Visual Start Guide Adobe Photoshop

I requested this review copy of Peachpit Press’s Visual Quickstart Guide Adobe Photoshop for several reasons.

First off-I’ve started designing again and I have to admit I’m a little rusty.

I’ve began a series of book illustrations using Photoshop (albeit it is an old version).

You may be asking yourself what has that got to do with Peachpit’s Photoshop book?

First and foremost I need to get up to speed on Photoshop and I know of no better source to do so that than with Peachpit Press’s Photoshop book which includes a free web edition with a video.

Peachpit offers the very best instructional books on all of Adobe’s products along with a vast library of instructional books on a variety of other computer programs.

My second reason for requesting the book is that it is my hope to get the newest version of Adobe Photoshop soon. I need to know ahead of time as to what to expect.

Authors Nigel French and Mike Rankin make it easy to understand Photoshop. Having worked in the program before I am familiar with many of its capabilities.

But, a lot has changed with the program over the last few years, including offering new functions, effects, etc.

The book uses lots of visuals combined with step-by-step comprehensive instructions and explanations.

I intend to keep this book close at hand as I learn and relearn the intricacies of Photoshop. Trust me, I’m that rusty. But I’m sure by using the Visual Quickstart Guide I’ll be up and current in no time at all. 

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." — John 14:27

The Comic Book Heroes

Fights In Tights!

If you’re new to reading and collecting comic books it can be a real challenge to get up to date on the dozens-hundreds-of superheroes titles in print from the Big 2 to other publishers. 

Gerald Jones’ and Will Jacobs’ The Comic Book Heroes book from Crown Publishing Group, T.H.E./Prima brings readers up to date up until the late 1990s.

Beginning with the Silver Age the book examines the following decades up until the late 1990s.

Subjects include characters, events, publishers, industry trends and a plethora of information about comic books published from that period.

The book provides concise and fact-filled text examining the various trends, titles and developments within all the large and small publishers.

It offers a great way to get up to speed not only about characters but their stories, events and backgrounds as well.

I use the book as a quick reference tool and it has proved itself an invaluable aid.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Winston Effect

Learn all about the art and history of Stan Winston Studios! Jurassic Park, The Terminator, Aliens, Predator and The Thing are just a few of the films Stan Winston Studios worked on.

The large hardbound book: The Winston Effect, written by Judy Duncan and published by Titan Books, features a foreword by director James Cameron and a beautiful full color montage cover photo of the various creatures created by Stan Winston Studios.

Inside the author leads you through the history of Stan Winston studios from its humble beginning creating mostly facial alterations of actors and actresses until its big break with the first Terminator film and beyond.

Full color photos, interesting text, with commentaries and behind the scenes secrets, guide readers through the decades as the Stan Winston Studio craftsmen perfect their craft.

Look for production sketches and art, concept to completion photos of various creatures, details on armature and interior mechanics and electronics and more.

It’s mesmerizing collection of photos of some of the most iconic creatures and characters in movie history all brought to life by Stan Winston Studio artists and craftsmen.

From simple makeup to gigantic mechanized monsters seen in Jurassic Park and Aliens this book covers them all.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7

Austin Powers

Back in the late 1990s actor Mike Myers presented to the world one of the most iconic an original characters ever seen on the Silver Screen.

Taking his inspiration from the James Bond films and other spy films from the 1960s Myers created Austin Powers The International Man Of Intrigue.

Myers both starred as the perpetually horny British super spy Austin Powers (bad teeth and all) and his nemesis the nefarious Dr. Evil (fashioned after James Bond nemesis Ernst Blofeld)

Austin Powers proved so popular that two more films were produced that introduced even more Mike Myers characters including Gold Member and Fat Bastard.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek the Austin Powers films made fun and paid homage to the spy films of the 1960s.

Catch phrases such as:

• Because you never kill him when you get the chance to and you’re a big dope?
• Can I have hug?
• Do you know what’s remarkable? It’s how much England looks in no way like Southern California.
• Dr. Evil! I didn’t spend six years in evil medical school to be called
• Oh behave!
• Oh groovy, baby!
• Shall we shag now? Or shall we shag later?
• Who throws a cupcake? Honestly.
• Why must I be surrounded by frickin’ idiots?
• Zip it!
• ...and many, many more!

