(W) Eddie Zeno With a comics career dating back to 1941, Al Plastino was one of the last surviving penciler/inkers of his era. Laboring uncredited on Superman for two decades (1948-1968), he co-created Supergirl, Brainiac, and the Legion of Super-Heroes, drawing those characters' first appearances, and illustrating the initial comics story to feature Kryptonite. He was called upon to help maintain the DC Comics house-style by redrawing other artists' Superman heads, most notoriously Jack Kirby. With a foreword by Paul Levitz, this book was completed just weeks before Al's recent passing. In these pages, the artist remembers both his struggles and triumphs in the world of comics, cartooning and beyond, painting a layered portrait of Plastino's life and career. And a wealth of illustrations show just how influential a figure he is in the history of comics.

The American Comic Book Chronicles is an ambitious new series of full-color hardcovers, where TwoMorrows' top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s to today! John Wells covers all the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of comics in the JFK and Beatles era, including: DC Comics' rebirth of Green Lantern and Hawkman and the launch of Justice League of America. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's transformation of superhero comics with Marvel's Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Hulk, and other iconic characters! These are just a few of the events chronicled in this exhaustive, full-color hardcover. Taken together, the series forms a cohesive, linear overview of the entire landscape of comics history.

(W) Peter Bosch (A) Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, Frank Frazetta (CA) Various In AMERICAN MOVIE COMIC BOOKS (1930s-1970s), author PETER BOSCH continues his remarkable history of Hollywood?s ongoing love affair with comic books. The sequel to AMERICAN TV COMIC BOOKS, this new book looks at hundreds of Tinseltown?s motion pictures that made the jump from the silver screen to the comics page, starting from the days of Charlie Chaplin and continuing through to the wonders of Steven Spielberg. Along with comics story pages from the industry?s greatest talents?including JACK KIRBY, RUSS MANNING, AL WILLIAMSON, FRANK FRAZETTA, ALEX TOTH, DAN SPIEGLE, WALLACE WOOD, STEVE DITKO, JOHN BUSCEMA, GEORGE P?REZ, and WALTER SIMONSON (to name just a few!)?you will discover full-color photo covers, posters, original art, and much more! It?s the ultimate reference for films from the Thirties to the Seventies that were adapted to comics, including The Wizard of Oz, Ben-Hur, Around the World in 80 Days, Disney?s cinema classics and animated movies, Yellow Submarine, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Alien, The

The Best of DRAW!, Volume Three collects more of the best tutorials and interviews from DRAW!, the professional 'How-To' magazine on comics and cartooning! Featured here are the top artists in the comics and animation fields - penciling by Mike Wieringo, illustration by Dan Brereton, design by Paul Rivoche, cartooning by Bill Wray, inking by Mike Manley, and much more! Watch as the pros present their work step-by-step, offering valuable tricks and tips for both beginning and experienced artists. Editor Mike Manley has loaded this colossal volume full of invaluable information, making it a must-have item for anyone interested in improving their art skills!

Comic Book Artist Bullpen collects all seven issues of the little-seen labor of love fanzine published in the early 2000s by Jon B. Cooke (editor of Comic Book Creator magazine). Featured are in-depth interviews with some of comics' major league players, including George Tuska, Fred Hembeck, Terry Beatty, and Frank Bolle-and an amazing all-star tribute to Silver Age great Jack Abel by the Marvel Comics Bullpen and others. That previously unpublished all-comics Abel appreciation includes strips by Joe Kubert, Walter Simonson, Kyle Baker, Marie Severin, Gray Morrow, Alan Weiss, Sergio Aragon?s, Mort Todd, Dick Ayers, and many more! Plus a new bonus feature on Jack Kirby's unknown 1960s baseball card art, and a 16-page full-color section, all behind a Jack Kirby cover!

(W) Keith Dallas, John Wells In 1978, DC Comics launched a bold initiative to win over fans and retailers with an expanded line-up billed as 'The DC Explosion.' But mere weeks after its launch, DC's parent company pulled the plug, cancelling a slew of titles, and leaving stacks of completed comic book stories unpublished. Now, over 45 years after that 'DC Implosion,' TwoMorrows Publishing recalls one of the most notorious events in comics. with an exhaustive oral history from Jenette Kahn, Paul Levitz, Len Wein, Mike Gold, Al Milgrom, and other creators and executives involved! Plus: detailed analysis and commentary by other top pros who were 'just fans' in 1978 (Mark Waid, Michael T. Gilbert, Tom Brevoort, and more)-examining how it changed the landscape of comics forever! This new Expanded Edition of the sold-out Eisner Award-nominated book explodes in full cover for the first time, with additional coverage of lost 1970s DC projects like Ninja the Invisible and an adaptation of 'The Wiz,' Jim Starlin's unaltered cover art for Batman Family #21, content meant for cancelled Marvel

