vehicles Archives - MediaMikes

Age Range: 8 and up
Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: July 29, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

DK Books is literally the best when it comes to fun and in-depth book for “Star Wars” fans. They endless keep coming up with new and exciting books for this franchise. The latest is “Complete Vehicles”, which sets out to explore the inner workings of the spaceships and vehicles of all six “Star Wars” movies. From the moment I opened this book till my wife dragged it out of my hands, I was completely zoned out. What “Star Wars” fan wouldn’t do a back flip for a book like this!? If you think that book look familiar that is because it is in fact an expanded edition of the fan favorite book, “Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections”. This new amped up edition is jam-packed with new cross-section artworks and a ton of amazing new photos. A must for any true “Star Wars” fan.

Official Premise: “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” is packed with visual explorations of more than fifty essential Star Wars spacecraft and landcraft, including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, B-wing, and more. Full-color cross-section artwork presents in-depth examinations of each craft’s weapon systems, engines, hyperdrives, cockpits, and construction secrets, providing a never-before-seen glimpse at the vehicles that drive the Star Wars universe. “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” now features new and never-before-seen cross-sections!

DK really gets deep into detail with this book and even though this new edition is more kid-friendly than the original, I still found learning new things. The images are extremely in-depth and very crisp. There is a great foreword by John Knoll, the Visual Effects Supervisor at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. He really knows these vehicles inside out and gives a nice insight. Now if you own “Complete Cross-Sections”, the question is do you really need to buy “Complete Vehicles”? Well, I should probably still say yes since it does have the four new cross-sections but again I am a die-hard “Star Wars” fan. Can’t wait to see what they have planned next for this never-ending franchise but whatever it is I will be first in line!

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Author: Brandon T. Snider
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Release Date: July 10, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When I receive this book, before reading it, I figured it was just a neat little faux manual for the gadgets from the “Batman” films. Well let me know tell you I got a lot more than I expected. This book plays like a complete dossier to Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy. I can’t even describe this as a book since it is SOOOO much more. It even has aspects of a pop-up book since it is extremely interactive. This book took me hours to get through and I had trouble even turning each page since I did want to miss an inkling of information. For all those fans that are unable to cope that the final chapter of Nolan’s Batman saga is right around the corner, this is an absolute must and a perfect companion to this amazing trilogy.

This book is really the definitive guide to The Dark Knight’s tools, vehicles, and technologies. This ‘manual’ contains key sketches, diagrams, observations, and even top-secret documents. There is even documentation for Bruce Wayne’s collaborations with Lucius Fox at Wayne Enterprises. If that doesn’t’ sound cool enough this also contains removable documents, including the design and capability of the utility belt and the Batcave, as well as extensive detailed look at Batman’s weapons and gadgets. As a Batman fan, this is the ultimate look into how the Caped Crusader does what he does.

You can tell that this book was a labor of love by author Brandon T. Snider. Even though the book is a mere 112 pages, each page is jam packed with details and even come with sharp Easter eggs scattered throughout. I have a feeling that this book is going to be left on my coffee table for quite sometime to share with friends and family. This is just one of those books that you need to share and show everyone that steps through your door. If you need something to hold you over until July 20th for “The Dark Knight Rises”, this is the book for you, do not miss this.

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Tag: vehicles

Book Review “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles”

Book Review “The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave”