Read: The Art of Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga

Synopsis:
Osamu Tezuka has often been called “the god of manga” and “the Walt Disney of Japan,” but he was far more than that. Tezuka was Walt Disney, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Tim Burton, and Carl Sagan all rolled into one incredibly prolific creator, changing the face of Japanese culture forever. Best known for Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion, Tezuka was instrumental in developing Japanese animation and modern manga comics.

The Art of Osamu Tezuka is the first authorized biography celebrating his work and life and featuring over 300 images—many of which have never been seen outside of Japan. With text by respected manga expert Helen McCarthy, The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga pays tribute to the work of an artist, writer, animator, doctor, entrepreneur, and traveler whose curious mind spawned dozens of animated films, and over 170,000 pages of comics art in one astonishingly creative lifetime.

The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga also includes an exclusive 45-minute DVD documentary covering Tezuka’s prolific career, from his early manga characters to his later animation work. The package is out of the ordinary as well. It is a hardcover with an onlay and a vinyl jacket.

272 pages, hardcover, published by: Abrams ComicArts

The 1966 poster for the Japanese theatrical release of the first Kimba The White Lion movie entitled Jungle Emperor.

posted by: Brent Carter

Read: Born To Run by Christopher McDougall

Book Description:
“Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.

“Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.

“With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. Born to Run is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.”

Read excerpts from Born To Run here

posted by: Brent Carter

New Henry Darger Book Hits Shelves

Publisher’s Summary:
“This large-format, lavishly illustrated volume presents the iconic American outsider artist in a new critical light, locating him for the first time as a major figure in the history of contemporary art. Self-taught and working in isolation until his death in 1973, Henry Darger realized an elaborate fantasy world of remarkable beauty and strangeness, through hundreds of paintings and an epic written narrative. Angel-like Blengins with butterfly wings, natural catastrophes, innocent girls, and murderous soldiers all appear in Darger’s scenes, which are reproduced in this book in double-page and gatefold spreads. In the volume’s introductory essay, Klaus Biesenbach examines the radical originality of Darger’s art, including his use of collage, incorporation of religious themes and iconography, and frequent juxtaposition of innocence with violence. An essay by Brooke Davis Anderson illuminates Darger’s source materials and techniques. Michael Bonesteel puts Darger’s life in the context of his work and selects key texts to accompany the illustrations. The book also includes for the first time the text of Darger’s History of My Life, the artist’s autobiography. The only book of its kind, Henry Darger offers an authoritative, balanced, and insightful look at an American master. Hardcover, color. 320 pages. $85″ (Prestel)

We highly suggest watching the 2004 documentary entitled In The Realms of the Unreal for more information about Darger’s art, his now famous characters the Vivian Girls and his mysterious life. The original works by Darger can be seen at the American Folk Art Museum in NYC through September 13, 2010.

Long Lost Vampire Tales Rise From The Dead

There was a time, not long ago, when getting caught reading, watching, or having a remote interest in anything vampire related relegated you to the lowest, dorkiest rung on the ladder. This was before the Twilight series was a gleam in Stephanie Meyer’s eyes, back when the Vampire Diaries was a series of books read by nerds in their bedroom closets, back when Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise was the hottest thing in fangs. Needless to say, vampire tales weren’t as widespread as they are today.

What follows is a list of four books and one TV show I discovered way back when I was a frustrated vampire lover, desperately hungry for anything undead. These little bits of fangtastic delights are mostly lurking in the shadows of the vampire realm, still undiscovered by all but the most obsessive vampire fans – although they’ve been around since before Robert Pattinson could even read grownup books. In any case, each of these tales have put a stake in a special place in my heart, I hope you enjoy!

Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
I was a teenager when I found this one, and the story of the little half-breed vampire Nothing trying to make his way in small town Missing Mile, North Carolina really sunk its teeth into my imagination. After reading the gruesome, exhilarating, and terribly attractive adventures of Nothing after finally meeting some of his kind and heading to New Orleans, I was tempted to run away and change my name to Nothing too. Ah, what might have been.

Obsession and Possession by Lori Herter
Yes, these are pretty much straight up romance novels. But lets not kid ourselves, most vampire tales have more than a little touch of bodice ripping melodrama. And at least they’re up front about what you’re getting, “A night of passion . . . an eternity of unquenchable desire.” They are for the vampire lovers who, in the immortal words of Toby Keith, want “A little less talk and a lot more action.” Stick a stake in me, I’m done!

The Need by Andrew Neiderman
Tired of the usual…vampire meets girl, vampire struggles over whether or not to suck girls blood/make her like him, vampire and girl fall in love, vampire fights his kind/his brother/himself… story? Then this one’s for you. We’ve got vampires that feed off human essence – sort of, but not exactly like the Skeksis from The Dark Crystal.  Oh yeah, they also begin to change sex when they hit puberty.

The Vampire Odyssey by Scott Ciencin
Here’s another story of a half-breed vampire, raised by a human mother who – surprise – happens to be a police officer! Hijinks ensue as Dani (the vamp) and Sam (her mom cop) move to big bad Hollywood where anything can happen – especially to a shy, confused vampling with self-esteem problems. I don’t want to give away too much, but there’s enough of everything – from sex, to violence, to mystery, and (of course) drama – in this ripping story of the rich, famous, the undead and the forces who fight to save us all.

Forever Knight created by Barney Cohen and James D. Parriott
This is one of the original vampire TV series, starring Geraint Wyn Davies as Detective Nick Knight. Now, this night beat cop is – as you may have guessed – not your normal cop. No, he’s an 800 year old vampire trying to atone for almost a millennium of sins by working the mean streets of modern day Toronto. Too bad he can’t stay off the blood. This show, which ran on CBS as part of their “Crimetime after Primetime” lineup in the early nineties, contains plenty of awesomely horrible special effects.

So if you’re feeling like a good long suck, check out some of these lovely works of vampire fun. They’ll never grow old and stale, but you better hurry before Stephanie Meyer or the CW get their hands on them!

by: Meghan Bainum

Book City Jackets Releases Artists Edition No. 2

Book City Jackets, makers of fine kraft paper book covers, is proud to present their second set in the Artists Edition series. This run, available now, features original drawings by Nishat Akthar, Cheeming Boey and Rathaus favorite Micheal C. Hsiung. Each Artists Edition set retails for $12, a fair price for some art you can use to spruce up those lame textbook covers or to hide an Oprah Book Club selection sticker. The entire Book City Jackets line is available online here.

by: Michael C. Hsiung

by: Nishat Akthar

by: Cheeming Boey

posted by: Harold Johns III