Brian Books

As an aerospace engineer I consider this book an absolute must have. This book is usable as a reference work but also as a academic course textbook. It is extremely complete: From vector and quaternion kinematics to rigid body dynamics to static stability analysis. From basic aerodynamics to the derivation of aircraft force and moment coefficients. From state space models to robust output feedback design. Summarizing: Aircraft Control and Simulation covers the complete track from basic dynamics to a fully functional flight simulator. When you need a graduate level text on simulation and control theory that can also serve as a reference work you should look no further!

As an engineering student, I like the design of this book, 1st. And the contents are also pretty nice, so far. The complete review, however, should be done after reading the last page, I think.

Used this book as a reference book for a UAV Guidance and Control class. Worked well, but there is a revised and updated version.

This book is not meant to cover Flight Mechanics neither to discussing Aircraft Equations of Motion.
This book is really focused in aircraft flight simulation (not aircraft systems simulation) and aircraft flight controls.
This is really the most complete reference concerning flight control laws for all flight phases. The authors make extensive use of Modern Control in State Space formulation. Very few topics use Classical Control.
The text is undoubtedly a very good starting point for any engineer involved in flight controls and flight control laws design for new aircraft concepts, although, some more dedicated discussions are missing on some topics related to the newest technologies such as Fly-By-Wire, Power-By-Wire, Side stick use versus Flight Handling Qualities, Robust Control and Predictive Controls.
This book is a MUST for any flight controls engineer in introductory level. However, attention, you will need to take classes to go through this book. The authors do not delay the text flow to discuss minor details or lengthy mathematical derivations; they simply jump to the right point. Thus, this is very difficult to go through the whole content without help of an experienced Professor.

The chief virtue is its clarity. I've worked directly in this field since 1986, and wish I'd picked up the 1st edition in 1992 rather than finding the 2nd edition in 2006. Most of the material I've picked up through coursework and on-the-job training, but this book presents a thorough, practical and understandable development of each aspect of aircraft control and simulation. In addition, the 1st chapter provides the basis for incorporating oblate, rotating Earth equations into gravitational and kinematics modeling, which is the reason I bought the book.

Roughly, the book covers:
* Kinematics and Dynamics
* Quaternions
* Properties of Aircraft
* Simulation, Trim, Linearization
* Linear Analysis
-- State Space Models
-- Transfer Functions
-- Frequency Response
* Handling Qualities
* Stability Augmentation
* Autopilots
* Linear Quadratic Regulator
* Model Following Design
* Multivariable Frequency Domain Analysis
* Observers and the Kalman Filter
* Discrete (Digital) Control

NOTE: The 1st chapter of the 2nd Edition is substantially enhanced vs. the 1st chapter of the 1st Edition. Several practical needs are now covered in better detail. Quaternion math is added. An algorithm for converting from Earth-centered Inertial coordinates to Geodetic Latitude and Altitude for an oblate Earth model is now provided. If a flat Earth model is ok to use, the 1st Edition is a very good aircraft controls book. If a rotating oblate Earth model is also required, only the 2nd Edition will do.

this is a great novel that I would highly suggest to read. They say you can't judge a book by its cover??? This is movie material from cover to cover.

American Odyssey has to be one of the best written novels I have read in a long time. The realistic storyline takes you from a small factory town In New England to the wide open ranges of South Dakota. The book is written in such a way that you find yourself looking over the swaying grasses of the open range, or standing with Hunter at the train tracks crying and hugging his brother Eric about the loss of so many people in such a short time. Gelinas has the gift of immersing the reader in the pages and taking the reader into the book with the characters. American Odyssey is suitable for adults and teens. The book can be used as an instrument to reach out to troubled teens of today, breaking down the barriers of communication between parents and their teenage children. It is a good read. I highly recommend it and look forward to his next novel.

Who wouldn't want to hop a train, meet their soulmate and end up in a faraway place that seems like heaven? Mr. Gelinas has the ability to take his readers along for the ride -- joining four teen runaways -- from a small Massachusetts town to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The dialogue is incredible, the description is amazing, and you'll always be wondering what's around the next corner. Join Hunter, Wade, Billy and Blue for an adventure that you won't ever want to end.

This is a definite "can't put down" book. I'm very impressed with the range of emotions captured through the story. I laughed, I cried, I felt joy, I felt sadness.. I remembered what it was like to be a teenager. This book will help parents understand what their children are going through because it will bring back memories of that very difficult age.
This book also provides an excellent concept of lifetime friendship. It teaches one to look at the true qualities of someone, not just the outside appearance. It teaches one not to judge to quickly.
I would highly recommend this book.
I can't wait for Brian M Gelinas to publish another book!

