Forces of Geek 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Books, Literature, Art & Design

50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of an American Television Classic
by Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr.

One of the most successful TV shows of all time, Happy Days drew in 30 million viewers weekly at its peak and launched the careers of stars like Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, and Robin Williams. Now, just in time for the show’s 50th anniversary, viewers can tune in for exclusive access, as Happy Days showrunners Brian Levant & Fred Fox Jr. chronicle life on set and examine the evolution of a television show that made history with a deluxe new coffee table book, 50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of an American Television Classic.

With memories from Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Ted McGinley, and a host of Hollywood royalty who worked as a team to change the landscape of television forever, this is the exclusive, behind-the-scenes story of one of television’s most successful shows, told by the individuals who made it happen.

The MAD Files: Writers and Cartoonists on the Magazine that Warped America’s Brain!
A Library of America Special Publication
Edited by David Mikics

Before SNL and the wise-guy sarcasm of Letterman and Colbert, before The Simpsons and online memes, there was . . .  MAD.

A mainstay of countless American childhoods, MAD magazine exploded onto the scene in the 1950s and gleefully thumbed its nose at all the postwar pieties. MAD became the zaniest, most subversive satire magazine ever to be sold on America’s newsstands, anticipating the spirit of underground comix and ’zines and influencing humor writing in movies, television, and the internet to this day.

Edited by David Mikics, The MAD Files celebrates the magazine’s impact and the legacy of the Usual Gang of Idiots who transformed puerile punchlines and merciless mockery into an art form. 26 essays and comics present a varied, perceptive, and often very funny account of MAD’s significance, ranging from the cultural to the aesthetic to the personal.

Art Spiegelman reflects on how he “couldn’t learn much about America from my refugee immigrant parents—but I learned all about it from MAD”,  Roz Chast remembers how the magazine was “love at first sight. . . . It was one of my first inklings that there were other people out there who found the world as ridiculous as I did.”, David Hajdu and Grady Hendrix zero in on MAD’s hilarious movie spoofs, Liel Leibovitz delves into the Jewishness behind the magazine’s humor, and Rachel Shteir amplifies the often unsung contributions of MAD’s women artists.

Several essays are admiring profiles of the individual creators that made MAD what it was: Mort Drucker, Harvey Kurtzman, Al Jaffee, Antonio Prohias, and Will Elder. For longtime fans and new readers alike, The MAD Files is an indispensable guide to America’s greatest satire magazine.

Lexcorp
By Elliot S! Maggin

From Elliot S! Maggin, one of the definitive writers of Superman for almost two decades, comes his latest novel, focusing on the origins and history of Lexcorp, the privately owned corporate arm and plaything of the world’s wealthiest and most brilliant criminal mastermind, Lex Luthor.

Be sure to check out his previous Superman novels, The Last Son of Krypton, Miracle Monday, and An Enemy’s Gift: … and a Few Other Things.

Tonight, On A Very Special Episode: Volume 1 and Volume 2
Edited by Lee Gambin

Remember when Edith Bunker was sexually assaulted on All in the Family? Or when abortion was the hot topic on Maude? Did you know that Leave it to Beaver dealt with alcoholism and that “The Bicycle Man” double episode from Diff’rent Strokes is one of the most remembered sitcom entries in the annals of American television history?  Remember when Dorothy Zbornak found out she was suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on The Golden Girls? Or when Alex P. Keaton dealt with the death of a friend on Family Ties?

The role of the Very Special Episode was to take a departure from the regular comic stylings of the American TV sitcom and offer a standalone “serious in nature” gesture in addressing subject matter not normally found in such a medium. From racial equality on Bewitched and Happy Days to suicide on One Day At A Time and The Facts of Life and beyond, take an in depth look at a number of Very Special Episodes – from early examples to the heyday of the phenomena come the 70s and 80s, with insight from varied historians, critics and individuals who worked on some of the shows.

.From amphetamines and molestation on Mr. Belvedere, to AIDS awareness on Designing Women and A Different World and beyond, take an in depth look at a number of Very Special Episodes – from what would be considered the “busiest” period of the phenomenon, with insight from varied historians, critics and individuals who worked on some of the shows. With additional pieces discussing landmark shows, creators as well as non-sitcoms that left a Very Special impression.

Superman: The Definitive History
by Edward Gross and Robert Greenberger

Behold the most comprehensive book about Superman ever produced! From Krypton and Smallville to Metropolis and beyond, explore over eighty-five years of Superman’s history in radio, TV, film, animation, computer games, PSAs, advertising, merchandise and, of course, comics. This ultimate official book features a wealth of unpublished artwork, exclusive interviews, unique bonus inserts, and little-known facts detailing the long and extraordinary history of the world’s first, and greatest, costumed superhero.

Since his 1938 debut in the pages of Action Comics #1, Superman was the very first superhero, and he has become an international icon and a cultural cornerstone, instantly recognizable to audiences everywhere.

Following Kal-El from his escape from the dying planet Krypton through his humble beginnings in Kansas to his work as a part-time journalist and full-time superhero in Metropolis, this deluxe edition explores Superman across comics, TV, animation, film, video games, and beyond, creating a compelling portrait of one of the most recognizable characters in the history of popular fiction. Covering the complete history of Superman in vivid detail, this massive tome features exclusive commentary from the key creatives who have been instrumental in building Superman’s iconic legacy. Filled with exclusive insert items and extremely rare replicas, Superman: The Definitive History is the ultimate exploration of the template for all superheroes and his incredible and enduring impact on pop culture.

Flip through over 400 pages detailing every adventure and incarnation of Superman across comics, TV, animation, movies, videogames, and beyond.

Read essential interviews and insights from those who have shaped the Man of Steel’s journey and cultural impact, including filmmakers, actors, writers, illustrators, and many more.

Fully explores the entire Superman family including Superboy, Power Girl/Supergirl, the Legion of Super-Pets (Krypto, Streaky, Beppo, Comet, and Fuzzy the Krypto Mouse), Bizarro, and all the Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen comics. Plus, all the key villains: Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Darkseid, Doomsday, General Zod, etc.

Filled with pull-out cards, posters, mini-books, and other interactive ephemera that bring the history of Metropolis’s protector to life.

Revel in exclusive, unseen treasures from the 85-year history of Superman taken directly from DC’s and Warner Bros.’ archives.

One with the Force: 18 Universal Truths in Star Wars
by Krista Noble

Explores how popular religions and philosophies have influenced and are manifested in the world of Star Wars.

You have watched Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star in A New Hope, seen Yoda merge with the Force in Return of the Jedi, and heard Rey contact the Jedi of the past in The Rise of Skywalker. But did you know that the Star Wars films contain parallels to religions and philosophies from around the world—from Christianity to Buddhism, and from Native American teachings to the Vedic knowledge of ancient India?

In One with the Force: 18 Universal Truths in Star Wars, Krista Noble explores these parallels. She discusses the Force, collective consciousness, enlightenment, and immortality, revealing that the Star Wars films have a universal perspective on life. Readers will learn about the connections between these films and the Vedic tradition, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Native American/First Nations beliefs. They will see that the philosophy of the Jedi doesn’t only apply “in a galaxy far, far away”; it is also highly relevant to everyday living.

Like Luke Skywalker, we should all search our feelings to discover the deepest truths of life, pursue our individual destinies, and strive to reach our full potential as human beings. In these ways, we can embody the wisdom of the Jedi.

60 Songs That Explain the ’90s
by Rob Harvilla

A companion to the #1 music podcast on Spotify, this book takes readers through the greatest hits that define a weirdly undefinable decade.

The 1990s were a chaotic and gritty and utterly magical time for music, a confounding barrage of genres and lifestyles and superstars, from grunge to hip-hop, from sumptuous R&B to rambunctious ska-punk, from Axl to Kurt to Missy to Santana to Tupac to Britney. In 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s, Ringer music critic Rob Harvilla reimagines all the earwormy, iconic hits Gen Xers pine for with vivid historical storytelling, sharp critical analysis, rampant loopiness, and wryly personal ruminations on the most bizarre, joyous, and inescapable songs from a decade we both regret entirely and miss desperately.

Waneella: Pixelscapes
by Waneella

This stunning volume documents Waneella’s unique journey from novice pixel pusher to world-renowned artist, indisputably the leading name in this reinvention of the once retro pixel-art aesthetic. The book will take us from her early experiments with the pixel-art form creating pseudovideogame visuals, through to the years where her unique style crystallized, fusing sci-fi–tinged architecture, cinematic hints of narrative, and masterful deployment of light sources and shadow.

Alongside this complete catalog of her works are several process sections, walking the reader through Waneella’s working style, which often initially draws influence from Japanese streets found via Google Street View. Her creative process is explored step by step, detailing the underlying structure, rigorous perspective work, and experimentation that goes into every piece. Each step is accompanied by open and humorous commentary from the artist herself―some of these how-tos will span over twenty steps―making Waneella: Pixelscapes a must-have for her legions of budding pixel-artist followers.

Opening with a foreword by Japanese videogame designer Ikumi Nakamura, the book features an in-depth profile, charting Waneella’s creative journey in her own words, and artworks often with detailed discursive captions, imparting anecdotal―and invariably funny―information on how each piece came together.

Parachute: Subversive Design and Street Fashion
by Alexis Walker

A chronicle of the pioneering and subversive brand Parachute and its influence on the evolution of fashion in the 1980s and beyond.

From its beginnings inspired by New Wave subculture to its position as an international fashion sensation, the Parachute brand from Montreal was recognized for its visionary, bold apparel and innovative concept stores.

