Titan Books

This was a very professionally written account of the lives of 15 very diverse people who also happen to be professional lacrosse players. The book really makes you view these athletes as interested in their sport, valued members of their community, and very different from the multi-million dollar primma donnas who play other professional sports. I definitely recommend this book.

After the Duke Lacrosse scandal, it was refreshing to see an upbeat well-written book about lacrosse. These players truly honor their sport, and make the casual observer want to learn more. The stories were interesting, and it was a good overview of the NLL, and the players who make the league work. I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more books like it.

This book was interesting, insightful, and sometimes even funny when explaining the lives of 15 "ordinary" people who have jobs, wives, kids, and play professional lacrosse on the weekends. It makes you realize how different pro lacrosse is from other pro sports. (And I mean that in a good way.) The writing was clear and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

It was great to finally read a good book on professional lacrosse. The writing was interesting and insightful, and provided a good mix of lacrosse history combined with people who play the game. I would definitely recommend this book for the lacrosse fanatic, or even the casual observer. I enjoyed it!

This book is filled with stories of professional lacrosse players. The players are atypical from other professional sports players, who are often filled with self-admiration and greed. Yet, they are not exactly everyday people either. The players do have full time jobs and families, but many of them are in noble fields such as teaching, law enforcement, the armed forces, fire fighting... Of course, it takes a noble character to be devoted to such an underpaid and under-appreciated sport. The players sacrifice their bodies, time, and some family commitments for the love of their sport. The writing is clever, and the author gives good insight about the players' individuality, achievements, reminiscences, and dedication.

While I was never a dedicated fan of the Jonah Hex / Weird Western Tales series DC put out in the 70s and 80s, I definitely liked the reincarnation of Jonah Hex in 1993's `Two Gun Mojo'. Freed from Comics Code constraints, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Truman, and Sam Glanzman put together a blood-splattered storyline with plenty of eerie goings-on, pathos, and Lansdale's unique sense of warped humor. "Riders of the Worm and Such", the 1994 follow-up, went more for humor than horror, but was still an entertaining read. Lansdale was going through a burst of productivity in the Western genre at this time (his coeval title for Dark Horse, `Dead in the West', is worth searching out, but be advised it goes a bit too over the top with the grue).

Jonah Hex now has his own ongoing series, up to issue #33 as of early July 2008. It continues to be one of the few Western titles with any kind of staying power on the comic store shelves. Compilations of earlier issues in this series are now seeing distribution as softcover graphic novels, hence `Guns of Vengeance', which features issues #7 - #12.

In this series, Hex occupies a Wild West where homicidal behavior and moral depravity are steeped into every nuance of daily life. This is the perfect setup for lots of violence, and `Guns' - or rather, Jonah and his trigger-happy compatriots - delivers. Every bullet strike calls forth a detailed, over-the-top spurt of gore, and in some stories the body count gets high enough to carpet the streets with corpses.

The stories in `Guns', which are written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, are all standalones rather than multi-chapter stories, and center less on the horror or supernatural themes that are the bread and butter of the `Weird Western' titles. `Jonah Hex' focuses more on Spaghetti Western-inspired plots revolving around revenge and retribution. Gray and Palmiotti occasionally provide moments of black humor, but only the `Gator Bait' tale (i.e, Jonah Hex issue # 10) comes close to a Lansdale-style grotesquerie. Featuring a family of inbred backwoods types who enjoy feeding the occasional trespasser to their pet alligators, `Gator Bait' is simultaneously funny and grisly and one of the better stories in the compilation.

Overall, the artwork in the `Jonah Hex' series is good, and the issues compiled in `Guns' don't disappoint in this regard. The artwork by David Michael Beck, Paul Gulacy, Luke Ross, and Dylan Teague has an appropriately realistic style with lots of washed browns, grays, and blues. Moebius set a high standard for modern Western comic art with his famous `Lieutenant Blueberry' series, and DC's editorial staff seem to recognize this in assigning artists to `Hex'.

While the long-term fate of the `Jonah Hex' series is never secure in this superhero-focused world of comics retailing, I'll be looking for more compilations to appear on the store shelves and I'll be picking them up. If you feel some nostalgia for the Old School titles like Marvel's `Two Gun Kid' or `Rawhide Kid', the old Weird Western Tales series, or Lt. Blueberry, treat yourself and grab a copy.

