Geeky Gift Idea #4- Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight by Travis Langley

There are a couple of Batman fans in my life and this Christmas they'll be unwrapping Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight by Travis Langley as my gift to them. For the Batman fans in your circle, it will be the perfect companion piece to the Dark Knight Rises, which is being released on home video on December 4th. Batman and Psychology is available in paperback, Kindle and Nook book. While you're at it, why don't you pick up a copy for yourself!

From Goodreads.com:

 

A journey behind the mask and into the mind of Gotham City's Caped Crusader, timed for the summer 2012 release of "The Dark Knight Rises" Batman is one of the most compelling and enduring characters to come from the Golden Age of Comics, and interest in his story has only increased through countless incarnations since his first appearance in "Detective Comics" #27 in 1939. Why does this superhero without superpowers fascinate us? What does that fascination say "about" us? "Batman and Psychology" explores these and other intriguing questions about the masked vigilante, including: Does Batman have PTSD? Why does he fight crime? Why as a vigilante? Why the mask, the bat, and the underage partner? Why are his most intimate relationships with "bad girls" he ought to lock up? And why won't he kill that homicidal, green-haired clown?Gives you fresh insights into the complex inner world of Batman and Bruce Wayne and the life and characters of Gotham City. Explains psychological theory and concepts through the lens of one of the world's most popular comic book characters. Written by a psychology professor and "Superherologist" (scholar of superheroes).

 

Reviews-

 

"Simply speaking, this is my pick for the best book of 2012. A fantastic look into the inner workings of one of comic book's most compelling, dynamic characters; a masterfully written analysis/love note to the Dark Knight." - Stephen Harvey, FindYourGeek.com

 

"...more entertaining than many of the others which populate the ever-growing field of texts about pop culture and the sciences. Rather than just telling us what we should know or think about Batman, the book supplements our own interest in the hero, and provokes us to think more about what's going on in his head." - StarPulse.com

You can follow the author, Travis Langley on Twitter at @Superherologist

 

 

Geek Hash Interview: Todd McFarlane Talks New Book- The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil's in the Details

Fans of Todd McFarlane are in for a real treat come November 21st. His new book, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil's in the Details, hits shelves just in time for Christmas. The visual biography is a look at his nearly 30 year career in the comics industry. It's a complete history of the man that started out as a fan of comics and went on to become one of the founding members of Image Comics.

Geek Hash: Your upcoming book, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil’s in the Details releases November 21st, what can fans expect to see in it?

Todd McFarlane: We’re trying to accomplish three things with one book. First, it’s an art book so there’s literally hundreds and hundreds of visuals of stuff that goes from my amateur days to literally all the way up to today. Second, you’re gonna get a bit of an autobiography that’s tied to it. So you’re gonna get some of the reasoning, the rationale and what was happening to my career and sort of a backstory of what was going on during some of the visuals that you’re looking at. And then lastly there are places where I was trying to give some tutorial information.

GH: You’ve been working in comics for over 20 years, what advice can you give to those that are looking to break into the industry?

Todd McFarlane: Comic books are made up of a multitude of skilled people. You don’t necessarily have to be a guy that does all the jobs. I got a little bit greedy wanting to be writer, penciler and inker but you can work in this industry if you’re a great colorist. You can work in this industry if you’re a great letterer. You can work in this industry if you’re a pretty good editor. I think we sometimes pin ourselves into boxes by thinking that we have to be a super-talented guy and that’s not necessarily true. You can get to a lot of places by having one skill in one area that will carry you for a long way.

GH: Comics, movies, toys, games, cartoons; is there anything Todd McFarlane Productions hasn’t gotten into that you’re dying to try?

Todd McFarlane: I don’t know. Maybe someday do my own video game, but short of that my interest is taking all of those things and seeing if you can do them better than you did the last time. We’ve got our artistic fingers in a lot of pies and so right now there’s nothing there that I have a hankering for.

GH: Spawn is one of comic's most recognizable characters, Image is celebrating its 20^th anniversary, your run on Spider-Man is unmatched, your contributions to the industry run the gamut; what is the one thing you’re most proud of?