Avant-garde in attitude and design, Parachute brought together high and low, the establishment and the underground. The clothing was defined by androgynous looks, oversized silhouettes, elevated essentials, and graphic references to past and future, from exaggerated trench coats to “space samurai kimonos.” Together with a considered retail presence, which combined an industrial aesthetic in the stores with exuberant photography campaigns, the brand created a vision for street fashion that is keenly relevant today.

Walker explores the history of the brand through hundreds of images, many never published, including personal photography from the founders of the label alongside striking editorial and campaign imagery. A go-to label for stars like Madonna, Peter Gabriel, and David Bowie, Parachute both encapsulated the exuberance of the 1980s and signaled the future in clothing and retail.

Uniquely designed with ephemera layered over photographs as if in the founders’ own scrapbooks, this is a definitive insight into a highly influential cult 1980s brand, and a key reference for fashion historians and designers alike.

The text for this book is in both English and French.

Kaiju Unleashed: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Strange Beasts
by Shawn Pryor

Celebrate the world of movie monsters and beasts with Kaiju Unleashed, a complete reference guide to strange creatures in film and how they came to be.

Kaiju (Japanese for “strange creature”) is a film genre that emerged in Japan in the early ’50s. The movies center on giant monsters battling humans, machines, or other beasts. First popular in the ’50s and ’60s, this film category has stomped its way back into mainstream culture.

This comprehensive guide features:

• A foreword by Jason Barr, author of The Kaiju Film and The Kaiju Connection
• A thorough discussion of monster movies (Gamera; Rodan; Destroy All Monsters)
• Insight into how kaiju has impacted international films (Ant-Man; Attack of the 50-Foot Woman; Jurassic Park)
• Stunning movie posters and film stills, plus fan-made tributes to some of the kaiju classics (Godzilla; King Kong; Mothra; Pacific Rim)

If you are a kaiju fan or are interested in kaiju’s cultural influence worldwide, this display-worthy volume provides the perfect general introduction to the genre, reference to its film highlights, and celebration of its practitioners, trends, and stories.

Growing Up in Alphabet City: The Unexpected Letterform Art of Michael Doret
by Michael Doret; Edited by Norman Hathaway

In this vivid and humorous monograph-meets-memoir, Los Angeles–based lettering supremo Michael Doret shares his top-secret tricks for making mere words into iconic words-as-images for clients such as Disney, Pixar, Time, Kiss, the Knicks and more.

With more than 700 images, Alphabet City traces Doret’s influences from 1950s Brooklyn to 2000s LA, showcasing his clever logo, signage and poster projects along the way. It also presents and preserves the pre-digital process of custom lettering―from initial pencil sketches to printer mechanicals to final art (plus some spurned client proposals for good measure!).

With original photo tutorials that teach all the classic lettering tricks, a foreword by type aficionado Nick Sherman and a freshly commissioned cover by Doret himself, Alphabet City offers a dose of welcome nostalgia―and endless inspiration―for letterform lovers of any generation.

The SNL Companion: An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live
by Stephen Tropiano and Steven Ginsberg

Television history was made on October 11, 1975, when a new generation of young performers welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy and variety show. Combining cutting-edge humor with a satirical sensibility, Saturday Night Live would go on to become the longest-running series of its kind in television history, shining a light on pop culture as well as contemporary social and political issues.

It also became a launching pad for many of the leading comedy performers of the last five decades, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph, and Kate McKinnon

Celebrating the show’s record-breaking 50 years on the air, The SNL Companion is a fun, fact-filled tribute to a television institution. From the show’s creation by Lorne Michaels through all of the seasons leading up to its golden anniversary, it provides an in-depth look at SNL’s comedic highlights and nadirs, its memorable hosts and musical guests, and its many controversies.

Along with a complete episode guide, it explores the characters, sketches, politics, catchphrases, commercial parodies, and viral shorts that have made it a leader in American comedy for over five decades. Vastly revised, updated, and expanded since its original publication in 2013 and packed with photographs and rich encyclopedic detail, The SNL Companion is a one-stop resource for all things SNL.

Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation
by Jim O’Heir

For seven seasons, Leslie Knope and the Parks and Recreation gang charmed millions of viewers with their quirky antics and unwavering positivity. The sitcom continues to be a fan-favorite for streaming services today, nearly a decade after its finale. Now for the first time, Jim O’Heir, who played the lovable Jerry (or, well, Garry/Larry/Terry/Barry, depending on the episode), invites readers back to Pawnee for an exclusive look behind the scenes.

Joined by his Parks and Rec pals, including Chris Pratt, Retta, Rob Lowe, and showrunners Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, Jim reveals how this “little show that could” came to be, thanks to the tireless dedication and comedic genius of Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, and the rest of the gang. As the show found its footing, the cast quickly bonded into a tight-knit family. Jim shares all his favorite unforgettable memories both on and off camera, from hilarious unscripted moments and epic dance-offs in the hair and makeup trailers, to iconic birthday parties at Rashida Jones’s house and quiet bonfires in Nick Offerman’s backyard.

Welcome to Pawnee is a loving tribute to Parks and Recreation, imbued with the same warmth and humor that endeared the show to millions.

SHEMP!: The Biography of The Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard, The Face of Film Comedy
By Burt Kearns

Shemp Howard not only had one of the most distinctive faces of the twentieth century, but was also one of its most accomplished, influential comic actors and showbiz personalities. Along with his brother Moe and comedy violinist Larry Fine, Shemp was an original member of the comedy team that became known as the Three Stooges before he quit and set off on his own in 1932.

SHEMP! shows how he made an even greater mark in a successful and until now largely unexplored career in more than a hundred movie shorts and features. He appeared in comedies, dramas, mysteries, Westerns, and musicals alongside the biggest stars of the Golden Age, including W.C. Fields, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, William Powell, Lon Chaney, Jr., Myrna Loy, and the team of Abbott & Costello.

Author Burt Kearns challenges the “official” version of Three Stooges history that’s been repeated for decades, shattering myths while uncovering the surprising and often troubling facts behind the man’s unlikely story: how the child of Jewish immigrants, supposedly racked by debilitating phobias, could conquer show business; the behind-the-scenes machinations that pushed him to return to the team; and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

Through interviews with fans, family members, experts, filmmakers, and celebrities, SHEMP! unearths treasures in Shemp’s solo work, examines the “cult of Shemp” that thrives today, and confirms Shemp Howard’s deserved place in cinematic history.

David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One Artist’s Edition
by Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli

An Artist’s Edition featuring the groundbreaking reinterpretation of Batman’s origin by comic book titans Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. The entire groundbreaking story is included in this 14 x 21 inch collection, the same size as most of the pages were drawn.

In 1986, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli produced this groundbreaking reinterpretation of the origin of Batman: who he is and how he came to be. Sometimes careless and naive, this Dark Knight is far from the flawless vigilante he is today.

In his first year on the job, Batman feels his way around a Gotham City far darker than the one he left. His solemn vow to extinguish the town’s criminal element is only half the battle. Along with Lieutenant James Gordon, the Dark Knight must also fight a police force more corrupt than the scum in the streets. Batman: Year One stands next to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns on the mantle of greatest Batman graphic novels of all time.

This edition includes the complete graphic novel and a new introduction by David Mazzucchelli. All of Mazzucchelli’s layouts are presented, giving true insight into a master storytellers process from initial spark to completed page. This is an art book featuring rare and beautiful imagery, a collection for connoisseurs of the form. Chip Kidd, the legendary designer, will be guiding the look of the project.

The volume collects Batman #404–407.

Ghost of an Idea: Hauntology, Folk Horror, and the Spectre of Nostalgia
by William Burns

Is nostalgia revitalizing or killing 21st-century culture? The concept of nostalgia has seeped into almost all aspects of modern-day media, none more so than horror culture and its borderlands of Hauntology, Folk Horror, and found footage film. From film and TV franchises building endlessly on past glories, to musicians whose work now spans decades, modern media borrows heavily from the past.

Ghost of an Idea: Hauntology, Folk Horror, and the Spectre of Nostalgia examines the use and effect of nostalgia in the Horror and Hauntological realms. It asks why these genres hold such a fascination in popular culture, often inspiring devoted fanbases. From Candyman to The Blair Witch Project, and Dark Shadows to American Horror Story, are the folk horror and found footage phenomena significant artistic responses to political, social, and economic conditions, or simply an aesthetic rebranding of what has come before? How has nostalgia become linked to other concepts (psychogeography, residual haunting) to influence Hauntological music such as Boards of Canada, The Rowan Amber Mill, Hawksmoor, or The Caretaker? What can the ‘urban wyrd’ or faux horror footage tell us about our idealized past? And how will these cultures of nostalgia shape the future?

Combining the author’s analysis with first-hand accounts of fans and creators, this book offers a critical analysis of our cultural quest to recognize, resurrect, and lay to rest the ghosts of past and present, also summoning up those spectres that may haunt the future.

Norman Lear: His Life and Times
by Tripp Whetsell

Beginning in the 1970s, writer and producer Norman Lear forever altered the television landscape with such groundbreaking situation comedies as All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time. For over half a century his body of work boldly tackled race, class, sexuality, politics, and religion—topics previously considered too taboo to be the subject of comedy on the small screen.

Norman Lear: His Life and Times is the unforgettable story of an extraordinary seven-decade career. Veteran author and entertainment journalist Tripp Whetsell offers an intimate portrait of Lear that is the product of years of research and numerous interviews. Whetsell shows how Lear created the gold standard for television comedies, producing shows that were the first to give underrepresented members of society an authentic prime-time voice, while encouraging audiences to confront their own humanity and shortcomings. In the process, he explores one of television’s most transformative periods, detailing Lear’s legacy as one of its chief architects and catalysts.

This affectionate and candid tribute combines show-business history with an illuminating consideration of the inner workings of “the man in the white hat”—a figure who singlehandedly redefined an entire medium by reflecting the world around him.

Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts
by Jeremy Egner

When Ted Lasso first aired in 2020, nobody—including those who had worked on it—knew how a show inspired by an ad, centered around soccer, filled mostly with unknown actors, and led by a wondrously mustachioed “nice guy” would be received. Eleven Emmys and one Peabody Award later, it’s safe to say that the show’s status as a pop-culture phenomenon is secure.

In Believe, entertainment journalist and Ted Lasso fan Jeremy Egner traces the show’s creation and legacy through the words of the people at its center. Drawing on dozens of interviews from key cast, creators, and more, Believe takes readers from the first, silly NBC Premier League commercial to the pitch to Apple executives, then into the show’s writers’ room, through the brilliant international casting, and on to the unforgettable set and locations of the show itself.

Brimming with careful reporting and written to match the show’s heart and humor, Believe tells a story of teamwork, of hidden talent, of a group of friends looking around at the world’s increasingly nasty discourse and deciding that maybe simple decency still has the power to bring us together—a story about what happens when you dare to believe.

Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches
by Tim Matheson

For the past seven decades, Tim Matheson has been an on-screen favorite in Hollywood. In his debut memoir, Tim takes fans behind-the-scenes of his illustrious career, and reveals what it was like to learn from and work alongside the greats, including Lucille Ball, Dick Van Dyke, Steven Spielberg, and Aaron Sorkin. Tim also talks about how he transitioned from acting to directing, the role in The West Wing that nabbed him two Emmy nominations–and so much more.

Filled to the brim with both riveting stories of the ever-changing entertainment industry and illuminating insight via “film school boot camp” sidebars, readers everywhere are going to be “damn glad” they read this fascinating memoir.

Conversations with Todd McFarlane
by Jake Zawlacki

Over thirty years after his initial ascent to super stardom, Todd McFarlane (b. 1961) remains one of the most popular and contentious comic artists ever. The interviews compiled in this volume offer a nuanced portrait of McFarlane’s polarizing character. Beginning with his earliest days on Spider-Man to the months before the hotly anticipated release of Spawn and ending with his writing ventures decades later, the interviews offer compelling perspectives from the renowned creator.

As the most vocal representative of Image Comics, McFarlane, alongside Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, and Whilce Portacio, was a veritable rock star. Eager fans swarmed into lengthy lines around comic book stores and conventions, waiting for their chance at a thirty-second autograph. This book offers a glimpse into the comic book world of the early 1990s, a world rampant with variant covers, impossibly exaggerated bodies, and wild speculation about what would be the next comic to explode in value. The volume also includes the momentous public debate between McFarlane and Peter David, former collaborator on The Incredible Hulk, moderated by the late George Pérez at a standing-room-only event at ComicsFest in 1993. While this world sounds almost inconceivable to the comic book fan of today, it was the milieu in which McFarlane rose to stardom and excelled like no other, leaving his mark on the medium forever.

Editorial Design Third Edition: Digital and Print
by Cath Caldwell

Editorial Design presents designers with everything they need to know to create their own layouts, connecting editorial design history with current practice to enlighten and inspire the beginner as well as the more experienced designer.

The third edition has been updated to reflect the latest developments in visual journalism, with over one hundred new images showcasing the very best in contemporary editorial design. New chapters have been added dedicated to independent magazines and the seamless integration of print with digital.

This generously illustrated revised edition includes case studies, practical exercises and tips, along with updated profiles of leading designers in the field, who share their expertise and offer invaluable advice. The book design has been refreshed in a larger format for easy legibility of images, captions and text.

The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey: Rare Drawings, Scripts, and Stories
by Carol Verburg

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was a prodigious and original artist who published more than one hundred beloved works, including The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful Guest, and Amphigorey, and illustrations that appeared regularly in such publications as The New Yorker and The New York Times and books by authors ranging from Charles Dickens and T.S. Eliot to John Updike and Virginia Woolf, among many others. His animated credits for the PBS Mystery! series introduced him to millions of television viewers. In addition to his intricate pen-and-ink drawings and darkly humorous storybooks, Gorey also nurtured a lifelong passion for the performing arts. This volume is the first to showcase his extensive theatrical work, including his transition from designing major productions to crafting original community theater pieces on Cape Cod.

Written by his friend and collaborator Carol Verburg, this deluxe hardcover edition is filled with annotated scripts, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and over 200 images, including archival photos and previously unpublished artwork. It unveils Gorey at work and play, drawing back the curtain on his enigmatic genius, which continues to inspire creatives and collectors today.

Edward Gorey’s art is beloved and instantly recognizable. Storytellers such as Tim Burton and Daniel Handler cite him as an inspiration, and his influence is visible in the works of illustrators ranging from Tom Gauld to Stephanie von Reiswitz. With an oeuvre that ranges widely from storybooks to the stage, Gorey is a major artist of the 20th century.  This is the first book focused on Gorey’s theater work and includes previously unpublished and rarely seen archival photos, illustrations, and scripts—some annotated in Gorey’s own hand. It is an essential read for collectors and fans.

With rich visuals, engaging writing, and an elegant hardcover package featuring a red velvet spine, this is a beautiful volume to display on a coffee table and the perfect gift for Gorey fans and theater buffs.

Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders
By Joshua Foer, Ella Morton, and Dylan Thuras

Inspiring equal parts wonder and wanderlust, Atlas Obscura is a phenomenon of a travel book that shot to the top of bestseller lists when it was first published and changed the way we think about the world, expanding our sense of how strange and marvelous it really is.

This second edition takes readers to even more curious and unusual destinations, with more than 100 new places, dozens and dozens of new photographs, and two very special features: twelve city guides, covering Berlin, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Moscow, New York City, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Plus a foldout map with a dream itinerary for the ultimate around-the-world road trip. More a cabinet of curiosities than traditional guidebook, Atlas Obscura revels in the unexpected, the overlooked, the bizarre, and the mysterious. Here are natural wonders, like the dazzling glowworm caves in New Zealand, or a baobob tree in South Africa so large it has a pub inside where 15 people can sit and drink comfortably. Architectural marvels, including the M. C. Escher–like stepwells in India. Mind-boggling events, like the Baby-Jumping Festival in Spain—and no, it’s not the babies doing the jumping, but masked men dressed as devils who vault over rows of squirming infants.

Every page gets to the very core of why humans want to travel in the first place: to be delighted and disoriented, uprooted from the familiar and amazed by the new. With its compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, surprising charts, maps for every region of the world, and new city guides, it is a book you can open anywhere and be transported. But proceed with caution: It’s almost impossible not to turn to the next entry, and the next, and the next.

Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders
By Cara Giaimo, and Joshua Foer

From the curious minds of Atlas Obscura, authors of #1 New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes an unputdownable celebration of the world’s living wonders.

• Learn how dung beetles navigate by the stars, and trees communicate through their roots.
• Meet one of the strongest animals in the world: the puny peacock mantis shrimp.
• Pay your respects to a 44,000 year old shrub, float along flying rivers, and explore a garbage dump overseen by endangered storks.
• Examine old examples of bird song notation written on sheet music.
• Also, first person interviews: hear from a honey hunter and his avian partners, a scientist working to find the world’s only ocean-dwelling insects, and an offshore radio DJ who is at the heart of the local fishing community.

Featuring over 500 extraordinary plants, animals, and natural phenomena, with illustrations and photos on every page, the book takes readers around the globe—from Antarctic deserts to lush jungles, and into the deepest fathoms of the ocean and the hearts of our densest cities. Teeming with detail and wildly entertaining, Wild Life reinvigorates our sense of wonder, awe and amazement about the incredible creatures we share our planet with.

The Secret Life of Hidden Places: Concealed Rooms, Clandestine Passageways, and the Curious Minds That Made Them
by Stefan Bachmann, and April Genevieve Tucholke

A spellbinding tour, filled with stories and photographs, of some of the world’s most fascinating architectural mysteries.

This wondrous guide for the curious and the intrepid takes readers on a lushly photographed and lyrically written tour of eighteen of the world’s most captivating architectural mysteries. Delve into both the secretive places themselves and the eccentric and obsessive minds that created them. Visit a chamber of skulls high in the Swiss Alps, a Japanese temple full of traps, a Parisian apartment locked and untouched since World War II, a Prohibition-era speakeasy in Washington, DC, and a spooky “initiation” well in Portugal built by a secret society. How far down can you climb before losing your nerve?

The Old Jewish Men’s Guide to Eating, Sleeping, and Futzing Around
by Noah Rinsky

From the viral social media account @oldjewishmen comes a hilarious and irresistible guide and perfect gift for every OJM and the people who put up with him

Here is a humorous, surprisingly stylish, and crotchety celebration of a most fascinating group of fellas: Old Jewish Men. In this essential guide, readers learn how to eat, dress, get around town, and schmooze like a seasoned OJM. Ever wonder why Old Jewish Men eat so much cottage cheese and melon? If Larry David and Bernie Sanders have the same barber?

Who is the next great up-and-coming OJM? (NOTE: You don’t need to be old, Jewish, or a man—it’s a lifestyle.) Plus, there’s helpful jargon, detailed deli and coffee shop rundowns, and the ten OJM archetypes, from New York Schlubs to Tough Guys to Grumpy Intellectuals.

A perfect gift for any Jewish dad/granddad/uncle/brother or anybody who likes a healthy shmear of classic Jewish humor, the book is full of hilarious full-color illustrations and chapters including: How to Exist in This Fakakta World; The Art of the Schmooze; How to Live Forever; and King of the Temple.

The De Palma Decade: Redefining Cinema with Doubles, Voyeurs, and Psychic Teens
by Laurent Bouzereau

Journey with award-winning filmmaker and author Laurent Bouzereau through acclaimed director Brian De Palma’s renowned—and controversial—horror and thriller films that redefined cinema in the 1970s and early 80s with interviews conducted over three decades and fresh takes.