I'm a long time reader of Jonah Hex from years ago when it first came out. I was very disappointed with the way the artwork in the Hex series basically ruined a fantastic character and comic series.
I was NOT disappointed by Face Full of Violence. It is 100% pure Jonah Hex all the way and the artwork is great just like the original series was.
Great stories, great artwork and inking, I hope they make a hundred of them because I would buy them all. If you've read any of the original series, this is a must buy.

I remember Hex from the day, this Hex looks a lot like Eastwood...but still has (some of) the spirit of the original HEX. I wish they would bring the old back in a colour compilation.

One of the most underappreciated characters in one of the most underappreciated genres in comics gets resurrected and reinvigorated thanks to the writing tandem of inker Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. A duo who worked together on a series of holiday-themed Punisher one-shots (none of which were anything if at all to write home about mind you), both writers are firing on all cylinders with Jonah Hex: Face Full of Violence, which collects the first six issues of the revamped series. Instead of focusing on one continuing storyline, Face Full of Violence contains six seperate stories all involving our favorite scarred outlaw, as he pursues kidnappers, has run-ins with those from his past, and generally takes on all comers without blinking an eye. The stories themselves are gritty and violent without going over the top in terms of gore and profanity (this isn't a Vertigo title, it's under the DC banner), but it retains plenty of attitude and a mature tone that isn't seen in mainstream comics too often these days. The art by Luke Ross and original Jonah Hex artist Tony Dezuniga is nothing short of great, making an already sweet package even, well, sweeter. All in all, if you dig old western comics or have fond memories of a man named Hex, this is a must own.

In a comic medium of decompressed stories and multi-part crossovers, Jonah Hex completely exposes an old school tradition by crafting clever, witty and meaningful stories in stand alone issues. Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Luke Ross are able to take a classic DC character, in a under appreciated genre, and captivate the audience. This collection offers readers a little taste of what the monthly title has been able to deliver on a monthly basis. Very happy that I've been getting the monthly title but this trade will sit on the bookshelf with some of my other titles.

Mike Carey, Lucifer: Inferno (Vertigo, 2003)

The battle between Lucifer and Amanadiel is finally here, but, of course, nothing is what it seems. Lucifer's power is still tied up in the feathers held by Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Makizeen and the Lilim are off hunting for Susanoo, but there are more than enough enemies-- and allies-- in Hell to make Lucifer wonder if their power will be necessary. Wheels within wheels within wheels, as usual, and Carey pulls it off with aplomb. ****

With the four part story arc titled Inferno, ends one of the most ambitious and extraordinary dark fantasy sagas of modern fantasy.
Comprising of about thirty two numbers that began on the first trade The Devil in the Gateway, Carey's epic of power and ambition ranks among the best theological/urban/dark fantasies ever written.
Carey is a master of continuity, allusion, indirectness and oblique multilayered narrative, metaphor and arcane religious symbolism.
Like the majority of comic book writers, Carey's visual imagination(sometimes disturbingly surreal) and plotting are strong, unlike them his attention for style, characterization, tone and atmosphere is remarkable.He is a literate who chose the comic book medium to express his vison about power, arrogance and ambition.
It's the many levels of significance that puts Lucifer apart of other comics books.
I wouldn`t do the book justice if I didn`t mention the excellent artwork and coloring of the artistic team.Regular artists Peter Gross (story arcs) and Dean Ormston (single issues)did an excellent job; the equally excellent artist Chris Weston left the book early.
Gross` drawings on the first issues seems to me rather crude and sketchy but in later issues gets much better.Ormston's disturbingly creepy gothic drawings gives the perfect mood for the single issues, I love his work.The colour pallete is rich; sometimes dark and moddy, sometimes bright and colourful.
For the true conoissieurs Lucifer is an indipensable comic book.

Inferno marks the conclusion of a major story arc: whatever happened to those blasted wings of Lucifer? Last seen in the possession of Susano-O-No-Mikoto, they left the battlefields as the Basanos committed suicide, apparently into the mists of time (or whatever passes for cryptic walking- off- into- the- sunset in Lucifer's world anyway.)

Lucifer duels with Amenadiel - that duel promised in Lucifer #2, Children And Monsters (p.196), but sends his deputy to deal with the wings. Along the way, she meets... someone from her past. A Lilum like herself, which would technically make the union incest, but hey, this is 'Lucifer', after all, and there are no taboos.

The duel fought and won (sort of, on a technicality), Lucifer ends the book by taking on a loan from Loki, setting the stage for Lucifer #6: Mansions of the Silence.

