Author:David Hughes
The superheroes are back! Since the 1970s, the film world has found inspiration in comic books and graphic novels. These days no summer is complete without a major blockbuster movie based on a comic: Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, Men in Black, Daredevil, and The Hulk. Modern special effects have made large-scale superhero epics possible, but the diversity of the comics being published has made for a wide variety of subjects, as evidenced by Ghost World, From Hell, Akira and Road to Perdition. This book looks in detail at twenty key titles, covering every step of the development from comic book panel to feature film frame. Includes interviews with key creative artists about the evolution of the films from the original comics, and speculates about future films.
Hughes knows his subject inside out . . .makes you want to rush out and revisit each of these movies right away
—— EmpireKermode has nutsy-boltsy knowledge, fierce and idiosyncratic enthusiasms ... and some very interesting things to say
—— GuardianAs impressive as it is entertaining ... Takes a wrecking ball to the studio chicanery
—— WordExpertly written, funny and fascinating
—— ShortlistFrankly alarming
—— MetroCatching Mark Kermode in full rant is like witnessing an irate bloke slagging off an unfaithful mistress. Only funnier ... Disagreeing with Kermode is just as much fun as agreeing with him
—— Daily TelegraphA spectacularly well-researched and vehement argument
—— Sunday TimesCombines historical context with hilariously barbed anecdotes
—— Total FilmThe angrier Mark Kermode gets, the funnier he is; good news then that this book is FURIOUS
—— Empire[A] laugh-out-loud account that will tickle the funny bone of any film fanatic
—— StarWitty and incisive
—— ChoiceCutting and witty
—— Loaded[Kermode] clearly has a profound love of film and the depth of knowledge to go with it
—— Jeff Dawson , Sunday TimesAn angry blast about the state of cinema-going
—— Christopher Fowler, Books of the Year: Cinema , IndependentKermode sits in the stalls peeking through his fingers at what we’re served up on the silver screen and motormouthing about bad cinema in a frank and funny counterblast to all the Hollywood hype
—— SagaThe Good, the Bad and the Multiplex is the film critic’s anguished cri de coeur against overpriced 3D film tickets and soulless cinemas ... often very funny and enlivened with wonderful digressions borne out of a lifetime’s movie-going
—— Books of the Year , MetroDifficult to ignore
—— Good Book Guidea spritely, spirited tome ... with welcome doses of spicy self-deprecation and fascinating cultural history.
—— The Big Issue in the NorthI can’t remember a music journal that I enjoyed reading more. One comes away full of admiration for Rusbridger’s ambition and determination.
—— Jeremy Nicholas , GramophoneInspiring.
—— O, The Oprah MagazineRead about Rusbridger's obsession in his inspiring, diary-like new book.
—— Huffington PostA wonderful account of trying to learn a complex piano piece while running the Guardian at the time of Wikileaks and phone hacking.
—— Susie Orbach , GuardianRusbridger’s book is fascinating because you see him visibly struggling to keep up with the complexities of the Chopin piece along with everything else that’s going on in his life
—— Jim Carroll , Irish Times