Crimson Peak: The Art Of Darkness
Hardcover
Written by Mark Salisbury
Foreword by Guillermo del Toro
Insight Editions
Release date: October 13, 2015

Cracking open the pages of Crimson Peak: The Art Of Darkness for the first time yields the same type of eerie creaking sounds heard throughout much of Guillermo del Toro’s latest feature film, Crimson Peak, providing the perfect introduction to this art book. Contained within this 160-page full-color hardcover tome are details behind the filmmaker’s gothic romance, starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, with sections on the attributes of each character and their extensive biographies hinted at but not disclosed in the film. There’s also behind-the-scenes information on the casting, costumes, and motivations of these characters, for the story taking place in late 18th century in northeastern America (Buffalo, NY), and Northern England.

Star Trek: Costumes
Five Decades of Fashion from the Final Frontier
Hardcover
by Paula M. Block, Terry J. Erdmann
Introduction by Robert Blackman
Insight Editions
Release date: October 13, 2015

For nearly 50 years, the Star Trek science fiction entertainment franchise has been a viable one, with its multi-series television episodes, movies, books, games, and more. The themes brought about in Star Trek have led to many discussions on in-depth issues, such as the nature of good vs. evil; the technology, weaponry, cultures, and morals of the future; and the franchise’s impact on not only pop culture, but on our society as a whole.

But, when you strip away all the heavy topics of Star Trek, you’re left with some fun action and adventure, and great storytelling, along with some fantastic — and some not so fantastic — costumes.

Iron Man Manual
Hardcover
Written by Daniel Wallace
Insight Editions
Release Date: November 19, 2013

Iron Man. Tony Stark. Ten years ago these names weren’t nearly as well known as they are today. Marvel was always proud of their Iron Man comic franchise but as with most comic characters, only the readers had the whole scoop. And then came the movies. Now these are household names, the movies are cinematic blockbusters and you cannot help but see Robert Downey, Jr. as the face of old Shell Head. The films did more for the name than the four decades of comics prior, I enjoy them and think they cast Tony perfectly. To celebrate this trilogy of action packed films, Marvel and Insight Editions produced this Iron Man Manual. A beautifully bound book with so much going for it that it’s sure to be a hit!

That said, I am profoundly disappointed that no one saw fit to include anything from the comics. I’m not kidding. Not a single piece from any Iron Man comic is in this. There is a comic cover shown at the beginning of the book, but it’s a Captain America cover! Seriously? This should have more fittingly been called the Iron Man Movie Manual, because that’s what it is. Every single page, every insert, every thought is based on the films. What a huge let down this was for me. Comic fans will open this up and feel the same shock I did, of this I have no doubt. But now that I have that off my chest, let me review what is actually in there, okay? I’ve vented and feel a little better.