Book Description

Why are so many of the superhero myths tied up with loss, often violent, of parents or parental figures? What is the significance of the dual identity? What makes some superhuman figures "good" and others "evil"? Why are so many of the prime superheroes white and male? How has the superhero evolved over the course of the 20th and early 21st centuries? And how might the myths be changing?

Why is it that the key superhero archetypes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the X-Men - touch primal needs and experiences in everyone? Why has the superhero moved beyond the pages of comics into other media?

All these topics, and more, are covered in this lively and original exploration of the reasons why the superhero - in comic books, films, and TV - is such a potent myth for our times and culture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

interesting light reading
I am a fan of comic book superheroes; I try to see all the major Hollywood movies on superheroes like X-Men, Batman, Superman, etc... I am also a fan of the Sunday comics. But I have never read a comic book. So I picked this book up last month thinking it would be a good way to learn about comic book lore and history. This book accomplishes that. It covers the origins (and conclusions) of all the major comic book heroes. It also goes a little into the history of the authors / creators / publishers of these comic books.

The pace is quick, the book is short, and most teenagers should be able to read the whole book in a weekend. But as a piece of literary criticism, it is okay. This book to the comic book genre is like having one Cliff Notes book for all of Shakespeare; you sacrifice depth for breadth. Overarching themes are emphasized over storylines of the individual comic book heroes. There are a lot of interesting facts though; such as Harry Potter being an orphan, just like Batman, Superman, and the Hulk. In all, this book is worth reading if you have the time to spare. I definitely would recommend it as reading material for a college class on say 20th century American culture, or Mass Media / Entertainment. ... Read more

Book Description

With the Death Star destroyed, the Empire has declared martial law throughout the galaxy. A thousand worlds have felt the oppressive hand of the Emperor as he attempts to crush the growing Rebellion. As the Imperial grip of tyranny tightens, Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest of the small band of freedom fighters continue to press for the salvation of the planets -- but such a small crew stands little hope of succeeding against the dominant might of the Empire. But sometimes that's all it takes -- a little hope. Dark Horse Comics is proud to present, in an all-new package, the comics adaptation of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back -- The Special Edition. By Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, this classic adaptation is reprinted from the original Star Wars comic-book series and is now collected with an all-new cover to celebrate the theatrical release of The Empire Strikes Back -- The Special Edition. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Dark Horse Finally Offers Hope
In 1997, the first Star Wars Trilogy, for better or worse, got a digital makeover and rereleased in theaters. As part of the "celebration", Dark Horse Comics decided to adapt the trilogy for the comic book format. Even though, I was disappointed with the SE adaptations for Empire and Jedi-they just slapped new covers, added sketches, and that's it-releasing the old adaptations basically intact. I am happy to say that for A New Hope, more care was taken to follow the updated film, making for a better book. Don't get me wrong, I think the films didn't need any tampering with, but if you advertise the Special Edition version then follow through...

THE STORY: Adapted by Bruce Jones, the story includes, the new scenes and enhanced special effects shots. Thankfully, Jones lets the action speak for itself, rather than using novel like prose to do it. It's still there but its kept to a minimum. The script is very faithful to the film.

THE ART: Eduardo Barretto takes more care to follow the film with his renderings. The characters and situations are fairly on target with their film counterparts. THe art is juiced by accurate colors and shades for the action.

The 109 page book includes a gallery of covers from the newstand single issue versions. There's also bios of the creative team behind the book and a well written introduction by series editor Bob Cooper. A solid read worthy of Star Wars. It's a shame that more care wasn't put into the Special Edition adaptations of Empire and Jedi. Hope is recommended

Frozen In Carbonite
When Star Wars creator George Lucas decided reissue the first trilogy, as "new and improved", into the multiplex in '97, several tie-ins also got an update as well. Dark Horse Comics put out special editions of each film's comic book adaptation.

THE STORY: The special edition version isn't all that different from the original book. Adapted by Archie Goodwin, the stroy follows the film pretty well. My main problem with his work here is his overuse of description. Comic books based on films can get bogged down with too much prose and such is the case here. Another problem is that the new material in the film is not reflected in the story itelf. I know the material doesn't amount to much but it would have been cool nonetheless.

THE ART: The team of Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon, who also did the art chores on the adaptation for Jedi, is adequate at best. Their work is uneven. Sometimes its breathtaking, and at others it seems rushed. Many of the characters seem off from their on screen counterparts.

The 104 page book includes 2 pages of scenes from the special edition in sketch/storyboard form. Overall though, the book is disappointing. A great film classic like "Empire deserves better--special edition or not

Trash!
I tend to rate books against other books of their type, so while I may give both a Star Wars book and Dune 5 stars, there is no comparison, Dune is better. By the same token, I won't judge a comic as harshly as a novel, because I have different and lower expectations of it.

Even so, this Graphic Novel is a complete waste of time, paper, and money. The interior art is pretty bad, and the character renderings uninspired, and 3PO has way too much freedom of movement. They put way too much effort into throwing in every last little detail added for the special edition of the film, and it was obvious.

