Reviews (2)

Book is too small to capture the true cover art
I was very disapointed after receiving this book. I have an extensive Superman book collection and looked forward to this item. I purchased it online and did not realize how small the book actually is (approximately 3" x 4"). The size does not do justice to the cover art work.

A "Must Have" for any comic art fan!
This book gives you each of the Superman covers. The second twenty five years are a little more polished and better than the first twenty five. The artistic simplicty and style of the times are apparent in this volume. A more innocent time; where comics did not attempt to recreate Frank Miller's "Dark Knight" with each passing month. The "Death of Superman" story did little more than make the character into a darker version. I'm glad the "All American" Superman is back though. His current stories reflect the classic character we all know and love. ... Read more

Book Description

Uncover the Caped Crusader's mysterious real-world origin and his evolution into a hugely successful TV and movie franchise in Batman: The Complete History. This book is filled with enough archival comic book art, photographs, and in-depth history to satisfy the most demanding fan -- and is now priced to appeal to the most casual reader. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Bats in the Belfrey
I really think Les Daniel's books on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are invaluable. However, I think Daniels has a strange attitude about the Batman movie serials. I own both the 1943 Batman with Lewis Wilson and Douglas Croft, as well as the 1949 Batman and Robin with Robert Lowery and John Duncan, and I enjoy them both. Admittedly, my Wilson version was edited of anti-Japanese remarks, and only referred to gangsters, but of all the version of Batman I've seen I prefer Wilson's. He seemed somewhat British, and played a Batman with the self-awareness that it's silly to be dressed like a giant bat. Essentially, Wilson's Bruce Wayne/Batman really worked well as a single character. Bruce Wayne acted like a bored millionaire, because he was one, and Batman was his excitement, instead of booze and women. Wilson's Wayne was a cross between a typical big game hunter, and Count Zaroff in the Most Dangerous Game. Douglas Croft's Robin actually appeared to be a teenager, and neither of these characters seem to be able to sit still when it was time to turn into their heroic alter-egos.

Robert Lowery's Batman and John Duncan's Robin were more bland and staid. John Duncan seemed too old for Robin, but at least he wasn't dressed like a junior version of an adult, with the hat and tie that Croft's Dick Grayson sometimes wore. Duncan's main function as Batman's sidekick seemed to be to maintain the car, a believably teen-aged interest. The one big improvement was in the costume. Wilson's bat suit didn't quite fit, and was in shades of grey, although he had a nice looking metal utility belt. Lowery's Batman had a better fitting suit, a much larger bat on his chest, and the colors were grey and black, which looked much more dramatic. Unfortunately, his utility belt was more like a sash. People have written much about the lack of the Batmobile in the serials, and like most I prefer Lewis Wilson's black limousine. However, Lowery drove a 1949 convertible which was probably hot off the assembly line and although no Batmobile, had interesting doo-dads. One was with the push of a button being able to open and close the convertible top, he had another button that sounded a siren, and another that radioed whatever was said inside the car back to the Batcave. But of the two I prefer Lewis Wilson, and am somewhat mystified at Les Daniels referring to Wilson's Batman as an upper-class twit.

Overrated
I love Les Daniel's books on Marvel and DC, but I don't think Batman: The Complete History is very good as a stand-alone Batman guide. I think it tried to cover too much of every aspect of Batman for the length of the book. There are not nearly enough examples of actual comic book panels and artwork, and a lot of pages seem wasted to me. For example, full-page shots of Batman bobblehead dolls. The three reprinted stories are nice, but wouldn't it have made more sense to use excerpts from a wider variety of Batman issues? I think so. Another thing that bothers me is that there is no artwork at all from longtime Batman penciller Norm Breyfogle. Breyfogle is the best artist to ever draw Batman, and he's barely mentioned in this book. At 206 pages, this book is far too short and could have benifitted from another 40 or 50 page cover gallery or something. Then at least we could have gotten some of Breyfogle's amazing covers from the 80s and 90s.

Three stars. It's still a great book for Batfans, but to me it's lacking.

Utterly amazing!
Wow! Les Daniels and Chip Kidd did an amazing job with this book. Chronicling Batman's lengthy career, this book explores the many changes Batman has gone through over the past 65 years, and does so with meticulous detail. This is truly the closest thing to a definitive guide to Batman, who in my opinion is the greatest comic book character ever created, period. Illustrations accompany the text nicely, and the writing gives you a deep appreciation for the evolution the Dark Knight has gone through. This book even has three excellent Batman stories. A MUST-SEE FOR ANY BATMAN FAN!

