Portrait by Jenn Witte.
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Writer John Layman returns to his award-winning comic series Chew with this spinoff prequel, conveniently titled Chu. In the Chew universe, food allows characters to exhibit extraordinary abilities, and at the center of a world of culinary capers is police detective Tony Chu, a cibopath who receives psychic impressions from anything he eats. This new series focuses on Tony's similarly superpowered sister Saffron and her descent down the wrong side of the digestive tract into a life of crime. Layman dishes out all of the high concept action and mystery that have made him a New York Times Bestseller, and new artist Dan Boultwood turns every page into a visual feast. You don't have to have read Chew already to enjoy Chu, but one taste of either comic is going to make you want to fill your plate with the other. Chow down!
If you miss the 90s, or if you missed out on them, grab some Doc Martens and jump feet first into this novel. Jess Flynn's biggest problems are keeping her CD collection organized and making sure to catch the newest episode of Party of Five, until she discovers a conspiracy that turns her life upside down. Everyone in her small suburban town seems to be in on it, even the two cutest boys in school! Jess's adventures are just beginning as she seeks to escape her hometown into...? This is a book for anyone who ever resisted the plans made for them by their parents, teachers, and friends, or for people who feel like they live in The Twilight Zone. Set your VCR and tune in to this show.
Bruce Lee was a legend in both the worlds of cinema and martial arts. He became an international icon through the development of his own philosophy that allowed him to be as flexible as water. In this book, Bruce's daughter Shannon Lee takes us through an in-depth look at the personal collection of writings her father left behind, many of them previously unpublished. She also shares untold stories of growing up in the Lee family, including her account of dealing with the loss of her brother, actor Brandon Lee. Anyone can read this book and apply these lessons to their own life, so pick up a copy and prepare to unleash the dragon within.
We've reached a point in time where video games are just as potent a medium for storytelling as books, movies, and music. One of the most exciting stories being told right now is that of Cyberpunk 2077, a futuristic world oversaturated with stimulation that's not too far off from our own. The designs for characters, settings, and equipment in this collection are so fascinating that you can spend hours poring over every detail, even if you've never played the actual game. Upload this book into your head.
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Debut author Alisson Wood recounts the powerful story of her teenage self being groomed, pursued, and possessed by her high school English teacher. Twenty years later, Wood realizes that what she thought was love was really something much darker, and now she's reaching out a hand to help anyone who has ever felt controlled and victimized in a relationship. Wood's prose is masterful, as she weaves her own narrative with lessons to be learned from mythology, fairy tales, and the book's namesake, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. In a time when more and more women are finding the voice to speak out against their abusers, Being Lolita is an earth-shattering battle cry.
Before Harley Quinn donned the face paint and mallet, she was a naïve, young psychiatrist named Dr. Harleen Quinzel, about to meet with a new patient who simply calls himself The Joker. Harleen is a very detailed and very adult look into the origin story of Batman villain Harley Quinn, written and drawn by comics superstar Stjepan Šejić (Witchblade, Aquaman) and collected in a beautiful, oversized hardcover edition. Fans of Šejić's BDSM romantic comedy series Sunstone are going to somersault over his gorgeous, photo-realistic artwork of many familiar faces: Harley, Mister Jay, Harvey Dent, Poison Ivy, and even The Dark Knight himself have never looked sexier. Whether you're a comics aficionado, a Batman: The Animated Series devotee, or have just seen a couple of Batman flicks, you are going to have mad love for this most graphic of novels.
Follow the journey of Fatima the royal concubine and Hassan the court mapmaker as they seek the island of the mythical Bird King. Author G. Willow Wilson, creator of Marvel Comics’ Ms. Marvel, utilizes her experience as an American Muslim woman to explore themes of faith, sexuality, and imperialism in a magical tale that’s as action-packed as it is heartfelt.
William Gibson’s beginnings in the cyberpunk genre that he helped create can be found in this collection of his short stories. What’s most startling is how Gibson not only foresaw present-day technology, but also its ensuing culture, such as online influencers and professional gamers. This collection also contains “Johnny Mnemonic,” which was adapted into my second-favorite Keanu Reeves cyberpunk movie.