Among a crop of fresh filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola revolutionizing Hollywood in the ’70s, Brian De Palma—a director from Philadelphia with a few social satires under his belt—charted a cinematic path unlike any of his peers. At times he was unfairly dismissed as a Hitchcock copycat; other times he was misunderstood for his peculiar mix of sexuality, humor, and violence. But, over the course of ten years, he created a new cinematic language, melding his signature themes with specific filmmaking techniques that are now synonymous with his name.

Acclaimed filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau explores the seven films that came to define the De Palma decade: Sisters, Phantom of the Paradise, Obsession, Carrie, The Fury, Dressed to Kill, and Blow Out.

Combining film analysis, detailed production histories, and interviews with De Palma himself, his casts, and collaborators, Bouzereau presents the definitive record on this unrivaled period of cinematic creativity and the emergence of an auteur who would continue to influence filmmaking in the decades that followed.

Alfred Hitchcock All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short
by Bernard Benoliel, Gilles Esposito, Murielle Joudet, Jean-François Rauger

Organized chronologically and covering every short film, television episode, and classic film that the “Master of Suspense” directed over the course of his illustrious, 60-year career, Alfred Hitchcock All the Films draws upon years of research to tell the behind the scenes stories of how each project was conceived, cast, and produced, down to the creation of the costumes, the search for perfect locations, and of course, the direction of some of cinema’s most memorable scenes.

Spanning more than six decades, and including stories of work with longtime collaborators like costume designer Edith Head, title designer Saul Bass, and composer Bernard Herrmann, this book details the creative processes that resulted in numerous classic films like Vertigo, The Birds, Psycho, Rear Window, North By Northwest, and To Catch a Thief (to name a few).

The director’s classic TV series are also covered extensively along with original release dates, lesser-known short films, box office totals, surreptitious casting details, and other insider scoops that will keep fans and students alike turning pages. Featuring hundreds of vivid photographs that celebrate one of cinema’s most iconic artists, Alfred Hitchcock All the Films is a visual feast that’s perfect for the movie fan in your life.

Set Sail with McHale
by Denny Reese and Steven Thompson

Before the long-running television success of M*A*S*H, home audiences found delight and diversion in such military situation comedies as You’ll Never Get Rich (The Phil Silver Show), Hogan’s Heroes, Gomer Pyle USMC, and even the U.S. Cavalry-inspired F Troop.

One of the most fondly remembered among these early service comedies is McHale’s Navy.

For four season from 1962-1966, viewers were treated to the shenanigans of the misfit crew of PT-73 as they found various ways to enjoy and amuse themselves in the Pacific theater of WW2.

The ensemble cast was led by Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, who as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale tried to maintain control but often participated in the exploits of his zany crew, much to the consternation of long-suffering Captain Wallace B. Binghamton, played by the ever-flustered Joe Flynn. Along for the ride is the by-the-book but fumbling Ensign Charles Parker, played by comedy legend Tim Conway, and incomparable ensemble acting by a supporting cast of talented professionals.

Authors Denny Reese and Steven Thompson have crafted an affectionate and entertaining look back at a television favorite, presenting an all-four season episode breakdown and providing additional insight and trivia through their exhaustive research. Among the treasures to be discovered within these pages is how tough guy movie actor Ernest Borgnine originally turned down the offer to appear in the pilot episode and what prompted him to eventually change his mind.

A fun and nostalgic return to sea awaits as you prepare to Set Sail with McHale.

More Movie Memories: More Star Wars Memories, Marketing Genre Movies in the ’80s, Writing Animation, and More
by Craig Miller

Craig Miller’s first book, Star Wars Memories, told stories about the years he spent as the original Director of Fan Relations at Lucasfilm, working on Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back and his interactions with George Lucas, Gary Kurtz, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and the rest of the people behind those films. Now, with this new book, he tells more stories from his time in the (Death Star) trenches with those films as well as the rest of his nearly 50 year career in Hollywood.

More Movie Memories is about one-third more tales from his time with Lucasfilm (including how and why he had a character’s name changed, the line of dialogue he came up with, and who was Star Wars’ Secret Weapon), another third about the films he worked on after leaving Lucasfilm (like Superman II, Altered States, The Thing, The Dark Crystal, The Last Starfighter, Return to Oz, Krull, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Splash, and more), and another third on his “second career” as a television writer, (on animated shows like The Real Ghostbusters, The Smurfs, Curious George, G.I. Joe, Transformers: Beast Wars, as well as shows for China, France, Italy, and Dubai as well as live-action series like Murder, She Wrote and The Hunger). As Gary Kurtz, the producer of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, said about Star Wars Memories, “This isn’t another ‘making of’ book with the same stories and information that have appeared in other books and countless magazine articles. It’s a book of stories you haven’t heard before; an insider’s look from someone who, himself, is a fan and found the whole experience joyful and exciting. These stories are told in a way that brings you in and makes you feel like you were there.”

Trilogy: Three True Stories of Scoundrels and Schemers
by Peggy Adler

In 1991, Peggy Adler, author of Trilogy: Three True Stories of Scoundrels and Schemers, was retained by self-proclaimed CIA agent, arms dealer and money launderer, Richard Brenneke, to co-author his autobiography. She soon discovered evidence in his files contradicting claims regarding his presence at October Surprise conspiracy meetings and went on to out Brenneke as a con artist in a February 1992 article in the “Village Voice”.

Adler then researched a series of additional articles for the “Voice”, which went on to prove that the so-called “October Surprise” was a hoax.

In mid-1992, upon learning that the United States House of Representatives had created a Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in1980, which would be investigating whether or not there actually had been an “October Surprise”, she turned over to them the seventy cartons of documents she’d hauled east from Brenneke’s home in Portland, Oregon, in order to write his memoirs.

Subsequently, she worked as a consultant to the Task Force and assisted in drafting and editing the Brenneke section of their final report.

Chapter one of this book recounts the Brenneke story, from 1973 forward, including her own odyssey with this scoundrel.

Chapter two reveals how Oliver North and Richard Secord’s Iran-Contra pal, Albert Hakim, was well aware that it was possible to get money out of a Swiss bank account without ever being a signatory – for he’d facilitated just that, years before.

And Chapter three traces Roger Ailes relationship to the Willie Horton commercial that helped sink George Dukakis’ hope for the presidency.

Get Out: The Complete Annotated Screenplay
by Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele’s powerful thriller Get Out debuted in 2017 to enormous public and critical acclaim, a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? for the age of Obama and Trump that scared audiences and skewered white liberal pieties at the same time. Rather than rely on popular archetypes, Peele weaves together the material realities and daily manifestations of horror with sociopolitical fears and elements of true suspense, and combines them with pitch-perfect satire and a timely cultural critique. This companion paperback to the film presents Peele’s Oscar-winning screenplay alongside supplementary material.

Featuring an essay by author and scholar Tananarive Due and in-depth annotations by the director, this publication is richly illustrated with more than 150 stills from the motion picture and presents alternate endings, deleted scenes and an inside look at the concepts and behind-the-scenes production of the film. Continuing in the legacy of 1960s paperbacks that documented the era’s most significant avant-garde films―such as Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, Jean-Luc Godard’s Masculin/Feminin and Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura―Get Out is an indispensable guide to this pioneering and groundbreaking cinematic work.

Jordan Peele (born 1979) is an American writer, director and producer. Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out (2017), earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. In 2012, Peele founded Monkeypaw Productions, which amplifies traditionally underrepresented voices and unpacks contemporary social issues, while cultivating artistic, thought-provoking projects across film, television and digital platforms, including Peele’s follow-up to Get Out, the critically acclaimed horror epic, Us (2019).

Godzilla: The Official Pop-Up Book
by Matthew Reinhart, Chip Carter, Yuko Shimizu

Unleash the immense power of Godzilla with this pop-up masterpiece by world-renowned paper engineer Matthew Reinhart featuring vintage artwork reinvented for a modern audience. This one-of-a-kind collectible explores the rich history of Godzilla lore in a visual feast worthy of the King of Monsters.

Behold the stunningly stylized renderings of Godzilla and the many monsters from Monster Island in this one-of-a kind collectible. Delve into the lore of the monster with fascinating information and insightful analysis written by an expert in Godzilla’s history, while coming face-to-face with the creature in stunning 3-D. Featuring expanding flaps, pull-tab attacks, and one of the tallest pop-ups to ever rise from the depths of a book, this title is a true celebration of the King of Monsters.

Celebrate over 70 years of rich history with the monster that launched a momentous film franchise.  Matthew Reinhart’s intricate paper engineering mixed with the lush illustrations of Yuko Shimizu brings the classic look of the monster to life in a stunning art piece to enjoy and display.Unleash the mighty Godzilla with a standout pop-up that rises over a foot tall off the pages.  The book includes over 15 removable documents detailing the history of the creature and its friends and foes and fascinating facts and tantalizing trivia bring the pages to life with an in-depth analysis of Godzilla lore.

Us: The Complete Annotated Screenplay
by Jordan Peele

A masterpiece of identity horror and a dark reflection on America’s past and present, Us presents chilly atmospherics, psychological torment and old-world suspense-building plot twists. Whereas Get Out was considered more a mixture of drama and suspense, Peele leaned fully into the horror genre with his sophomore film, using urban legends such as doppelgangers to tease out the uniquely American perceptions of xenophobia and “othering.” Critic Monica Castillo wrote of the film: “Us is another thrilling exploration of the past and oppression this country is still too afraid to bring up. Peele wants us to talk, and he’s given audiences the material to think, to feel our way through some of the darker sides of the human condition.”