Batman-Now you know
As a long time Batman fan (the 1970's) I found this book very enjoyable. Though it could have added a few more details in some areas, it did deliver as promised. The amount of reserch Mr.Daniels put in is respectable. The artwork of the varrios eras is a treat.A favorite section is the insperation for the Darkknight Detective, which led to the Batman I am so found of today. As another fan once said "Batman is the hero we could have become." And it seems his creators knew this. I hope Mr.Daniels does as good a job with his other work with DC Heros.

Beautifully Produced, Fun to Play With
Les Daniels has written and Chip Kidd has created visually a wonderful book about that wonderful character Batman. It is a complete history and each decade is shown in its origianl bright colours or dark hues or some gorgeous combination of both. Batman is served very well as the author lovingly (yet often critically) looks at the many changes this character has gone through and survived. A particular joy is the first chapter and its look at pulps, the real roots of Batman. The book is also useful in its examination of other media, such as TV, movies and the weird and witty range of merchandise produced to cash in on various Batman crazes. This book is pure pleasure and will result in a joyous nostalgic sugar rush for the lucky reader. A great read. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book to catalog every collectible card game ever released. From thousand-dollar Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon cards to more obscure games—they’re all here. More than 400 releases for over 100 games! That’s an amazing 60,000 cards listed and priced. Plus, your customers will appreciate complete set descriptions, more than 600 photos and colorful text written by gaming experts describing each game.

No collector, no player, no kid–absolutely no one–has been able to determine if they have all the cards for some games–until now. The information has been scattered and hard to find until Scrye Magazine’s experts put it all in this one easy-to-use book.

Appendices include foreign card games, popular not quite-collectible card games, and all-important cross-references for Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon games. Plus your card game collecting and playing customers will depend on the set, box and unopened pack prices when making trades and purchases.

- The only book that lists and prices every single collectible card game, Including Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon
- More than 60,000 cards checklisted and priced
- More than 600 photos to help identify and evaluate any collection ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Surprisingly Useful for Anyone Involved in C.C.G.s
While appearing to be merely a checklist and resource for collectors attempting to catalog their collections of cards for various collectible card games, the many and varied types of information provided in Miller and Greenholdt's encyclopedic volume actually have valuable details ready to assist everyone- from the most casual players to the hard-core enthusiasts.

This veritable tome on collectible card games does contain a complete list of cards and prices for every game and every expansion to every game published in the English language up until the book's publication date in 2001. Additionally, it contains some lists of cards for expansions and games slated to come out after its publication date, but no prices are given for sets not available on the secondary market at the book's press time. These lists are very complete, and are specially tailored to each individual game. Thus, the lists can provide extra info such as the color, type (creature, instant, etc.), and rarity of every magic card; the alignment (light or dark), type, and rarity of every Star Wars card; and other type and rarity information modified for each individual game. The lists also place a checkbox next to every card name, allowing you to mark which cards you acquire.

However, it is not only the lists, but the extra info that truly makes this first-of-its-kind book shine. First, every game and every expansion has a short essay preceding the card list in which experienced players and "industry insiders" discuss the merits and flaws of the game. These discussions are usually very helpful in determining the quality of a game you have never seen, and are a remarkable resource for anyone trying to decide which new collectible card game to begin playing, or which expansion to buy into for a current game. These essays often contain a brief version of the game's mechanics, as well as how the game was received in the general market. Also, other bits of info, such as what the company was doing or planning when a particular set was released is in these essays, helping you to see how the themes and cards of the sets link together (or how they were supposed to link together). Additionally, special boxed sets and other unusual releases sometimes get their own mini-essay, a nice extra touch.

As useful as the essays are, Scrye has gone further, giving every game (not expansion) no less than 4 different 5-star ratings: one each for the quality of the game's concept, game play, card art, and the size and availability of its player pool. Providing an alternative to reading the essay (or a reminder of what it contains), these ratings help to sum up the reviewers' impressions of the game in each different area, and also allow you to focus on one specific issue most important to you (game play, for example).

Aware that their readers would be unfamiliar with many of the games in this volume, Miller and Greenholdt have provided a number of different tools to help readers navigate through the releases of unfamiliar games. Most impressively, there is a full-color section containing pictures of the backs of a card from every game, as well as the fronts of one or more types of cards from every game. This allows you to identify a card's parent game by appearance, and also gives you an idea of the quality and style of artwork on games you haven't seen (which may help you decide whether to purchase some of that game). Next to the card art in the color section, there are complete lists of every expansion for each game, neatly categorized into basic sets, expansions, and special sets, useful for quick reference of all the parts of a large game such as Magic: The Gathering. Also in the color section is a guide to determining a card's physical quality (poor, good, fine, near mint, or mint), an extra bonus.