The very first collectible card game, Magic: The Gathering unfurls its intricate mythology in this collection of the most legendary artwork from its 25+ year history. Every page is full of enchantment and inspiration from some of the best fantasy artists in the game. Shuffle this spellbook into your library this instant.
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I Go Quiet is a source of strength for introverts of all ages. Author/illustrator David Ouimet taps into his experience creating exquisite and haunting artwork for music groups to depict the rich inner and outer worlds that we're often too distracted to appreciate. Find a quiet place to get lost in this book.
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Damien Echols, best known as 1/3 of the West Memphis Three, a trio of teenagers sentenced to prison for murder despite a mountain of evidence indicating their innocence, presents his first book on Magick. This isn't about card tricks and pulling rabbits out of hats; this is a deep system of visualization, meditation, and actualization that can be practiced by anybody, anywhere. Echols supplements his instruction with the history of the craft and how it has been appropriated and diluted by many mainstream religions. He also describes how practicing Magick while surviving on death row, and later living in the sprawling metropolis of New York City, has profoundly enriched his life. Pick up this book and you'll believe in Magick, too.
Quit your job. Listen to metal.
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If you've been caught under the spell of Good Omens, be it the book or TV show, the next thing to do is to track down the other works by its two prolific authors. Start with The Color of Magic, the first book in the Discworld series by the late, great Terry Pratchett. Between these pages you'll follow the journey of the bumbling wizard Rincewind and his geeky traveling companion Twoflower and their adventures with bandits, dragons, and indestructible luggage. Not since Monty Python and the Holy Grail has the piss so thoroughly been taken out of the fantasy genre. A fun and enchanting read for sorcerers and apprentices alike.
Director Floria Sigismondi has demonstrated her mastery of the music video medium for over twenty-five years. Her dark and intriguing style has produced phenomenal spots for artists like Sigur Rós, Christina Aguilera, and Marilyn Manson. She's also directed films like The Runaways and The Turning and episodes of television shows like American Gods and The Handmaid's Tale. So, it's no surprise that her still photography of subjects like David Bowie, Kristen Stewart, Rihanna, Andy Serkis, and many more is every bit as fantastic as her motion pictures. This collection shows off the best work of a true visionary.
Country music legend Johnny Cash left us in 2003, but he lives on in his words and his music. Cash never threw anything away, and after poring through a massive collection of his notebooks and papers, his son John Carter Cash and poet Paul Muldoon present the best of his unreleased poetry and lyrics going back as far as the 1940s all the way to right before he passed. Included in this book are copies of Cash's handwritten pages, as well as some moving photographs of the Man In Black himself. My personal favorite poem is "Don't Make a Movie About Me" (even though they did).
Cursed is a fantasy novel created by the collaboration of two outstanding storytellers: screenwriter Thomas Wheeler (Empire, The Cape) and comics legend Frank Miller (300, Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns). Drawing from Arthurian legend, Cursed tells the story of a young woman named Nimue who must use the mysterious Sword of Power to avenge herself against those who would use it for evil. The action-packed illustrations by Frank Miller recall his finest hack n' slash comics like Ronin, Elektra, and 300. You can read this book and then watch the Netflix adaptaton, or vice versa, but strike while the iron is hot!
Michael Balzary, better known by the name Flea, is best recognized as the bassist for the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. But he's done so much more during his time on earth, playing music with a multitude of bands like FEAR and Jane's Addiction, acting in movies like My Own Private Idaho and the Back to the Future series, and co-founding the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. This memoir introduces you to Flea's formative years and the aforementioned accomplishments that are only a small part of the experiences that shaped him to become a world-famous musician. Growing up in Los Angeles in the seventies was a nonstop adventure for Flea and his friends Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak, and Jack Irons, and now's your chance to join them.
If you’ve ever enjoyed any sort of British comedy, be it Spaced, The Young Ones, or Red Dwarf, you’ve got to read Giant Days. This comic series follows the lives of three young women attending university in England and their misadventures in class, love, and pubs. Filled with dry British wit and a cast of characters whom you’ll wish were your mates in real life, it’s no wonder Giant Days won big at the comic book industry’s prestigious Eisner awards in 2019 (beating out Batman for Best Continuing Series!). Start with the first volume and you’ll not want to stop. Cheers.