This comic was EXTREMELY dependant on the reader having seen the movie. The dialogue and scenes jumped around so much that if I didn't know the movie virtually by heart, I'd be lost by only a couple of pages into the book. Though the lettering itself is good, it can't make up for the confusing, erratic clips of dialogue.

The Millenium Falcon looked messed up, and the TIE Fighters looked pitifully small and smashed. This is a horribly bad adaptation of a great film. The only good part of this book is getting to see Dormans' fabulous cover work at the end.

Don't buy this book!

Comic Book edition.
The entire TESB adventure in comic book form. Very interesting and unique. ... Read more

Book Description

In a world where humans have made mutants the victims of horrible discrimination, Professor Xavier's School For The Gifted is a sanctuary, a safe haven for oppressed mutant youth. But the unimaginable happens when a student reinvents himself as Kid Omega and decides to take over the school.It's mutant vs. mutant...will the school ever be the same? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

great
While the art is still at the same level, the story is my favorite of all the volumes. There are more twists and surprises. It makes you think. It is a great story.

The best X-Men run in years continues...
The main point of Morrison's run on New X-Men has been to breathe fresh life into the old concepts as well as making room for new ones to emerge. This is very apparent in this collection, which stands out as one of the high points in his run. Combine an inventive, gripping story, snappy dialogue and beautiful art and you have the spectacular story shown here.

They just trash everything in sight....
It seems that the new generation of so-called comic book writers love to trash everything in sight. Case in point is Morrison. He takes everything that all X-fans hold dear and turns it into cheap/shock value entertainment only. What gives him the right to do this? Why is Marvel is destructive of their charecters and do stories that totally ruin 30 years worth of stories? Simple, they don;t care about the stories nor the fans anymore, and haven't for nearly a decade now.

A Master Piece!
I've known the surreal experience of reading, and atleast trying to comprehend, New X-men for almost four years now, and beneath Grant Morrison's very deft hand and imagination, my expectations and standards have done nothing but rise. From E Is For Extinction to Imperial to New Worlds, New X-men has constantly broadened its horizons as far as fresh new ideas and innovative storytelling go. Riot At Xavier's is my second favorite storyline so far, just beneath E Is For Extinction, in my humble opinion, and the fact is, that is probably do more to the fact that it was Morrison's first swing at writing this book than it is because the stories here are better. In this collection, which collects four small parts of a much larger whole, the students who attend Xavier's school get their time in the spotlight. A highly intelligent, very ambitious student named Quentin Quire, in the beginning of the story, has just found out that he was adopted, and after hearing this news, coupled with Magneto's killing alongside several million other members of the homo superior race, sets the young boy, who happens to be an Omega Level telepath, deep and subtle influence being his forte, on the path to what he sees as glory. Following him are several other rather powerfully dangerous students....Radian, a black kid who immits a blinding light, Tattoo, another African American student who's skin displays her emotions, coupled with her other mutation, a ghost form, which is very Kitty Pride-esque, only much more frightening, Glob Herman,a see-through giant of a mutant with bio-parriffin for skin and muscule, which happens to be highly flammable, and finally, Redneck, a young white kid whose handbones can generate immense heat. Alongside Quire, whose telepathic skills rival Xavier's, these kids coin themselves The Omega Gang, and with that, begin to set the Xavier Institute ablaze within the pyres of controversy, free thinking and a rash change of ideals. The Xavier teaching staff then springs into action, allowing us constant readers to see Quietly's flair for dramnatic action and grisly hold on reality. Cyclops really stands out during this arc, as does Phoenix, Beast,and The White Queen, who evolves beyond what some have seen up to this point as a cardboard cutout of a typical snotty character. Xorn and his Remedial Class also stand out here, and this expose' into how a lower, more special sect type of class at The Xavier Institute operates is welcome and rather brilliant, as we, the readers, are able to see what being a mutant, with a little extra misfortune added, feels and looks like. Xorn feels like a mystery in this arc, as he well should, and the true hints of his power, and the cruel, frightening depths of it are shown here, along with his Remedial Class excersizing teamwork for a change. There is Basilisk, a large, pinkish boy who's brain has a seizure at its core and sets off a ray of paralizing light through a single, strange eye, Ernst, a withered young girl with superstrength and a need to look after others, namely Martha, a disembodied brain in a glass bubble, a telepath whose specialty is blinding mutant and human minds with confusion and disarray, Dummey, who is a sentient gas inside of a special, airtight suit, The Beak, whose feelings of insecurity and ineptitude glow brightly and realistically, his talents being a feathered, birdlike form, limited flight and a face that only a pecking mother could love. Finally, there is Angel, a mixed race young heathan of a girl, whose talents include a beautiful set of fly like wings, the ability to vomit projectile acid, among other fly-like abilities. Alongside Xorn, these kids really get the chance to stand out and show their humanity and talents on rather unsuspecting U-men, who first appeared in Imperial. Back at the Mansion, all hell has broken lose, as Quentin and his hypnotized gang have taken Xavier hostage, through a rather brilliant technique. Wolverine is rendered useless and helpless by Quire, quite a feat, while Beast, Cyclops and The White Queen try to thwart the rampage set aflame by frustration and loose ethics. Before all is said and done, several students will die, a headmaster will drastically rethink his methods, an affair will be discovered, a secret will be created and kept,and a threat from within will be revealed. In this volumne, secondary mutation is a big theme, and Morrison's experience at the strange helms in writing even stranger fiction come in very handy in this tale. His drastically vast takes on telepathy alone will make your mind reel and your imagination grow. The Stepford Cuckoos also get their chance to really develop as deep characters and now, they show true drives and whims. Buy this book........if you are a fan of the X-men, past , present or possible future, you will not be disappointed. More than that, you will most likely be surprised, shocked, terrified and delighted.
All Things Serve The Beam ... Read more

Reviews (6)

One word of CAUTION for the casual fan.
First of all, this is good stuff by one of the all-time greats of comic storytelling. It falls squarely into the category of Marvel Comics' must-reading. Highly recommended.

Any long-time reader knows what I'm about to say next, but since there are often casual readers buying TPB's when the same people would likely not buy an actual comic BOOKS, here goes:

This Captain Marvel is not THE ORIGINAL Captain Marvel who was as big as Superman in the forties in comics and serials, and who appeared on TV on saturday mornings a few decades back and appeared on Drew Carey a few years ago. The original character fell out of publication for a few decades and the trademark on his name expired. Marvel Comics opportunistically snatched up the name and created an all-new character of the same name (with a few similarities that were strictly for homage purposes, like the adult/kid Mar-Vell/Rick Jones thing). When the original character returned under the banner of DC Comics, he still used the name Captain Marvel, but he can't appear in a comic TITLED "Captain Marvel". So the adventures of the original Captain Marvel are reprinted in "The Shazam Archives", "JSA" collections and the "Power of Shazam" graphic novel.

The first great space opera
Don't believe the review that complained this book is an uncomfortable mix. The first half of the story is actually the highlight, teeming with energy, while Captain Marvel's death is, as you might imagine, quite depressing. This storyline is the one that started Jim Starlin's long career doing cosmic epics, and it is almost impossible to underestimate how important it was at the time. It starts out simply, in a couple of issues of Iron Man,where he stumbles upon creatures from space called the Blood Brothers, building nice suspense until it reveals Thanos, the Mad Titan. What follows is an imaginative space opera that was one of the great highlights of comic in the 70's, featuring characters like the the Controller, Drax the Destroyer and Eon, who grants Mar-vell cosmic awareness, a character that has to be seen to be believed. The passions and motives of the characters here almost leap off the page. First, there is Thanos, who wants to deliver all the universe to death, his mistress (who's identity, familiar to everyone now, is kept a secret to the end here). Then, there is Drax, the Destroyer, who hates Thanos and wants him dead at any cost, consumed by an insane passion. And then, there is Mar-vell, trying to make sense of it all, and not only trying to figure out what Thanos is up to, but trying to help the Titans, stop Thanos and save the universe. The final battle, where Mar-vell tries to destroy the cosmic cube, is some of the greatest graphic storytelling ever seen in comics.

The second part of this story is seen in Starlin's next work, Adam Warlock (hopefully that gets a decent treatment, too, someday). The stories in Captain Marvel and Warlock are still the best representations of Thanos by far and, unless one reads them, one really can't understand what he's really all about and how he has evolved - he seems to be used far more liberally these days. Those who don't get how great these two stories are don't really get comics either, and are probably better off sticking to the mainstream comics. These are comics done by adults, for adults, and not for everyone, certainly not for people who don't appreciate epic storylines. Personally, I get tired of reading reviews of comics by people who have no sense of the history of the genre, only picking up what happens to be the fad for the day, then try to comment on what has gone before. Starlin both writes and draws each of these books, by the way, and, while most comic artists are influenced by other comic artists, the main influence in Starlin's work is an artist by the name of Michelangelo (the cover to this book, by the way, is even Michelangelos' Pieta, in case it looks familiar).

The last part of this story is Captain Marvell's death, drawn years after the other one. It is true that it is poignant, but it's also depressing, too. Starlin's interest in death in the early days was actually pretty morbid, and Mar-vell is one of the few Marvel characters to actually stay dead (one of the others being Gwen Stacy). The current Captain Marvell, is an updated, hot-headed, mod version meant to appeal to a younger generation. The one here is noble, courageous and will risk all in order to triumph over evil - qualities that seem all too lacking everywhere these days. On the other hand, the death does bring about some closure in the book.

One last note - the original books have gone up quite a lot in price and are considered collector's items, it's lucky to have them all together here. Created three years before Star Wars, they more than match that trilogy in both sweep and sense of the epic. Just to look at the storytelling here, one can almost see the first Thanos epic made into a great movie, especially how special effects have evolved these days.