McFarlane Toys nabbed the Austin Powers toy license for the films and turned out some of the most hilarious, clever and well-done figures at that time.

I’ve chosen two figures from the first series of figures: Austin Powers and Dr. Evil.

The sculpting work on both match the look of the characters as played by Mike Myers is amazing.

Both figures are partially articulated and come with small sound boxes that spout famous phrases from both figures.

Along with figures are special Austin Powers display stands that hold the sound mechanism and a small tab that hold the figures upright when posed.

The packaging consists of a clear plastic front with interior plastic cocoons for holding the figures and stands along wit individual accessories.

The colorful card hangers can also set on shelves.

The Austin Powers figure is posed in Austin’s swinging sixties stances: with both legs slightly bent, arms drawn to his sides and hands pointing.

The figure comes dressed in Austin's trademark red velvet suit with frilly collar shirt, Nehru jacket, tight pants and pointed black boots.

Austin wears his black rimmed glasses and sports his silly grin-bad teeth and all.

Included with the highly detailed figure are a British flag, book and an extra hand holding a gun.  “Yeah baby, yeah!”

“Why must I be surrounded by Frinkin' idiots?”

Does that phrase sound familiar?  It should, it’s one of Dr. Evil’s catchphrases and it’s exactly what the 6-inch, McFarland Toys 1st Series Dr. Evil says.

Dr. Evil is dressed in his drab gray suit with its long doctor frock suit coat and white shoes.

The Dr. holds his right pinky to his mouth and looks as if he is about to utter, “One billion dollars!”

Included with the figure are a bundle of money, Mr. Bigglesworth the bald cat, with collar.

Paint application on both figures is clean, smooth, has no rough edges and matches their namesakes coloring.

Articulation is well hidden on the figures.

The Series 2 Carnaby Street Austin also is posed in one of Austin Power’s outrageous outfits.  Legs slightly bent with his right hand flailed out and his left on his hip the laughing figure has brand new fixed teeth, shaggy hair, and black rimmed glasses.

He comes with an elaborate dental kit of toothpaste, a toothbrush and various picks and cleaners.

He’s dressed in a loud white, light blue and dark blue stripped two-piece suit with blue and white neck kerchief, red shirt and pointed high heel ankle boots.

“What do you think of my shag pad darling?” is his catchphrase.

“Welcome to my moon base” is the phrase the Series 2 Moon Mission Dr. Evil plays.

Dr. Evil comes in a full body, silver  suit spacesuit with heavy boots, striated gloves, a large breathing/communication chest mounted apparatus and a clear fishbowl space helmet.

The Dr. stands saluting with two fingers.

Included with the figure s a silver suitcase full of cash and a tube containing Austin Powers’ mojo.

Sexy Series 2 Vanessa Kensington is all business; “You can address me as Agent Kensington.”

Decked out in a solid black leather body suit with the chest zipper pulled seductively low the Vanessa figure smiles her pearly whites and stands with legs slightly apart with her right handed posed to hold the accompanying champagne glass.  

Included with the figure are a champagne bottle, a magnifying glass and a laptop computer with her boss’s face on it: Basil Exposition.

She’s a raven hair beauty with plenty of brains and Austin is crazy about her-too bad she’s a Fembot!

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." — Proverbs 3:3-4

Audie Murphy

During World War II Audie Murphy distinguished himself in combat and for his act of bravery was awarded the Medal Of Honor.

His story was so inspiring that it spawned a movie in which he starred as himself.

The movie did so well that soon Audie found himself in demand in Hollywood and as a result had a long and prosperous career as an actor.

Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s 12-inch military, articulated action figures were all the rage with toy collectibles.

The figures had a cross collector appeal.  Both toy collectors and military collectors bought the figures.

A plethora of toy companies, both old and new-began cranking out figures.  Some were high quality while others were cheap and poorly made.

So, it was only natural that the original 12-inch military figure toy manufacturer would jump into the fray.