As usual, there's a kooky laugh-at-it story within this collection as well: look out in particular for the bizarre-bittersweet "Bearing Gifts", with Dean Ormston's distinctive art.

This is the end of the first big story arc that has been foreshadowed in the divination of the Tarot deck in part one. And, please note, this part one is not 'Sandman presents: Lucifer' but 'Lucifer: Devil in the gateway'. (That's why the first review by millernw was not helpful, although I fully support his message.)

Well, almost all that has been foreshadowed. Except the divination of the 'innocence' card where Lucifer has been told that he'll have to repay the favour of Elaine Belloc. The last two-parter 'Come to judgement' that nicely ties up loose ends such as the fate of Cestis starts Lucifer's quest to do exactly that.

In the main story arc I particularly liked the re-telling of the old Venus-Vulcanus-Mars story. (The ugly engineer and his pretty wife ...) I know that the originals are Greek gods, not Roman gods, but few readers would know 'Hephaistos' would they?

Also very impressive how the whole story is told by the Duke of Gly. His comments show that Carey has not lost one bit of his ability to surprise the reader with a sentence that you may think about for a long time afterwards. (As you may do about the last words of the inspector at the very end of this book.)

Man, I just stumbled onto this series after getting turned on to the Sandman library, Lucifer is a science fiction fan's dream come true-

Incredible plots, great art, it's the best thing I've seen since, well, Sandman.

I sure hope this series runs for a long time, I'm amazed at the creativity that has gone into this title!

Back when there was little else written about Star Trek, before David Gerrold's great "World of Star Trek" analysis or Franz Joseph's blueprints, "The Making of Star Trek" was the ultimate. I devoured it as a boy in the early '70s. To this day I don't think anyone can consider themselves a true original series die-hard without having read this book. It really does take you inside the making of the show, but keeps it on a professional level, without salaciousness. That's because the book wasn't written as something for the few Star Trek fans that were known of then, but as a book about how to write for TV, as older printings stated on the cover. That does leave some things out, but those details have been covered since by other books and memoirs.

Since this was written while the series was in production, it's a good view into how people felt then, even refreshing because Trek had yet to become a pop culture colossus, so the book doesn't have any of that built-in reverence. They were making a good TV show that aspired to be something better than most everything else on then, but in the end it was considered just another TV job, certainly not anything that would become legendary.

For instance, "The Defenders," one of the highest praised, most thoughtful and well-written dramas of the '60s, is scarecely remembered by anyone not old enough to have seen it. Part of the issue with that series had to do with rerun-rights issues, but another part had to do with the times then, when TV was still rather young, and shows were thought of as rather disposable, coming and going without much of an afterlife except for "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" reruns. When you think of it in that context, it's easy to see why Gene Roddenberry bailed on Star Trek after it became clear NBC was out to kill it, even though the letter campaign forced them to bring it back for a third year.

The pics and blueprints within the book are cool but may not be as impressive today. At least the blueprints, while not "accurate" by today's standards, were drawn by Matt Jefferies himself. Remember, though, for a long time this was all the reference stuff available. However, if you want what is still a good insider's look into the making of the show, plus Gene Roddenberry's take before even he got sucked into the myth, this is a must-read.

hey Spouk

the capitalization of quotes from Roddenberry (aka the Great Bird of the Galazy) give one "the bizarre impression that he is a god" because for the series, he was :-)

i have a copy of the original publication, read it then and howled, still think it is a great read.

BTW Terry Pratchett uses the same literary device of all caps for Death, in the Discworld series.

Harlan Ellison's memories of the show are fascinating reading as well. As are David Gerrold's.

I read this in the Seventies and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I've bought it again and enjoyed it all over again. Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at TOS. You have to read this book to understand what a groundbreaking series Star Trek was. You also learn how grueling a TV series is to work on. This book is fascinating, and sometimes hilarious!

This is a classic. It is the first book of its kind, and probably the first book about Star Trek at all. But The Making of Star Trek is much more than any of the later books with similar names. This book doesn't idealize or simplify the making of the series. It doesn't enthusiastically praise everything and everyone involved in its production. It is an authentic and meticulous report on how TOS in particular and a TV series in general comes to life. It shows that it is a process of try and error, that aspects have to be taken into account the viewers wouldn't think of, and that the responsible persons don't always know exactly what they want ("I need some device that does something...").

