Books are fun to read, but that’s not all they are. With entertainment companies today understanding the value of every scrap of information from the process of making art, books can serve as vast repositories for behind-the-scenes stories, design evolution and more. Our holiday book guide this year places particular emphasis on the history and creation of some of our very favorite things. Whether the recipient seeks to become an expert, or is just a fan who likes awesome artwork, most superhero fans will enjoy these wares. Behold our book holiday gift guide 2020.
X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series $34.10
For an entire generation, one cartoon was the definitive introduction to the X-Men. Wolverine, Cyclops, beast, Professor X and all the rest solidified their pop-cultural footprint and brought epic comics-based storylines to the small screen. Now read about how Fox, Saban, and Marvel pulled it off, along with new interviews and never-before-seen images.
Batman: The Animated Series: The Phantom City Creative Collection $37.73
Mondo artist Justin Erickson presents a gorgeous collection of images inspired by Batman: The Animated Series. Bruce Timm’s original designs, as great and groundbreaking as they were, get kicked up a notch. Slick graphic designs and illustrations create a unique tribute to this astonishing series that many still hold up as the definitive Dark Knight.
Batman: The Definitive History of the Dark Knight in Comics, Film, and Beyond $47.46
Speaking of definitive…here’s a book that sums up every adaptation of Batman ever! From the 1939 comics and original black-and-white serials through Gotham, the Arkham games, and beyond. Was it published to soon to mention Robert Pattinson? Read the book to find out. Kevin Conroy and Michael Keaton provide an exclusive introduction and foreword.
The Philosophy of Spider-Man $14.99
How does Spider-Man cope with the challenges of being Peter Parker every day? What keeps him centered? Does he use humor as a defense? What’s the secret to dealing with a boss like Jameson? With wild wordplay and scenario specifics, this entertaining tome delves into what makes your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler tick.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse -The Art of the Movie $28.34
There’s just so much to see in Into the Spider-Verse. You cou buy a 4K disc and frame-by-frame it, but picking up this book is much easier. Plus it includes early art, unused art, and anecdotes the movie alone may not reveal.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales The Art of the Game $39.95
Get the inside scoop on the creation of the year’s most acclaimed superhero game. From concept art all the way through final development, learn all about the process from the developers themselves. Because sometimes game art is easier to enjoy when it’s static. And multiple onscreen enemies aren’t trying to kill you while your jaw drops.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: From Amazing to Spectacular: The Definitive Comic Art Collection $14.00
Celebrate fifty years of people drawing the web-slinger and his friends and foes. With exclusive content and creator interviews, find out how they interpreted great power and great responsibility in the form of one teen with skin-tight blue and red gear. Well, except when he wore the symbiote suit. Or that weird hoodie. Or….
Marvel Comics: The First 80 Years $29.99
They’re an omnipresent, powerhouse part of the Disney empire, but ’twas not always thus. Learn in depth about the details of the eight decades it took Marvel to basically rule the world.
Marvel Myths and Legends: The epic origins of Thor, the Eternals, Black Panther, and the Marvel Universe $21.74
The Marvel universe is so filled with different gods and mythologies that they can be tough to keep straight. In a universe where Bast, Odin, and Hercules all coexist alongside Celestials and Eternals, what are the definitive origin stories and theologies? And which god can beat up the other gods? Here’s a book to clarify all of that, and maybe provide some context for a few upcoming movies.
The Making of Aliens $42.06
How did James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd make one of the greatest sequels of all time? The short answer is that they took an iconic movie monster and recontextualized it into an action movie from its horror origins, while evolving the lead into a kick-ass heroine . The longer answer is in this book.
The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season One) $31.99
This is the way. Any true Star Wars fan wants to know the name of every planet, creature, and spaceship shown onscreen in a given incarnation, and since so many of The Mandalorian‘s characters aren’t super-talkative, a book to keep it all straight seems really helpful.
The Art of Star Wars Rebels $26.49
Confused by who Bo-Katan Kryze is, or where the Darksaber was before Moff Gideon claimed it? Star Wars Rebels holds many of the answers, and this book holds all of the major details about Rebels. Set between the prequel and original trilogies, it covers the rise of the Empire, the final fate of Maul, the future of Ahsoka, and much more. But it’s a lot to take in, and this book will help.
The Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005 $152.50
Everything you ever wanted to know about the making of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but were afraid to ask. Including George Lucas’ original plans for Episodes VII-IX.
