James J. Sullos Jr. is the President of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and Cathy Wilbanks is the Archivist of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. They took out some time to chat with Media Mikes to discuss Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic novel “A Princess of Mars” – the first novel in Burroughs’ Barsoom series and Disney’s film “John Carter”. Both James & Cathy also helped create the bonus feature on the “John Carter” Blu-ray called “100 Years In The Making.”

Mike Gencarelli: What`s the best part of working on Mr. Burroughs’s Legacy?
Jim Sullos: Mr. Burroughs wrote over 70 novels and 40 short stories. There is no end to the literary content that he created. I continually read material that has not been published for quite a few years and yet the storyline are still exciting. That why his legacy is never ending.
Cathy Wilbanks: I really enjoy working with the archives because every day is an opportunity to find treasures. The archives are filled with amazing artifacts from the past and I have the pleasure of discovering each and every one.

MG: What do you think Burroughs would have thought of this adaptation of “John Carter”?
JS: Burroughs would have been pleased that the movie accurately portrayed much of what was in his first novel “A Princess of Mars”. And he would have been amazed that current technology could finally do justice to his vivid imagination which was not possible until CGI was developed.

MG: What scene did you most enjoy in “John Carter”?
JS: It is very difficult to select just one scene that I most enjoyed because the whole movie was an incredible joy to see. Andrew Stanton was a genius in bringing visualization to the entire storyline that had never been seen before. As I watched the movie I could feel the passion he devoted to each segment of the film. Picking one scene would not be fair to so many successful portrayals of this timeless story.
CW: My favorite scene in the movie would have to be when John Carter saves Dejah during the marriage ceremony. My favorite character would have to be John Carter, but Woola is a close second!

MG: This big adaption of “John Carter” was 100 Years In The Making, what was the biggest challenge to get it right?
CW: The biggest challenge was finding an actor to portray Edgar Rice Burroughs. We were able to talk John Burroughs, ERB’s grandson, into taking on the part. When I saw the film for the first time, I was amazed to watch John interact in the background because he resembles ERB so much. It was like ERB was back with us again.

MG: How do you feel that the film “John Carter” interpreted the novel “A Princess of Mars?
JS: I think Andrew Stanton, the fabulous Director, who read all of the 11 Mars books as a youngster gave Dejah Thoris an added dimension as both a scientist and an accomplished fighter, greatly expanding her role with positive effects.

MG: What do you think makes the book “A Princess of Mars” so unique?
JS: At the time this book was written in 1911-1912, the scientific knowledge of planet Mars was limited and scientists had to guess as to the makeup of the surface of the planet. Mr. Burroughs novel gave a vivid description in detail of Mars that persisted for decades as the imaginary life that might exist on any planet in the universe.

MG: What were Burroughs’ sentiments toward filming his works in general?
CW: Edgar Rice Burroughs moved from Chicago to the San Fernando Valley in 1919 so he could be closer to the Hollywood scene. He was very excited and realized that he wanted to move in that direction. However, once filming started, he realized that he had to give up some of the control of how his characters were portrayed. Burroughs was mostly frustrated with the portrayal of Tarzan. He wanted his TARZAN to be portrayed as an intelligent, insightful heroand did not like the line “Me Tarzan, You Jane.”

MG: Can you give us some examples of the artifacts you worked with in the treasure trove of ERB material?
CW: The archives at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. are filled with historical treasures. I have had the pleasure of holding in my hands many first edition books, a huge variety of comic books, toys, merchandise from around the world, movie props like a pterodactyl, and of course, original art. But some of the most meaningful artifacts include the handwritten TARZAN Of THE APES manuscript as well as the A PRINCESS OF MARS manuscript and personal letters signed by Edgar Rice Burroughs himself.

