ghoulish host, the Crypt Keeper, and sales of the books went through the roof. EC's exceptional writing and art would raise the level of comic book storytelling to heights that had never been reached before - or since. By 1954, however, the company found itself under attack from parents who considered the magazines too violent for children. Critics tried to link horror comics to juvenile delinquency and the U.S. Senate held televised hearings on the matter. The resulting backlash nearly killed the comic book industry. Many publishers banded together and created their own brand of censorship - the Comics Code Authority - which banned horror comics. Gaines was forced to fold the EC line. But his legendary comics quickly acquired collecto...  (less)

Spider-Man * Four Web-i-sodes: original online featurettes from the film's theatrical release * Train "Ordinary" music video * Previews * "Making the Amazing": A 12-part documentary from pre-production to the Hollywood premiere * "Hero in Crisis": A deeper look into Peter Parker and his personal battles in the continuing story of Spider-Man * Ock-Umentary: "Eight Arms to Hold You": A special look at Doc Ock from the comics to the big screen * "Interwoven: The Women of Spider-Man": A look into the lives of Mary Jane, Aunt May and the other women in Peter Parker's life * "Enter the Web": A groundbreaking multi-angle look behind-the-scenes at the climatic Pier sequence captured in real-time * Art Gallery: A collection of Alex Ross' paintings u...  (less)

and white line art and describes his process for choosing colors, making rendering decisions and balancing color, light and detail. In addition, he discusses techniques for improving speed and the differences between coloring covers vs. interior comic pages.  (less)

program reveals the current complexity and range found in the pages of contemporary graphic novels, and explores the ways that cultural climates and popular attitudes are reflected in comic books. All the heavyweights weigh in, including Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN), Frank Miller (THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS), Stan Lee (SPIDER-MAN, THE SILVER SURFER), Kevin Smith (CHASING AMY), Will Eisner (THE SPIRIT), and others. Keith David, who voiced Spawn from the TV show, narrates the program, which is presented by Peta Wilson (LA FEMME NIKITA). In addition to the star-studded cast, however, the documentary has a lot to offer fans and neophytes alike, with analyses of the role of collecting in the comic book world, and the creation of such seminal entities as DC Comics and Marvel as well as characters like Dark Horse, the Incredible Hulk, and Wonder Women. Contextualizing the innovations and progress of the art form, this documentary is not just an important exploration of the graphic arts, but a fascinating look back at the shifting cultural concerns of a nation. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.  (less)

to the realism of American Splendor, from the terror of Tales from the Crypt to the sophisticated commentary of Maus and the pure insanity of MAD, Comic Book Confidential treats comics with the esteem they deserve.  (less)

while you watch the film: * CREATING A LEGEND: Frank Miller and Zack Snyder Interpret a Classic Tale - Holding true to Frank Miller’s love of history and the importance of bringing a pure adaptation to screen in this tale-based account. * BRINGING THE LEGEND TO LIFE: Building a World From a Comic - Blending the most talented and creative minds together to bring Frank Miller’s art to life in cinematic form. * THE HISTORY BEHIND THE MYTH: The Real Story of The Hot Gates - A rich and historical perspective on the Spartans and this legendary landmark. PLUS A SPECIAL FEATURES ARMY: * WARNER BROS. BD-LIVE - Media Center; Live Community Screening; My WB Commentary. * Bluescreen Picture-In-Picture - Join Director Zack ...  (less)

of the early '40s, and contemporary Japanese animation, the filmmakers stress interesting designs and cinematography. The Caped Crusader prowls a sinister, Art Deco-styled world of tall verticals, sharp angles, silhouettes, searchlights, and grid-like shadows cast by window frames. Its visual pizzazz eclipses Filmation's pallid kidvid, The Batman/Superman Hour (CBS, 1968), which ran off and on in various incarnations through 1981. Many of the same artists worked on the Batman animated features (e.g., Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Batman Beyond--The Movie (1999)), which display similar strengths and weaknesses. Ironically, Batman: The Animated Series looks better in stills than it does in motion. The artists ...  (less)

stunning effects and high-end sound design to create a unique DVD product on par with a major motion picture release. Each DCB contains a four to eight issue comic story-arc and at half the cost of the printed version, the value speaks for itself. Plenty of extra material is packed in as well: trailers, character biographies, original sketches, a documentary about how comics are made, and bonus chapters (including classic first appearances of the main characters). This all adds up to over 100 minutes of viewable material per DCB. Viewable on DVD, Playstation2, Xbox, MacOS 9.2, and PC. Two of the best-known comic book publishers in the world, Marvel and CrossGen, have provided their most popular properties to these DCB. Charac...  (less)

stunning effects and high-end sound design to create a unique DVD product on par with a major motion picture release. Each DCB contains a five to eight issue comic story-arc and at half the cost of the printed version, the value speaks for itself. Plenty of extra material is packed in as well: trailers, character biographies, original sketches, a documentary about how comics are made, and bonus chapters (including classic first appearances of the main characters). This all adds up to over 100 minutes of viewable material per DCB. Viewable on DVD, Playstation2, Xbox, MacOS 9.2, and PC. Two of the best-known comic book publishers in the world, Marvel and CrossGen, have provided their most popular properties to these DCB. Charac...  (less)

stunning effects and high-end sound design to create a unique DVD product on par with a major motion picture release. Each DCB contains a four to eight issue comic story-arc and at half the cost of the printed version, the value speaks for itself. Plenty of extra material is packed in as well: trailers, character biographies, original sketches, a documentary about how comics are made, and bonus chapters (including classic first appearances of the main characters). This all adds up to over 100 minutes of viewable material per DCB. Viewable on DVD, Playstation2, Xbox, MacOS 9.2, and PC. Two of the best-known comic book publishers in the world, Marvel and CrossGen, have provided their most popular properties to these DCB. Charac...  (less)

stunning effects and high-end sound design to create a unique DVD product on par with a major motion picture release. Each DCB contains a five to eight issue comic story-arc and at half the cost of the printed version, the value speaks for itself. Plenty of extra material is packed in as well: trailers, character biographies, original sketches, a documentary about how comics are made, and bonus chapters (including classic first appearances of the main characters). This all adds up to over 100 minutes of viewable material per DCB. Viewable on DVD, Playstation2, Xbox, MacOS 9.2, and PC. Two of the best-known comic book publishers in the world, Marvel and CrossGen, have provided their most popular properties to these DCB. Charac...  (less)

stunning effects and high-end sound design to create a unique DVD product on par with a major motion picture release. Each DCB contains a five to eight issue comic story-arc and at half the cost of the printed version, the value speaks for itself. Plenty of extra material is packed in as well: trailers, character biographies, original sketches, a documentary about how comics are made, and bonus chapters (including classic first appearances of the main characters). This all adds up to over 100 minutes of viewable material per DCB. Viewable on DVD, Playstation2, Xbox, MacOS 9.2, and PC. Two of the best-known comic book publishers in the world, Marvel and CrossGen, have provided their most popular properties to these DCB. Charac...  (less)