Stan Lee, the Mighty Man from Marvel, and John Buscema, active and adventuresome artist behind the Silver Surfer, Conan the Barbarian, the Mighty Thor, and Spider-Man, have collaborated on this comics compendium: an encyclopedia of information for creating your own superhero comic strips. Using artwork from Marvel comics as primary examples, Buscema graphically illustrates the hitherto mysterious methods of comic art. Stan Lee's pithy prose gives able assistance and advice to the apprentice artist.

(W) Jeff Messer, Dewey Cassell (A) Marshall Rogers (CA) Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin From underdog to icon, Marshall Rogers helped redefine Batman for generations, inspiring readers and up-and-coming artists alike. Initially savaged by editors at DC Comics, his style was uniquely complex with vast and angular architectural design anchoring his storytelling, and it immediately caught on with fans for his depictions of the Darknight Detective, Hugo Strange, The Joker, Silver St. Cloud, Dr. Strange, Cap’n Quick and a Foozle, and more. And though his output was relatively small in comparison to many of his contemporaries, his impact outlived the artist himself, and inspired a loyal following and affection. Now, Rogers’ story is told by friends, collaborators, and family members, delving deep into a complicated and conflicted man and his art, as we feature inker Terry Austin, friend and fellow artist Michael Netzer, Dan Greenfield’s extensive interview with writer Steve Englehart (conducted for 13thDimension.com), and others recounting their time and camaraderie with Rogers, alongside a

An in-depth look into Vess' career and creative process, this 120-page book features a career-spanning interview with tons of art, including many rare and unpublished pieces, a large gallery, and an 8-page color section on the Eisner Award-winning Charles Vess!

Plugged In features interviews with comics greats Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas and Elliot S! Maggin who speak candidly about the early days of Atari along with comics pros Jimmy Palmiotti, Chris Bachalo, Mike Deodato, Joshua Ortega, and Rick Remender discussing their work on the current generation video game hits! There are interviews with other artists and writers who made the leap to working in video games full time, including an in-depth interview with Trent Kaniuga (CreeD) about working as one of the architects of the long awaited Diablo III!

The Quality Companion provides the first dedicated look at the prolific Golden Age publisher which spawned a treasure trove of beautiful art and classic characters, including the 'Freedom Fighters' - Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, Black Condor, The Ray, Human Bomb, and Doll Man - as well as Plastic Man, the Blackhawks, and others now under the DC Comics umbrella. The volume also covers the characters' revival from the 1970s to today, including Plastic Man's short-lived 1960s series, the Freedom Fighters' own 1970s series, plus the Ray and Black Condor series of the 1990s, up through the current versions of the characters at DC.

The Star*Reach Companion is a complete history and bibliography of the 1970s independent comic, highlighting its importance to the comics field. Star*Reach's influence was enormous, impacting nearly every aspect of modern comics and genres, and showcasing such creators as Dave Stevens, Frank Brunner, Howard Chaykin, Steve Leialoha, Walter Simonson, Barry Windsor-Smith, Ken Steacy, John Workman, Mike Vosburg, P. Craig Russell, Dave Sim, Michael Gilbert, and many others. Also included in the book is extensive information about independent magazines like witzend, Hot Stuf' and Andromedea that both preceded and followed Star*Reach in its mission to re-invent comics for a more mature audience.

The Team-Up Companion examines team-up comic books of the Silver and Bronze Ages of Comics-DC's The Brave and the Bold and DC Comics Presents, Marvel's Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One, plus other team-up titles, treasuries, and treats in a lushly illustrated selection of informative essays, special features, and trivia-loaded issue-by-issue indexes. Go behind the scenes of your favorite team-up comic books with specially curated and all-new creator recollections from the all-star writers and artists who produced the team-up tales that so captivated readers during the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. By Back Issue and RetroFan editor Michael Eury.

You Can Build It is a new ongoing series of instruction books on the art of LEGO custom building, from the producers of Brickjournal magazine! These full-color books are loaded with Step-By-Step Instructions by some of the top custom builders in the LEGO fan community. Book Two is for intermediate-to-advanced builders, with even more detailed projects to tackle, including advanced Miniland figures, a miniscale yellow castle, a deep sea scene, a mini USS Constitution, and more!