MG: Despite being a hundred years old, the characters of ‘John Carter’ and the Barsoom series are still relevant and don’t feel the least bit dated. Why do you think that is?
CW: Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the story focusing on human conditions such as love and conflict. He understood that to have a successful story, he must include factors that would have a wide appeal. The ‘John Carter’ character was developed with characteristics like humor, intelligence, emotion and strength. John Carter (Taylor Kitch) is very ‘relate-able’ which makes the story current in today’s world.

MG: We wouldn’t have Star Wars if it wasn’t for Princess of Mars, do you think pop culture gives Burroughs the credit he deserves for being such an influence?
CW: No, I don’t believe pop culture gives Edgar Rice Burroughs enough credit. He was a gifted, prolific writer and unfortunately has not been recognized for his contributions.

MG: Do you think there should be a sequel to John Carter movie? If you had to choose another adaption of Burroughs to be made into a feature, which would it be?
JS: I definitely think a sequel should follow. First, I would hope that the planned sequels will be produced because they will show the path that John Carter took to become the “Warlord of Mars”. There are 11 ‘Mars’ books that can be drawn on to create several more exciting movies. But in addition Mr. Burroughs wrote many other science fiction novels and particularly intriguing is the Venus series which portrays the hero Carson Napier who planned to fly his spaceship to Mars but miscalibrated and ended up on Venus to discover an unknown world.

MG: Will there other movies on the books of Edgar Rice Burroughs?
JS: At the present time Warner Bros. has in development a Tarzan live-action. And Constantin films will release its first Tarzan 3D animated film in 2013. We are currently in discussion with several producers who are looking at other Burroughs novels for potential new films.

Author: G K Stritch
Hardcover: 246 pages
Publisher: Full Court Press

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“CBGB Was My High School” is a coming of age biography written by G K Stritch. The book is being released via Full Court Press and is more than just your normal biography. Not only does Stritch tell her story of growing up and details the trials and tribulations that come with that but she also incorporates the growth of the NY art/music scene during what I feel is one of the City’s most interesting periods.

This book is a fun and quick read that will have the reader not wanting to put this book down. The growth of places like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB’s are seamlessly interspersed with Stritch’s own accounts of her times at these places. Stritch’s words paint a picture that makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall taking it all in.

From abusive relationships to meeting a former first lady author G K Stritch covers it all. “CBGB Was My High School” is an honest look at 70’s/80’s New York told from the perspective of someone who was there. Even if biographies aren’t your thing give this book a chance. I don’t think you will regret it.

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Author: Jenny Lerew
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: May 30, 2012

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I would consider myself one of the biggest fans of Pixar’s work. I even enjoyed “Cars 2”, even though it wasn’t the smartest film they have ever done. Since seeing the trailer to “Brave”, I haven’t been completely wowed yet. It looks decent but I don’t really see the Pixar charm. This book definitely delivers that charm and has totally kick started my interest to see this film. It really draws you in into its artistic world. I felt myself going back and forth within this book trying to soak it all in.  Honestly couldn’t put it down and I know it will be revisited frequently…especially after seeing the film.

For Pixar, “Brave”, which is their thirteenth feature film, is a very important film for them, especially following up “Cars 2”. It is also their first feature film to be driven by a female lead and set in an historical period. In this book we get to meet the Disney’s latest princess Merida and get completely emerged on her journey of magic, danger and adventure and most importantly bonds of family.  You also get an inside look at all of the film’s characters and drawn in by all of the beautiful landscapes that the film takes place in.

When I pick up an “Art of”, I really expect amazing concept art from the film, especially from the talent of Pixar. This book features not only delivers out-of-this-world concept art but also some really interesting behind-the-scenes interviews with the artists and filmmakers from “Brave”. There is also color scripts, sculptures, and storyboards. You really get great insight into this film and its adventure that it will take you on. Once aspect that I really enjoyed was the fact that their was concept art dating back all the way to 2004. It just shows how much work really goes into making a film like “Brave”.

This book is authored by Jenny Lerew, an animation story artist and most recently worked on the DreamWorks Animation film “How to Train Your Dragon”. She really does a great job of wheeling you into the film and giving a great insight into the creative process. I also enjoyed the preface from John Lasseter and foreword from the directors of “Brave”, Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews. Since these people are tightly involved with Pixar, you can tell that this book has the Pixar approval. As always Chronicle Books scored again with there “Art of” books. Look forward to their next release.

Author: Barbara Robertson
Hardcover: 156 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: May 15, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to animated films, I always love to check out the “Art of” books since they are always the best. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” is definitely no different. The book is extremely colorful and I really enjoyed reading/looking through it. Dreamworks Animation really has CGI films down also including the “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda” series. I haven’t seen “Madagascar 3” yet but after reading this book, I am now very much more interested to see it. I also really enjoyed the foreword from Chris Rock, it is a great way to kick off this book.

“The Art of Madagascar 3” focuses on all aspects of the film ranging from character design, development art, and special effects. This really showcases the amazing work that the artists at DreamWorks Animation did for this film. There is a breakdown of every new character from this installment including a very detailed descriptions. Since the film is very location based, there is a detailed concept art showing where the film takes place ranging from New York to Monte Carlo. I also really enjoyed the specific focus on the visual effects from various scenes in the film. This book also doesn’t just include CGI pictures from the movie, literally every shot is a unique drawing from the film.

If you are a fan of this series, then you are going to definitely want to check out this book. It really has a little bit for everyone of all ages. For kids it focuses on the film’s notable characters and for adults it includes details aspects from the artists that brought them to life. The images in the book are extremely high quality and really sharp. The colors are the page literally jump off and look really great. Insight Editions succeeds again with this release. They continue to release great “Art of” books for Dreamworks Animation films and they deliver yet another excellent book.

According to author Steve Alten in his May newsletter, he is reporting that his “Domain” series is being turned into a film set for release in November 2012, just in time for the ‘end’ on December 21, 2012.

Here is what Steve reported below:
“Three years ago I optioned the DOMAIN dramatic rights to a film company out of Columbia that has done a few low budget, hi-octane features. DOMAIN would be a big fish for them, but they do quality work. According to their lead producer, they’d film in June and release in November (English, no subtitles). Fingers crossed, updates in June.”

Here is the premise for Steve Alten’s “Domain”:
Archaeologist Julius Gabriel has devoted his life to studying the Mayan calendar, a 2,500-year-old enigma that ends abruptly on December 21, 2012. Many believe this foretells the end of the world. Julius is convinced it’s one of many pieces to a puzzle that could lead to the salvation of our species. He has passed on his knowledge to the only person who ever believed his theories—his son Mick.

It is now the fall of 2012 and Mick is still haunted by his father’s predictions. He’s been committed to a Miami asylum for paranoid schizophrenia, and the dawn of his most feared prophecies is upon him. When inquisitive psychologist Dominique Vazquez joins the team at the South Florida Treatment Center, Mick finds a new listener for his warnings of the coming Apocalypse. What Dominique doesn’t realize is that she is his last hope of saving humanity.

Author: PopMatters
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: May 1, 2012

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I am one of the biggest fans of Joss Whedon and this is easily the Essential Guide to the Whedonverse.  I just feel like it more accumulated knowledge from the internet, than an actual bio on his career.  The book runs at almost 500 pages and covers everything in Whedon’s career from his TV Series, Movies, Comic Books and more.

Included within this book are essays and interviews about Whedon’s work and also conversations with key collaborators Jane Espenson and Tim Minear.  Since this book is complied by 40 contributors from PopMatters, I feel that the direction of the book is a little confused.  This is why I am never a real big fan of unofficial companions, it just doesn’t seem like the information is original.  I mean, the book definitely contains EVERYTHING you need to know about Joss Whedon but seems to be miss a proper narrative.