Quirky, Outrageous 70's Cosmic Stuff
I love Marvel Comics for their quirky, outrageous, cosmic stories. Most of the time, they are so overblown and crazy that you just have to wonder what the writers were smoking at the time he wrote them. And they don't come quirkier or more outrageous than Jim Starlin and his 70's "cosmic-co-horts", Al Milgrom and Steve Englehart.

This TPB reprints the best of Starlin's run on Captain Marvel in the 70's (originally reprinted in "The Life of Captain Marvel") and the Graphic Novel (also by Starlin) "The Death of Captain Marvel". Oh yes, the first appearance of Thanos (Iron Man #55) is also included here - for those who love the rocky-faced Titan from all those "Infinity" crossovers! The high-points of this collection include the tale of Captain Marvel's acquiring "cosmic-awareness/consciousness", the Thanos War (involving the Cosmic Cube, the Titans and the Avengers) and finally the poignant story of Cap's death by cancer.

Read this and savour the delight of cosmic Marvel comics. They just don't make them like this anymore! And if you want more of the same, check out "Avengers:Kree-Skrull War", "Avengers:Celestial Madonna", "Avengers Forever" and "Infinity Gauntlet".

An uncomfortable mix
This trade paperback brings together two books: the collected LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL and the original graphic novel THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL. I was more familiar with the late Captain from the graphic novel, as well as scattered appearances in other characters' titles. TDOCM is a very powerful story, due to its study of the mortality of a hero. I had never read the stories from his actual series: those that defined his powers and supporting cast, as well as set the stage for his death. It seems only natural that Marvel should combine these two books, but they certainly don't belong together.

The early Captain Marvel stories in this book are a prime example of great ideas carried out with little style. They may have been exciting reading for the time, but they don't mesh well with the final graphic novel. Quite a lot happens in these stories, actually: CM meets the Titans, joins forces with Iron Man & Drax the Destroyer, faces Thanos, and gains cosmic awareness, but holy cow - this is some bad writing! It's pretty obvious that Jim Starlin was trying to spin a tale on the level of Jack Kirby's Fourth World saga (with some embarrasing similarities), but at this point in his career, he had not attained his flair for engaging plots or intelligent dialogue (for that, see his Cosmic Odyssey from DC). The basics are: Drax pursues Thanos, Thanos tries to drive him mad, CM gets into the mix, Thanos has our heroes under his thumb but doesn't kill them, and it starts all over again. This goes on for over 200 pages! It's helpful to get the high points, but boy is it a painful process.

The payoff is the final chapter, which is one of the more moving tales ever to come out of the Marvel House of Ideas. Jim Starlin did some excellent work on TDOCM, and it is a true masterpiece.

One more little problem I have with this book: Marvel has adopted the practice of putting advertisements in their trade paperbacks lately. Having the last moment of Captain Marvel's life facing a page with an ad for cookies seems undignified.

New paperback print loses some of original ink details
Why are the black ink finishes so bad in this book? It's like reading a bad photocopy version of the stories (i.e. Destroyer's eyes are missing on the cover of Iron Man). I maybe a nitpicker about this, but I think Marvel should've done a better job with this classic series. If possible try to get the first printing of this collection or the 'special editions' prints, which still retains some of that nice ink work. ... Read more

Book Description

BATMAN BEGINS is the most anticipated movie event of Summer 2005. From director Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia), BATMAN BEGINS stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Liam Neeson. It features a new story, a new vision, and a new commitment to the Batman legend.More than 150 of David James's magnificent photos will appear in the official BATMAN BEGINS book. Set alongside excerpts from the screenplay and short essays, the photographs will allow the reader to follow the arc of the film's story and marvel at the filmmaking magic on display-from the spectacular creation of the Batmobile, the Batcave, and Gotham City to the breathtaking action set pieces. BATMAN BEGINS explores the origins of Batman and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham City. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrialist heir Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego, Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high-tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten his city. • Official Movie Date: June 17, 2005 ... Read more

Book Description

New alliances are forged as old friendships are rekindled, but one thing is certain: The X-Men will never be the same! With the team split in two, the Uncanny X-Men must face the unbridled force of the Fury on two sides of the globe! Will the villain's "divide-and-conquer" plan prove to be the X-Men's ultimate undoing? Collecting Uncanny X-Men #444-449. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of the best super team books of all time
This "re-launch" of the Justice League is one of the high points of any team book in comics history and is essential reading for any JLA fan. Giffen and DeMatteis took the book in an entirely new direction where they focused as much on the characters and their interaction with each other as action involving super villains and world threatening disasters. The petty bickering, insecurities, and borderline psychotic tendencies of Earth's mightiest heroes is highly enjoyable reading to comics fans who are often given only cardboard stereotypes in place of real characterization. DeMatteis mastery of facial expressions is a real plus, Justice League is still the only comic I have ever read where I have laughed out loud just for the look on a character's face in reaction to a situation or a line of dialogue. Giffen and DeMatteis also handle the typical superheroic derring-do very well, although always with a light touch. The "Grey Man" storyline collected here is one of the all time classic Justice League stories and touches on the tragic as effectively as the comic. Giffen and DeMatteis' Justice League is perhaps the best incarnation of the best team book in comic history, I couldn't recommend it more strongly.

