- Published on
The Art of Kong: Skull Island
In March 2017, the producers of ‘Godzilla’ transport audiences to the birthplace of one of the most powerful monster myths of all in KONG: SKULL ISLAND, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.
The Art and Making of Kong: Skull Island goes behind the scenes and reveals how this monster-sized production was brought to the screen. Featuring incredible concept art and on-set photography, this deluxe book is a rare treat for fans as key cast and crew tell the story of how Kong was given a whole new lease of life.
Product Details
Author: Simon Ward
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release date: March 14, 2017
Price: $39.95
In March 2017, the producers of ‘Godzilla’ transport audiences to the birthplace of one of the most powerful monster myths of all in KONG: SKULL ISLAND, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.
The Art and Making of Kong: Skull Island goes behind the scenes and reveals how this monster-sized production was brought to the screen. Featuring incredible concept art and on-set photography, this deluxe book is a rare treat for fans as key cast and crew tell the story of how Kong was given a whole new lease of life.
Product Details
Author: Simon Ward
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release date: March 14, 2017
Price: $39.95
Kong: Skull Island - The Official Movie Novelization
In March 2017, the producers of Godzilla transport audiences to the birthplace of one of the most powerful monster myths of all in KONG: SKULL ISLAND, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man.
Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.
Product Details
Author: Tim Lebbon
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Titan Books; Mti Edition
Release date: March 14, 2017
Price: $7.99 (for both Paperback and Kindle)
In March 2017, the producers of Godzilla transport audiences to the birthplace of one of the most powerful monster myths of all in KONG: SKULL ISLAND, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man.
Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.
Product Details
Author: Tim Lebbon
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Titan Books; Mti Edition
Release date: March 14, 2017
Price: $7.99 (for both Paperback and Kindle)
- Published on
The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema's Biggest Monsters
The Kaiju (strange monster) film genre has a number of themes that go well beyond the "big monsters stomping on cities" motif. Since the seminal King Kong 1933) and the archetypal Godzilla (1954), kaiju has mined the subject matter of science run amok, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism and pollution. This critical examination of kaiju considers the entirety of the genre--the major franchises, along with less well known films like Kronos (1957), Monsters (2010) and Pacific Rim (2013). The author examines how kaiju has crossed cultures from its original folkloric inspirations in both the U.S. and Japan and how the genre continues to reflect national values to audiences.
Format: 212 pgs., B&W, 6"x9", Trade Paperback
Release date: Jan 2016
Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc
Amazon Preview
About the Author
Jason Barr’s work has appeared in The Explicator, African American Review, and Stories of Complicated Grief: A Critical Anthology, among others. He lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
ICv2 Review
For those not familiar with the term, it loosely refers to movies about gigantic creatures, in a genre that can include King Kong, Godzilla and Pacific Rim. Unlike some scholars, he does not try to limit the term to Japanese films, viewing it as a genre rather than a subclass of one nation’s film industry.
This is an excellent book marred by a few annoying flaws. One is the format. McFarland publishes books that are scholarly in tone, but in this case a few photos would have helped. A second is the price, which is painfully high for the size of the book. The third is the odd habit the author has of setting up straw men and then destroying them with blasts of radioactive flame.
He repeatedly quotes Susan Sontag's very flawed definition of science fiction, and then points out how flawed it is. Well, yes, it is but readers of Barr's book will understand the first time he explains her errors.
On the plus side, the writing is very readable, the footnotes are excellent, and Barr has some good points to make. For instance, you can tell how the military of a country was viewed at a point in time by how well they do against giant monsters in that nation's films. This actually works remarkably well for both U.S. and Japanese giant monster movies. The films present cultural snapshots in other ways that might not have been obvious, and Barr does a good job with this kind of information. His political interpretations of movies are more problematic, but still interesting.
Serious fans of kaiju films will find much to discuss in this book. While aimed at adults, older teens may find it interesting as well.
ICv2 Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.
The Kaiju (strange monster) film genre has a number of themes that go well beyond the "big monsters stomping on cities" motif. Since the seminal King Kong 1933) and the archetypal Godzilla (1954), kaiju has mined the subject matter of science run amok, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism and pollution. This critical examination of kaiju considers the entirety of the genre--the major franchises, along with less well known films like Kronos (1957), Monsters (2010) and Pacific Rim (2013). The author examines how kaiju has crossed cultures from its original folkloric inspirations in both the U.S. and Japan and how the genre continues to reflect national values to audiences.
Format: 212 pgs., B&W, 6"x9", Trade Paperback
Release date: Jan 2016
Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc
Amazon Preview
About the Author
Jason Barr’s work has appeared in The Explicator, African American Review, and Stories of Complicated Grief: A Critical Anthology, among others. He lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
ICv2 Review
For those not familiar with the term, it loosely refers to movies about gigantic creatures, in a genre that can include King Kong, Godzilla and Pacific Rim. Unlike some scholars, he does not try to limit the term to Japanese films, viewing it as a genre rather than a subclass of one nation’s film industry.
This is an excellent book marred by a few annoying flaws. One is the format. McFarland publishes books that are scholarly in tone, but in this case a few photos would have helped. A second is the price, which is painfully high for the size of the book. The third is the odd habit the author has of setting up straw men and then destroying them with blasts of radioactive flame.
He repeatedly quotes Susan Sontag's very flawed definition of science fiction, and then points out how flawed it is. Well, yes, it is but readers of Barr's book will understand the first time he explains her errors.