Where you are a fan of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, “Firefly”, “Dollhouse”, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”,  or the upcoming “The Avengers”, this book has it.  I also noticed that there is a lack of illustration in the book.  I would have liked to see images to accompany this vast amount of information.  Even if PopMatters, didn’t have rights to the screenshots, I would have liked to see some fan art…just something to push the book a long.  If you are a die-hard fan of Whedon and his work, you should check this out but don’t expect much besides a bunch of known information about his work.

Author: Ken A. Priebe
Paperback: 329 pages
Publisher: Course Technology PTR
Release Date: June 17, 2010

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have always been a huge fan of stop-motion animation, since I saw the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” back in 1993. Since then there has been many more films like “Coraline” that have be made in this fantastic field. I also grew up watching Rankin/Bass specials like “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” and “The Year Without Santa Clause”. Click here to read our interview with Arthur Rankin Jr. I just have always been fascinated with animation in general. Be sure to check out the amazing foreword from stop-action legend Henry Selick (“The Nightmare Before Christmas” & “Coraline”).

This book provides a very in-depth look at the art and techniques of stop-motion animation. The obvious aim for this book is more of a teaching tool, then casually viewing but nonetheless it is very informative as well as education. It is also not only to new learners but also helps experienced stop-motion artists explore different methods and new advanced technology used by major film studios today. 2012 actually brings a swarm of stop-motion films including “Pirates! Band of Misfits” and Paranorman” hitting theaters.

Other aspects covered in this book contains the basic principles of animation, focus on status including information on camera rigs, effects, and shooting stop-motion in stereoscopic 3D. There is even focus on puppet design and computer models for stop-motion productions. I personally really enjoyed the thorough history of early feature-length stop-motion films. Overall this book will have something for all different types of artists who are still supporting this format and are behind its revival in today’s history.  The book overall is also very conversational and easy to read, which makes me recommend this book very highly for all people in the animation field.

Author(s): Ray Harryhausen, Tony Dalton
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Aurum Press
Release Date: May 1, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Ray Harryhausen is such a legend and the creator of so many film special effects that were pre-CGI. Some of the classic films he is known for are “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad”, “Clash of the Titans”, “Jason and the Argonauts” and “One Million Years BC”. This book is a must for Harryhausen fans. More importantly this book is authored by Harryhausen himself, so you know that it is the most accurate and up close and personal information available. It is co-authored by Tony Dalton, who has known Ray for more than 30 years. He worked on the publicity for such iconic films such as “The Omen”, “Star Wars”, and “The Towering Inferno”. To sum up, if you are looking for a rare look into Harryhausen work, then look no further than this book.

Showcased in this book are some really amazing never-before-seen film artifacts, which were recently discovered in a garage in Los Angeles. The aspect of this books that I enjoyed the most are various outtake prints from his films, early concept drawings and storyboards.  There is also a lot of personal artifacts such as written letters, production budgets, and even a diary which describes Ray’s first meeting with his mentor Willis O’Brien.  I am fan of production art and there is some really cool publicity posters and rare brochures included also.  A lot of the images included are kind-of raw and provide a unique look into this amazing era of filmmaking. It also covers all of the films that he worked on and even from some projects which where never made like Harryhausen’s version of “War of the Worlds”. I could imagined that film would have been awesome.

Since this is formed in nature of a scrapbook, it really creates an amazing visual journey. The book is setup so beautifully that it is hard to turn the page. Each page feels like a work of art and a lot of love has gone into each one. The images are also extremely vibrant and colorful. If you are a fan of these films you will really jump at the chance to get an inside look into some of these productions whether it is rare pages from the scripts and productions. Also to top off this amazing book is an amazing foreword from writer/director John Landis.  Kudos to Aurum Press on releasing another impressive book covering the work of Harryhausen.