All this would have been enough to make the Scrye CCG Checklist and Price Guide more than worthwhile, but there is still more excellent info stored within its hundreds of pages. In the front, there is a time line, organized by date, of every release for every game in the book. Also in the front are a variety of introductions, some on the general trends in CCG during each year, some on determining how to sell your cards and what price you might expect (there is even a page on online card auctions), and a foreword by Peter Adkison, the founder of Wizards of the Coast, the company that created Magic: The Gathering. And yet, there is still more! In the appendices, there is info about CCGs in foreign languages, about the collectible miniatures game Mage Knight, and even a section on "pseudo-collectible card games," or card games that had interesting features or were similar to CCGs, but were not truly part of the genre.

Miller and Greenholdt have created an amazing volume of valuable information for almost anyone involved in collectible card games in any way. From the exhaustingly thorough listings to the helpful essays and introductions, The Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide is an invaluable tool and a fine chronicle of a new genre of game that could only be fated to grow in the years ahead.

Not bad...
I found Mr. Miller's book extremely helpful. I was really surprised to find the Christian game "Redemption" in there but was pleased to see it. If you are an avid CCG player you must have this book.

Scrye Review
This is a great product! It gives valuable, accurate information for tons of CCG's and many checklists. Althought the system for card organization can be rather confusing at first, after a while one gets used to it and it becomes even easier to locate the cards you wish to have priced! A Great Value! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Those were the days...
There is a story told, of a poor Italian man who lived in a small house with dirt floors. His only true possession was a painting that has been handed down through his family. He hung it over his fireplace. Well, rumors spread and a investigating Art Historian found that the painting was a lost Bottichelli , valued at several million dollars. After the discovery was made public, the man was forced to sell the painting as he could not afford security or insurance for it. This painting that was once appreciated for its beauty was now appreciated for its large price tag.

The point of this, and there is one, is that comics were once valueless pieces of old paper. People loved them anyways, and loved them enough to write this little book. "All in Color for a Dime" has a secret that modern comic collectors may have lost. It exudes joy for the four-color wonders know as comics. There is so much excitement in recounting the lost but not forgotten Captain Marvel, or even gaining new found respect for Popeye. All those little treasures are recounted in personal stories. Comics for the love of it, and not for the price tag. Reading Golden Age comics for the stories, what a great concept!

However, as a modern comics collector, I seem unable to ignore price tags entirely. I must admit I chucked when one of the writers was astounded to learn that a mint Action Comics #1 could be sold for up to $300.00. Those were the days.

A Classic.......
This is a classic reprint. Authentic information from when comics were real.

Highly recommended
I read this book four times when I was in junior high and high school, and I'm so glad to see it in print again. Great history, great pictures, and must have for comic book fans everywhere.

A great look at the Golden Age of Comics.
This book by Lupoff and Thompson is a pioneering work. Books on comics used to focus on daily strips and almost always glossed over comic books entirely. This was the first to give us the background of the artists, writers, and the charecters themselves. Well worth the money. ... Read more

Book Description

Second volume in a series reprinting all of Burns' work. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Burn's Best
I have been a devout reader of Burn's Black Hole comic since I first found it on the shelves a couple of years ago. That he is a mesmerizing artist goes without saying. Black Hole has a very meandering plot at times, and it gets somewhat overshadowed by it's technical virtuosity. Big Baby, while it has less scope, is much more concise and places the reader directly in the path of evil. The final story in this volume "Blood Club" is a really haunting tale that I believe is his best work. One minor note, the image above is from Blood Club but it is not the actual cover on the book...It has Big Baby playing with some toys.

Gothic Americana
Graphic storyteller Charles Burns hits his artistic and narrative stride in the three immaculately rendered black and white comics stories reprinted in this beautifully bound, library-quality volume from Fantagraphics. Originally serialized in alternative weekly newpapers in the '80s, CURSE OF THE MOLE MEN, TEEN PLAGUE, and BLOOD CLUB portray the suburbs of "Leave It to Beaver", seen through the eyes of child who can't turn away the violence and seething sexuality behind the facade. Burns is possibly the finest draftsman to come out the 80s comics underground, and integrates a Bauhaus design sense with a flair for Fifties EC horror. Highly recommended for fans of EIGHTBALL, Psychotronic films, and anyone who grew up in Fifties or early Sixties suburbia. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I love archie comics !...

now ! It is SoO FuNny ...the characters are wonderfull . . .
1. ARCHIE is so Funny & carless !
2. JUGHEAD (archie's best freind) dosent think but only about food !
3. REGGE a bad & notey guy , who likes to make a fool out of archie !
4. MOOSE the most dump fool at the whole RIVERDALE(their city) & the strongest one !
5. MIDGE moose's girl friend . (regge & moose alway's fights over her) !!!
6. VERONICA the richest girl in RIVERDALE...& the most spoiled & famuse girl ever !
7. BETTY COPPER the sweeteset girl ever ( always fights over archie with veronica{most of the time}!
dear readers I never liked reading like that from before !

