LIMITED HARDCOVER EDITION with custom endpapers - JUST 500 COPIES! From the letters pages of Silver Age comics to his 2021 induction into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, the career of Dave Cockrum started at the bottom and then rose to the top of the comic book industry. Beginning with his childhood obsession with comics and continuing through his years in the Navy, The Life and Art of Dave Cockrum follows the rising star from fandom (where he was one of the "Big Three" fanzine artists) to pro-dom, where he helped revive two struggling comic book franchises: the Legion of Super-Heroes and the X-Men. A prolific costume designer and character creator, his redesigns of the Legion and his introduction of X-Men characters Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Thunderbird (plus his design of Wolverine's alter ego, Logan) laid the foundation for both titles to become best-sellers. His later work on his own property, The Futurians, as well as childhood favorite Blackhawk and T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents, plus his five years on Soulsearchers and Company, cemented his position as an industry giant. Featuring artwork from fanzines, unused character designs, and other rare material, this is THE comprehensive biography of the legendary comic book artist, whose influence is still felt on the industry today! Written by Glen Cadigan (The Legion Companion, The Titans Companion Volumes 1 and 2, Best of the Legion Outpost) with an introduction by Alex Ross.

From the letters pages of Silver Age comics to his 2021 induction into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, the career of Dave Cockrum started at the bottom and then rose to the top of the comic book industry. Beginning with his childhood obsession with comics and continuing through his years in the Navy, The Life and Art of Dave Cockrum follows the rising star from fandom (where he was one of the “Big Three” fanzine artists) to pro-dom, where he helped revive two struggling comic book franchises: the Legion of Super-Heroes and the X-Men. A prolific costume designer and character creator, his redesigns of the Legion and his introduction of X-Men characters Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Thunderbird (plus his design of Wolverine’s alter ego, Logan) laid the foundation for both titles to become best-sellers. His later work on his own property, The Futurians, as well as childhood favorite Blackhawk and T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents, plus his five years on Soulsearchers and Company, cemented his position as an industry giant. Featuring artwork from fanzines, unused character designs, and other rare material, this is THE comprehensive biography of the legendary comic book artist, whose influence is still felt on the industry today! Written by Glen Cadigan (The Legion Companion, The Titans Companion Volumes 1 and 2, Best of the Legion Outpost) with an introduction by Alex Ross.

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 today's Comic Book Creator magazine), just after the original CBA ended its TwoMorrows run. 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 (assembled by RICK PARKER) includes strips by JOE KUBERT, WALTER SIMONSON, KYLE BAKER, MARIE SEVERIN, GRAY MORROW, ALAN WEISS, SERGIO ARAGONÉS, 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!

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues its ambitious series of FULL-COLOR HARDCOVERS, where TwoMorrows' top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s to today! At long last, this 1945-49 volume covers the comic book industry during the aftermath of World War II, when scores of writers and artists returned from foreign battlefields to resume their careers. It was a period when readers began turning away from the escapist entertainment offered by super-heroes in favor of other genres, like the grittier, more brutal crime comics. It was a time when Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created Young Romance, inaugurating a golden age of romance comics. And it was during this five-year period that Timely and National Comics capitalized on the popularity of Westerns, that Bill Gaines plotted a new course for EC Comics in the wake of his father’s death, and that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first sued for the rights to Superman. These are just a few of the events chronicled in this exhaustive, full-color hardcover, further documenting the ACBC series' cohesive, linear overview of the entire landscape of comics history! Edited by Keith Dallas and John Wells.

When spies liked their wars cold and their women warm, good guys beat bad guys with a pun and a punch, and Batman shook a mean cape. Welcome to the CAMP AGE, when spies liked their wars cold and their women warm, good guys beat bad guys with a pun and a punch, and Batman shook a mean cape. HERO-A-GO-GO celebrates the camp craze of the Swinging Sixties, when just about everyone—the teens of Riverdale, an ant and a squirrel, even the President of the United States—was a super-hero or a secret agent. Back Issue magazine and former DC Comics editor MICHAEL EURY takes you through that coolest cultural phenomenon with this all-new collection of nostalgic essays, histories, and theme song lyrics of classic 1960s characters like Captain Action, Herbie the Fat Fury, Captain Nice, Atom Ant, Scooter, ACG’s Nemesis, Dell’s super-Frankenstein and Dracula, the “split!” Captain Marvel, and others! Featuring interviews with Bill Mumy (Lost in Space), Bob Holiday (It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman), Ralph Bakshi (The Mighty Heroes, Spider-Man), Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean Meet Batman), Ramona Fradon (Metamorpho), Dick DeBartolo (Captain Klutz), Tony Tallarico (The Great Society Comic Book), Vince Gargiulo (Palisades Park historian), Joe Sinnott (The Beatles comic book), Jose Delbo (The Monkees comic book), and many more!

