Book Review: The Death of Captain Marvel

Witness the classic and tragic end of one of the greatest heroes of all time, Mar-Vell of the Kree, who became the Earth hero Captain Marvel! After dozens of battles on Earth and across space, and with the power of his Nega-bands and his all-knowing Cosmic Awareness, can Mar-Vell fare well in his battles with Nitro (the exploding villain who later sparked Marvel's super hero Civil War), the death-defying Stellarax, and the seemingly dead Thanos? Guest-starring Rick Jones, Drax the Destroyer, Starfox, and all your favorite Earth heroes!

The Death of Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin was published in April 1982 by Marvel Comics.

Book Review: Teen Titans Go! On TV!

Robin isn’t just a sidekick, he’s a star. Or he will be, once the people who produce reality TV shows see him in action! He can do it all: lead a team! decorate a secret lair! bake a cake that looks like a dangerous weapon! All he needs is a lucky break.

When his teammates break out before he does, his ego takes a beating. Without a team to lead, can Robin save Jump City all on his own? Nope, because he doesn’t even want to try! Maybe if they followed him on social media? But even the Hive has more followers than he does.

Teen Titans Go! On TV! by Amanda Deibert and Agnes Garbowska will be published on January 7, 2025. DC Comics provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: Slugfest

The most bruising battle in the superhero world isn't between spandex-clad characters; it's between the publishers themselves. For more than 50 years, Marvel and DC have been locked in an epic war, tirelessly trading punches and trying to do to each other what Batman regularly does to the Joker's face. Slugfest, the first book to tell the history of this epic rivalry into a single, juicy narrative, is the story of the greatest corporate rivalry never told. It is also an alternate history of the superhero, told through the lens of these two publishers.

The competition has spilled over to the even the casual fans, bisecting the world into two opposing tribes. You are either a Marvel or a DC fan, and allegiance is hardly a trivial matter. Perhaps the most telling question one can ask of a superhero fan is, Marvel or DC? The answer often reveals something deeper about personality, and the reason is wrapped up in the history of both companies.

Book Review: Manga Classics - Sherlock Holmes 1

London, 1888. In the heart of the fog a terrible murder is committed, the word RACHE scrawled in blood on the wall over the body. The police, baffled, turn to the only consulting detective in town for aid--and he, in turn, leads them down that slender scarlet trail to expose a tale of love and revenge which spawns both continents and decades.

Manga Classics: Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet marks the debut of the eccentric detective Sherlock Holmes and his constant companion Dr. John Watson a legendary duo whose adventure have thrilled readers ever since. Manga Classics is proud to present a full-color manga version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's debut novel, in which their timeless partnership first begins!

Book Review: Trillion Game vol. 3

Self-proclaimed “world’s greediest man” Haru and timid computer whiz Gaku set out to make a trillion dollars. They start the company Trillion Game to accomplish this task and hope to iron out the details as they go. With charm, technical skills, and no business plan, can these unlikely friends reach their lofty goal?

In order to sell their (not so) AI-powered flower-vending business, Haru and Gaku must first conquer the nightlife neighborhood of Kabukicho, where there is a huge market for fancy flower arrangements. After they pull off their scheme and make the sale, the next frontier for their business is… mobile gaming?!

Book Review: Disney Twisted-Wonderland - The Manga Anthology vol. 2

Short stories set in the world of Twisted-Wonderland, based on the hit mobile game from Disney!

The second installment in a collection of small but mighty adventures, featuring the characters and world of Twisted-Wonderland. Each tale is written and drawn by a different manga creator!

Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga Anthology vol. 2 will be published January 14, 2025. VIZ Media provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: YouTube Blueprint

The prospect of putting yourself out there in the crowded YouTube world can feel utterly overwhelming. You've probably felt the crushing weight of self-doubt, the heart-pounding fear of facing the camera, and the constant struggle to find that unique voice that will make you stand out among millions.

But what if you could transform that fear into fuel for online success?

Whether you dream of turning your passion into a paycheck or simply want to share your message with the world, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to achieve your YouTube dreams!

Book Review: Adventures in Modern Recording

As a renowned recording-studio maven, Trevor Horn has been dubbed 'the man who invented the '80s'. His production work since the glory days of ZTT represents a veritable 'who's who' of intelligent modern pop, including the likes of ABC, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Simple Minds, Grace Jones and Yes - among many others.

This book is Trevor's story in his own words, as told through the prism of twenty-three of his most important songs - from the ones that inspired him to the ones that defined him. This play-by-play memoir transports readers into the heart of the studio to witness the making of some of music's most memorable moments, from the Buggles' ground-breaking 'Video Killed the Radio Star' to Band Aid's perennial 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', via hits such as 'Relax', 'Poison Arrow', 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' and 'Crazy'.