Archie Rules!
Okay, I've been collecting Archie comics since I was like 8 or 9 (5-6 years) and I've got to say that I LOVE THESE COMICS! I have about 500 digests and about 100 flat comics. They aren't you normal "superhero" comics or your Garfield type comics that are only a strip long. These stories run about 4-7 pages long each (there are a lot of stories in a digest comic, even more in a double-digest), except the many part ones which can run up to like 20-30 pages. There are also little page joke ones scattered throughout the books. These comics are funny and very enjoyable to read. Some of the characters and problems you can relate to, while others are just plain outragious and funny! The characters are each well planned out. Here are a few:

The five main ones are:

Archie Andrews(of course)-a nice, girl-crazy, well-meaning, but VERY clumsy all around American boy who is in love with two girls (Betty and Veronica)

Betty Cooper- a too nice, typical girl next door girl who loves Archie with all her heart. her best friend and worst rival is Veronica

Veronica Lodge- snotty, daddy's little rich girl whos father is a zillionaire! but underneath it all, she has a heart of gold. she loves Archie some of the time, but also uses him as a puppet.

Reggie Mantle- richer than Archie and Betty, but not a millionaire or anything. he flaunts his new cars and stuff in people's faces. REALLY REALLY conceited and in love with himself (also Veronica) the trickster of the gang

Jughead (real name Forsythe) Jones- eats too much, sleeps too much, really lazy, girl-hater. the best friend of Archie, Jughead is really a real great guy. He may look like a slug, but he's really one of the nicest guys in the world

other characters include:
Moose Mason: very strong, very jealous
Midge Klump: Moose's girlfriend, nice, smart
Dilton Doiley: a genious, but short which causes girl problem
Big Ethel: in love with Jughead
Hiram Lodge: Veronca's father, hates Archie

Waldo Weatherbee: principal of the high school, has the same problems with Archie as Mr. Lodge
and many more, but it would take FOREVER to write them all out!
Put them all together, and you get CHAOS!!!!!!! These comics are prettily drawn (and in color). If you buy one of these, you'll be hooked for life! (Hey, they've been running since the 40s! People MUST like them!) I personally would give them 5000000 stars! Buy them and you won't regret it.

Read these!
Archie Comics are the best!!!! Okay that doesn't say a lot abou them, but They're sooo funny. Even though Veronica & REggie can be really snobby at times. It's still a really funny comic. It's really just about archie and his friends + his life!!!! You can also get ones that r called betty and veronica which are mainly about them. Either way I think there really good. Just try one! YOu'll luv em!!! [....]
p.s. sorry if this doesn't really describe the comics. it's kinda hard to explain, ya see.

archie!archie!
Archie comics are soooooo funny!Buy archie books ARCHIE COMICS R A MUST HAVE.when your'e feeling down they make u feel up!GET THEM NOW

I really liked this book!
I LOVE ARCHIE COMICS! I have only been reading them sice for like maybe a month and a few weeks and I have already fallen in Luv with them I think that you should buy this comic if you wanna see some good stories,you collect comics,or you just wanna have fun.Well thanxs and have a great day. ... Read more

Book Description

Peanuts collectibles are amazingly diverse, ranging from lunch boxes, ceramic eggs, and household furnishings to skateboards and bubble bath. The book is organized by "room," with the collectibles described and depicted in chapters corresponding to rooms where they would logically be found: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and so on. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

More of a love of self, vs a love of Peanuts collecting.
I was greatly disappointed in the book. While it has lots of Great pictures and information, the editor, freddy Margoline has to let us know time and again how big her collection is or how she has personally met Mr. Schulz and stuff like that. I just never got a "Happiness is" feeling from this book like I got from the Andrea Podley and Derrick Bang book. That book (Peanuts Collectibles: Identification & Value Guide) really does give the "Happiness is a Peanuts Collection" feeling in the spirit that Sparky would appreciate. So if you can only get one book on Peanuts Collecting, get the Podley one - it has a "Happy" soul.

A Must Have for the serious Peanuts Collector!
This is the best Peanuts Collectors' book ever! It contains excellent pictures and the price values are right on target. These Peanuts collectibles are organized by where you might find them in your home, so it is user friendly. (i.e. Peanuts in the kitchen, bathroom, playroom etc.) It has been very helpful for shopping at auctions on the internet. I have even been able to find items by their discription when the seller has not provided a picture. This book is great and well worth its price.

