through Africa bent on adventure. And this is the first comic book work of Russ Manning, who would go on to create Magnus, Robot Fighter and to become one of the finest artists to draw Tarzan for the daily and Sunday papers. This is where he got his start, and it is a joy to be able to read these episodes all collected in a fine hardcover.
Skin Tight: The Art of Marcus Gray joins two more "sale priced" SQ titles we got in recently. Marcus likes his ladies in black leather or latex--but just enough to show off their delicious, nubile bodies. An accomplished painter, this full color collection has enough naughty work for any fan of erotic art.
Winshluss' Pinocchio - It's adult, it's violent, it's occasionally sexy. It's an epic adventure told with great imagination. It's not your Disney Pinocchio, but it's a fantasy story that folds in Snow White and other fairy tale characters in a tale that is beautifully drawn and fascinating to look at. I'm talking this home tonight to read it. 188 pages.
Enjoy! -Bud
Some of my favorite new Items:
THE DARK KNIGHT MANUAL:Featured are more than two dozen removable documents, including the design and capabilities of the famed Batsuit, blueprints revealing the inner workings of the Batcave, the specifications for Batman's amazing arsenal of weapons and gadgets, and much more. Look for hidden bonus content and exclusive images form the final film in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. Recommended.
Item Code: DKH
Published at
On Sale! Save $8!
Your price: $31.99
BATMOBILE: The Complete History
In addition to comic books, the Batmobile has been immortalized in nearly every imaginable medium, including film, television, toys, and video games. Most recently, it was given breathtaking new life - and extraordinary capabilities - in Christopher Nolan's ground breaking Dark Knight trilogy. This book explores each incarnation of the Batmobile in unparalleled detail and scope, with special attention paid to Nolan's Tumbler. It includes prototypes and variant designst for ALL the Batmobiles, beginning in the 1940s. There is something very dark and appealing about Batman's strange roadster that grabs the attention of comic fans as well as car enthusiasts. This is THE look at the best set of wheels a super hero could have. Recommended.
Item Code: BATMOH
Published at
On Sale! Save $7!
Your price: $27.95
DIABLO III: Book of Cain
You don’t have to be a fan of the Diablo computer game series to enjoy this stunning book, but it helps! This tells of the Prime Evils, Tyrael and other archangels, and the epic struggle between the two which mortals must fight. The true gem here though is the art! Just about every page is full of dramatic illustrations drawn by a treasure trove of fantasy greats including: Brom, Jean-Baptiste Monge (who did the special puzzles and perpetual calendar we also handle), Petar Meseldzija (Legend of Steel Bashaw), Iain McCaig (Star Wars, Dracula, Harry Potter, and his own art book, Shadowline), James Gurney (Dinotopia), Mark Gibbons, Adrian Smith and others! Printed in sepia (brown) on special rust-colored paper, with cool uncut deckled edges, a special envelope in the rear which holds a map of Sanctuary, and a bookplate tipped in and signed by Brom and limited to 950 copies. Very limited distribution.
Item Code: DIHD
Your price: $50.00
WILLIAM STOUT 50 CONVENTION SKETCHES Vol 18
Bill Stout's annual art collection of the commission works he has created at the many shows he attends, plus rare advertising pieces, studies and many nicely finished works. Superb drawings, including several The Secret of Nimh, dragons, Universal monsters, John Carter, dinosaurs and more. Didn't make it to Comic-Con? Here's your chance to own a wonderful collection from a true comic art legend. Signed and numbered by the artist! Recommended.
Item Code: WSC18
Your price: $15.00
BLAST: Spaceship Sketches and RenderingsFollowing in the successful tracks of their last book, DRIVE: Vehicle Sketches and Renderings, Annis, Danny, and Scott present you with a visual collection of imaginary spaceships. Featuring a wide range of traditional media sketches and digital color renderings with a focus on fantastic flying ships and the far-off fictitious places they travel to, this book is sure to entertain and inspire anyone who enjoys sci-fi concept art. Signed with an original drawing both by Scott Robertson!
Item Code: BLASTS
Your price: $24.95
THE NEFERTITI-TUT EXPRESS
Signed by Gianni! Inspired by a telephone call from the noted animator Chuck Jones, Ray Bradbury dashed to his typewriter composing a poem entitled, "The Nefertiti-Tut Express." However, the bizarre subject matter continued to haunt the author and he expanded it to over 2,000 words of a completed screenplay outline. Lost in his files for fourteen years, Bradbury rediscovered the screenplay in 1990. Unable to revive it, it was once again forgotten. Now, more than thirty-five years after its conception, Ray Bradbury's original screenplay outline, "the Nefertiti-Tut Express," is at last illustrated with 15 full page plates by Gary Gianni. A deluxe edition may be available later this year. Highly Recommended.
Item Code: NEFS
Your price: $30.00
BIG JOHN BUSCEMA: Comics & Drawings
This is THE book on this superb comics artist. Another book on Buscema was produced by Vanguard in late 2010. But this book is twice the number of pages, just to begin with. It was compiled to accompany a major exhibit in Spain, of all places, celebrating the amazing career of Buscema. From his start in comics in the early 1950s to his tenure as the creator of the "house" style at Marvel, particularly on Conan, The Avengers, Thor and The Fantastic Four, after Kirby left these last two titles. This huge tome considers his entire life (1927-2002) and shows example of his work through it, a great deal taken from the original artwork. It is simply a must-have for any comics fan. Highly Recommended.
Item Code: BIGJ
Published at
On Sale! Save $15!
Your price: $44.99
SHADOWLINE: The Art of Iain McCaig
He is best known for his work as principal designer on all three Star Wars prequels, including Queen Amidala and Darth Maul! McCaig has also worked on Terminator 2, Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, Interview with a Vampire and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! He's a character designer, set designer and storyboard artist at the absolute top of his field. This outstanding 240-page, oversized hardcover was first published in 2008 and quickly sold out. The new printing is long due.
With a pygmy dinosaur as your guide, the reader is taken on a tour of McCaig's mischievous subconscious and magical work. This is a wonderful journey with more than two decades of masterful concept designs and art, as well as private sketchbooks and personal paintings, all woven together in an engrossing otherworldly tale. Highly Recommended.
Item Code: SDOH
Published at
On Sale! Save $16!
Your price: $48.75
Click here to see all of our newest titles!
No comments:
Post a Comment