The story how Stephen E. Whitfield (aka Stephen E. Poe) asked Gene Roddenberry if he could write a book about the series sounds like a fairy tale, but is true. The Great Bird was very forthcoming, and Whitfield was granted access to everything behind the scenes of the still running show, seemingly without any restriction. The book shows production schedules, budgets, private notes, script drafts, production sketches, all things that are usually kept secret or simplified for a larger public. I don't think that something like this would be still possible today. Compared to The Making of Star Trek, Whitfield's last book (he passed away in 2000) on Voyager seems rather superficial.

The Making of Star Trek may be over 30 years old, but it is of more than only historical value. It demonstrates that TV is a business that sometimes doesn't allow technical or artistic perfection. It also shows how many things we may take for granted and that are essential parts of the Star Trek Universe today have taken a rather surprising course change. Who would like Vulcans with names like "Spook, Spork, Splak, ..." as frequently suggested in the early days, or who would think that one race was originally described with the words, "Honor is a despicable trait.", namely the Klingons?

There are probably loads of 'Making of Star Trek' books out there, but this is particularly interesting as it was written in 1968, between the second and third series, before the show had become a phenomenon. Which is odd at first - everything is in the present tense, and there's nothing about the cultural impact of the show because that was all in the future. Doubly odd is the fact that all of the many quotes from Gene Roddenberry are reported IN BLOCK CAPITALS, giving the bizarre impression that he is not a television producer, but God Himself.

It's extremely detailed, and is as much about the making of any TV late-60s series as it is 'Star Trek'. There are bits from shooting scripts, set plans, photographs of noted theatre actor William Shatner in old-age makeup (looking nothing like he looks in genuine old age), profiles of production staff, and programme budgets which, translated dollar-for-dollar, would just about cover the catering bill on 'Star Trek : The Next Generation'. It's worth it for the stream of memos about Vulcan names alone.

What an entertainer! You just never get sick of this book. The basic concept is finding mistakes (or "nits") in the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series. It includes episode reviews, trivia questions & tote boards. He spots things that you'd never think of seeing: before this i could go through an entire episode without seeing anything wrong, but he'd find 2 pages of nits on that episode. Another plus-point is the size of the book, great value for all ages. All in all, a MUST for all TRUE Next Gen fans!

A brilliant, post-post-modern book that compiles an episode guide and list of mistakes for a television program. For maximum irony the world really needs a 'nitpicker's guide to nitpicker's guides'.

More specifically, there are two volumes of 'Next Generation' guides (the first goes up to the end of series 6, the second has additional mistakes, condensed episode guides, and 'Generations'). It works brilliantly just as an episode guide, and the mistakes are well-chosen and quite perceptive. There's also a fantastic 'Original Series' guide, a 'Deep Space Nine' guide (which is very large and dull, a bit like the series itself), and an 'X-Files' guide. Nothing on 'Voyager' yet.

Or is it u-post-modern?

I've always enjoyed watching movies and TV shows for one big reason- I'm always searching for those little things that give away the illusion. I'm always checking the reflections in mirrors, windows, paint finishes on cars, etc. for a glimpse of the camera crew.

With both my neverending searches for TV & movie miscues, and being a NextGen geekoid, grabbing this book was a natural. It satisfies both my Trek fandom, and helps me search for those little things that makes its magic less potent. It also uncovers technical problems, plot inconsistencies, and just plain strangeness that you might have missed in your fanboy fervor. I try to keep this tome as well as the original Volume I on hand while I view the weeknightly NextGen reruns on the local indie channel.

Volume II covers flubs from the series' final season, as well as the 'Generations' movie. The author Phil Farrand also includes other inconsistencies submitted by fans from the first six seasons that he overlooked in Volume I. Even my favorite two parter (gasp!) "The Best of Both Worlds" gets its dues. The heartless swine (sob, choke)...

But I know what some of you are thinking... what you read in this paperback might make you less of a Trekkie than you are now. I don't know about anybody else, but in my case, it made the watching of NextGen reruns even MORE fun and enjoyable. Looking for the little details that cut the show down to size has helped add life to episodes I've seen many times over. If you can handle this kind of scrutiny, I strongly recommend this book, and all of the rest of the Nitpicker's guides.

'Late!