The Ultimate Peanuts Collector Guide
Freddi's book is a MUST HAVE for anyone collecting or dealing in Peanuts memorabilia. The layout of the book is fabulous and you only have to go to the index to find exactly which page you need to be on unlike other guides that give you a ballpark topic. You want bobbleheads, look up bobbleheads etc! The pricing is fair and not out of this world. Some folks like to charge outlandish prices for Peanuts items but this book gives you the real scoop on what something is worth, so don't be fooled by those who tell you an item is rare and worth $100 when this book will tell you it was made yesterday and on;y worth what was originally paid for it.

The pictures are great, lots of them and clear and concise, not to mention they show the item as it should be, in pristine condition.

The Collectors Corner in the back of the book is great too because it gets you up close and personal with others who are just as crazy about Peanuts as you might be. You are not alone in your craziness!

BUY THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Book Description

"Like the New Yorker - for mutants." --Los Angeles Reader New BLAB!, meet Used BLAB! Together they make the most impressive and expressive illustration and comics compendium around. BLAB! is the annual forum for a diverse roster of the finest illustrators of our day to do essentially as they please, a publication that carries the proud tradition of unfettered graphic innovation into the future. The "used" side of this book brings together the finest of BLAB!, including the work of such luminaries as Gary Baseman, Peter Kuper, Blanquet, Christian Northeast, the Clayton Brothers, and more. The "new" side features never-before-seen work specially created for this book, with contributors including Haley Johnson, Sue Coe, Jonathon Rosen, Spain, and an introduction by neo-Dada pop star Mark Mothersbaugh. The many faces and voices of BLAB! are reproduced in a resplendent back-to-back package that provides multiple points of entry. A best-of collection, an art and design manifesto, and a new kind of visual art form in itself, New & Used BLAB! is the best survey of progressive illustration today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

awesome camille rose garcia art!
this book has the peppermint man story by camille rose garcia.the print at the m k gallery is around $500 dollars.the camille rose art makes this book worth it for me!bLINkY ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the first (and funniest) studies of comics
Don Thompson's and Dick Lupoff's' 1973 THE COMIC-BOOK BOOK is even finer than the book that precedes this, the 1970 ALL IN COLOR FOR A DIME. I used to love reading this when I was a child, wishing I could somehow get my hands on reprints of the 1940s comics stories so lovingly retold here (many of which were long out of print when I read this), especially in Maggie Thompson's fine essay on "The Spirit." Now that those old "Spirit" stories have been reproduced by DC, it's fun to go back and read these essays again, and the fascinating background information about the comics creators. the highlight of the whole book is Juanita Coulson's hilarious take on Golden Age superheroines, "Of (Super) Human Bondage": her detailing of the absurdities in an old Wonder Woman story (WW vs. Giganta the Gorilla Girl) are uproarious as well as very forward thinking.

A glimpse into the past of comic book collecting.
There was a time when comics where not collected. They were purchased, rolled-up, traded and then thrown away. However, those four-color wonders had enough of an impact on a few people that, In the 1970's, they decided to create the hobby known as comics. Those few people decided to write "The Comic-book Book."

"The Comic-book Book," like its predecessor "All in Color for a Dime," is the misty recollections of a group of friends who share the love of this peculiar art form. Each author writes an essay about the genre that affected him/her most. One essay is about the Frankenstein monster, and it's legacy in comics. Another author writes about the romance of the aviator, and how comics entered World War II before America. The Spirit and Will Eisner are the subject of one essay, and the magicians of comics (Mandrake, Zatara, Ibis...) fills another. Each essay is well written, although not particularly scholarly. Many of the authors are writing from memory, as original material was hard to locate.

The best thing about reading "The Comic-book Book" is being able to glimpse into the past, and see people gushing about comics that carry little or no monetary value. The high prices for golden age comics had not yet appeared, and the affection is genuine. A nice book to read for anyone who loves the hobby of comics. ... Read more

Author Biography

Jerry Weist first began collecting comic books and science fiction in1958 when he picked up the second issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland at hisfather's grocery store. He produced his own Monster fanzines in the early 1960s- went to his first World Science Fiction Convention in Cleveland in 1966 - andlater edited and published the groundbreaking comic book EC Fanzine SQUA TRONT!SQUA TRONT lead to his meeting Harvey Kurtzman, Bill Gaines, Frank Frazetta, AlWilliamson, Al Feldstein, and a host of other New York artists and editors. Hemoved to NYC in 1972 and established himself as an artist on the lower eastside, eventually having one-man shows at galleries in SOHO - and then moved toBoston where he started THE MILLION YEAR PICNIC - on of the first comic bookspecialty stories in the US. Shortly thereafter THE SCIENCE FANTASY BOOK STOREwas also opened in Harvard Square in Cambridge, and Mr. Weist with his partnerBarbara Boatner also published THE R. CRUMB PRICE GUIDE, and THE UNDERGROUNDPRICE GUIDE under the banner of Boatner/Norton Press. After spending ten yearsin retail the author moved to New York and convinced Sotheby's in 1991 to mountthe first major Comic Book and Comic Art auction - this sale was a successselling over one million dollars of rare comics and comic art in one afternoon -and the rest is history. Now after ten Sotheby's Comic art auctions (includingtwo successful science fiction auctions, and the very successful MAD ABOUT MADauction) that have totaled over $14 million in sales the author is updating hispopular Price Guide for Comic Art with a 2nd Edition.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