BRILLIANT! NO OTHER WORD CAN DESCRIBE IT
This collection collects some of my favourite comics. Its a fresh take on what was starting to become tired and cliched. This is still my favourite version of the Justice League. These first issues introduce the humerous Justice League created by Kieth Giffen and JM DeMaties. The stories in this collection still have a somewhat serious tone when compared to the later stories but they are still hillarious. The first few issues of JL include an absolute classic showdown between Guy Garder and Batman (which was unfortunately written out of continuity by Zero Hour), Dr Fate the way he is supposed to be written and an excellent battle against the Grey Man, who was never written better. The lineup at the time also included Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Blue Beetle and Captain Marvel. Although never officially a leaguer, Maxwell Lord is also a classic character.

Excellent writing, great storytelling- made me a DC fan!
The combination of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMattias were extrordinary. The stories kept you captivated, but the wisecracks, in-fighting, and verbal jabs were hilarious! Many times I'd be reading then burst out laughing because these guys had comic timing down cold. It's also great that they had artists that could work with them!

If these guys ever pair up again, buy it in a heartbeat!

Relaunch of JLA is entertaining though somewhat dated
This book compiles the first seven issues of the Justice League relaunch from 1987, following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths which completely changed the DC Universe during the previous year. Successful at the time and noted for bringing humor and a dose of reality into the superhero realm, it still holds its entertainment value yet can't help but feel a little dated -- check out Black Canary's hairdo on the cover! One should note that Batman and Martian Manhunter are the only two of the traditional "Big 7" to appear in this version of the team, though Superman and the Hal Jordan Green Lantern make cameo appearances. ... Read more

Book Description

Re-live more of the FF's classic exploits as they stand united against Dr. Doom, Annihilus and Galactus! Featuring the first appearances of the Kree and the microversal Psycho-Man! Guest-starring Spider-Man, Daredevil, Thor and the Warlock formerly known as Him! Lee and Kirby were the ones who started it all, and they kept it going in these cosmic tales! Collects Fantastic Four #64-83 and Fantastic Four Annuals #5-6. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Fantastic stories at a great price!
Another excellent tome in the "Essential" collection, this one covers the "mid" years of the Lee/Kirby run, between the outstanding inventiveness of the earliest material and the legendary run in the #40-#60 range that introduced Galactus, the Inhumans, etc. So what's the highlight here? Well, #20-#40 pretty much are reprinted, and even in black and white they mostly shine - the best stories include the origin of Dr. Doom, a slam-bang battle between the FF, the Hulk and the Avengers, an awesome confrontation between a powerless FF and Doom, and the introduction of the Frightful Four! Woo! Great stuff! I'm only knocking this down one star because of the hideous inking Kirby's pencils got on the first five or so issues included in this collection - it's slapdash and sketchy, awful stuff compared to Chic Stone's great inking in the last 2/3 or so of this mammoth book. Buy it!

The Glory Days of the FF vs. Galactus and the Silver Surfer
Volume 3 of "The Essential Fantastic Four" is the one we have been waiting for because with issues #41-63 and Annuals #3 & $ of "The Fantastic Four" we are talking the period where this truly was "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!" This is also where the FF have their greatest battle, against the threat of Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer, and Annual #3 presents the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Those stories alone would make this particular collection required reading but during this period Stan Lee and Jack Kirby also created the Inhumans and the Black Panther, substantially adding to the Marvel pantheon. But the clincher is that having come up with the ultimate FF story (everything is anticlimactic after you essentially stop a god from devouring your planet) there is another classic multi-part story as Doctor Doom steals the Surfers cosmic powers. Actually, I like those stories a bit more (check out the classic cover for issue #60), but then it is hard for Lee to go wrong with any sort of Silver Surfer story at this point in history.

Also, from an artistic standpoint I think Jack Kirby clearly reached his heights as an artist during this period, but a large measure of credit also goes to inker Joe Sinnot, who replaced Vince Colletta. Just compare the drawings of the Thing in the first story to those in the last in this volume and the improvement is obvious. If you go back to the first volume of "Fantastic Four" repeats the difference is even more striking. Kirby was also experimenting with zip tones, using photographs, working in a lot more in terms of backgrounds for his panels, and indulging in splash pages in the middle of stories. When you think of how long Kirby had been drawing comic books at that point in his career, the fact that his artwork could suddenly improve so dramatically is astounding. In terms of artwork and stories, this is as good as the "Fantastic Four" ever got in its celebrated history. When I think of the FF, the stories in this volume are the ones I remember best.