I have read this book hundreds of times. I love getting it out when I watch a Next Generation rerun, so that I can see the mistakes and it is hilarious! Phil Farrand has a unique sense of humor that only Trek lovers can understand. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys watching Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Though not as outrageously funny as the Nitpicker's Guide to Classic Star Trek, this volume had me, a grown man, giggling like a naughty schoolgirl (and that's quite a confession). All the inconsistencies and plot oversights are handled by a very sarcastic and wry author (Phil Farrand) who knows how to make us laugh at a great but sometimes pretentious and pompous TV show in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

I've had this book for quite sometime and I still go back and read parts of it every now and again when I need a laugh.

This book is for the serious Trekker (or Trekkie) who can take a joke.

Wow, this was my very first Simpsons Comic Book that I have bought and trust me I was very impressed. I didn't really have high expectations for it but this really took me by suprise. This Comic is amazingly funny! You just have to get this book, trust me you won't regret it with classic strips such as "A Trip to Simpsons Mountain" where Grandpa tells his days when there was no television and "Get Fatty" where the town of Springfield is known as the most overweight town in the country and every food that now sells is nutritional and so the whole town has to lose some weight in order to be awarded a waterpark. I would get this Comic book if I were you because now I have at least a dozen Simpson Comics in my room after buying this one.

This is the first simpsons thing I had ever bought-and once I read it I went and bought a lot more>! This is one of fav. simpsons comics.

Waitresses in the sky is the only bad one in this book.A trip to Simsons mountain is the best.All the others are good too.

All four stories were very funny.You should see the T.V. show first.Lisa's top 40 was also funny.I think number 18 was the funniest.I recommend Simpsons Wing Ding.

More super stories from the great characters of Springfield! Here's what this issue has to offer:

"A Trip to Simpson Mountain": Grandpa tells a story of his childhood days before television that sounds oddly enough like a cross between The Waltons, Beverly Hills 90210, Leave It To Beaver, The Brady Bunch, and the Partridge Family (must be a coincidence).

"Kill-er Up With Regular": A classic Itchy and Scratchy short from the "1930s".

"Waitresses in the Sky": Patty and Selma lose their jobs at the DMV and end up living with the Simpsons. Can they find the job of their dreams at Mr. Burns' airline (you'll love the insignia on the planes) or will they break under the pressure (actually, the "No Smoking" sign)? Would make a hilarious T.V. episode.

"Apu's Incredible 96-Hour Shift (without Getting a Break)": The legend is true, but not so impresive considering Apu didn't have a customer for 95 hours and 54 minutes of the famed shift.

"What's the Frequency Simpson": Similar to the T.V. episode where Lisa and Bart co-anchor a kids' news program. In this comic, Bart and Lisa take over a public access channel to start a new sensation: SimpTV. SimpTV offers such entertaining and informative programs as "Geek Patrol" hosted by Martin Prince, "Bad Boy" starring Nelson Munz, and "In the Kitchen With Wiggum" where Ralph creates many tantalizing dishes involving paste. The television elite of Springfield (aka Krusty the Klown, Troy McClure, Bumblebee Man, Kent Brockman, and Dr. Nick) try to shut the renegade channel down.

"Bumblebee Man in !Ay, Que Lastima!": Short about the trying personal life of the yellow and black striped character we thought we knew.

"The Dame and the Clown": Dragnet take-off where Otto is Detective Friday and Moe helps Marge escape an abusive relationship to return to her true love (Homer the Sailor Man).

"Get Fatty": One of the funniest of this book. This comic has a topic similar to the T.V. show where Springfield is named the nation's fattest city. In this comic, President Clinton plans to shape up the country's fattest town with the "worst cholesterol count in modern history." He sends his fitness ambassador Rainier Wolfcastle (aka McBain) to whip Springfield into shape. The worst offenders must lose 10 pounds in two weeks or face the consequences. Can they (or, more to the point, CAN HOMER) do it?

"The Quest for Yaz": This comic continues the storyline started in the T.V. episode "Three Men and a Comic Book." Milhouse's dream is to own a 1973 Carl Yastzremski baseball card when he had big sideburns--but is Milhouse willing to steal to get it?

My son loves the Simpsons and wasn't too into reading. I thought what better way to get him into reading than buying him books about his beloved Simpsons. Sure enough he sat down with it and read it cover to cover without getting off the couch.

this is better than a lot of the newer simpsons episodes. it is a good fast read when you are bored.

This book literally left me speechless.
Once you start you literally can't stop.
I picked up the book and until i read
every last word of this amazing
"extravaganza of laughs" couldn't put it down.