Errors, incomplete info, overly-ambitious effort
My experience and knowledge is limited to the original comic art and underground comics sections, though I wouldn't bill myself as a great authority on either. However, even I can spot dozens of factual errors in both sections, as well as many surprises found among the values given for comix. The well-known first underground comic, "Adventures of Jesus" is not even listed! Granted, Underground Comix are a very complex area of comic book history and collecting, having a variety of printers and publishers with the various editions. His guide should at least list all printings (in the interest of documentation, even if their value is minimal), and add more historical info on significant titles, including creators. I won't even go into his lack of intelligable writing ability. Surprisingly poor effort from an accomplished expert. All in all, a frustratingly incomplete and ameteurish "Waist!." Get the out-of-print Jay Kennedy guide instead.

Too Singular A View,Or More Opinions Would Have Counted!
The Author has taken a vast and nearly impenatrable subject, Comic and related Original Art and subjected his audience to a Narrow Workingmans view of a more complex and multitextured subject; Despite a life long consultancy within the economics of the Comics Field, the Author has narrow focused his opinion into an end-all-of-knowledge that disservices broader subject; it becomes obvious that the Updated and Expanded format of this PRICE GUIDE attempts to fill and redefine further areas with the same limits of success as the 1992 Price Guide. The prior 1992 Guide failed only in its limits of information: Without providing data base of cataloging Auctions and Private sales lists, these guides are only Organizational Catalogs for experienced, and Gee Whiz Look At All This Neat stuff to Newbie (Wanna be?) Collectors. The collecting community has already emailed itself insensible with observations of 'I'd pay $1000 a page OVER the guide listed prices on **** Silver Age Pages by ---- (artist);etc. Maybe the Third Guide will Be the Charm; This one needed another dozen or two of Consultants; and a MUCH MUCH expanded level of expertise and Overview.The greyed and unfocused reuse of images and data from the First guide also cheapened the whole look of this; and makes the whole production look unprofessional. ... Read more

Book Description

Follow the Amazon Princess as she evolves from curiosity to feminist icon in the Eisner Award-winning Wonder Woman: The Complete History. This book is filled with enough archival comic book art, photographs, and in-depth history to satisfy the most demanding fan -- and is now priced to appeal to the most casual reader. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

This Book is a Wonder!
An absolute must-have for any fan of Wonder Woman. Everything about the amazin' amazon, from the comic book to Ms. Magazine to the Super Friends cartoon to the 1960s and 1970s tv show (yes, I said 1960s!), is covered. And the photos of her memorabilia are priceless. You'll even find some reprints of Wonder Woman stories from her various eras (Golden Age, Silver Age, Perez). And there's even a preview of the Alex Ross-painted Wonder Woman project debuting late next year. I do wish there were more of Brian Bolland's subversive covers (as well as current cover artist Adam Hughes's) and, of course, more pics of Lynda Carter presented, but those are just minor quibbles. Les Daniel's text is well-written and well-researched, and I guarantee you'll find at least one nugget of information that's surprising (not only about creator Marston's unique life, but also the section covering Robert Kahniger's tenure as writer and some surprising revelations from later legendary editor Denny O'Neill). And Chip Kidd's layout is wonder-ful (very reminiscent of his work on the excellent Batman Animated book). This book would make the ultimate holiday gift for any fan of the character, but to be honest, I'd hate to make a true fan wait that long to savor it. This book will have them *ahem* spinning! Now, if only some record company would release a soundtrack for the tv series!

Beautiful collectible for devoted Wonder Woman fans
(Please note that this review is for the "Wonder Woman Masterpiece Edition", though my comments may also appear under the Amazon listing for Daniels' "WW Complete History Book". Though the M.E. set and the History book share some content, they are separate items, both available here at Amazon. Sorry about any confusion.)

This collector's set is arguably the nicest product released during Wonder Woman's 60th anniversary, and has been issued in two different editions: the Deluxe edition (the one Amazon offers) and a standard edition. The Deluxe version includes the following: a hardcover book entitled, "Wonder Woman: The Golden Age", a glossy reprint of WW #1 (in it's own slip holder), an 8.5 inch tall WW figure in Golden Age garb, and a folding display case (or binder) with velcro fasteners.