Todd McFarlane: Two things. Number one, just breaking into the business. It’s really your highest bar. That first job sets up all the potential of the future and all of that, for the most part, falls on your own shoulders. So, if you don’t get in the game, you can’t succeed. Number two would be starting this business called Image Comics which not only has made its mark on the industry but it’s still thriving. It’s not thriving because of myself or any of the original founders; it’s thriving because we’re putting out quality books. I think we’re paying attention to that.

GH: Do you see yourself eventually stepping away from comics and retiring, or are you going to keep going forever like Stan Lee?

Todd McFarlane: I’ll probably be a bit of a pistol in my advanced years. I can’t see me being overly passive. As I get older my kids will grow up, they’ll get married, have grandkids, I’ll want to spend time with them; so all that comes into play. Will I have at least have a tremendous interest in being able to help foster the next wave of talent coming through? Absolutely, that’s why Image is there. I’m never going to retire from Image.



Available just in time for Black Friday, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil's in the Details will be available nationwide Wednesday, November 21st. The oversized hard cover book (9x12) is limited to 5000 copies, with 700 signed and numbered editions available. Each book retails at $64.99 and $100.00, respectively, and would make the perfect gift for any art fan!

http://www.comicshoplocator.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

http://www.mcfarlane.com
http://www.imagecomics.com

Todd McFarlane Productions and Image Comics to Release Todd McFarlane Visual Biography

At long last, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil’s in the Details, Todd McFarlane’s first and only art book, is scheduled to hit shelves nationwide Wednesday, November 21, 2012.

 

A visual biography celebrating almost 30 years of artwork from one of the comic industry’s most popular and iconic artist personalities, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil’s in the Details, is not just another art book. It follows McFarlane’s journey from a young comic book fan mimicking his favorite artists, to his subsequent rise to comic book stardom. McFarlane, himself, provides hundreds of anecdotes throughout the 400-page book, walking the fans through his groundbreaking career.

 

“I broke into this industry when I was 23 years-old. The only way to put a book like this together is to have actually spent more than two decades creating the art within it,” said McFarlane.

 

“The passage of time allows you to build up a body of work, that as you step back, has meaning, and can be an inspiration for other artists along the way. I’m happy to be able to collect my autobiography in both a written and visual format. I hope the wait has been worth it!”

 

Fans will receive an up close and personal look at McFarlane’s creative take on beloved characters from both DC and Marvel Comics, and learn more about his history making move in helping to form Image Comics, where he published his brainchild, Spawn. With copious amounts of rarely seen black and white original pieces of his most famous work, and numerous drawings of the comic book industry’s most popular characters, this is a book that can’t be missed. In addition, fans get an exclusive peek at McFarlane’s first forays into various media (toys, film, animation, music videos, video games), where he put his creative stamp on everything through his signature eye-catching imagery.

Available just in time for Black Friday, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil’s in the Details will be available nationwide Wednesday, November 21^st.  The oversized hard cover book (9x12) is limited to 5000 copies, with 700 signed and numbered editions available.  Each book retails at $64.99 and $100, respectively, and would make the perfect gift for any art fan!

The Hunger Games Begin On Blu-ray and DVD August 18

The Hunger Games juggernaut will arrive on home entertainment at 12:01 A.M. on Saturday, August 18. The 2-disc Blu-ray and 2-disc DVD arrive loaded with over three hours of extensive bonus materials including the comprehensive eight-part documentary, “The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games.” Other special features include a sit-down conversation with director Gary Ross as well as numerous featurettes that examine the global success of the books, the creation of the control room in the film and the filmmakers’ motivation behind creating new scenes that were not in the book plus much more.  The Blu-ray Disc set contains an additional exclusive feature, “Preparing for the Games: A Director’s Process,” which looks at the progression of taking three key scenes from the book to the screen.

BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES^*

·         “The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games” – an eight-part documentary covering the “making of” the film in all aspects from the pre-production process all the way through the theatrical release and fan reactions

·         “Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon” featurette

·          “Letters from the Rose Garden” featurette – insights from Donald Sutherland on the development of his role as President Snow

·         “Controlling the Games” featurette – stories and concepts behind creating the control center

·         “A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell”

·         Propaganda Film (in its entirety)

·         Marketing Archive

·         “Preparing for The Games: A Director’s Process” (Blu-ray Exclusive)