This thrilling tale just gave and gave
and didn't ask for anything in return.

I absolutely,positively enjoyed every aspect of this book because it was full of jokes,laughs and skits.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF HUMOUR YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!

PS: I GIVE A STANDING OVATION TO THE CREATORS OF THIS "EXTRAVAGANZA OF LAUGHS".

This book is so funny! As I read it, I had a hard time not laughing my head off, while rolling on the floor. Yes, its that FUNNY! Its big too, 7 or so comic strips, and each strip is like 20 big pages, its like reading a book, but better. If you want a good laugh, get this book NOW! The one thing bad about this book is: NOTHING!!!

This book is jam-packed with Simpsons Comics! It is 174 pages; 30% bigger than most Simpsons Comics books! And the quality of the comics has not gone down one iota. Here's what you get in this book:

"The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth": Springfield's top three nerds, Doug, Gary, and Benjamin (Homer hung out with them in the TV episode "Homer Goes to College") are finally forced to leave the secure confines of college to venture into the real world. They end up in Homer's garage. Soon, they become millionaires after creating a violent computer game. While pursuing investment ideas, which includes a sci-fi motion picture that may be too scientifically correct, they leave their business in the hands of Homer. Good idea? What do you think?

"The Absent-Minded Protester": Grandpa is tired of being ignored, so he tries a new way to express his ideas that makes Bart proud.

"Dullards to Donuts": Mr. Burns' research lab produces a donut with powerful addictive qualities. When Burns cuts off the donut supply to his employees, they will make any concession to get them back. The proceeding trial includes appearances from conservative talk show host Birch Barlow (his followers are called "Echo Drones"), Lard Lad, and the mob.

"Sense and Censorability": As punishment for doing a lousy job on his oral biographical report, Bart has to present an historical research project with Homer! When they find their sources from the "Adults Only" section of the comic book store, Watch Out!

"Sideshow Simpsons": With Krusty's sidekicks on strike, Krusty shoots his prime time network special from the Simpsons' house.

"In Search of the Lost Donut Holes": Cute and clever short that has advertising icon and donut connoisseur Lard Lad and friends traveling to "dimensional gateways" through the universe in search of the missing donut holes. Comic includes slogans, editor's notes, and "Brain Glazer" puzzles.

"Bart Simpson and the Krusty Brand Fun Factory": Bart, Ralph, Barney, Nelson and their choices of "legal guardians or parole officers" win a tour of Krusty's new cherry soda factory. Bart chooses to take grandpa so Homer goes with Barney posing as Barney's mother. But, wait. Someone tries to hack into the computerized factory with his prison laptop! Why, it's Sideshow Bob!

"The Homer Show": Taken from the Jim Carey movie, a group of TV execs find Homer the subject of a plethora of videos sent to the Funniest Home Movies program. They plan on creating a 24 hour a day TV show around him, but must get the entire town to cooperate.

"Slobberwacky": Old fashioned style poem featuring many Simpsons characters.

The authors have come up with a very unique, intelligent, and efficient approach to bodybuilding. The concepts and routine presented is pretty simple for the most part, and that's the beauty of it.

As others have said, yes, it's a pretty intense program - but if you have the discipline and motivation to follow through with it, it'll certainly pay off for you.

I would suggest this program for people who are at least intermediate or advanced in their training experience and knowledge.

To anyone who is interested in the difference between this program and the previous book, "Big Beyond Belief" - I believe that they are both equally as effective, but this program is a little more efficient.

Great purchase, Timely shipping, Perfect condition, My husband loved the body building book.... Would definetly use again!

I've been using Big Beyond Belief (BBB aka Serious Growth III) for several years with excellent results. I recently ordered Titan Training Manual. (BTW. Amazon, you should check the spelling. It's Manual and NOT Manuel. You will probably sell more if you fix the typo.)

You've heard of the old saying "Great things come in small packages." This book fits that description. It's only 79 pages, and the first 33 pages are basically a review of BBB. That means that the last half of this book is geared towards Serious Growth IV. But don't think it's another marketing scheme to sell another product. Leo and his crew put a lot of thoughts into this program. When I first read BBB many years ago, I thought it was unconventional in its approach to bodybuilding. The concept of micro-periodization was foreign to me. But what the heck, the program works, and that's all that matters, right? Titan, on the other hand, is taking bodybuilding to the next level. 4 times a week and that's it. You may think that 4 times a week seems to be crossing the threshold of undertraining - and that's the beauty of it from an efficiency standpoint. Moreover, the concept of micro-periodization has taken another leap in Titan. The three-week ramp plus the three week supergrowth phase (you know what I'm talking about if you have BBB) has been compressed into a one-week phase. Finally, the concept of base and volume training and muscle rounds are introduced in this book. All I can say is that guy Leo is a bodybuilding genius, man.