The hardcover book (by Les Daniels) is an abbreviated version of "WW: The Complete History"; it excludes approx 100 pages of illustrations and reprinted story panels. "Golden Age" includes the basic text from Daniel's earlier book but features a different dustjacket WW reprint image, and a different Alex Ross illustration on the back of the hardcover. The WW #1 reprint is on heavy, glossy paper stock, and includes all the original content from issue one. The WW figure included is a plastic (upper body) and rubber (lower body) composite, and includes a cloth skirt (not removeable) and golden lasso made from stretchy material. (Note that the doll in Amazon's illustration is missing the skirt, which was either cut off or left off in pre-sales production.) The figure has limited articulation: the arms rotate at the shoulders, the legs can be moved (impeded by a plastic "bustle" that fluffs up the skirt) and the knees can be bent (at preset intervals) to help stand the doll. The head can be moved slightly from side to side. It all comes in a handsome blue "binder" that can be stored on a (deep) bookshelf or left open for display.

Though this is an excellent package well-worth the money, fans may opt for the less expensive "standard" edition which omits the WW #1 reprint and binder/display case. Both sets include the "Golden Age" hardcover and 8.5" poseable figure. Highly recommended to WW memorabilia collectors.

Fun book but a couple mistakes...
First off, loved the book. It was nice to read the comments from Lynda Carter and see the multitude of changes that WW has gone through. But I did notice two things, the actress that played Wonder Woman's mother in that tiny demo in the 60's was named Maudie Pricket and the photo of Ms. Carter's costume says it is from the first season and it's not, it's from the CBS years as are the bracelets and tiara on the following page. I know Ms. Carter preferred the CBS years updated costume but the original on worn while fighting Nazis in the more humorous years will always be my absolute favorite! Thanx...

Excellent and enlightening
Wonder Woman: The Complete History is a delightful book for fans of the character, even if you only know her from the old TV show. The background of her creation by a clinical psychologist was very enlightening.

The illustrations throughout are excellent and all in all, it's terrific book, exceptionally well written by Les Daniels.

Book AND Figurine!!! Heaven!
Not only do you get hte nostalgic book with the history of this heroine, you get the figurine that you can display and become the envy of all your friends! The statue is of classic Wonder Woman, the one from the 50's. She's still wearing the skirt.

This is truly rare. It's fantastic for all collectors and a MUST-HAVE for all die-hard fans! ... Read more

Book Description

Comics book collectors turn to this valuable resource every year for the most comprehensive information available. This updated edition gives collectors everything they’ve come to expect and more.

Packed with more than 90,000 listings and more than 700 illustrations of classic and contemporary comics, collectors will find listings for D.C., Marvel, Classics Illustrated, Acclaim, Dark Horse, and more! Special sections devoted to the Golden Age, Color Comics, Black & White Comics, and Underground Comics will also delight readers.

Each listing is cross-referenced and includes issue number, title, date, artist, and current collector value. The grading guide, current market report, and tips for buying, selling, and preserving comic books will help collectors accurately and confidently evaluate and value their collections.

• Updated prices for more than 90,000 collectible comic books
• Features special sections devoted to the Golden Age, Color Comics, Black & White Comics, and Underground Comics
• Valuable collector information including grading guide, market report, and tips for buying, selling, and preserving comics ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A tribute to heroes!
I picked up this book simply because I was interested in pricing my comicbook collection. Imagine my surprise when I read the wonderful editorial on heroes (both real-world, and the four-color kind) as well as the moving tribute to those heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. I highly recomend this book to everyone!

New and Improved!
If you are looking for a great price guide to price out your comicbook collection, then this is the book for you! Fair, realistic pricing, and fine editorial content as well

An excellent upgrade to an excellent price guide
As always, the Team of Malloy, Wells, and Sodaro bring sanity and clarity to the multi-tiered world of comicbook prices. This guide has consistently ranked as one of the best price guides on the market. Malloy truly has a handle on what stuff is truly worth. This edition is especially relevant in the post 9/11 world, as it contains a pair of stirring tributes to "Heroes" (both the four-color and the real-world kind). I heartily recommend this book ... Read more

Book Description

The Batman mythology has fired the American imagination since 1939. Its ever-growing popularity right up until today has spawned thousands of toys, gadgets, plastic figurines, night-lights, wind-up toys, wristwatches,and many other collectibles. Drawing upon the author’s own personal collection, as well as those of such notable fans as Andy Warhol and the DC Comics archives, Batman Collected brings these memorabilia to life. Perfect for the comic lover, here is a remarkable wealth of rare, never-before-photographed Batman treasures. Extreme close-up photography and dramatic chiaroscuro lighting give these materials a magnificent aura of dark menace that brilliantly reflects the Batman ethos.

