The drums of war thunder once again . . World of Warcraft redefined online gaming for millions and millions of people, and in the fifteen years since its launch, each new chapter in the game’s story has been bolstered through the Blizzard Entertainment’s incredible cinematics. The Cinematic Art of World of Warcraft: Volume I goes behind the scenes with the team who built the game’s stunning movies. With never-before-seen concept art and accounts of the creative and technical process, this is the definitive visual gallery of how countless artists brought the world of Azeroth to life in incredible detail and motion. The first installment in a new series, The Cinematic Art of World of Warcraft: Volume I is a visual chronicle covering the cinematics from the beginning of World of Warcraft through to the Warlords of Draenor expansion.

Starting with the announcement trailer in 2014, Overwatch's award-winning cinematics captured the hearts of millions across the world, introducing them to a hopeful science-fiction world where heroes are needed. chronicles this journey, featuring never-before-seen art and anecdotes that illustrate how Overwatch's richly imagined characters and world were brought to life through cinematic storytelling.

Aodhan comes from a lineage that includes some of Azeroth’s most heroic paladins and warriors, but the whip-smart young man is not built for physical combat. He’s thin, bookish, and he desperately wants to be a mage. After his controlling father forbids him to practice magic, Aodhan flees to study the arcane arts in the city of Dalaran. Yet Aodhan’s dream of becoming a powerful spellcaster is violently interrupted when a host of blue dragons lays siege to Dalaran. Although far from home, the young mage finds help from a relative who has been close by all along, Crevan, his magic-wielding uncle. The cunning older mage, after escaping from Dalaran’s prison, takes the impressionable Aodhan under his wing, and together they work to prevent the city’s destruction. But there is a darker secret behind Dalaran’s dire situation, and Aodhan might be the only one who can end the schemes that threaten the city, becoming the hero his family never thought he could be. Written by acclaimed author Richard A. Knaak (World of Warcraft: Shadow Wing) and drawn by fan-favorite Ryo Kawakami (Warcraft: Legends), World of Warcraft: Mage is an action-packed tale of temptation, power, and heroics that will leave World of Warcraft fans spellbound!

Blizzard presents an original manga set in the World of Warcraft Universe, studying one of the newest classes in the game - the Death Knight.

In this fourth volume, award-winning cartoonist Tom Batiuk continues to chronicle the lives of the students and teachers at the fictitious Westview High School. By the 1980s Batiuk’s talent for character- and story-driven work comes into its own. It was the best of times, it was the OK of times In this fourth volume, award-winning cartoonist Tom Batiuk continues to chronicle the lives of the students and teachers at the fictitious Westview High School. Harry L. Dinkle, the World's Greatest Band Director and Funky's first breakout character, is still marching along happily. He makes the first of two visits to the Tournament of Roses Parade, and his ego grows even larger. Harry proves a good match for the sitcom style of writing into which Batiuk's work on Funky is developing, and Crazy Harry thrives as the repository for the more outré ideas and situations. Whether it is living in his locker and playing frozen pizzas on his stereo, battling the Eliminator at Space Invaders, announcing that he is an air guitar player, or inviting Carl Sagan and ET to the Star Trek Convention that he and the school computer would host, Crazy becomes Funky Winkerbean's natural-born outlier. Meanwhile, Les Moore continues his angst-filled journey as the leader of the school's out crowd. He's still at his machine-gun-fortified hall monitor's post, trying to avoid getting beaten up by Bull Bushka, and generally dealing with school life as best he can. The strip-within-a-strip about John Darling and his bottom-of-the-ratings-barrel TV station, Channel One, which had spun off into its own strip called Darling, remains popular. And Batiuk introduces readers to a new character - the school mascot, a vest-wearing scapegoat that can speak its thoughts directly to the reader. In the 1980s we begin to see hints of the change in tone that will come to characterize Funky Winkerbean's later years. Starting with the coach's heart attack and his reflections on life and relationships, then shifting to teacher Ann Randall and her job loss, these story arcs intertwine with others to mark the shift from a simpler sitcom mode to a more complex narrative with subplots. Fans will enjoy each variety of comedy in Funky's subtle evolution from gags to situational humor to behavioral humor.