Published in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of the critically acclaimed film’s release, this companion paperback features Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele’s screenplay, alternate endings and deleted scenes, and is richly illustrated with over 150 stills from the motion picture. Specially commissioned annotations by hannah baer, Theaster Gates, Jamieson Webster, Jared Sexton, Mary Ping, Shana Redmond and Leila Taylor present a cosmology of images, definitions and inspirations that extend the themes of the film. Continuing in the legacy of 1960s paperbacks that documented the era’s most significant avant-garde films, Us is an indispensable guide to a deeper understanding of this important film.

Marvel Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Marvel Comics Universe
by Tim Leong

How many stomach-soothing tablets would Galactus need if he ate the Earth? Clobber versus smash: Who won each fight between the Thing and the Hulk? How worthy is each individual who has hefted Thor’s hammer? Which Marvel heroes play musical instruments? What’s on the Kingpin’s mind?

Author and designer Tim Leong has creatively visualized dozens of deep dive data points and witty “I wonder” subjects ranging from character speed rankings to the length Mister Fantastic can stretch before it hurts to the overlapping stories of the Spider-Verse. Through playful and informative pie charts, bar graphs, Venn diagrams, scatter plots, timelines, story arc guides, and more, Marvel Super Graphic shines a fun and fascinating new light on beloved comics, characters, and Marvel history.

Page after page reveals wide-ranging and fascinating topics such as:

• A map of Marvel’s fictional countries and kingdoms
• What color is your Hulk? (Green, grey, red, blue, purple . . .)
• Avengers Assemble: A guide to teams and members
• Marvel’s magical book club of mystic tomes
• Classic catchphrases, classified
• Visualizations of key story arcs including The House of M, Daredevil: Born Again, Secret Wars, Days of Future Past, and more
• Who is Norman Osborn now? (Tracking more than 40 years of changing Spider-villainy)

Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian American Pop Culture
Edited by Eric Nakamura

Los Angeles, 1994. Two Asian-American punk rockers staple together the zine of their dreams featuring Sumo, Hong Kong Cinema and Osamu Tezuka. From the very margins of the DIY press and alternative culture, Giant Robot burst into the mainstream with over 60,000 copies in circulation annually at its peak. Giant Robot even popped right off the page, setting up a restaurant, gallery, and storefronts in LA, as well as galleries and stores in New York and San Francisco. As their influence grew in the 90s and 00s, Giant Robot was eventually invited to the White House by Barack Obama, to speak at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and to curate the GR Biennale at the Japanese American National Museum.

Home to a host of unapologetically authentic perspectives bridging the bicultural gap between Asian and Asian-American pop culture, GR had the audacity to print such topics side-by-side, and become a touchstone for generations of artists, musicians, creators, and collectors of all kinds in a pre-social media era. Nowhere else were pieces on civil rights activists running next to articles on skateboarding and Sriracha. Toy collectors, cartoonists, and street style pioneers got as many column inches as Michelle Yeoh, Karen O, James Jean, and Haruki Murakami.

Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture features the best of the magazine’s sixty-eight issue run alongside never-before-seen photographs, supplementary writing by long-term contributing journalist Claudine Ko, and tributes from now-famous fans who’ve been around since day one. Margaret Cho, Daniel Wu, and Randall Park celebrate Giant Robot’s enduring legacy alongside pioneering pro-skateboarder Peggy Oki, contemporary art giant Takashi Murakami, culinary darling Natasha Pickowicz, and critically acclaimed essayist Jia Tolentino.

Eerie Legends: An Illustrated Exploration of Creepy Creatures, the Paranormal, and Folklore from around the World
by Ricardo Diseño with Steve Mockus

A fascinating and frightening collection of folk tale monsters, ghosts, and other scary things that dwell in the dark.

Our world is a strange place. This hauntingly illustrated book peers into the dark spaces that lie somewhere between belief and imagination, and into the weird stories we tell to make sense of where and who we are. Here are tales of vengeful ghosts, bloodthirsty monsters, internet-conjured nightmares, lost souls, cryptid curiosities, demons, aliens, the undead, and the inexplicable, including:

The Enfield Poltergeist, Jersey Devil, Mothman, Krampus, El Silbón, Betty and Barney Hill Abduction, Headless Horseman, Skunk Ape, Onryō,  Loab, Isla de las Muñecas, Slender Man, La Llorona, Loch Ness Monster, and many more…

Acclaimed artist Ricardo Diseño brings a lifelong fascination with eerie folklore to electrify the artwork depicting each spooky subject, accompanied by evocative descriptions and history and a flash-fiction story in which readers encounter the dark presences themselves.

Stalking these pages are Brazilian sleep paralysis ghouls, Japanese spider-women, a shape-shifting Slavic forest guardian, and creepy North American cryptids. Pay a visit to Madagascar’s human-eating tree, the Mexican island of haunted dolls, a ghost-cursed California mansion, and the spooky darkness of the tombs beneath the streets of Paris.

Including the first reported alien abduction (and the folklore root of the alien “greys”) as well as the first phantom believed to be conjured by AI, this collection brings horror, occult, and classic campfire story vibes in equal measure. Entries end with a shock-fiction encounter with the monster itself or a tale told from its perspective.

Ricardo Diseño’s signature style brings each of the more than 30 entries to frightening life with a knockout full-page image, hand-illustrated border design elements, and a vivid spot illustration.

The cover art glows in the dark.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive
by Kelly Knox, Clayton Sandell, S.T. Bende

Celebrate Return of the Jedi with this deluxe volume that presents incredible photography and concept art, complemented by anecdotes about the film’s production. Drawing connections from the film to contemporary Star Wars storytelling, this book also offers a fresh perspective on its indelible influence. Featuring a wealth of inserts such as booklets and foldout pages, this book is a fascinating tribute to the epic conclusion of the original Star Wars trilogy.

Return of the Jedi didn’t just conclude the original Star Wars trilogy—its themes, structure, and emotional core paved the way for some of the most compelling elements of modern Star Wars storytelling. Filled with photography and concept art, this book celebrates all things Return of the Jedi, while also examining its ties to modern Star Wars stories such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, The Clone Wars, and beyond. Covering essential aspects of Return of the Jedi, this book further examines the film’s legacy by showcasing the movie’s merchandise, novels, comics, and spinoffs.

This deluxe coffee table book presents the story of Return of the Jedi in a fun and exciting format, with plenty of facts about the production of the film. From the enduring eccentricities of Jabba the Hutt’s palace, to the climactic showdown between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, this book explores fan-favorite moments from the beloved movie.

Gatefolds, booklets, and other interactive features add a new level of insight to this celebration of the iconic film. Going beyond the production of Return of the Jedi, this book explores forty years of merchandise, books, comics, and spinoffs, including Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and the animated Ewoks television show.

Return of the Jedi has timeless appeal among movie-goers and aficionados, making this book the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan in your life.

DC Cinematic Universe: A Celebration of DC at the Movies
by Nick Jones, Stephen Wiacek

For the first time ever, immerse yourself in the action-packed thrills of DC at the movies in one spectacular book.

From the trailblazing 1940s movie serials that first put Batman and Superman on the silver screen to the Caped Crusader’s swinging 1960s escapades and the iconic 1970s Superman, to the state-of-the-art 21st century reinventions of the Dark Knight, the Man of Steel, and Wonder Woman, this book provides an indispensable guided tour of DC cinema history.

See how DC’s characters, locations, costumes, and weapons have been adapted from page to screen and evolved over the decades. Witness some of the world’s finest actors, such as Academy-Award winners Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Christian Bale, Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Viola Davis, and others transform into the Superheroes, Super-Villains, and supporting cast for their times.

Go behind the scenes and discover little known facts while poring over stunning movie stills, character and set designs, and storyboards. All this, alongside engaging text that provides insights into DC’s rich cinematic legacy, makes this the book that every DC film fan has been waiting for!

Star Wars Bestiary, Vol. 1: Creatures of the Galaxy
Written by S.T. Bende and Illustrated by Iris Compiet

Explore the creatures of Star Wars in the first of two books, this one featuring beautiful illustrations of the wondrous non-sentient species from a galaxy far, far away.

From Naboo to Hoth, Tatooine to Kashyyyk, and beyond, Star Wars is packed with otherworldly species and monstrous creatures. Dive into the lives, habitats, and behaviors of the non-sentient inhabitants from across the galaxy through original, detailed illustrations and insightful text, to include wampas, banthas, porgs, the fearsome Mythosaur, and so much more. This is a must-have comprehensive compendium for any Star Wars fan who wants a closer look at the fascinating lifeforms from the beloved franchise.

Experience Star Wars in a new way through stunning, original artwork from acclaimed artist Iris Compiet (The Dark Crystal Bestiary: The Definitive Guide to the Creatures of Thra, and Labyrinth: Bestiary – A Definitive Guide to the Creatures of the Goblin King’s Realm), featuring your favorite creatures and their habitats.

This book includes an in-depth look at the myriad species from the Star Wars galaxy and their habitats, covering creatures from the films, shows, comics, novels, and more.

The Sopranos: The Complete Visual History
by Ray Richmond

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Sopranos with this definitive and intimate portrait of one of the most groundbreaking television shows ever made.

The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Now, in honor of its 25th anniversary, this expansive volume explores the seminal series and the stories behind the stories through a plethora of photographs, archival materials, and exclusive one-on-one interviews with show creator, David Chase, key crewmembers, and cast, including Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Steven Schirripa, and many more.

Follow along as The Sopranos: The Complete Visual History takes you on a rich photographic journey through the trials and tribulations of T.V.’s most celebrated antihero, Tony Soprano, while he attempts to balance the responsibilities of domestic life and life in the “family”—all while suffering through panic attacks, a toxic mother, and a power-hungry uncle who would rather see him dead than Boss.