A famous samurai murder mystery finally brought to life in graphic novel form! A sword-swinging samurai, a corpse-robbing crone and a falsely accused trans man stand at the center of these four iconic tales, once the inspiration for a classic film, now turned into stunning graphic novellas. The stories in this volume by Ryunosuke Akutagawa — the renowned "father of the Japanese short story" are captured by manga masters mkdeville and Philippe Nicloux in these four action-packed adaptations: Rashomon: A houseless servant pits morality against survival in a post-apocalyptic world where thievery and the desecration of the dead are necessary for survival In a Grove: Conflicting statements and competing narratives call into question the notion of objective truth in a searing tale of rape and revenge Otomi's Virginity: Pride, honor and dignity are at stake when a young servant is confronted by an unexpected aggressor at her employer's abandoned house The Martyr: A pious Jesuit with a dark secret faces excommunication and death in 16th-century Japan, when Christianity was introduced and then banned by order of the Shogun Stunning graphic adaptations by mkdeville and Philippe Nicloux turn these iconic tales into thrilling page-turners, following in the footsteps of the famous Kurosawa film. **Recommended for readers ages 16+ due to mature themes and graphic content**

This charming manga collection presents three modern fables by one of Japan's most gifted authors, the poet and short story writer Kenji Miyazawa. "In the transcendent stories of Miyazawa, Earth teems with magic and wonder." — Publishers Weekly "A marvelous writer who deserves to be much better known in English." — Kirkus This charming manga collection presents three modern fables by one of Japan's most gifted authors, the poet and short story writer Kenji Miyazawa. Miyazawa is renowned for his masterful storytelling, poetic imagery and powerful evocation of both the shadows and light of human nature. His world of sentient stars and enchanted forests, presented here in manga form, will appeal to imaginative readers of all ages. The Restaurant of Many Orders follows a pair of confident, self-centered young men on a hunting expedition. After entering a mysterious restaurant deep in the forest the men are given a series of increasingly peculiar orders before they can be served dinner. What begins with simple orders, like removing their coats and brushing their hair, become stranger and stranger before the two men realize that something more cynical is at bay… The Wildcat and the Acorns is the story of a young boy invited to attend a trial where a wildcat presides over golden acorns disputing which acorn is the best one. The Twin Stars brings to life the heavenly constellations, whose musical performances keep the stars twinkling at night. In the daytime, however, the harmony falls apart as the constellations squabble among themselves.

A compelling horror story about the lengths an artist will go to for the sake of his art! A chilling horror story of artistic obsession and the price of perfection, based on the classic tale by Ryunosuke Akutagawa! Hell Screen follows Yoshihide, a renowned but tormented artist who, despite his talent, is rude, lazy and avaricious. Known for his abrasive demeanor, Yoshihide's one light is the deep affection he harbors for his daughter, Yuzuki. When she enters the service of the powerful Lord Horikawa, tensions rise between the artist and the lord's court, especially after disturbing rumors of Yuzuki's treatment emerge. Tasked with painting a monumental screen depicting the torments of hell, Yoshihide's dedication takes a dark turn as he pushes the boundaries of morality in his quest for authenticity. As his obsession with capturing human suffering intensifies, the line between creation and cruelty blurs, leading to devastating consequences. Akutagawa's story is a masterful exploration of the intersection between art and madness, power and exploitation. Revered as one of Japan's greatest writers, Akutagawa's work continues to influence modern storytelling, with Hell Screen standing out as a haunting meditation on the sacrifices demanded by art. **Recommended for readers ages 16+ due to mature themes and graphic content.**

Manga Character Design offers you all the techniques used by the pros - whether you draw digitally or manually. Learn how to develop unique manga characters in just a few easy lessons! This all-in-one guide by master manga illustrator Shun Akagi teaches you the basics of figure drawing and character creation—from hairstyles and clothing to facial expressions and body poses. You'll then be immersed in the elements needed to bring to your story to life: coloration, light and shadow, angles and perspective, composition and storytelling techniques. Shun offers you all the tips and information you need in a series of detailed, hands-on lessons: Tutorials in analogue and digital character design covering topics like anatomy and body structure; facial features and expressions; clothing and accessories; composition and narrative techniques Detailed case studies covering the full range of challenges faced by manga artists — from combat scenes to furries — so you can master the processes and practices you need to know! Dynamic examples focusing on fine details as well as big-picture, broad-stroke basics Over 800 sample illustrations produced by a professional artist to guide you! **Recommended for artists ages 12+

A comprehensive guide that every manga illustrator needs to have with scores of full-colour examples from dozens of professional illustrators! A comprehensive guide that every manga illustrator needs to have—with scores of full-color examples from dozens of professional illustrators! In this beautifully illustrated book and complete coursebook, award-winning illustrator Shinji Matsuoka presents 80 striking case studies from leading Japanese manga artists. He explains in detail how these artists use the time-honored principles of composition, framing, cropping, color use, perspective and character posing! In hundreds of detailed notes and tips, Matsuoka also teaches you how to use color, shapes, framing, shadows and focal points to communicate your stories in a clear and engaging way. The illustrated case studies in this book show you how to: Ground your illustrations by using time-tested compositional principles as you position elements on the canvas Make the main character stand out through the use of framing to direct the viewer's gaze Create a sense of dynamism by using the lines formed by elements on the page to form a flowing path around the canvas Depict scenes from unexpected angles like low angle, telephoto and bird's-eye views to make a dramatic impression And much more!