AMERICAN ODYSSEY, the first novel by newspaper journalist Brian M. Gelinas, is a "road" novel as the title suggests, a gritty tale of teen fugitives.

Hunter and Wade, both seventeen, run away to avoid a looming court date while Billy comes along partly out of hero worship and partly out of boredom. The trio plans to rob and steal their way across America, their final destination being South Dakota. The stifling confines of a small New England town, where one's future is either a dead-end job or a life of crime, spur the boys to jump a train, arming themselves with a pistol and several knives.

But Hunter is preoccupied by his past; the long road trip allows him time to think and write in his journal. Wade turns out to be a criminal without a conscience, just as Hunter was warned before they left. And Billy's arrested development leaves him unable to cope with the disappointments and dangerous twists during their illicit journey. Blue, a girl runaway who sees something innocent and trustworthy in Hunter and Billy, never warms to Wade, which creates a schism between her male companions. The four of them continue their trek westward until they finally reach the Indian reservations.

Secrets pose a recurring motif in the novel, their power to compel one to act and their power to unravel the best-laid plans. Hunter's cousin holds a secret that could have prevented Hunter from hating his hometown rival, a hatred that leads to his trouble with the police. Billy's secret goodbye note to his grandmother makes the boys known fugitives before they get far on their journey. And Wade's secret regarding their first robbery leads to the downfall of the runaways. But even an innocuous secret, like Hunter and Blue's affair, has devastating repercussions in this fast-paced thriller.

AMERICAN ODYSSEY is a cautionary tale with a dire warning about avoiding problems or keeping secrets. Pain in life is unavoidable. It can be delayed but not permanently avoided. Secrets may prevent immediate confrontations or hard feelings -- but secrets resurface. Problems avoided come full circle, often in more unmanageable shapes and forms. While the narrator asks for compassion for troubled youth at the novel's end, it is the unstated message of this story that is the most powerful: avoiding consequences and responsibility can be more damaging in the long run than the immediate pain of facing up to bad choices.

This is a powerful story, extremely well-written, with a plot that has no holes or implausibility. It provides a sense of place recognizable from other New England writers, such as Stephen King and Robert Cormier, albeit with lighter overtones. There is redemption in AMERICAN ODYSSEY, but it is costly, requiring the reader to experience Hunter's growth pains as he faces issues he sought to avoid by running away in the first place.

A must-read. Five stars!

Reviewed by: Mark Frye, author and reviewer

What can I say? Cagle is unquestionably the best. I read his website every day religiously. So what's not to like about his year-in-review books? They're spectacular.

Br. Randall Horton

I grew up in the sixties with in an interesting family. My father was a typical sixties Republican and my mother a typical sixties Democrat. I think I was reading political cartoons before I was even reading the comics in the paper, and that developed into a life long love affair with political/editorial cartoons.

I found this collection to be good, but there were a few that could have been left out. Also, the author did tend to put a lot of his cartoons into the book. It is, however, a collection that will make you laugh, cry and most importantly, think.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to think with a broad mind and who can see humor, however dark, in most situations.

Well organized with clear discussions and each group of political cartoons were very interesting and entertaining. They were well chosen and described a variety of world incidents with great insights and a variety of opinions. The book did have a definite point of view.

This book is published once a year and gives the best editorial cartoons. There is only one negative point.. the lay-out is a bit unpleasant because sometimes there are to many cartoons on one page.. also some are published too small for no reason. Another thing .. mr Daryl Cagle puts his cartoons up front too much.. His are not always the best mind you.. But it is a very nice contribution to my editorial cartoons collection for sure..

The best book to stay up-to-date with the world's madness. Since we can't avoid it, better to learn about it: and laugh at it!

One year flows too quickly: this collection of cartoons stills the time and make events understandable by giving us a chance to slow our breath for a while. Also, the short explanation about each news event displayed in the book is very useful to recollect what it was all about.

This is an invaluable tool for all those who leave outside the U.S. but love America, deal with America and/or simply want to stay attuned: what happened in D.C. last year is most likely to come on show in Bern the year next. So, it's a magic ball.

This is without a doubt one of the best Aviation/Photography books on the market. Brian Shul does excellent work. This ranks up there with Sled DRIVER, THE UNTOUCHABLES, and SUMMER THUNDER.Unfortunately this title is no longer in print however I got a NEW copy through Amazon UK and it only cost me $47.00 and it got to me in California in about a week. Don't get ripped off by some of these market place stores trying to gouge you for $80.00 or more.