Featuring an examination of the show’s influence on pop culture, a foreword by Rolling Stone’s chief television critic, Alan Sepinwall, and a touching tribute to the late James Gandolfini, The Sopranos: The Complete Visual History, is the ultimate companion to a television classic and required reading for serious fans of the show.

Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
By Dan Brooks,Megan Crouse, Amy Ratcliffe, Kelly Knox, Dan Zehr, Et al

Containing more than 2,200 entries from the most current Star Wars film and TV series, discover the vital facts about iconic characters, creatures, locations, vehicles, and technology from a galaxy far, far away….

• This in-depth title reveals comprehensive histories of 1,200 characters, from icons like Lando Calrissian and Leia Organa to lesser-known individuals like Max Rebo and Therm Scissorpunch.
• From terrifying rancors to adorable porgs, learn about more than 100 fascinating creatures.
• Chart your way through the galaxy with more than 275 entries on locations, including Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar and the mystical world between worlds.
• Pick your method of transport from more than 275 vehicles, from the legendary Millennium Falcon to the stylish Naboo N-1 starfighter.
• Get up to speed with the latest technology, including the Mandalorian’s beskar armor, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, and more than 275 other pieces of equipment.

Produced in close collaboration with Lucasfilm, this official title is the most comprehensive reference book of the Star Wars galaxy on the market. Meticulously researched, expertly written, and stunningly illustrated, the Star Wars Encyclopedia is an indispensable guide to that devoted fans and newcomers alike will return to time and again.

Marvel Studios 100 Objects: Iconic Artifacts from the MCU
by Tracey Miller-Zarneke

Delve into one hundred key artifacts that encapsulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe in all its multifaceted magnificence.

Explore Marvel Studios’ prop archives and discover the compelling stories of iconic items such as Iron Man’s Mark I Armor, Ant-Man’s cybernetic helmet, and Captain America’s vibranium shield – as well as lesser-known but highly intriguing objects from the MCU.

Explore the Marvel Cinematic Universe through its iconic props and objects:

• Official full-color photography and images for each object, with an accompanying essay that profiles its significance.
• Go behind the scenes of your favorite MCU films and uncover the significance of Doctor Strange’s Cloak of Levitation, Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, and much more.
• Perfect for MCU and Marvel Comics fans aged 12 and up.

Marvel Studios 100 Objects takes fans deeper into the exciting Marvel Cinematic Universe, with full-color images that illustrate every entry in striking detail. With in-world insights into crucial events and characters’ lives accompanying each entry, this book will captivate MCU fans old and new.

Jim Henson’s Imagination Illustrated
By Karen Falk, Lisa Henson

Journey into the creative mind of the incomparable Jim Henson with this intriguing look in his daily life through the doodles and inspirations that would become some of the most beloved characters the world has ever known.

The iconic characters and magical worlds that sprung from Jim Henson’s imagination have delighted millions of fans around the globe. His immense talents introduced audiences to the Muppets, the Fraggles, and the worlds of The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and more. This new edition of Imagination Illustrated takes the journal that Henson faithfully kept throughout much of his career and brings it to life with a trove of visual material, including rare sketches, personal and production photographs, storyboards, doodles, and more.

• Relive Henson’s life with personal entries from his “red book,” bringing memorable moments together with the major milestones in his career.
• Follow along in Jim Henson’s daily life as he meets the many talented creative partners who helped him build fantastical worlds like Jerry Juhl, Frank Oz, Brian Froud and more.
• Including journal excerpts written in Jim Henson’s own handwriting, this unique collectible brings a little bit of the creator’s world into the lives of the many fans who admire his creative genius.

Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek
by Nana Visitor

Nana Visitor, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Kira Nerys, explores how the series has portrayed and influenced women. Interviews—with the stars, writers, producers, and audience members from all walks of life, including a politician and an astronaut—highlight the struggles and triumphs of women both behind and in front of the camera throughout the sixty-year history of Star Trek, and how they have mirrored the experiences of women everywhere.

The groundbreaking casting of Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura in 1966 was a paradigm shift for women and people of color. Pioneering is no picnic, and she planned to leave the show until none other than the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. contextualized her appearance in people’s living rooms across America as a way for people of color to know they were indeed an important part of the future.

Since then, each Star Trek show has both reflected the values of its time and imagined a future of equality. In her first book, Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek, Nana Visitor sets out to discover both how Star Trek led the way for women, and how each show was trapped in its own era.

For Visitor, this is more than a book about Star Trek. It’s also about how society and the stories we tell have evolved in the last sixty years, and how the role of women has changed in that time. This is both Visitor’s story and her journey through the stories of other women involved with Star Trek from the 1960s to the 21st cent

Features interviews with more than a dozen women who starred in Star Trek, including Kate Mulgrew, Sonequa Martin-Green, Terry Farrell, Gates McFadden, Denise Crosby, Tawny Newsome, and Jess Bush.

Explore how Star Trek has influenced women in the real world, including soldiers, scientists, and even astronauts. For the book, author Nana Visitor visited ESA HQ and interviewed astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti while she was in orbit around Earth on the International Space Station.

Following the humanistic tenets of creator Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek, throughout the decades, led the way in promoting diversity. Youths who grew up with Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, for example, not only learned to accept a woman as a leader but were also able to expand what they could imagine for themselves. The book makes clear how important storytelling is, and how the storytelling of Star Trek has had a profound effect on its audience.

Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon Season 2: Inside the Dawn of the Targaryen Civil War
by Gina McIntyre

Following the huge international success of House of the Dragon season one, HBO’s acclaimed series returns for a second season. Author Gina McIntyre, who wrote Insight’s best-selling book on season one, Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon: Inside the Creation of a Targaryen Dynasty, has returned to the set at Leavesden Studios near London to chronicle the making of season two, receiving unprecedented access to the production. Season two promises even more intrigue and action, with remarkable performances and unforgettable set pieces, all explored in-depth within this must-have volume that makes the perfect companion to McIntyre’s original book. Filled with concept art, on-set photography, and other dazzling visuals, this will be the ultimate exploration of a highly anticipated TV event.

Go behind the scenes of season two of House of the Dragon and discover exclusive insights and secrets from the show’s set.  Featuring in-depth interviews with showrunner Ryan Condal and the incredible cast and crew.

The only officially licensed making-of book for season two of HBO‘s House of the Dragon, explore a treasure trove of never-before-seen images, including concept designs for the show’s dragons, locations, and costumes, plus candid on-set photos.

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen
By Jeff Bond

This lavish coffee table hardback book is the first and only book of its kind to take a visual journey through the mind and career of legendary producer Irwin Allen, the “Master of Disaster”—the man behind some of the most popular television programs of the 1960s and the visionary who invented the special effects movie blockbuster format with his 1970s hits The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. It traces Allen from his early days as a Hollywood agent and radio personality to his lengthy stint at 20th Century Fox, where he produced movies such as The Lost World and Five Weeks in a Balloon and the popular television shows Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel and Land of the Giants.

Allen employed the studio’s sprawling lot and soundstages, its library of movie footage, costumes and props, and its veteran special effects craftsmen to bring vivid color and movie-quality action, miniature effects and visuals to television viewers accustomed to low-budget, black and white programming. Allen’s flare for action and visual punch gave audiences some of the 1960s most popular and iconic figures: Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; the Lost in Space Robot and Jonathan Harris’ nefarious Dr. Zachary Smith; Will Robinson and the Robinson family of space travelers; the pop art kaleidoscope of The Time Tunnel; the Jupiter 2, the Seaview, the Flying Sub, the Spindrift.

Before George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Irwin Allen broke box office records with two of the biggest movie blockbusters of all time: The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. Wooed to Warner Bros. at the height of his power with the offer of a building named in his honor and one of the most generous studio contracts ever given a producer, Allen faced his biggest challenge: topping himself with The Swarm, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, When Time Ran Out, and a series of ambitious projects for television.

Illustrated with more than 2000 images including concept and production artwork, storyboards, blueprints, design sketches, miniatures and behind-the-scenes photographs, many of them never before published, this is the ultimate guide to Allen’s famous productions, from his documentaries The Sea Around Us and The Animal World to his spectacular TV-movie City Beneath the Sea, plus fascinating unproduced projects, all explored in detail for the first time.

Godzilla: The Encyclopedia
By Shinji Nishikawa

This illustrated book features the many versions of Godzilla and its monstrous foes, from the original 1954 movie to Shin Godzilla in 2016, and even the 2021 animation. With in-depth explanations accompanied by illustrations from renowned manga artist and monster designer Shinji Nishikawa, this 216-page book explores the powers and anatomy of over 100 kaiju, including Mechagodzilla, Shin Godzilla and Mothra!

Nishikawa worked on the monster designs for many Godzilla movies from 1989 to 2004, and here he unravels the live-action special effects and theatrical CG animations of the Godzilla franchise in this essential enyclopedia. This comprehensive guide covers the Godzilla Showa Era (1954-1975), Godzilla Heisei Era (1984-1995), Godzilla Millennium (1999-2004), Shin Godzilla (2016), Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Toho’s animated Trilogy (2017-2018), and Godzilla: Singular Point animated series (2021).

The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982
by Chris Nashawaty

In the summer of 1982, eight science fiction films were released within six weeks of one another. E.T., Tron, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, Conan the Barbarian, Blade Runner, Poltergeist, The Thing, and Mad Max: The Road Warrior changed the careers of some of Hollywood’s now biggest names―altering the art of movie-making to this day.