It's difficult to write a review on bodybuilding books for the obvious fact that one has to be dedicated and disciplined, follow the manual to the T, measure the results, and then write a meaningful review. This process could take months. But as I mentioned, I am very pleased with BBB (as well as thousands of other bodybuilders), so I'm pretty sure this manual will be just as (if not more) effective. I plan to use Titan sometime in April 2008 after I finish BBB.

It's too early for me to judge the effectiveness of this program, so I will just have to come back in Fall of 2008 and submit my final review. In the meantime, keep focused, eat right, and stay away from `roids. They will shrink you wieners and give you zits the size of Texas!!

PS.

Amazon, thanks again for a great service. My book arrived within days.

**********************************************************************

UPDATED: April 28, 2008

Okay guys. I promised I was gonna come back sometime in Fall 08 to give my final review. I decided to cut it short. I started Titan on April 4, 2008. Four weeks have gone by and I am happy to report that within this period I have gained 2.40 lbs of muscle and lost 3.90 lbs of fat. I have also been on the Anabolic Diet since February 28, 2008. And if you must know, I have lost a total of 11 lbs of fat and gained 3.6 lbs of muscle since February 28. (I was on BBB prior to starting Titan on April 4.)

So there you have it. I am maintaining the original "5 stars" I had initially rated. In all honesty, I wonder if the fat loss and muscle gained I had achieved came from the Anabolic Diet, BBB, Titan, or a little bit of everything. I also wonder if I had gotten same (or even better) results with a different training program. Nevertheless, I am happy with what I have achieved. I am cutting Titan short because I have decided to start going for the mass phase. I will be using Optimum Anabolics as my training and diet template. Hope this review helps in any way. Good luck to all my fellow muscleheads:)

PS. The workout was efficient but brutal! Keep an eye on your diet, and make sure you get ample rest. Otherwise, you could overtrain.

I've always been a real dedicated lifter. i started a cutting diet and didn't do some things right(cardio 3 times a day, ouch!) This stupid mistake brought my strength down on all lifts tremendously. I bought Titan Training Manual and within 5 days of working out with it, my strength has nearly returned. I went from benching 220 for 10 reps to 240 for 9 reps at a bodyweight of 168. that's the most i've ever seen in that short a time. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is in bodybuilding or powerlifting, or if you're just looking to stun you workout buddy.

I was on Leo's Big Beyond Belief program for nearly two years and couldn't believe the difference it made. I switched to the Titan Training and Behold! I found something even better. The program is difficult in its intensity, but it only takes 45 minutes four days per week. You will be amazed!
In response to Matt Robert's question in his "review" about what is the difference between the two programs - You dunce! Buy the book and find out the difference. But I'll give you a hint: 45 mintues 4 x a week.

This book is great with details and background of each character, and has the details from each hour, so is very helpful if you don't have two straight non sleeping days to catch up.

I am a huge fan of "24" and I collect 24 merchandise. This guide does a great job in breaking down each episode. It gives you all the major points you need to understand. When I ordered this book that's what I expected. However, I didn't expect all of the extra content. The first 28 pages are full of behind the scenes info about the shows conceptual design and how it was created. There are interviews with the shows producers and with Kiefer Sutherland himself. I highly recommend this to any fan of "24". It is a must-have.

This book is full of great photos and a real treat for 24 fans. The entire book is mostly photos and arranged by season. There are photos from the show and off set. I loved it and think that all 24 fans would enjoy it.

Two pages of information per episode: timeframe with the key events, research files, additionel intel and photo's. The book also contains the profiles of the main characters of the first two seasons. A must have for the real 24 fans!

Mike and I over at 2GuysTalking:24 have been waiting for a book like this to come out for years now. Our only complaint is why so long? This is a gorgeous book to have in your collection and is chalk full of all kinds of 24 data, background info, interesting tidbits and if that's not all, tons of great photographs to supplement.

