Sandbox World

The Art and History of Popeye

12/06/2021 Tony M. books

Hermes Press is celebrating the art of Popeye, the longest-living pop culture comic strip character. The Art of Popeye: A Masterwork of the Medium by R.C. Harvey is a must for fans. Popeye was created by Elzie Segar, the character comes and goes like a wave that hits the shore. 2021 is one of those years, another book titled The Art of Popeye Artists and Comic Strippers’: Versions of the Spinach-Eating Superhero edited by comic book archivist Craig Yoe comes out this year from Clover Press.

The TCM Library – “Summer Movies: 30 Sun-Drenched Classics”

05/06/2021 Tony M. books, movies

Summer Movies is your guide to 30 sun-drenched classics that—through beach parties, road trips, outdoor sports, summer camp, or some intangible mood that brings the heat—manage to keep summer alive year-round. Packed with production details, stories from the set, and more than 150 photos, the book takes an in-depth look at films from the silent era to the present that reflect the full range of how summer has been depicted on screen, both by Hollywood and by international filmmakers.

99.1% Pure: Breaking Bad Art Book

03/06/2021 Tony M. books

One of the most acclaimed and popular television series of all time, Breaking Bad left an indelible imprint on the imaginations of viewers around the world. Walter White’s transformation from high school chemistry teacher to meth kingpin has inspired thousands of artists to creatively reinterpret the show’s stark, stylish visuals and unforgettable characters.

I Don’t Know Sht About Fck: The Official Ozark Guide to Life by Ruth Langmore

01/06/2021 Tony M. books

I Don’t Know Sh*t About F*ck: The Official Ozark Guide to Life by Ruth Langmore presents the rich philosophy of Ruth Langmore, everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed criminal. This irreverent, playful, and profanity-laden “guide to life” is inspired by the hit Netflix television series Ozark, produced by MRC Television, and is written in Ruth’s distinctive voice.

Joseph Moncure March’s “The Set-Up” From Korero Press

30/05/2021 Tony M. books

Joseph Moncure March is best known for The Wild Party and The Set-Up. In 1999, Art Spiegelman brought back The Wild Party from obscurity with the accompaniment with Spiegelman’s unique art to the narrative poem. It is quite surprising that March’s better-known work, The Set-Up, has been out of print for over 50 years. The Set-Up was made into an award-winning movie with Robert Ryan playing the lead. Unlike the book, Ryan’s portrayal of an older white boxer down on his luck changed the dynamics of the movie. Illustrator Erik Kriek was commissioned by Korero Press to revamp the underworld boxing story.

Nine Nasty Words English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever by John McWhorter

09/05/2021 Tony M. books

Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech–the urgency with which we say “f&*k!” is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.

M.C. Escher: Journey To Infinity

09/05/2021 Tony M. books

M.C. Escher: Journey To Infinity is the story of world-famous Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher (1898-1972). Equal parts history, psychology, and psychedelia, Robin Lutz’s entertaining, eye-opening portrait gives us the man through his own words and images: diary musings, excerpts from lectures, correspondence and more are voiced by British actor Stephen Fry, while Escher’s woodcuts, lithographs, and other print works appear in both original and playfully altered form.

Clarity & Connection by Yung Pueblo

04/05/2021 Tony M. books, poetry

In Clarity & Connection, Yung Pueblo describes how intense emotions accumulate in our subconscious and condition us to act and react in certain ways. In his characteristically spare, poetic style, he guides readers through the excavation and release of the past that is required for growth. A powerful resource for those invested in the work of personal transformation, building self-awareness, and deepening their connection with others.

Frank Miller’s Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye (Deluxe Edition)

02/05/2021 Tony M. books

I can’t believe that Frank Miller’s Sin City is 30 years old. It is my favorite Miller work, it’s a masterpiece. I am biased because I love film noir movies. Miller brilliantly captures the essence of the genre on paper. If you never had a chance to get the original run, now is the perfect time to get a great piece of art with this deluxe edition of Sin City. It would be a sin not to get Volume 1, The Hard Goodbye.

ounce upon a time in hollywood by quentin tarantino

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood Paperback Edition by Quentin Tarantino

02/05/2021 Tony M. books

The Oscar-winning director has a two-book deal with Harper, beginning with a novelization of “Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood” that is scheduled for this summer. “Once Upon a Time” will be a true Tarantino production: The book will come out first as a mass-market paperback, like the old pulp novels the filmmaker loves and will offer “a fresh, playful and shocking departure from the film,” according to Harper.

You’re Dead To Me

02/05/2021 Tony M. books, podcast

I have gravitated to podcasts like no other time in my life. I love history-based podcasts. You’re Dead to Me from BBC Radio 4 is a hilarious romp into history for people who hate history by Greg Jenner. Who knew could be so much fun. When these podcasts are put in a modern context, it is always fun to listen to. Jenner is labeled as a ‘celebrity historian’

What is the Secret of Soylent Green?

28/04/2021 Tony M. books, movies

Soylent Green: The “miracle food” of high-energy plankton, gathered from the oceans of the world. Due to its enormous popularity, Soylent Green is in short supply, so remember—Tuesday is Soylent Green day.

Hirschfeld: The Biography by Ellen Stern

26/04/2021 Tony M. books

If Al Hirschfeld drew you, you knew you made it. I was quite surprised that is the first biography on the life of Hirschfeld. The simplicity of his lines captured his subjects and immortalized them. Ellen Stern has in turn captured Hirschfeld in words.

More Bad Days in History by Michael Farquhar

25/04/2021 Tony M. books

Think you are having a bad day? Fret not, history is littered with people having bad days. I am a fan of Bad Days in History by Michael Farquhar. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a sequel to Bad Days in History. Naturally, it is called More Bad Days in History.

The Fourth World by Jack Kirby Omnibus (New Printing)

25/04/2021 Tony M. books

Jack Kirby left Marvel Comics in 1970 due to creative differences with Stan Lee to create his greatest work for DC Comics which would later be called, The Fourth World. His Fourth World books were a failure in the early 70s. The Fourth World characters lingered in the DC universe for 50 years and play significant roles in shaping continuity. From 1970 till 1973, the New Gods books desperately tried to gain a following with poor sales.

Troy: The Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry

25/04/2021 Tony M. books

I am really looking forward to Troy, it promises to be a great read as much as the two previous two books. There are still many great stories to be told in Troy. I am really fond of the hardcover editions of the books. You will not regret getting these books. The stories are timeless, Stephen Fry’s interpretations of the ancient myths are a bolt of lightning of freshness. He is a master of words.

Marvel Comics: The Variant Covers

18/04/2021 Tony M. books, comics

Real comic book collectors are always after the variant cover of fan-favorite comic books. The marketing ploy for both retailer and collector to buy more comics has been around since 1986. The first comic book marketed with a variant cover was the 1986 first issue of The Man of Steel, which featured two different covers by writer/artist John Byrne.