New to this remarkable paperback edition are 16 brand-new pages of fresh material not included in the original 1996 hardcover,including newly issued collectibles as well as obscure, recently discovered items. Featuring five lavish gatefolds among its colorful pages, Batman Collected is a treasure trove of fascinating history and adventurous graphic design that no true Batman fan can afford to be without. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Nifty as heck
Chip Kidd loves Batman and it shows on each and every page of this gasp-inspiring book. If you're like me and and grew up with unrequited desire for each and every Batman-related product available, these pictures are almost as good as having the real items.

Text is sparse, but entertaining. And if you have the hardcover version of this book, you'll want this new edition as well for the new material included.

Kidd's book a treasure
As the editor of the Batman Toy and Collectibles Price Guide located at http://www.btcpg.com I can assure Batman toy collectors that this book is wonderful. It's pages are a bit too filled with tight shots of close ups of Batman pieces instead of the whole item, but then that's why MY publication exists.

GREAT EXPECIALLY IF U LIKE THE GOLDEN AGE
I LIKE THE BOOK BECAUSE IT HAS GREAT PICS I MEAN THINK THE BOOK SAID THAT IT HAD 250 SOMETING PICS AND THE SUMMARY IS GOOD IT IS A MUST FOR ALL BATMAN FANS

Excellent pictures!! A must for Batman toy collectors!!
As the editor and publisher of the Batman Toy and Collectibles Price Guide, I highly recommend this book to those who collect Batman toys as yet another source of information on our great hobby. We here at the BT&CPG use this book whenever we do our DETAILED listings, as the full color pictures are ALMOST like having the Batman toy in front of us! Thank you Chip Kidd, and feel free to contact us at jmack@azstarnet.co

A must for Batman Collectors!
If you're looking to relive your childhood and loved Batman and Batman related merchandise ---this is the book for you! It is not a Price Guide of Batman collectibles, but a stunning photographic Batman timeline. The photos are highly detailed and very unique! There are toys pictured that you wished you had as a child and now you get the next best thing. $50.00 is little to spend for this "coffee table" sized book that will make you feel like a kid again..."Batman Collected" is the quickest way to find your fountain of youth! ... Read more

Book Description

This Collector's Value Guide to the well-known comic book series features color photos and values for the popular comic books, an overview of the new X-Men collectible card game, features on other X-Men collectibles including action figures and trading cards.It also features a spotlight on the new movie and animated television series.Be sure to check out our other great titles such as: Pokemon, Hot Wheels, Digimon and more! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

enter the world of X-Men
For any beginner in the X-Men universe collecting, this book is definitely worth buying. Now, the main problem with any collector's value guide is to become obsolete within the year it is published. Nevertheless, this first edition achieve to be pleasant to read, informative, and full of pictures. Still, ALL X-Men books are not displayed Although I have been a fan of X-Men a few years ago, this guide was helpful to catch what I missed. I can't ask for more, except to expect more for the second edition. ... Read more

Book Description

Collectors can check the values of over 20,000 of the most interesting comic books from 1935 to today with this pocket-sized, full-color guide. Super hero comics, TV comics, movie comics, western comics, romance comics, horror comics, humor comics, Japanese manga--all genres are covered, and the book also includes fascinating facts from the authors! Readers will discover the most valuable titles as well as some of the more unusual titles out there. Superman, Spider-Man, Star Wars--they're all here!

Over 500 spectacular color photographs appear in this reference, and a helpful multi-page, full-color grading guide is provided to make it easy to determine the condition of comics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

CARTOON FRIENDS OF THE BABY BOOM ERA
This book has great description of all the fabulous cartoon toys made in the sixties. The photos are outstanding. Wow! This book really captures that feeling you had when you were a kid. I love the honesty and the perfection that the author put in this book as well. This book was put together with great preparation. If you want a guide to all the great cartoon toys of the past, I recommend you to buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

In October 1931, Dick Tracy made his debut on the American newspaper pages. Through extensive research and interviews with Chester Gould (the creator of "Dick Tracy"), his assistants, Dick Locher (the current artist), Mark Allan Collins (who scriptedthe stories for 15 years), and many others associated with the strip, Dick Tracy as a cultural icon emerges. The artists are fully revealed and Dick Tracy paraphernalia and the 1990 movie Dick Tracy are discussed. Dick Tracy's appearances in other media-books, comics, radio, movie serials, "B" movies, television dramas, and animated cartoons-are fully covered. ... Read more