The look and feel of the book is something you really want to get your hands on and keep. Its got more of a "Tab Newspaper" style feel to it then your ordinary book. The pages are laid out nicely and each page represents one day in the life of Jack Bauer! Each day has its own timeline of events similar to our own "24 in 60" segment we do in our podcast. A great reference guide if you need to go back to look something up.

Each day featured on a page layout also has a section where they link interesting pieces of information that you might not already know about 24. For example, the $200,000 Mason was accused of skimming in the first season is linked to his son in the second season. Pieces like that really present a whole new perspective to the show that you may not catch when watching it.

Mega Kudos goes to Tara DiLullo for writing such a great book. You definitely want to get this in your collection. Mike and I were so impressed with the book we decided to have Tara on the show to ask her more about what went on behind the scenes and what to expect in the future. Check it out at [...].

I am amazed with the art department for Superman Returns. The designs for The Daily Planet and Lex Luthor's yacht are simply beautiful. Absolutely pick this up and see just how much went into the design of Superman Returns. It's super!

Fans of the film SUPERMAN RETURNS must have this film book: it covers all the concepts and developmental art which served as the movie's foundation, pairing over two hundred works of art - costumes, locations, sets - with interviews with the director, screenwriters, artists and costume designers involved. Sketches and color stills accompany reviews of the plot's progression and choices in production. THE ART OF SUPERMAN RETURNS packs in the color and the depth and is the perfect accompaniment to the movie.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I really liked this book because it gave you a behind the scenes look into the film through Pre-Production artwork. I especially enjoyed all the artwork where Superman gets into a spaceship on krypton, this scene was cut out of the movie. Over all the Artists did a good job in recreating the Superman Univerise, the book supports there efforts! A must have for your (art of) Collection:)

Matt

This is a magnificent book. If you were swept away by the artistry of the movie "Superman Returns" like I was, this book is a MUST. Big photographs from the film, sketches, paintings, and storyboards galore abound in this excellent coffeetable edition.

Among my favorites are:
*A full page painting of Superman lying unconscious in a crater in Metropolis Park after falling from space
**An almost 2-page painting of Superman lifting New Krypton out of the ocean, complete with tidal waves and green Kryptonite-laced lightening
***Photos and details about the new Superman uniform - like that it is actually fit for a 9-year old boy, then stretches onto a 6-foot-three Brandon Routh so that there will be absolutely no wrinkles
****Great explanation about Superman's story-opening trip to Krypton and his starship, complete with awesome paintings and photos from deleted scenes
*****Insight about the art deco design of Metropolis - why we just can't take our eyes off of that COOL Daily Planet Building

Superman fans will be happily consumed by the book's artwork and text that will broaden their knowledge and scope of the film. It is a nice size, probably worth more than you'll pay for it, and will definitely become a collector's item! To be re-read often!

One of the best cross-promotional items I've seen based on the new Superman Returns film is "The Art of superman Returns" from Chronicle Books. This 160 page, hardcover book with dust jacket is simply breathtaking as it takes readers behind the cameras of the recent blockbuster film with hundreds of pieces of concept art, storyboards, models and miniatures, paintings, sketches, costumes and photography. It serves to show in vivid depth the amount of detail and planning that goes into making a big budget film like Superman Returns.

The Foreward by director Bryan Singer brings this home right off the bat as Singer is shown standing in the midst of a miniature version of Metropolis, surrounded by buildings taller than he as train tracks and weave all around him. It's a fascinating photo. Full color paintings show Superman's rescue of the stricken jet. Storyboards bring the rooftop standoff sequence to near life as the machine gun pours bullets at the Man of Steel to no avail.

Moving to Smallville, we see the Kent farm recreated in perfect miniature and you can't help but marvel at the skill of the model and miniature artists as no detail is too small for them to include in their work. Once painted, you'd be hard pressed to guess that you were looking at a model, and not a real farmhouse and barn.

One of my favorite parts of the book was a look at Krypton. The Krypton of this film, while similar to the earlier Superman films, is a bit darker and edgier. Superman's Fortress of Solitude gleams compared to earlier films where it was sort of a dull white.

Throughout the book, author Daniel Wallace provides even more detail about the creative process behind the various creations of settings, scenes, and costumes. Metropolis, with all its art-deco accents is truly a sight to behold. Wallace is aided by comments from the film's screenwriters, production and costume designers, not to mention Bryan Singer himself. This is one of those books designed for the avid fan or collector, or even those who might be interested in getting into film work themselves.

Reviewed by Tim Janson