Hasbro Toys owned the G.I. Joe toy franchise.  Its 3 1.2 inch series of G.I. Joe figures were hugely popular.

Hasbro began producing more 12-inch G.I. Joe figures-many of them special commemorative and limited editions.

The Medal Of Honor Recipient Audie Murphy was one such figure.  It commemorated the exploits of Audie during World War II.

The figure and accessories are secured in a clear plastic viewing section.  The accessories are sealed in a from-fitting plastic cocoon and wire strands hold the figure in place.

The box is a flip lid box with a full color painting of Audie in action on the front, full background and figure information on the inside of the flap and the same full color painting as the front on the back, but slightly smaller.

The figure captures the look of Audie to perfection right down to his very distinct features.

It wears a standard issue army khaki outfit with a jacket with pockets, an under vest and shirt, ammo belt with pouches, an ammo cartridge, khaki pants and black military boots.

Included with figure are a World War II helmet with insignia, a standard rifle with clip and working bolt, a canteen, dog tags and 45 automatic pistol with leather holster.

Also included is a huge tri-mounted machine gun with a working bolt, adjustable legs and an ammo belt loaded with bullets that feed into the machine gun.

Details on the weapons are historically correct with working parts and to scale.

The figure's belt has a working buckle.  The pistol fits snuggly into the holster and the figure's fingers can grasp the weapons and accessories.

Sculpt work is precise and clean with no rough edges and the clothing fits correctly on the figure with realistic folds and creases.

Articulation is tight and allows the figure to pose in various action stances.

It’s well crafted figure with impressive accessories, nice color application and well-stitched and sewn clothing.

 "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7

Showcase Presents Metamorpho The Element Man #1

Imagine having the power to turn into any type of element at will. The only downside is that you look like a jigsaw puzzle consisting of elements.

Adventurer Rex Morgan is the ultimate thrill-seeker and will take on any assignment or challenge for the right price.

But when he steals a powerful artifact, The Orb Of Ra, from millionaire Simon Stagg he gets far more than he bargained for

The Orb transforms Rex’s body into a little conglomeration of elements.

Reluctantly Rex takes on more assignments for the millionaire (Who promises to one day cure him) mostly so he can court his lovely daughter Sapphire over the objections of Stagg’s ape man assistant Java,

Follow Metamorpho in some the most outrageous and imaginative adventures ever to see print in comic books.

DC Comics presents Showcase Presents #1 Metamorpho The Element Man that reprints his early adventures starting with The Brave and The Bold #57 into his own title,

Plus see him take on some of the most diabolical villains in the DC Universe and teaming up with other DC Comics heroes.2  

Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

 

No Strings Attached

Everything you ever want to know about Jim Henson’s Creature Shop is contained in No Strings Attached.

When most people hear the name Jim Henson they immediately associate it with The Muppets and Sesame Street.

Jim Henson started out with his unique puppets on a local TV station, graduated to the Ed Sullivan Show and The Jimmy Dean Show and then garnered worldwide attention with Sesame Street.

Who can forget Kermit The Frog, The Count, Oscar The Grouch, Bert and Ernie, The Cookie Monster and the other Muppet citizens of Sesame Street?

As popular as The Muppets were Jim had bigger aspirations for his puppets, including movies.

At first he brought his Muppets such as Kermit and Miss Piggy to the big screen.  After that he became daring in his utilization of cutting edge puppetry with such movies as The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

He would go on to create puppets for TV shows, movies and more.

His Creature Shop incorporated the latest state of the art remote controls, figure articulation and outrageous designs and costumes.

In The Inside Story Of Jim Henson's Creature Shop No Strings Attached book, by Matt Bacon from Chronicle Books, with a foreword by Jim’s son Brian, readers are witness to the progression of puppetry by the Creature Shop over several decades.

Learn all about the clever mechanics and designs of each of the revolutionary puppets. Discover the ingenuity and genius behind each as well as the various daring projects the Creature Shop staff took on.

It’s an oversize hardbound book bulging with photos, engrossing text and a peek behind the scenes on how it was all done. 

Proverbs 18:22 (NKJV) “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.”