In The Future Was Now, Chris Nashawaty recounts the riotous genesis of these films, featuring an all-star cast of Hollywood luminaries and gadflies alike: Steven Spielberg, at the height of his powers, conceives E.T. as an unlikely family tale, and quietly takes over the troubled production of Poltergeist, a horror film he had been nurturing for years. Ridley Scott, fresh off the success of Alien, tries his hand at an odd Philip K. Dick story that becomes Blade Runner―a box office failure turned cult classic.

Similar stories arise for films like Tron, Conan the Barbarian, and The Thing. Taken as a whole, these films show a precarious turning-point in Hollywood history, when baffled film executives finally began to understand the potential of high-concept films with a rabid fanbase, merchandising potential, and endless possible sequels.

Expertly researched, energetically told, and written with an unabashed love for the cinema, The Future Was Now is a chronicle of how the revolution sparked in a galaxy far, far away finally took root and changed Hollywood forever.

Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide
by Cecily Wong, Dylan Thuras

Created by the ever-curious minds behind Atlas Obscura, this breathtaking guide transforms our sense of what people around the world eat and drink. Covering all seven continents, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders.

Ready for a beer made from fog in Chile? Sardinia’s “Threads of God” pasta? Egypt’s 2000-year-old egg ovens? But far more than a menu of curious minds delicacies and unexpected dishes, Gastro Obscura reveals food’s central place in our lives as well as our bellies, touching on history–trace the network of ancient Roman fish sauce factories. Culture–picture four million women gathering to make rice pudding. Travel–scale China’s sacred Mount Hua to reach a tea house. Festivals–feed wild macaques pyramid of fruit at Thailand’s Monkey Buffet Festival. And hidden gems that might be right around the corner, like the vending machine in Texas dispensing full sized pecan pies.

Dig in and feed your sense of wonder.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: The Art of the Movie
by Marie Javins

Packed with exclusive content, this fully illustrated tome sheds light on how Captain America: The Winter Soldier was created, including concept art, drawings, movie stills, and storyboards. Follow the film’s complete artistic evolution, from a fine selection of concept designs for characters and costumes, to behind-the-scenes processes and progressions from comic to movie.

Here is everything you need to know about the making of the movie from all the key players—including co-directors Joe and Anthony Russo, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, along with all the talented special-effects gurus, concept illustrators, visual-effects designers, and storyboard artists who worked on the set and behind the scenes to create the art of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Marvel Encyclopedia New Updated and Revised 2024 Edition
by Alan Cowsil, Melanie Scott, James Hill

The official and definitive guide to the characters of the dynamic, ever-expanding Marvel Universe – now updated with more than 1,200 iconic Super Heroes and villains.

Filled with superb artwork and illustrated characters from the original Marvel Comics, this is the one book every fan has to own – and the only book that covers the full scope of the vibrant Marvel Comics universe.

The most comprehensive Marvel Encyclopedia ever created:

• Contains major new characters as well as updated entries for old favorites, alongside features for the latest Marvel Universe crossover events – including Judgment Day, Empyre, and War of the Realms.
• Hundreds of fresh new character artworks from Marvel’s own talented pool of artists, including an original cover artwork designed by renowned comic artist Marco Checchetto.
• Perfect for Marvel Comics fans who want the definitive reference guide to their favorite franchise.
• Compiled by a team of comic book experts in close collaboration with Marvel Comics, this fully updated and expanded edition features revisited entries detailing the adventures since the best-selling previous edition (2019).
• Major figures like Captain America and the Avengers have multi-spread sections, while even minor character entries contain details about their key attributes, allies, foes, and storylines. This is the most complete guide to the Marvel Universe ever created.

Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding
by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry. Foreword by Kevin Feige

Marvel Studios’ Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding has been a key creative force in designing the look of the beloved Super Heroes and villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the early stages of Iron Man (2008). Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding showcases the artist’s singular and iconic vision, from his work-in-progress sketches to his finished illustrations.

Included are:

• Character designs for Iron Man
• Keyframe and concept designs for Thor
• Concept designs for Captain America’s many suits
• Character designs for Marvel’s The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron\
• Illustrations for Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• And so much more…

This lavish book includes more than 500 illustrations and provides unprecedented insight into Meinerding’s creative process and his view on the essential collaborations behind contemporary concept and character design.

Lost: Back to the Island: The Complete Critical Companion to The Classic TV Series
by Emily St. James and Noel Murray

A comprehensive critical companion to the blockbuster TV show Lost, revisiting its core themes, lore, and impact on culture

For fans of one of the most successful and highly discussed shows in recent memory, Lost: Back to the Island is both a delightful time capsule and a rousing work of entertainment criticism.

Before it premiered in the fall of 2004, Lost looked doomed to be an expensive, disastrous plane crash of a TV show. Instead, Lost was a massive hit, debuting with the biggest audience for a new drama on ABC in over a decade, reaching heights of over 23 million viewers at its peak, and holding on to a hefty fan-base for its entire six-season run.

The elements that made the series seem like a boondoggle proved, instead, to be a big part of its appeal. Audiences loved the exotic island setting, became invested in the morally compromised characters, and feverishly tried to unravel the show’s many mysteries.

In Lost: Back to the Island, TV critics and veteran Lost recappers Emily St. James and Noel Murray revisit what made the show such a success and an object of enduring cultural obsession, twenty years later.

Through essays, episode summaries, and cultural analysis, they take us back to the island and examine Lost’s lasting impact—and its complicated, sometimes controversial legacy—with a clear-eyed and lively investigation.

Umbrella Academy: The Commission Handbook
by Matt Epstein

From the world of Netflix’s Umbrella Academy comes The Commission Handbook, an officially licensed, in-universe guide to protecting the space time continuum.

Umbrella Academy: The Commission Handbook gives fans of Netflix’s hit show—based on the Eisner Award–winning Dark Horse comic book series and produced by USG—a chance to step into the shoes of a Commission agent. This secret organization is well known to the show’s fan-favorite character Number Five, a former Commission agent/assassin who regularly references this guide for the skills necessary to ensure the continuity of Earth’s timeline.

Designed to look and feel like an in-universe object, readers will learn about the hazards of time travel, including the symptoms of paradox psychosis; gain insight into the roles of analyst, special operations, and infinite switchboard operator; and read in-depth dossiers on the members of the Umbrella and Sparrow Academies.

Young Blood (An Umbrella Academy YA Novel)
by Alyssa Sheinmel

The official prequel novel to the hit Umbrella Academy series on Netflix, starring a teenaged Umbrella Academy in an original, darkly comic adventure written by New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel.

The Umbrella Academy has always been extraordinary—ready to leap to superpowered action at a moment’s notice. But now that Five has disappeared and their fame has crested, sometimes the only thing Luther, Diego, Allison, Klaus, Ben, and Viktor want is to be normal. . . which is much easier said than done, when you’re raised by someone like Hargreeves.

For their exacting and tyrannical father figure, nothing is ever enough; which is why, during a dinnertime debriefing on their latest mission, Ben snaps, prompting Klaus to suggest that they all need a change of scenery—just one night of partying like a bunch of average teens. In fact, Klaus knows just the place; there’s a frat house in a neighboring college town that throws weekend blowouts. What could go wrong?

They soon realize sneaking out of Hargreeves’s house—er, fortress—is the least of their concerns. When the six teens pledge not to use their powers under any circumstances, they fail to factor in the sheer force of teen drama. Faced with weird earthquakes, weirder partygoers, and a possible new foe, the Umbrella Academy must choose between the night they always dreamed of and an unexpected mission that may save the world and—finally—secure Hargreeves’s approval.

Japansoft: An Oral History
By Alex Wiltshire

An innovative and beautifully designed history of the nascent Japanese videogame industry, as told by those who were there, Japansoft takes readers inside the games, companies, and human experiences which forged a whole new culture.

Comprising interviews with game developers at companies including Sega, Enix, Capcom, Hudson Soft, and Nihon Falcom, Japansoft: An Oral History offers fresh and diverse perspectives on many of the defining games of our time. A deep dive into the beginnings of the videogame industry in Japan, this book documents a much-loved era of creativity that defined the industry for decades. Enhancing a book already rich with insightful interviews are anecdotal illustrations by iconic Japanese illustrator Yu Nagaba, as well as never-before-seen period photographs, rare press ads, and an illustrated guide to the key computers and consoles that were landmarks of the early Japanese gaming era.

A reedited digest of game journalist John Szczepaniak’s three-volume series, The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers, this book adds specially conducted interviews with figures including Harumi Fujita (Bionic Commando), Noritaka Funamizu (1943, Area 88), Manami Matsumae (Rockman), Nasir Gebelli (Final Fantasy, Rad Racer), and Tomohiro Nishikado (Space Invaders).

Japansoft is a pseudosequel to the critically acclaimed Britsoft: An Oral History, seeing editor Alex Wiltshire and leading design agency Julia return with a multilayered and eclectic publication that offers a unique reading experience through interlinked interviews that can be read in any order.

Hell, Ink & Water: The Art of Mike Mignola
by Mike Mignola

The official hardcover catalog for the world-renowned artist Mike Mignola for his first New York art gallery show (Philippe Labaune Gallery, September 20, 2024 – October 26, 2024).

The 64-page art catalog featuring 31 new watercolors by Mike Mignola. The watercolors focus on many of the themes near and dear to Mignola: Skulls, monsters, and the supernatural. Additionally, there will be a number of Hellboy covers and pencil drawing, all scanned in the manner of Artist’s Editions, from the original art. A truly lovely collection of art for Mike Mignola fans everywhere.

The Art of Invincible Season One
by Marc Sumerak. Introduction by Robert Kirkman

The Art of Invincible Season One features never-before-seen production art, and exclusive commentary on the hit Prime Video series from key creatives, including Invincible comic co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Superfans of the hit animated series will be happy to find exclusive character, background, and vehicle designs, key art, and more inside this volume! This oversized hardcover takes fans behind the scenes and includes interviews with key creatives, including Invincible comic creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker.