On the plus side, the writing is very readable, the footnotes are excellent, and Barr has some good points to make. For instance, you can tell how the military of a country was viewed at a point in time by how well they do against giant monsters in that nation's films. This actually works remarkably well for both U.S. and Japanese giant monster movies. The films present cultural snapshots in other ways that might not have been obvious, and Barr does a good job with this kind of information. His political interpretations of movies are more problematic, but still interesting.
Serious fans of kaiju films will find much to discuss in this book. While aimed at adults, older teens may find it interesting as well.
ICv2 Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.
- Published on
Kickstarter Exclusive Cover
Tales of giant mechs by Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Graham McNeill, Gini Koch, Peter Clines, Jason Hough & Ramez Naam and more!
About this project,
Back in 2013 a little movie called Pacific Rim rekindled our love of giant monsters. It gave editor Nick Sharps an idea that grew to become Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters. Thanks to Kickstarter and Ragnarok Publications, Nick’s dream became reality, and a massive anthology was born. From early on, we've envisioned a companion anthology to Kaiju Rising, focused on the other half of the equation that made Pacific Rim so much fun—giant robots! And so, Ragnarok is proud to introduce this anthology by 25 of today's most talented storytellers. We give you...MECH: Age of Steel.
MECH: Age of Steel includes:
Along with the ebook versions of MECH: Age of Steel, at a certain stretch goal (see below), we are including two bonus novellas, one by Paul Genesse and another by Patrick M. Tracy, that tie into their co-written story in Kaiju Rising! Digital editions only.
Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details, updates, and backing info.
About this project,
Back in 2013 a little movie called Pacific Rim rekindled our love of giant monsters. It gave editor Nick Sharps an idea that grew to become Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters. Thanks to Kickstarter and Ragnarok Publications, Nick’s dream became reality, and a massive anthology was born. From early on, we've envisioned a companion anthology to Kaiju Rising, focused on the other half of the equation that made Pacific Rim so much fun—giant robots! And so, Ragnarok is proud to introduce this anthology by 25 of today's most talented storytellers. We give you...MECH: Age of Steel.
MECH: Age of Steel includes:
- “Travailiant” by Kevin J. Anderson & David Boop
- “Easy as Pie” by Jody Lynn Nye
- Untitled by Peter Clines (Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters tie-in)
- “Ordo Talos” by Graham McNeill
- “Rogue 57” by Jeremy Robinson
- “Toy Soldier” by James Swallow
- “Birthright” by Martha Wells
- “A Single Feather” by Jeffrey J. Mariotte & Marsheila Rockwell
- “Jäegermeister” by Gini Koch (as J.C. Koch)
- “All for One” by Mark Teppo
- “I Am the Pilot” by Ramez Naam & Jason M. Hough
- “All Together Now” by Ramez Naam & Jason M. Hough
- “The Bonus Situation” by Jeff Somers
- “Fadem” by Anton Strout
- Untitled by Bill Fawcett
- “The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey” by Shawn Speakman
- “Mecha Mishipeshu vs Theseus IV” by C.L. Werner (Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters tie-in)
- "After the Victory" by M.L. Brennan
- “The Cold and the Dark” by James R. Tuck
- “Vulture Patrol” by Jennifer Brozek
- “Here We Go! Fight!” by Kane Gilmour
- “The Stars Shine Home” by Mallory Reaves
- "Battlefield Recovery" by Andrew Liptak
- “Integration” by Steve Diamond
Along with the ebook versions of MECH: Age of Steel, at a certain stretch goal (see below), we are including two bonus novellas, one by Paul Genesse and another by Patrick M. Tracy, that tie into their co-written story in Kaiju Rising! Digital editions only.
- “Of the Fire” by Paul Genesse
- “Machine Heart” by Patrick M. Tracy
Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details, updates, and backing info.
Cover of Kaiju Rising
- Published on
An Abridged version of the sold-out hardcover now available in Softcover! For over 60 years, Japan has produced an incredible array of science fiction and fantasy films to delight generations of moviegoers. From the King of the Monsters, Godzilla, and the space monster Ghidorah, to the fire-breathing turtle Gamera, and invading armies of aliens. This is the book that gathers them all together: featuring movie poster art and advertising materials from 60 different films and more than 1,000 color photos of items from 20 different countries.
Featuring a new cover illustration by Alex Wald (American Splendor, Japan’s Favorite Mon-Star).
Product Details
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Sean Linkenback
Release Date: October 13, 2014
Language: English
Cover Price: $39.99
Featuring a new cover illustration by Alex Wald (American Splendor, Japan’s Favorite Mon-Star).
Product Details
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Sean Linkenback
Release Date: October 13, 2014
Language: English
Cover Price: $39.99
- Published on
From Bob Eggleton
REVEAL! Here is the exclusive art print I did for Sean Linkenback's LIMITED DELUXE EDITION OF 100 of his upcoming book THE ART OF JAPANESE MONSTERS which is a tome of all posters and art from Japanese Sci FI and Kaiju Eiga films. This art print will be signed by Akira Takarada(left), Haruo Nakajima(right) and myself and only in the deluxe edition of the book available via Sean. I wanted the art to look "document" like and not too slick reflecting the age of the original movie.
REVEAL! Here is the exclusive art print I did for Sean Linkenback's LIMITED DELUXE EDITION OF 100 of his upcoming book THE ART OF JAPANESE MONSTERS which is a tome of all posters and art from Japanese Sci FI and Kaiju Eiga films. This art print will be signed by Akira Takarada(left), Haruo Nakajima(right) and myself and only in the deluxe edition of the book available via Sean. I wanted the art to look "document" like and not too slick reflecting the age of the original movie.