Corpse Bride

Leave it to director Tim Burton to come up with another bizarre stop-motion movie almost as strange as The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Corpse Bride if filled with memorial dead and living characters all done with Tim Burton’s distinctive character designs.

My daughter loves The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride. In fact she loves all of Tim Burton’s stop-motion animated films.

McFarlane Toys created a Corpse Bride Mini-Figure Collector Set: Land Of The Living The Everglot Set for ages 5 years old and up.

Four creepy figures come in the set: Victoria, Mr. Everglot, Mrs. Everglot and Barkis Billers.

Each figure is colored is shades of gray and black and white giving them an old photograph look.

The set comes in a long rectangular box with a clear plastic viewing panel on its front.

The figures stand poised in their clear plastic form-fitting cocoon and held in place by wires.

Twin stand panels painted to look like stone are behind the figures and placed in front of a spooky forest backdrop,

All of the figures come dressed in dour and drab Victorian attire.

Victoria, despite her dowdy attire, looks beautiful with her china white skin, large expressive eyes, small mouth and pert nose.  Her hair is pulled back in a bun.

She wears a floor length dress with high collar, padded shoulders, a small waist and a large skirt with vertical strips and three rows of ruffled lace at its base.

Mr. Everglot, the portly patriarch of the family wears a three-piece suit with trousers, vest and jacket.

A ruffled tie complements his light gray ruffled shirt.  His spindly legs end in pointed black shoes.

He holds his jacket open and the scowl on his face best describes his demeanor.

He has a large toad like mouth, deep-set cruel eyes, a small patch of hair with a cowlick and he wears a watch with a gold watch fob chain.

Mrs. Everglot is tall, very busty, has a large haystack of hair, sharp features and long slender arms with claw like hands.

She too wears a full-length dress with padded shoulders but no with no frills or fancy laces.

The Barkis Billers figure stands tall and proud with his chest puffed out.  He wears a long tail jacket with matching vest, a white shirt, tie, long pinstripe pants and black shoes.

His face is pulled back in a self-righteous sneer made even more condescending by his large jutting chin, beady eyes, slightly long gray hair and the high collar that frames his face.

All of the figures are nicely painted and colored with subtle variations of gray, waxen skin tones and crisp lines with no bleedovers in the edges.

Considering how small the figures are the sculpt work is finely crafted, cleverly articulated and posed to match the personality of each figure. 

Psalm 16:8 (NKJV) “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

Monsters Unleashed!

Are you ready for a truly cinematic Marvel Comics experience? If so, you need to search out a copy of Monsters Unleashed! which reprints the 5-part mini-series in giant hardbound poster size! Wow!

The Avengers, The Champions, The Guardians Of The Galaxy, The X-Men and The Inhumans battle a sudden surge of monsters that are on a destructive path to destroy every corner of the Marvel Universe.

But, is it just monstrous stampede or is someone behind the monster mayhem?

Be sure to check out the oversize hardbound book from Marvel that includes incredible monstrous vistas, some spectacular art and full-bleed pages printed on high gloss paper,

Marvel Comics’ top illustrators contribute to the story with some spectacular, in-your-face art complemented by dynamic colors.

Here's the best part:  I bought it for $7.99 plus tax at Ollie's!

Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) “ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

 

Fantasy & Science Fiction #765, January/February 2023

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." — Ephesians 6:11

The OMAC Project

Imagine creating a computer program placed in an A.I. satellite that was meant to protect the world from superheroes should they go bad.

Imagine that same program kidnapped and used to create an army of human OMAC (One Man Army Corps) that threaten to take over the world.

That’s the quandary Batman found himself in as he, along with other superheroes, must battle his creation that was meant to stop them should they go rogue.

Checkmate’s Black King Maxwell Lord devised a plan to eliminate the world's superbeings-or at least those that chose to oppose him.

When Blue Beetle discovered his plan Lord killed him in cold blood thus setting up the events in the Infinite Crisis maxi-series and it ramifications.

There are those in the Checkmate organization who disagreed with Maxwell's plan and unsuccessfully tried to stop him.

But, one individual had the foresight to notify Batman that Maxwell Lord had taken over Batman’s OMAC satellite but not before Maxwell activated it.