Features an introduction from Invincible and The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman!

The critically acclaimed adult animated superhero series is currently streaming the first half of its eight-episode second season on Prime Video, with new episodes airing weekly on #InvincibleFriday through November 24. Following a mid-season hiatus, the second half of Season Two will premiere in early 2024. Invincible is available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

Created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, Invincible #1 debuted to critical acclaim on January 22, 2003. Soon after, they were joined by artist and contributing creator Ryan Ottley. Throughout its 15-year run, Invincible not only continued for a historic 144-issues but also spawned multiple spin-off series’ and even an inter-company crossover with a certain friendly neighborhood superhero.

In 2021, the Invincible animated series arrived on Prime Video and quickly became one of the most popular new streaming series of the year, earning praise worldwide for its fresh storytelling. With a second season currently streaming and new comic book projects to be announced, Invincible remains a cornerstone of the pop culture landscape that continues to grow in popularity every year.

The Wind in the Willows: Folio Society Edition
Written by Kenneth Grahame and Illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk

The timeless adventures of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger have enchanted children and their parents for more than a century. This is a glorious edition of a children’s classic, with enchanting illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk.

The Wind in the Willows is about many things – the changing ­seasons, the beauty and fragility of nature, the thrill of the open road, and the creeping tide of suburbia – but it is the ­glorious adventures of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger that have enchanted children and their parents for more than a century.

Of this Folio edition, author Michael Morpurgo has said, ‘In almost 100 years since its first publication, I doubt there has been a finer edition.’ One of our all-time best-sellers, it features illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk that perfectly evoke the idyllic world of wild wood and riverbank.

When Mole is drawn out of his underground abode (‘Hang spring-cleaning!’) by the imperious call of Spring, he is fascinated by the world above his home. The first animal he meets is lively Ratty, who introduces him to the beauties of the river and the joys of ‘simply messing about in boats’. Mr Toad, irrepressible aristocrat and creature of crazes, shatters this rural calm with his discovery of the automobile. ‘Villages skipped, towns and cities jumped – always somebody else’s horizon! Oh, bliss! Oh, poop-poop!’ Soon he is risking life and limb indulging his new-found passion, experiencing brushes with the law and landing himself in prison, much to the concern of his friends. Even stern Badger cannot control Toad’s lunatic enthusiasms and wild antics, until they are all faced with a tremendous battle against the scheming stoats and wheedling weasels that have taken over Toad Hall. Can the four friends win against the frightening denizens of the Wild Wood? And does our irresponsible hero really become ‘an altered Toad’?

The Wind in the Willows is about many things – the changing seasons, the beauty and fragility of nature, the perils of the open road and the creeping tide of suburbia – but it is the glorious adventures of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger that have enchanted generations of children and their parents for nearly a century. The sheer familiarity of the characters has been a challenge to artists ever since, and Charles van Sandwyk has risen to it magnificently. His wonderful illustrations breathe new life into the much-loved heroes of Kenneth Grahame’s classic, magically evoking the idyllic and occasionally dangerous world of wild wood and river bank.

This edition of Kenneth Grahame’s enchanting adventure, one of The Folio Society’s all-time best-sellers, features 83 wonderful illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk. Care has been lavished on every detail, from the luxurious Modigliani paper to the endpapers and slipcase, both printed with pen-and-ink designs. The cloth cover is blocked in black and gold, with a printed label inset showing Ratty and Mole by the fireside. This volume won the Grand Prix Award at the Printing World Awards.

The 1980s: Image of a Decade
by Henry Carroll

The 1980s were a time of bold exploration, dazzling creativity, inspiring unity―and stark division. Technology, media, gender roles, race, sexuality, geopolitics, climate, and even our place in the universe―you name it―the decade saw almost all aspects of humanity challenged, upturned, and reimagined. The 1980s: Image of a Decade tells this story in a wholly original and highly immersive way. By mixing and matching images of design, art, fashion, music, video games, sport, iconic photography, global events, and technological innovations in playful and often unexpected ways, it uncovers a fascinating ecosystem of influence between high and low culture that has shaped the world today.

These juxtapositions act like a perfectly curated mixtape. Skip forward from the bold and bizarro designs of the Memphis group to the backstreets of Madrid with its post-fascist counterculture movement La Movida Madrileña. Experience a new-look New York shaped by Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Madonna, and peek inside hedonistic London clubs frequented by gay icons like Boy George.

See how emerging tech and media companies like Apple and MTV sparked creative innovation and cultural anxieties, while in Japan Nintendo ushered in a new era of gaming with a pixelated plumber named Super Mario. Travel to the edge of our solar system with the Voyager probes before crashing back down to Earth to face the realities of Apartheid, AIDS, a catastrophic famine in Africa, and the constant threat of nuclear Armageddon.

From the global rise of hip hop and powerhouse women in arts and politics, to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and communism in Europe, The 1980s: Image of a Decade confronts humanity’s triumphs and tragedies to show how the clamor of cultural debate and existential fears can reach decibels that topple barriers and instigate meaningful change.

The past has never felt so current.

500 Years Later: An Oral History of Final Fantasy VII
By Matt Leone 

Featuring over thirty interwoven voices, this beautifully produced book offers unprecedented insight into the creation of the revered PlayStation role-playing game Final Fantasy VII

500 Years Later offers a thrilling deep dive into the creation of the revered PlayStation RPG Final Fantasy VII. Comprising of over thirty interwoven voices, this beautifully produced book oers unprecedented insight into the craft and ambition behind the game. An extended adaptation of author Matt Leone’s celebrated 27,000-word history, published online by Polygon, this physical version has been enhanced for print, featuring original illustrations by the artist sparrows, eight new standalone interviews, a foreword by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and design by Rachel Dalton (ex-Spin/Unit Editions).

Interviewees include Shigeo Maruyama, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Motonori Sakakibara, Tomoyuki Takechi, Tatsuya Yoshinari, Kyoko Higo, Yoshihiro Maruyama, Hiroshi Kawai, Yoshinori Kitase, Tetsuya Nomura, Kazuyuki Hashimoto, Keith Boesky, Yoshitaka Amano, Shinichiro Kajitani, Darren Smith, Junichi Yanagihara, Shuhei Yoshida, Jun Iwasaki, George Harrison, Hiroki Chiba, Frank Hom, Nobuo Uematsu, Alexander O. Smith, Kazushige Nojima, Seth Luisi, David Bamberger, Elaine Di Iorio, William Chen, Rex Ishibashi, John Riccitiello, Yoichi Wada, and Yusuke Naora.

Mighty Marvel Calendar Book: A Visual History: The Marvel Comics Calendar Book: 1975-1981
Written by Chris Ryall. Introduction by Roy Thomas

Mighty Marvel Calendar Book: A Visual History presents seven years of Marvel history in this incredible showcase featuring art from some of the greatest illustrators who drew stories for the House of Ideas.

From 1975–81, Marvel created seven consecutive calendars that were as artistically designed and captivatingly written as any of their comic books. Each of these annual calendars—whether they celebrated the Bicentennial (1976) or spotlighted a specific character such as Spider-Man (1978), Hulk (1979), or Doctor Strange (1980), featured heroes and villains across the pantheon of the Marvel Universe—and all shared inspired features. These included visual call-outs for birthdays of noted Marvel staff and creators; key moments in Marvel history; special events, famous quotes from fan-favorite issues, and other celebratory mentions; with exclusive art from iconic Marvel artists, created especially for these calendars by Jack Kirby, John Buscema, John Byrne, Frank Miller, Walter Simonson, Gil Kane, George Pérez, Gene Colan, Jim Starlin, Sal Buscema, Mike Ploog, and dozens more.

Never before has all of this astounding art been reprinted, and the complete set of covers, interiors, and gorgeously designed monthly entries are reproduced at their original size in this beautiful, oversize hardcover package. Also included is new commentary, rare promotional materials, and an introduction by longtime Marvel writer/editor/historian Roy Thomas. The years might keep ticking away, but the work collected in this special book remains timeless!

The Art of the Amazing Spider-Man
By Stan Lee, John Romita Sr, Gil Kane, John Buscema.
Edited by John Lind. Introduction by Brian Michael Bendis

This oversized hardcover gallery collects iconic original art from The Amazing Spider-Man #39–122, is accompanied by essays from comics editor John Lind, and featured an introduction by Brian Michael Bendis.

The Amazing Spider-Man has remained the flagship title for the classic Marvel Comics character Spider-Man for over six decades. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko co-created the character in 1962, and it quickly became a sensation. Then, with The Amazing Spider-Man #39, John Romita Sr. replaced Ditko as the main artist and began an epic run.

This oversized Bullpen Books edition focuses on Romita’s work on ASM from 1966 to 1973, a run that would dramatically reshape the world of Spider-Man and his alter ego, Peter Parker. With his unmatched skill in dynamic layouts and composition, Romita, working alongside Stan Lee on some of Spider-Man’s most enduring storylines and with contributions from a supporting cast of legendary Marvel Bullpen contributor—including Gil Kane, John Buscema, Jim Mooney, and Mike Esposito—would help lead Spider-Man to even greater heights in pop culture.

This evolution told through essays, covers, and original artwork-including seven full ASM stories, reproduced from the original art in the Marvel Comics archives-allows readers to engage with and appreciate the legacy of some of The Amazing Spider-Man‘s most important contributors.

Bullpen Books is a new series of art books that honors the work of legendary Marvel Comics characters and creators, starting with The Art of the Amazing Spider-Man in Fall 2024! This oversized hardcover features essays on work by John Romita Sr. and Gil Kane, covers, and original art scans from the Marvel archives.

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