Author: The Beatles
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: April 24, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Once upon a time (or maybe twice)…I can remember the first time I saw “The Beatles: Yellow Submarine” movie and it changed my life. Not only for film but also for music, animation and The Beatles overall. Now of course, the film is not only aimed at kids but also adults. This beautiful hardcover book is perfectly aimed for kiddies to enjoy.  I am looking forward to sharing this book with my daughter (due on May 23rd, 2012).  I have a feeling that this will be a popular bedtime book.

Candlewick Press did an amazing job with adapting this 1968 classic to introduce to a new generation and enjoy this psychedelic yet sweet storybook. Parents are able to also enjoy themselves while reading and take a trip down the nostalgic road. Pepperland has never looked better in this book with the bright and colorful images. I could swear that I could hear Sergeant Pepper’s Band playing quietly in the background and I went through this book.

It is hard to believe that this legacy all started from being inspired by the song “Yellow Submarine” on The Beatles’ “Revolver” album. Heinz Edelmann’s art looks just as amazing as it did back in 1968 and showcases The Beatles music so well. So more than thirty-five years later, the film continues to bring delight and enjoyment to both adults and children. Overall in closing, this book is a real treat and a wonderful trip into the world of The Beatles.

Author: Christopher Finch
Hardcover: 504 pages
Publisher: Abrams; New edition
Release Date: October 1, 2011

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Walt Disney has been a major influence on my life. I grew up watching the films and still today adore them all. I really look forward to sharing them with my soon-to-be daughter (due May 23, 2012). In fact, I even moved from NY to FL, just to be closer to the parks. This book is honestly the ultimate tribute to the art of Disney and The Walt Disney Company. This is not a new release though, the original edition was published in 1973 and since then there has been many revised and expanded editions released in 1975, 1995, 2004, and now 2011. If you are a Disney fan and don’t own this book, I highly recommend it. If you own past revisions, I would still recommend it because there is so much content added into this latest edition that it completely makes it worth wild.

The newest edition of the book covers the ever changing and expanding history of The Walt Disney Company. Author Christopher Finch didn’t just slap a few new pages and re-released this. He literally updated every chapter to showcase the achievements of The Walt Disney Company in not only filmmaking but also theater, and theme parks. There are a few new chapters though, focusing on mostly Pixar Animation Studio and the new work from Walt Disney Animation Studio like “Tangled”, as well as updated theme park information.. There are also new extensive interviews CEO, John Lasseter, and president, Ed Catmull. This also includes a foreword by John Lasseter. John is such a legend and has aided so much to the Disney legacy with his work over the years.

For a book that was published originally almost 40 years ago, this still relevant and still packs new information even for super fans like me. That is the other thing actually, even though the film is called “The Art Of”, it isn’t just colorful photos. It comes jam-packed with endless thorough information, I enjoyed that the most. You can really tell that author Christopher Finch is a super fan himself. I really looks forward to future revisions of this book. The Disney company will continue to grow throughout the years and will always have special place in my heart.

When you think about art and animation, Disney is the first to come to my mind. They are easily the most successful and influential in the business. This book contains some really amazing concept art, animation drawings and archival materials. Even if you have seen previous editions of this book, this edition literally contains hundreds of new images capturing, well…The Art of Walt Disney.  Let me just tell you how beautiful these images look.  Abrams did an amazing job with this release and delivers the highest quality images.  Whether you are reading this book for yourself or introducing it to your children, it is a great way to keep the Disney legacy going.

Author: Tim Lebbon
Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: April 17, 2012

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Official novelizations have never really been my cup-of-tea. “The Cabin in the Woods” is really no different. The film is so unique and really has to be seen in experience. I am personally a very visual person anyway. If you still prefer to read, I would check out the Official Visual Companion. Read our review here, this book is worth reading immediately…once if you’ve seen the film of course.

Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard did such a great job with this story, changing the face of horror.  I just feel that changing it even so slightly for mass market paperback, doesn’t seem worth it.  The author, Tim Tibbons, is also known for this NY Times Bestselling novelization of the movie “30 Days of Night”. A friend of mine did an excellent job of describing this film as an onion, with each layer being peeled off slowly and reveals new surprises throughout.  I can only really experience this to be enjoyed having actually watched the film.