Companion piece for this great graphic novel
As great as this graphic novel was by itself, I know of one helluva great companion piece in the form of a book entitled "The Adventures of Darkeye: Cyber Hunter" whose odd manner of having log-entries over chapters seems almost like the script for a graphic novel, even though it is in the science fiction/high-tech and cyberpunk genre along with books like "Cryptonomicon", "Snow Crash", "Prey", and "Altered Carbon". Very fast-paced and visual as well as being very exciting due to its action-packed pages.

The World's Greatest Comic Magazine lives up to the name
Here began the best years of The Fantastic Four. Writer Lee developed real (albeit sometimes hokey) characters (this is, after all, a comic book) who each spoke in a voice unique to them (often lines of dialogue were attributable even without the pictures), and artist Jack Kirby reached his creative Marvel peak. A must for any fan of the genre, but particularly for the FF afficianado.

These stories teach two important lessons about the collaborative medium that is the comic book (particularly the dramatic/action/adventure/superhero book). The first is the importance of writing. Yes, you can tell a story with pictures alone, and Jack Kirby was better than almost anyone else at doing that. It was, after all, Kirby's talent in this regard (along with Steve Ditko's) that led to the development of what came to be known as "The Marvel Method", with artists drawing and often plotting before one line of description or dialogue was written). But just as the sound era made John Ford a better director (THE IRON HORSE is a very good silent picture; STAGECOACH-- made only a dozen years later-- is a great film), likewise Stan Lee's dialogue made Jack Kirby's great art into a great comic book. You only have to read much of Kirby's later work (especially for DC). While incredibly creative, imaginative, and powerful in its artistic vision, the dialogue (written by Kirby himself) is often stilted and, unless adopting an obvious accent, lacks specific characterization.

The second lesson is finding the right inker. Joe Sinnott's inking of Kirby's FF pencils took everything to a higher level: a vast improvement over Vince Colletta's earlier FF efforts. Yet even this is situational. Colletta's inks of Kirby artwork on Thor was the perfect match of inker with penciller with subject, just as the Kirby-Sinnott collaboration was perfect for the FF (and just as Syd Shores' inks were perfect for Kirby's Captain America). Very few inkers are good for all artists on all titles (Frank Giacoa comes to mind as being able to do this, and maybe Tom Palmer, but not many others).

And so in Volume III of THE ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR, "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine" begins to live up to its billing. See for yourself.

Jack Kirby at his best!
This is not only an excellent book, but it is also a classic study at how important an inker is on the penciller. Starting in issue 44, Joe Sinnott took over as inker of Jack Kirby's work and the result is startling. Sinnott dramatically improved the art and brought out the talent that Jack Kirby has.
The stores themselves and mixed, but the Galactus tale still holds well including the introduction of the Silver surfer. My personal favorite is the battle with Dr. Doom after he stole the Silver Surfer's powers. Doom pontificates in all his bravado and the FF finally realize (du) they are out of their league. If you've ever wanted to see why the silver age of comics was the silver age of comics, get this book! ... Read more

Book Description

The Ragin' Cajun is back with a vengeance in his very own ongoing series! Ever wonder what Gambit gets up to when he's not out saving the world with the X-Men? Welcome to the exciting but treacherous terrain of the New Orleans underworld, where Gambit's skills and mastery are unquestioned...but this time, his confidence might be his downfall! Join writer John Layman and artist Georges Jeanty for the breakneck adventures of the smoothest, most charming devil ever to wear the X! ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A Truimph of the Human spirit! A magnificent read!
Printed in an oversized format, Peace on Earth is an awe-inspiring look at how Superman attempts to thwart world hunger. Alex Ross' breathtaking art is unbelievable. His paintings escpecially those of the U.S. Congress are exalting. The writing is an illustrious and creative account of how Superman expericenes opposition to his attempts in stopping starvation. Overall the book is a compliment to the human spirit, and an agonizing glance at world hunger. This graphic novel is a 1000 times better than any "comic book" I have ever read and I highly encourage you to pick this book up. Also if you enjoy this book, try Batman: War on Crime, another great read by the same creative team.

A coffee table Superman book...
...and I mean that in the best way possible. ;-)

Nice timeless story by Paul Dini wherein Superman confronts the fact that he can't save the world by himself, but let's face it: the reason to buy this book are the amazing full-page painted illustrations from Alex Ross. Beyond his trademark realism, Ross really conveys the essense of Superman's power and dignity here.

This oversized format is a terrific forum for his talents and fans of his work will be thrilled to own it.

Fosters a spirit of hope and faith in humanity
Good comic books give us escapist fantasy. The *best* comic books hold a mirror on humanity and force us to confront certain truths about ourselves.

In the current Modern Age of comics, it's easy to buy into the myth that these characters are god-like and the paramount force for good (The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Kingdom Come, JLA, Miracleman).

And so it's with a certain cynicism that certain comic-book writers and fans have asked, "Well, if Superman really existed, if he were really that mighty, couldn't he control just about everything happening on Earth and turn it into paradise?"

Dini and Ross remind us why even the Man of Steel can't solve all of Earth's problems (and gently hint that it's wish fulfillment on the part of fans to pray for deliverance from a Superman in the real world). They even suggest why Superman *shouldn't* solve all the issues affecting humanity. You'll need to read it to find out why.