Amanda Palmer is many things: musician, activist, performance artist, crowdsourcer, and author, and that’s just to name a few. This book will take you on the fascinating journey of her life, from her early struggle with her band The Dresden Dolls, to later when she crowdfunded over a million dollars to record her second solo album. Along the way you’ll meet some unforgettable faces, such as her mentor Anthony Martignetti, her bandmate Brian Viglione, and her husband Neil Gaiman. Read it and discover what can happen for you when you’re not afraid to ask.
We exist in a society where our best friends are in computers, our favorite singers are in masks, and our reproductive rights are in peril. Who could have predicted the absurdity that is our lives? Kurt Vonnegut, that’s who. This anthology of some of his best short stories will leave you wondering whether art imitates life or vice versa.
Garth Ennis is no stranger to extreme storytelling, being the writer behind the comics Preacher and The Boys. Now he takes his depraved imagination to Los Angeles in what may be his most horrifying work yet. Two FBI agents encounter a mysterious L.A. warehouse while investigating a disturbed serial killer. Everyone who enters the building has a habit of going insane, dying, or all of the above. Is the killer behind it all, or is there something even more sinister at the heart of this darkness? Originally released in two volumes, the entire series is collected here in one terrifying hardcover edition.
Questlove is one creative cat. In addition to being the co-founder and drummer of the live hip hop band The Roots, he's the musical director for The Tonight Show, an in-demand record producer, a radio show host, an NYU professor, and, of course, an author. How is he able to accomplish so much all at once? In this book, Questlove not only shares his strategies for harnessing creativity, he also details the lessons he's learned from his many famous friends, everyone from musicians like D'Angelo, to chefs like Nathan Myhrvold, to comedians like Dave Chappelle. Pick up this book and prepare to get inspired.
The Matrix, Fight Club, Office Space, American Beauty, Rushmore, Magnolia.
These are just some of the groundbreaking movies released in 1999. What was it about that year that inspired so much great cinema? This is the question that Brian Rafferty attempts to answer in this book. Through his own exhaustive research, as well as dozens of exclusive interviews conducted for the book with filmmakers like David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Sofia Coppola, Michael Mann, M. Night Shyamalan, and many more, Rafferty will show you why 1999 really was the best movie year ever.
If ever there was an artist in need of his own art monograph, it’s Jamie Hewlett! You may recognize the colorful and twisted art style from his most well-known creations, like the comic book Tank Girl or the band Gorillaz, but he’s produced so much more mind-bending material over the last twenty-five years, much of it on public display here for the first time anywhere. In addition to the treasure trove of material from his most famous works, other highlights include his concept art for the Mandarin Chinese-language opera that he created with Blur frontman Damon Albarn, his series on climate change that he painted after an eye-opening trip to Bangladesh, and the collection of erotic film posters he photographed for a fictional exploitation film. Pick up this flaming red monster, forget the coffee table, and go straight for the coffee.
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Fresh off the success of the Eisner award-winning comic series Giant Days, cartoonist John Allison brings his clever British wit to smalltown America in By Night. Feeling trapped in their humdrum lives, two young women explore the mysterious abandoned estate at the foot of town and find a portal to a magical new world. Dare they step through to escape their sheer boredom? Allison is a master of humorous dialogue and creating characters you wish were your friends in whatever passes for real life these days. Perfect for all ages.
If you liked the movie Get Out and wished the story would continue, read Lovecraft Country. It starts out in Jim Crow America but takes the diverse cast everywhere from haunted houses to outer space. Along the way, it analyzes the problems people of color faced (and still face) by juxtaposing American ignorance with paranormal horror. The HBO TV adaptation of this book has only scratched the surface of what it has to offer in addition to changing fundamental aspects of several major characters, so there's still plenty of surprises in store for you here whether you've watched the series or not. Get in, buckle up, and hold on tightly for this cross-country trip.