This book is a great story about the life, history, a about the Blue Angels in general. Brian Shul really takes you inside for a wild ride with the best in the Navy.

Just browsing through this book can give anyone a sense of what the Blue Angels are and how dedicated they are to their task at hand. But the author does more than depict the team. He has an acute sense of pride that beams from every page. This man has definitely lived the Blue Angels in this book and has successfully conveyed this to any reader willing to look beyond the beautiful pictures. This book will most cerainly bring back memories to those that have seen the Blue Angels perform, but it will also want to you go and see the Blues for yourself to experience all that is GOLD!

Brian Shul hits a homerun with his picture and fact-filled book about the Blue Angels. I'm doing research for a potential Blue Angels movie and Shul's first hand account of a Blue Angel show season is the most comprehensive book I have found yet. Shul spends an entire show season with the Blues and describes what its like to fly backseat in the heart pounding solo jet as well as the graceful but critical #4 slot position. In between pages and pages of important and interesting facts about the Blues, Shul also describes life off the flightline; right down to where and how the Blues workout and what they eat between debriefings and practice flights. Short of spending an entire year with the Blues yourself, Shul's "Portrait of Gold" is the closest you'll get! Great job Brian Shul.

This book shows the reader scenes that we can only imagine, until Mr. Shul shared these beautiful images of the Blues with us. This book shows you the hard work and teamwork and constant concentration required to be one of the team. Takes us through an entire season with the team and shows how the team comes together through hard work and alot of trust in each other. These men are incredible pilots..... and they are also real true "Blue" Men in the finest sense of the word. Not to mention.......they have great senses of humor. Kept me laughing from start to end.

Lamb is just great at this kind of compilation. A great take-along or for kids who show an interest in American history.

What we have here are 79 condensations of one-hour interviews of eminent historians previously conducted by Lamb, founding CEO and host of the the C-SPAN "Booknotes" television series. ("My interview questions are omitted so that readers can focus on the author's words.") It is important to keep in mind that these are, literally, "stories from American history" rather than traditional academic briefs. That is to say, they are not dull and dry. On the contrary, their format, tone, and style are casual but at no time careless. Credit Lamb and his associates for a first-rate job of editing the material. Those interviewed are erudite raconteurs. Lamb organizes the essays within nine parts: Revolution and Founding (1776-1815), The Young Nation (1815-1850), Slavery and the Civil War (1850-1865), Rebuilding America and the Guided Age ((1865-1901), Progressive Era and Reaction (1901-1929), Depression and War (1929-1945), Early Cold War (1945-1957), Social Transformation (1957-1975), and The Culture Wars (1975-2000). I am especially grateful to Lamb for his headnotes for each chapter. Here is how he introduces Joyce Appleby and her comments on "The First Generation of Americans":

"The census of 1800 reported 1.1 million people living in the United States -- more than twice the number in the colonies at the beginning of the American Revolution. There were four cities with a population greater than 10,000 -- Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Half of the population was under sixteen years of age. On June 18, 2000, Joyce Appleby, a U.C.L.A. professor and author of Inheriting the Revolution: The First Generation of Americans, published in 2000 by Belnap Press, appeared on Booknotes to tell us about this era and how this `first generation' helped shape the young nation."

Headnotes such as these serve as appropriate introductions, of course, but also suggest additional sources which readers may wish to explore. It is also helpful to have the "Complete List of C-SPAN Booknotes (1989-2001)," then totaling 619. This is one of three books published thus far, based on 79 of those interviews. The other two, also edited by Lamb, are Booknotes: Life Stories, Notable Biographers on the People Who Shaped America and Booknotes: America's Finest Authors on Reading, Writing, and the Power of Ideas. If you have an especially strong appetite for American history, Lamb and his associates offer a "feast."

Bon Appetit!

If you've ever read any of the BOOKNOTES series by C-SPAN host, Brain Lamb, you already know their value. I personally find this volume, STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY, to be the best of them all. As with all of Lamb's books, the list of contributing writers reads like a Hall of Fame roster.

This volume is divided into nine different time periods. Each one covers not just historic and political events, but also offers pieces on social events, biographic profiles and more. For example, in the chapter on the Gilded Age, you will find an essay on the building of Central Park, the first Transcontinental Railroad, the political career of Grover Cleveland, historian H. W. Brands on the events of the 1890's, a look at William Randolph Hearst and the rise of "yellow journalism" (so named for Hearst's introduction of one of the first colorized print cartoons, "The Yellow Kid"), and concludes with an essay on J.P. Morgan and the banking industry.