It's graphic novels like these that make me proud to be a fan and not ashamed of this great hobby of ours.

Good, easy read for people who have either never picked up a comic book before or haven't picked one up in years as the story doesn't rely on continuity (although it would spoil them for better stuff rather than the pap the big publishers churn out weekly).

Highest possible recommendation.

great artwork!!!!!!
i thought superman peace on earth is a great story and the artwork is even better!

Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day...
Teach a man to fish and he'll spend all day in a boat with a funny hat on. Okay, so that's not how it's supposed to be.

Superman: Peace on Earth is a great story, the tale is heartwarming, the artwork of Alex Ross is fantastic and I think makes a great effort to be much more then a comic book. I think that Paul Dini and Alex Ross are trying to help elevate the characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel) of these oversized books from just being characters and helping them deal with actual situations in real life. What if Superman was real? Would people just accept handouts from him even if he was working toward a selfless goal. Or would people see him as a symbol of imperialism or think that he has some hidden agenda?

I think that the overall moral of the story is great, even if you can do great things for other people, sometimes the best thing you can do is help other people do great things. In this case, Clark Kent, farmboy from Kansas helping teach some kids to grow things. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The comic book that started it all with The Man Of Steel!
Superman made his debut in Action Comics #1 in June, 1938. He became an instant sensation with readers, and started the superhero trend.

Superman: The Action Comics Archives volume 1 reprints only the Superman stories from Action Comics #1, and #7-20 (issues 2 thru 6 were reprinted in early issues of Superman). These stories featured a Man of Steel who did anything to get justice done, including escaping from Police whenever they get on his trail! He didn't have all the superpowers that his modern version has today, or that modern version's sense of justice.

Superman fought normal criminals in his early years, before getting a regular rogues gallery like arch mastermind Lex Luthor, the alien Brainiac, Bizarro, The Prankster, etc. One villain who became Superman's first recurring foe in this book was the Ultra-Humanite. A sinister villain who was thwarted by the Man of Steel many times.

Read the classic stories from comics' Golden Age that started it all in Superman: The Action Comics Archives!

The Man of Tomorrow!
When Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two teenage kids from the slums, first read Philip Wylie's Gladiator they were shocked. Its premise was that even a superhero couldn't really do much to correct the injustice within society. The Superman they created not only disproved Wylie's premise, but also took the fight to the bad guys in violent and irresistible ways. A bad guy wouldn't rat out his boss; Superman tossed him out a skyscraper window and played catch with him all the way down. Nobody said no to Superman for very long. This pre-World War II Superman is very different than his modern cousin. He was the culmination of the mythic hero (think Samson) set in an economically depressed society that had a powerful faith that the future would be better. (The modern Superman comes from a very different place: Jor-el the father gave Kal-el, his only begotten son (think Jesus), so the world might be a better place.) The stories in this book show the world's first and best superhero. I've been reading and collecting Superman since the fifties, and this book thrills me. There is no greater high in comics than the genesis of Superman!

This is not the Superman you expect.
This Superman isn't as powerful as the one we are use to, yet that makes him all the more amazing. He isn't buddy buddy with the police. In fact, he defies them. This Superman is not afraid to put Justice before the law. The stories are great. The art is great. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Providing a wealth of information about the history of the ground-breaking comic, plus fascinating facts about key storylines and all the major characters‹good and bad‹that have thrilled fans since the comic's creation, Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Guide is an invaluable addition to any fans collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're already well versed in Bat-trivia, you probably won't find The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight anywhere near ultimate enough. But as a broad history of Batman's friends, foes, and high-tech hardware and hideouts, this oversized, illustration-filled DK guide just can't be beat.

Just as DK did with the people and paraphernalia of Star Wars in Star Wars: Episode I: Incredible Cross-Sections and Star Wars: Episode I: Visual Dictionary, this guide pulls apart and pokes at the many gadgets and backdrops found in the Dark Knight's world. Exploded diagrams reveal the innards of the new and old Batcaves, and stat-packed tags and captions spell out everything from how the Bat-Signal works to where Catwoman stashes her bullwhip. Batman scholar Scott Beatty has compiled hundreds of excellent panels and covers from the original comic, and he displays commanding knowledge cataloging Gotham's most colorful characters in big, splashy spreads. (And no doubt future historians will appreciate his capsulized, 1939-on Batman timeline as an uncanny window into American pop consciousness.)

Die-hard fans will find much lacking here, though, like the near-omission of Frank Miller's genius Dark Knight Returns series and not even a passing reference to Batman's poignant love-hate relationship with the Man of Steel. But what DK's Ultimate Guide does, it does well--examining neat Bat-minutiae and providing a primer on the post-no-man's-land comic continuity. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A Celebration of the Modern-Day Caped Crusader
This book is a blast to read. I wished this book had come out sooner when I was just finding my way around the modern Batman comics. Nevertheless, better late than never.