I can really see this book only appealing to MEGA fans of Joss Whedon, who need to have everything that he is related to.  This book also comes with unnecessary back story for the characters, which isn’t really unless needed as filler for this novel. But then again, like I said in general I am not a big fan of film novelizations. If you would like to experience “The Cabin in the Woods”, I would highly recommend just seeing the movie yourself. Just go see it! You won’t regret it.

Author(s): Christophe Boesch, Sanjida O’Connell
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Disney Editions
Release Date: March 13, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I look forward to Disneynature’s films every Earth Day for the last few years. This year’s installment “Chimpanzee” has been my most anticipated. Well, let’s say that I was very impressed with the film and Tim Allen’s narration. Once I let the theater, I knew I had this book waiting for me at home and I rushed back to dive right in. The book is a little short overall compared to past making-of books from Disneynature, but it is extremely informative and satisfying. If you have seen the movie or even just love nature books, I would rush out and pick up this impressive companion book.

Disneynature’s goal with these films have been to inform their audiences and hope increased awareness with the film’s topics.  This book goal is not only to tell the making of the film but also to focus on the future for these apes. “Disneynature’s Chimpanzee: The Making of the Film” follows the entire process of the movie’s producing,  ranging from the filmmakers pitch to Disneynature to the filming challenges on location in the heart of Africa. I have a lot of respect for the filmmakers and cameramen on this shoot.  They did not have it easy and really sacrificed a lot in order to get this movie made and get the shots needed.  It also features a lot of commentary on the chimpanzees’ background and their territory wars (as the film focuses on).

This hardcover book not only includes a beautiful slipcover, I actually really like what was underneath it more.  There is a beautiful painting of a chimpanzee on both the front and back covers.   Besides just the filmmakers tale of production, there is also much focus on the relationship between Freddy (the packs leader) and Oscar (our little star of the film) is told through stories and also amazing photographs.  The images in the book are very crisp and colorful as well.  I would highly recommend this book and see this movie if you haven’t already, since it tells a great story and is very inspiring.

Author(s): Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: April 17, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Joss Whedon is literally a God amongst his fans.  He is the creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”,”Firefly” and “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog”, just to name a few.  He also wrote/directed a little film called “Marvel’s The Avengers”.  Match that with the genius of Drew Goddard, writer of “Cloverfield” & “Serenity” and you get one of the best horror film of the year.  This book is official visual companion and it is easily the best companion book that I have ever seen.  It is not only caters to fans of Whedon but all horror fans a like.

This book features an amazing 40-pages visual in-depth interview with both Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard.  It simply answers ever single question any fan can have about the film and its production.  It also includes the full screenplay by Whedon and Goddard accompanied by some fantastic production art and hundreds of color photos.  The images included are really high quality and although no hardcover it still looks great.  Lastly the film goes into great details on the film’s creatures, but I will stop there as not to spoil anything.

Be warned if you have not seen this film, do not pick it up prior to watching since it contains mucho spoilers.  If you have seen the film then you can’t pick it up quicker as it is not only super descriptive about the film but it encompasses every aspect a fan can wish for. Overall this book is really well produced by Titan Books, who delivered yet another amazing release.  They are the best when it comes to providing fans with the official visual companions.

Novelization Based on the Final Chapter of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Scheduled for July 2012 Publication

New York, NY; London, UK (April 16, 2012) – Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises,” the much-anticipated final chapter in writer-director Christopher Nolan’s film trilogy featuring the legendary DC Comics character Batman, will be adapted into an official tie-in novel written by award-winning author Greg Cox and published by Titan Books, under a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
Novelist Greg Cox is no stranger to Batman or the DC Comics Universe, having written the official novelizations for such major comic book storylines as Infinite Crisis (2006), 52 (2007), Countdown (2009), and Final Crisis (2010). He has produced numerous bestselling adaptations and original novels based on Star Trek, Underworld, Warehouse 13, and other popular properties. His original novel Terminator Salvation: Cold War won the 2010 Scribe Award for tie-in fiction, and CSI: Headhunter took the award in 2009.