This is a wonderful addition to your library and critical for home-schoolers. The writing is superb and unbiased, allowing the reader to form their own conclusions to events of American History. This volume concludes with 23 pages of a complete list of C-SPAN Booknotes, where you are sure to find more to add to your reading list.

Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com

Overall this is a great book -- engaging, insightful. The chapters are brief, easy to read, and the reader gets a wide range of viewpoints from the various authors feautred. The only criticism I have is that the last section, The Culture Wars, is deficient. It covers well the conservative end of things with chapters on neo-conservatives, Reagan & Bush. However, the book ignores Carter & Clinton. And except for race, the book ignores civil rights issues that have been so divisive in the "culture wars," such as feminism and gay rights.

I was watching the Don Imus Radio Program "Imus In the Morning" when he recommended to his listeners this book edited by Brian Lamb, the founder and current executive of C-SPAN. After hearing numerous recommendations from other viewers and notables on the Imus program, I decided to purchase the book myself and see if it was as good as others said it was. I was not disappointed in the least.

The book is in overview exerpts of interviews of notable historians and other personalities who have written a book about a historical figure or event and was on the C-SPAN show "Booknotes" to talk about the book they have written. Such authors as James McPherson, the excellent Civil War Historian to NBC News Anchorman Tom Brokaw who talked about the World War II generation. The book starts with the American Revolution and ends with the year 2000. Each chapter is a brief overview of what the historians/authors on C-SPAN said during the show that they appeared and it is interesting and to the point.

The chapters are short 5 to 8 pages at the most, but they keep the reader's interest throughout. There is an introduction at the beginning of each chapter that tells the date that the historian/author appeared on Booknotes and what the name of the book was that they have written.

Each chapter is interesting and dare I say "fun" to read. From the founding of America, to the Civil War, to current day is fascinating reading. Such notable figures as U.S. Grant, J.P. Morgan, John F. Kennedy and so many others are discussed as well. From historical acts to controversy, this book has them all. It provides a "taste" of the individual book that is presented by the authors and also some tell the motivation to why they wanted to write about an event or historical figure.

This is easy to read and does not get bogged down in detail. If you want detail, then buy the actual book that the various authors have written about.

This is the kind of book that would be excellent for a upper level high school U.S. History Class or for College U.S. History Classes as well to use as a companion to the required textbooks assigned for the classes. This is also the perfect book for the "armchair" historian who enjoys a good read about interesting people and events, but dosent want to know the minute details involved in a huge biography or book on a historical event.

Highly Recommended!

Finally, a book that addresses stress and depression in the business world! Whether you are an advisor on Wall Street or selling real estate in California, this book provides you with the insight, skills and resources to deal with the everyday stresses of your job in this volatile economy. To be able to understand the different personality types and your own mindset and those of the people around you is something powerful to walk away with after reading this book. The book gives you the knowledge each of us can use to make clear steps in being able to deal with stressful situations and become more successful in our relationships at work, as well as at home! A must read.

Kudos to the authors! It's about time that someone with a profound knowledge of the advisory space stepped up to the plate to provide counsel on how advisors can effectively address the crucial issues we face on a daily basis: volatile markets, angry clients, demanding branch managers, anxiety, depression, burnout! As Sun Tsu's The Art of War remains perhaps the most prestigious and influential treatise on military strategies, Bullish Thinking should become financial advisors' "strategy manual", as it provides unquestionably successful tactics to excel in our business, regardless of the market environment.

It's about time someone addressed the serious problems we are facing everyday - the volatile markets, angry clients, branch managers who push us to the limit, etc. The authors clearly define the problems and obstacles that arise in this fast-paced, high stress business environment and then give you solutions that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. The book has made me take a step back and examine how my reactions to different situations may be sabatoging my success. This book is a must read for anyone in the financial industry.

Legal dan
I am not a broker or trader. In fact I don't work on Wall Street at all. Regardless, my job is extremely stressful and my work hours, extremely long. I am a corporate litigator and was emailed a blurb about this book from one of my buddies on Wall Street. I was having a tough time managing my anger at work when unpredictable things happened during one of my hearings or throughout the course of a case. I would fly off the handle at my colleagues and my wife. The Channeled Rage section of this book helped me gain control over the powerful emotion of anger. Now I no longer feel lethal with my anger. The Bullish Thinking section is also good for helping me focus on the crazy thoughts that often precede my anger and frustration. I guess there is hope for me after all. My message is that Law is just as stressful as Wall Street and anyone working in this job should read this. If you have ever seen the inside of a court room you would see that there are many angry lawyers out there!

