That’s why I am so thrilled about Abrams Books new Star Trek The Original Series 365 written by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdman with a foreword by longtime Star Trek writer D.C. Fontana.
Packed with never-seen-before photos, special commissioned photographs and pages filled with episodic anecdotes, production secrets and comments by the cast and crew this 365 day celebration of Star Trek The Original Series is almost exciting as watching the original series for the first time.
For another type of ‘Star’ movie, check out Abrams Star Wars Visions with foreword by none other than Star Wars creator George Lucas with an introduction provided by J.W. Rinzler.
This unique take on Star Wars showcases some of today’s top illustrators and painters with works based on a Star Wars theme. Pages showcase various scenes from the films, character interpretations, alien world vistas and key moments and events as seen in the films. Each painting or illustration is totally unique and original- much like the Star Wars films themselves. Artist bios are included in the back of the book.
Like director/writer George Lucas, author/director James Cameron has revolutionized the movie industry and the way movies, especially special effects, are made. Cameron has been responsible for such blockbuster films as T1, T2, Titanic and most recently Avatar.
With Avatar Cameron broke new cinematic ground. For the first time full-motion capture was used to its fullest intent with actors and actors performing on bare stages with only green and blue screen backgrounds, with minimal physical props and clad in motion sensor leotards and tracking dots painted on their faces and bodies.
Cameron was able to place the actors in scenes via computer technology and orchestrate scenes using a revolutionary mobile camera tracker to stage scenes. The results were stunning. Fully computer created characters, creatures and environments looked amazingly real and in digital 3D all literally popped off the screen.
In The Making Of Avatar, Jody Duncan and Lisa Fitzpatrick follow Cameron and his case and crew as they create the world of Avatar, redefine movie-making, test new machinery and computer software and set up and film what would become the highest grossing film of all time.
Full color photos chronicle Cameron’s quest to make the ultimate visual experience using today’s cutting-edge technology. Look behind-the-scenes, read cast and crew comments and observations and emerge yourself into movie-making history from Abram Books.
Back in the early to mid-1950s comic books came under fire. Doctor Fredrick Wertham postulated that comic books were the bane of modern American society and should be outlawed. He drew this conclusion from the fact that juvenile offenders tended to read comic books- thus, comic books created juvenile delinquency and eventually hardened criminals. He completely discounted the fact that most law breakers tended to be almost illiterate and comic books offered a simple, easy-to-understand reading venue.
But, comic book publishers didn’t help their own defense considering at the time what was being published. Many publishers, especially EC Comics, pushed the boundaries of good taste, appropriate content and acceptable norms. Comic books were filled with horrific tales of murder, mayhem, dismemberment, witchcraft, devil worship, human suffering and mutilation. Is it any wonder that during the time of the Communist witch hunt that paranoia leaked over to comic books?
In Abram ComicArt's new The Horror, The Horror compiled by Jim Trombetta, readers are treated to reprinted comic book stories that were considered too violent and gross by the U.S. Government at the time they were originally published.
Besides the reprinted tales the book also showcases various cover art, commentaries by many of the surviving artists and writers and the various genres broken down by type.
A DVD containing the original 1955 30-minute TV special ‘Confidential File’ lamenting the evils of comic books is also included.
Another Abrams ComicArt title, Jerry Robinson Ambassador Of Comics by N.C. Christopher Couch, follows the career of one of the most influential writer, creators in the comic book filed.
Jerry Robinson started his career as an artist in the early Golden age and soon came to prominence as the artist on Batman under batman’s creator Bob Kane’s direction. Jerry’s style exuded action and adventure. His illustrations boasted dynamic layouts, the clever use of perspective and character designs and clean crisp inks.
Robinson’s career would carry him through the Silver, Bronze and Modern Ages of comic books and eventually into book and magazine illustration, movie work and finally as the premiere ambassador to world about comic books.
His range of artwork is second to none and his style constantly evolves. His talent includes illustration, painting, collage and a myriad of other techniques and media. Few artists can compare to his talent for cartooning, realistic portraiture, impressive advertising work and prodigious output.
For an eye-opening journey into one artist’s work and life be sure to pick up a copy of Jerry Robinson Ambassador Of Comics.
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