After the assassination of one of Mali’s greatest kings, the traitors behind the coup set out to erase his legacy from Mali’s history. Their efforts fail when the youngest princess of Mali escapes with her newborn child to the Tuareg tribes in the Sahara. When her grief turns into hatred. The exiled princess swears an oath of vengeance against the family that unjustly stole Mali’s throne. That oath becomes her legacy and is passed down through the generations to her descendants. Over a century after the Keita took the throne. The Mali Empire has experienced great prosperity as well as turmoil. Coming off a tumultuous period wracked with plague, civil war, and political instability. Musa III begins the process of restoring the empire to its former glory. This restoration takes the form of an unprecedented tournament designed to find the most capable warrior to assume the role of Mali’s imperial general. Diata is the heir who carries his family’s vendetta against the Keita. When word of the tournament reaches his clan. Diata sees his opportunity to get close to the enemy. To become the next general, he needs to make his way through several mercenaries, a pirate king, and dozens of other warriors bred for war on the battlefield.

Madagascar is the story of a young woman's defiance, as well as her triumph in taking a nation into her own hands. Madagascar: The Rise of a Queen tells the story of the Queen that the world tried to erase, weaving a gripping narrative of defiance, courage, and the fight for identity. Join Ramavo on an extraordinary journey as she challenges the status quo and defies her enemies while navigating a world where she is an outsider. With each step, she earns the trust of her people and sparks a revolution to reclaim Madagascar's freedom from foreign invaders threatening to erode the island’s cultural heritage. Will she triumph against all odds and lead her people towards a future that honors their roots? Find out in this thrilling comic book series as Ramavo rises to become the Queen Madagascar needs.

Black Sands is the most popular independent book series in the black community and it is clear why. The story is about a young boy named Ausar whose life goal is to rule Kemet. This leads him on a quest across the war-torn lands of the ancient world. Volume five of Black Sands takes up deep in the trenches of Minoa where Ausar leads a desperate attempt to stop a Sumerian incursion under the mountain. Legend has it that an ancient of unspeakable power is buried underneath and the Minoans will do anything to keep it that way. It is in this battle where Ausar faces off against his most powerful enemy to date, the warrior Kingu. Little do the heroes know but while the battle rages for control of the mountain, the Spartans are in full advantage in the land battle in Akrotiri. Just as things are starting to look like it will all work out, an ancient power awakens and the difference in power between Ausar and this new foe is like a canyon. There is little hope for the people of Minoa and now Ausar struggles to keep his family alive. Kirkus Reviews says Black Sands is "a sure bet for young readers who may be cultivating interests in ancient history, "and "a fast-paced, engaging installment of a successful mythological-historical comic series." It has been compared to other series titles such as Avatar, Naruto manga, and many more. Black Sands is a series most black youth are hungry for. It is no wonder it has been featured on ABC Shark Tank, CBR, Publishers Weekly, Atlanta Blackstar, endorsed by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and more.

Black Sands is the most popular independent book series in the black community and it is clear why. In this exciting new volume, the secret of the ancients in Minoa has been revealed. Ausar is now faced with an impossible decision. Will he choose to pursue the very real threat of the ancients below the mountain? Or aid in fighting the Spartans who have a significant advantage? Ausar knows the battle is most likely lost without his aide. But he chooses to deal with the ancients instead and requests soldiers to back him up. As they press deeper into the mountain, the Spartans have now launched a full-fledged invasion by land. Thousands of soldiers battle across the borders of Akrotiri but they maintain the line as best they can. Meanwhile Ausar exposes the real threat. Ausar finds out the Sumerians are here and actually control the ancients. A dangerous battle ensues for control of the underground, but Ausar will not yield! The Black Sands Universe is based in the ancient Middle East during the pre-dynastic era. because there is little to no historical text during this time period, we have liberty to tell our own stories. The Black Sands Universe combines mythology, historical context, and a little sci-fi into a coherent cross-pantheon experience everyone can enjoy. The story involves seven major kingdoms vying for power in the year 3500 BCE. Prior to this point, the world was completely under the control of ancient being from the planet Nibiru, but the coming of the God Killers divided many nations and began a war on a global scale. This story is told through the mythological characters of the time period. They will struggle, come of age, and suffer unimaginable loss throughout their quest to take back the Earth. Readers dive into the details of this vivid world and learn a lot about the cultures of the time period.

Black Sands is the most popular independent book series in the black community and it is clear why. War has broken out in the Mediterranean as Sparta invades mainland Minoa. Ausar realizes his original mission no longer stands. He now must rally his allies before they are crushed by the relentless onslaught of the Spartan army. The young boy Menes has decided to aid our heroes in the fight, but even with his aid, the enemy is well prepared. After days of grueling battle, there is a moment of peace, but that moment shatters when it is discovered that ancients beasts are on the island! Ausar decides it would be best to investigate so the team delves deep into the tunnels under the mountain. After many obstacles, they stumble upon a glowing shard that holds the answers to many mysteries behind the ancients and Minoa.