The OMAC Project was the prelude to one of the biggest events in the DC Comics Universe back in 2005.

The results of the events that happened are still being felt n the DC Universe today despite the ‘New 52’ and ‘Rebirth’ sagas that have since taken place since.

The events almost tore the Justice League apart as the members learned about Batman’s preparation to take out the other JLA members should they go rogue.  

Matthew 19:26 (NIV) “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Jedi Path

The life of a Jedi is not an easy one.  It’s a convoluted and precarious path as it starts with childhood and continues an entire lifetime.

Jedi’s must learn to put their feelings aside along with their own personal wants and needs.

A Jedi is to serve the greater good and never use the power of The Force for their own gain.

Those who do not follow that edict are susceptible to the Dark Side and its corrupting and seductive power.  

In The Jedi Path book, from Chronicle Books, readers learn all there is about The Force-both the good and the bad.

Contained in the little blue hardbound book is the history of the Jedi, what a Padawan is, how to become a Jedi Knight, fighting techniques, the various powered manifestations of The Force and so forth.

Learn about the galaxy, the aliens and beasts that inhabit it, the various cultures, customs and civilizations that are scattered across it and the multitude of locations of important Jedi temples and structures.

For such as small book it’s packed with information.

“Judge me by my size, do you?”

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

DC Comics One Million #1

Is This The DC Universe In The Future?

What happens when descendants of today’s top DC Comics heroes travel back in time almost a million years to request the help of their ancestors?

Things look on the up and up but looks can be deceiving.

The JLA receive a telepathic message from the far future.  It seems the descendants of the JLA wish them to take part in a celebration of the Prime Superman returning to earth form his Fortress of Solitude in the sun.

Telepathic scanning indicates the future JLA are telling the truth-or so it seems.

Each member of the original JLA team up with their future counterparts in preparation for the event to take place in the future.

The first to team up are the Batman and his future version.  Suddenly Batman is incapacitated by the future Batman.

As the individual members of the current JLA enter the future time stream they are in for a shock.

It seems Vandal Save and Solaris have teamed up to not only to take out the JLA, but to conquer mankind as well.

Now that the core members of the JLA are incapacitated, who will save them?

To find out pick u the entire DC Comics One Million 4-part mini-series to find out.

Only the mind of writer Grant Morrison could dream up such a tale.  Get ready for some unexcited events and surprise appearances.

Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.”

Magazine: Upcoming!! Diamond Previews, January 2023

 

 "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life." — Psalm 143:8

Black Adam

Truthfully-the DC Comics movies haven’t always been met with huge successes.

Personally I like all of them. The new Batman movie hit it out of the park and Aquaman surprised everyone and was a smash success.

The Wonder Woman movies (especially the first one) did well and the Justice League movie did justice to the Justice League.

Still, DC movies have not fared as well as Marvel Comics movies.

That’s about to change.

When Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson stated he wanted to play the anti-hero Black Adam going on 10 years ago, fans were skeptical.

But, Dwayne persevered and successfully launched Black Adam on the silver screen.

Along with him he brought the Justice Society and gave the DC Universe movies a huge boost.

Black Adam follows the origin of the anti-hero and his ‘rebirth’ in modern times where he must choose to use his powers for good or evil.

Things get a little bumpy in the beginning when Black Adam tackles the Justice Society. In the end Black Adam pursues his own form of ‘justice’ in the modern world.

Packed with incredible action scenes, impressive special effects and some kick butt fights Black Adam rejuvenated the DC Comics movies so much so that Warner Bros. has decided to revamp the whole movie franchise and set in motion-its own 10-year plan, headed by director James Gunn.

Remarkably Dwayne Johnson needed no muscle suit in the film but instead pumped himself up to the best shape of his life and filled out his Black Adam outfit to near bursting.

The Black Adam Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Code Combo Pack from Warner Bros./Discovery also includes special features: a history of Black Adam, a look at the Justice Society, featurettes on Black Adam, costume designs and much more.

The future looks bright for DC Comics superhero movies and Black Adam is just the beginning.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him,and He will make your paths straight." — Proverbs 3:5-6