Book Review: The Story of the Bee Gees

People tend to have their favorite era of the Bee Gees's career, but many listeners are also conscious that there is more to uncover about the band. This book will provide the perfect solution, by pulling together every fascinating strand to tell the story of a group with the imagination of the Beatles, the pop craft of ABBA, the drama of Fleetwood Mac, and the emotional heft of the Beach Boys.

Uniquely, the Bee Gees's tale spans the entire modern pop era—they are the only group to have scored British top-ten singles in the '60s, '70s, '80s, and ‘90s—and includes world-conquering disco successes like 'Stayin' Alive' and 'More Than a Woman', both from the soundtrack of the hit film Saturday Night Fever.

But the Bee Gees's extraordinary career was one of highs and lows. From a vicious but temporary split in 1969 to several unreleased albums, disastrous TV and film appearances, and a demoralising cabaret season, the group weren't always revelling in the glow of million-selling albums, private jets, and UNICEF concerts. Yet, even in the Gibbs' darkest times, their music was rarely out of the charts, as sung by the likes of Al Green, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and Destiny's Child.

Book Review: Sex Lives of Superheroes

Explore these questions and more with this collection of speculative, comedic essays on how superpowers might affect the sex lives of famous superheroes. Based on genuine scientific research and both Marvel and DC comic book and movie canon (and more!), Sex Lives of Superheroes is a refreshingly frank and fun deep dive into the pros, cons, and plot twists of superpowered sex.

Sex Lives of Superheroes by Diana McCallum will be published on November 19, 2024. Smart Pop Books, an imprint of BenBella Books, provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: Assume Nothing

In 1985, Kat McCann was six years old when renowned Austrian detective Alik Lisser solved her mother’s murder. And unfortunately proved Kat’s father as the culprit. Ten years later Kat is still obsessed with the heroic criminologist. She’s also addicted to the bestselling novels inspired by Alik’s ingenious deductions—penned by the grande dame of whodunits, who’s a bit of a mystery herself. Kat has devoured them all. Even the one based on her father’s crime.

When Kat and Alik fatefully cross paths again, a friendship evolves, and Alik is delighted to share the secrets of his success with such an eager and clever girl by inviting Kat to solve a murder of her very own. One that challenges everything Kat believes about the detective, an elusive author, and Kat’s notorious past. Now, as fact and fiction and truth and deception collide, it’s all Kat can do to survive the shocking twist ending to her own life story.

Book Review: Dick Tracy volume 1

In the aftermath of World War II, the country stands frozen–waiting for the other shoe to drop. In The City, a brutal murder draws the attention of rising star detective Dick Tracy, who soon discovers the bloodshed is just the beginning of a complicated web that threatens to ensnare everything he cares about.

Blending the classic elements of the Dick Tracy world (including his iconic villains, supporting cast, and unforgettable watch radio) with a hardboiled and realistic take, Dick Tracy Vol. 1 kicks off a fresh and modern take on the iconic detective that remains true to his rich history.

Book Review: Let's Do It Already! vol. 3

Free-spirited Yuri Hasegawa and straitlaced Keiichiro Katsuragi have fallen in love. But his elite political family—producing a line of prime ministers—does not allow male descendants to engage in any sexual relations until they are 18. Can the physically affectionate Yuri and rule-abiding Keiichiro keep their relationship strictly chaste?

Yuri’s attempts at having a normal romance with Keiichiro are thwarted on a daily basis. But now that they’re on their first overnight school trip together in the mountains, they end up in the same bed?!

Book Review: Zero Hour

Ex-FBI negotiator Eddie Virgo is doing hard time for taking the law into his own hands. But now the Bureau needs him back. Virgo is offered an early release if he agrees to work one last job. Stacy, the daughter of wealthy senator Daniel Donovan, has been kidnapped and Virgo needs to negotiate her release. Seems easy enough. But when the kidnapper makes an impossible demand, Virgo is catapulted into a deadly race against time.

Teaming up with LAPD detective Jennifer Accardi, Virgo leads the hunt for Stacy and realizes he has stumbled on a sinister plot which threatens to compromise national security. Now, up against a lethal combination of ruthless gangsters and powerful DC players, Virgo is looking at some pretty long odds. But he’ll do whatever it takes to free Stacy from the sadistic psychopath who is holding her.

Book Review: How America Works...And Why It Doesn't

Americans in the twenty-first century are becoming increasingly untethered from both reality and the essential principles and traditions that have shaped the nation’s historic success. A big part of why America isn’t working is because far too many Americans neither know nor care how it’s supposed to work.

This book explains key aspects of recent US political history to give the background to recent, dangerous developments, including how political groups have reshaped since the 1964 Civil Rights Act; the rise of Newt Gingrich and the Tea Party; the profound impact of the internet and social media; and the threats posed to the electoral system by the growth of extreme polarization and growing irrationality.