“Batman is one of the most iconic characters of popular culture,” Titan Publisher Nick Landau said. “We’re tremendously excited to work with Warner Bros. on the novelization of ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ especially since it is the culmination of everything Christopher Nolan has done with his amazing trilogy. This is a part of motion picture history.”

The publishing of Titan Books’ The Dark Knight Rises is timed to reach consumers worldwide on Tuesday, July 24, to coincide with the Warner Bros. Pictures release of “The Dark Knight Rises,” which opens in theatres on Friday, July 20, 2012.

About “The Dark Knight Rises”
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.
Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.
The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.
“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release on July 20, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

About Titan Publishing Group
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981, comprising three divisions: Titan Books, Titan Magazines/Comics and Titan Merchandise. Titan Books’ rapidly growing fiction list encompasses original fiction and reissues, primarily in the areas of science fiction, fantasy, horror, steampunk and crime. Titan Books also has an extensive line of media and pop culture-related non-fiction, graphic novels, art and music books. The company is based at offices in London, but operates worldwide, with sales and distribution in the US & Canada being handled by Random House.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

Author: Paul Grushkin
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Release Date: October 22, 2011

Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There are rock bands. There are rock legends. There are rock phenomena. And then, there’s the Grateful Dead.

Within the group’s thirty-year history, the Dead performed 36,504 songs at 2,318 shows. Far more impressive than the band’s numerical statistics, though, is the legion of fans whose devotion to the band was unlimited and propelled them down endless cross-country golden roads to see as many GD concerts as possible. To merely refer to them as a “fan base” is like calling the Mona Lisa just another painting. Indeed, the Dead didn’t just create a following – they created a culture of Deadheads that always turned on the hippie vibe and tuned into to the swirling jam vibe that the band dropped out at them throughout shows that rarely went less than three hours in length.

As the Dead’s fan-base grew from the beginning days of the acid tests to larger venues like San Francisco’s Fillmore to selling out massive stadiums, obtaining tickets to their shows became increasingly more difficult. Grateful Dead Ticket Sales (GDTS) was formed in 1983 to deal with this demand – and to ensure that Deadheads would have dibs on the best face-value tickets to each show. The organization predominantly operated as a mail-order entity to which fans would send their requests for tickets to specific shows on selected dates. As a result, thousands upon thousands of envelopes poured into the GDTS’s offices, many adorned with sprawling psychedelic artwork that often spanned the entire envelope – front and back – and left not a single spec of white space. A large portion of these letters featured graphical symbols that were associated with the band: dancing bears, skeletons and the iconic “Steal Your Face” skull-with-lightning-bolt logo. Looking through the images in the book is like peering into the collective unconscious shared by the fans and the band. Also included is a hand-written letter from Jerry Garcia to a fan, in response to the fan’s question, which is interesting to read.

Paul Grushkin’s “Dead Letters: The Very Best of Grateful Dead Fan Mail” presents over 300 of these micro-masterpieces in fourteen chapters that are organized by visual theme rather than chronological order. It’s a sprawling and beautiful tome that more than adequately documents the phenomenon that the GDTS inadvertently created and is fascinating and engaging as a skim-through coffee-table book or as a full-on read. And while the artwork is clearly the focal point of the book, Grushkin’s accompanying text provides an informative and enjoyable history of the Grateful Dead and insight into the behind-the-scenes activity that helped the legacy endure.

Even though “Dead Letters” will turn up at bookstores and online in the category of “music” books, it’s also a sweeping romance that chronicles the love between flocks of Deadicated followers and the band they adored.

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Many thanks to my dear friend (and long-time Deadhead)
Donna Marland for her contributions to this article.