A word of caution. If you are looking for the DEFINITIVE guide to everything Batman, I wouldn't recommend this book to you. Les Daniels' book on Batman is by far the most comprehensive treatment on the whole history of the Batman from his pre-conception in the 1930s up till the recent stuff (including his incarnations outside the comicbook - TV, toys, cinema, etc.). Also, if you're interested in analyzing Batman as a pop-culture icon, you should check out Will Brookner's "Batman Unmasked" book. Finally, if you're interested in reading a one-volume collection of the definitive Batman - I'd recommend Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" and/or "Year One" along with the "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told".

What then is this book by Scott Beatty about? It's about the modern day Batman. THIS Batman is as different from the classic Bob Kane/Bill Finger creation as the Tim Burton movies are from the Adam West TV show. For your information, THIS Batman is the one from Frank Miller's "Year One" (1986) and it includes the later revisions by Dennis O'Neil and Chuck Dixon up to today. In other words, this is the Batman of "Knightfall", "Contagion", "Cataclysm" and "No Man's Land". And in my opinion, this is the most exciting and rich version of the Batman since his conception in 1939. This book is not so much a guide but more a celebration of this modern-day Dark Knight of the comicbooks.

The book is neatly divided into sections. The first section is about Batman/Bruce Wayne and Gotham City. The second section covers his allies and loves (Alfred, Gordon, Nightwing, Oracle, Robin II, Robin III, etc.). The third section focuses on the many colorful villains in the Bat-mythos. Finally, there's also a foreword by Chuck Dixon, the man who, under the editorial-eye of Dennis O'Neil, pretty much shaped the direction of the Bat-books throughout the 1990s. Note: Dixon also teamed up with the author Scott Beatty on some other great works like the recent "Robin: Year One" and "Batgirl: Year One".

Great, but could have been better
When I heard that DK was doing a book on Batman, I was excited. The James Bond and Star Wars books that DK put out were some of the best visual dictionaries I had ever seen.

However, when I paged through the text, I found I would have preferred a more "inclusive" coverage of Batman in other mediums. I would have loved to have seen a few pages of the Adam West incarnation, the Superfriends, the movies, the current animated series, the filmation cartoons, and other appearances of the caped crusader.

(I would have loved to have seen a list of every Bat device that was used on the Adam West version, that would have been hilarious).

Perhaps a few episode guide would be in order from the varous series.

The graphics done on the Batmobile, utility belt and the Bat cave were tremendous. I just wish they would have included more pre-eighties art on the previous Batcaves and such.

For the "elseworlds" stories, a few less dark stories could have been mentioned. And I confess I'm being "nitpicky" here, but they forgot about Batman's alias of "Matches Malone."

But overall, it's a great text focusing on the past fifteen years of Batman in DC Comics.

I'm still looking forward to their texts on Superman, Star Trek, and hopefully the Justice League. If they could include the various versions of Superman as well.

Maybe DK Publishing would do a second Batman volume as well.

Sincerely,

JSmith

Answered a lot of my questions
I bought this book because I am new to the Batman world and I wanted to know about the people around him and his most famous adversaries. The graphics in the book are great. If you are looking for a primer on the major players in the Batman world (friends and foes), then this book is for you.

Why do it if you're not going to do it right?
128 friggin' pages. What an insult to Batman and Batman fans. There are too many omissions to begin to count. Actually, if you read the Batman timeline at the end you'll see how many characters and events were left out. The Dark Knight Returns is completely ignored, other stories such as The Cult and Batman: Year Two also go unmentioned. Nearly all of Batman's DC allies are left out, including Superman. Personally, I'm not a fan of The Man of Steel, I don't think he fits in well with the Batman mythos, but to leave him out of "The Ultimate Batman Guide" (yeah, right) is an outrage. What we get instead is tons of garbage about "No Man's Land". What is that anyway? People that grew up with Batman don't care about DC's latest trend. We'd rather not see the Dark Knight we love trashed and revised to fit the current (stupid) DC story-lines. A whole section is devoted to No Man's Land and some other city called Bludhaven. It infuriates me that they devote so much space in this painfully slim volume to that and blow off The Dark Knight Returns. It's as if they went out of their way to screw it up.
I gave this book 2 stars because when it is good, (Batcave, Bat-Vehicle, Wayne Manor specs) it is really excellent. But every time I see the pamphlet-sized length and think about the dozens of omissions, it dampens any enthusiasm I might have had. Try again, DC, and this time do it right.

Not just for kids!!!!
This is the sort of guide I would like to see for all DC and Marvel characters. At first glimpse I thought it was a kid's book but it proved to be an invaluable aid for me to catch up on some of the plotlines I had missed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another Good Mangaverse Title!
X-men Ronin is the mangaverse spin-off of the x-men. We start off after the whole Magneto fiasco in the first Mangaverse book. This story is mainly about the gathering of the mutants, but the high point is the fight of the X-men against The White Queen. This book is not as good as the Spider-man Mangaverse, but still worth getting. ... Read more