This book is a thoughtful and helpful guide for anyone plagued by negative thoughts and a stressful work environment. It teaches effective techniques for dealing with others, as well as ones' self, to have a more succuessful and happy life. Highly recommended.

Brian Epstein's magnificence and decency as a person, and secondly as manager of the Fab Four, is what really comes across in this warm, revealing account of the rise of the Beatles. I really think that had Brian lived, the boys would never have split up. Argued yes, but split, no. Not if Brian would have had his way. His integrity (such as not going back on a contract, even though it would have meant the Beatles could have made a ton more money) makes me respect him highly. One such incident was referenced by the Ed Sullivan show, which was contracted at a measly amount, before the mop tops took America by storm and were commanding much larger contract dollars. It's seemingly rare to find this kind of integrity in the entertainment industry, and probably garners the criticism of those who later said Brian was a 'poor' manager, not getting the Beatles their due share. Maybe true...but I don't think anyone around them loved the boys more than Mr. Epstein. There's a very interesting anecdote about Brian's wavering loyalties at one point. He was so tired of the strain and the 24 hours a day work that came with being the Beatles' manager, that he considered selling his contract with them, for a good amount of cash. When confronting the boys with this idea, they thought he was joking, then realizing he was serious, threatened to pack up and quit if Brian left. Brian's quote in this regard speaks to his admiration and loyalty, in return, to the boys. After telling his prospective dealer that the deal was off, Brian remarked:
'And this was the point. The Beatles are not a deal. They are unique human beings and I believe that even if the whole thing peters out I will always be with the Beatles. I would like to look after them in some way throughout their lives, not because I want a percentage but because they are my friends'.
And a true friend they, and we all, lost when Brian passed.
Thank the stars above he brought them, and their joy, to the world with his unflagging, unwavering hope and belief that the Beatles were, and are, a once in a lifetime 'deal'.
A must read for any Beatle lover.

This is an interesting book, though you'll likely have read the story elsewhere in other Beatles books. But it's from the manager's mouth, so worthy in that regard. Some trivia: When (homosexual) Brian asked the other Beatles what he should title the book, John--with his cruel streak--said, "How about `Queer Jew' or `Cellarful of Boys'" Ridiculously, Lennon's cruel streak made Epstein just more infatuated with John!

Just to counter the praise of Brian Epstein's writing in the review below: Epstein didn't write the book; his and the Beatles' press-man Derek Taylor ghost-wrote it (and he himself said he thinks it would have been better if he hadn't written it so quickly).

Brian Epstein, by writing this book in the middle of the Beatles phenomenon, provides us with a great snapshot in time - a time unlike any other before or perhaps since. Without being conceited (in fact, he reveals in his own words many of his own faults) he provides a fascinating insight into what was probably one of the great judges of pop music talent of the last 30 years. Reading this now, knowing how Brian's life was to turn out, leads one to wonder just what might have been. His style of writing, more conversational and "simpler" than one might have gathered from his outward appearance, makes this an easy and entertaining read and a must for Beatle fans.

This book is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I read it constantly and I never can put it down. It is the most beautifully told story of the early beatles from someone who was actually there. A must for ALL Beatles fans.

Although this book is written for adults, we purchased this book for our 7 year old son who is currently researching comics, their origins, and authors. It has been a constant companion...traveling with us everywhere! I have had the opportunity to read portions also and I too have found very well written, interesting and informative. The comics choosen have given our family quite few chuckles! Great for anyone who enjoys comics and wants to know more about comics through the years.

This gigantic collection of comics describes the strips that appeared in newspapers rather than on newsstands. There is a small amount of natural crossover, but the author is focused exclusively on what appeared in newspapers. For most of the main strips, he gives a brief historical recapitulation of the spirit of the times as well as a short biography of the people who created the strip. For the strips that have continued across generations of cartoonists, he explains when the transition took place and why.
As can be expected, the best part of the book is the cartoons. Walker gives a small but thorough sample of the flavor of the strip and how it changed over the years. There were some that I remember so well from my youth, in particular "Mandrake the Magician." When I was young, I always got up very early and opened the Sunday morning paper to read the cartoons. I always read them in the order from my least to most favorite. This meant that I shifted back and forth, but that was fine to me.
Even though I am now and will always remain a news junkie, the comics will always be my favorite part of the paper. They give us adventure, excitement and something to look forward to, and in this book you can learn a great deal about the people who made and continue to make them happen.

I've felt for a while that the newspaper comic strip is the most ignored form of popular art, rarely looked at critically. While comic books prosper and have gone well beyond the standard superhero format, the comic strip languishes, rarely allowing new and creative strips to break through, while "institutional" strips (those that have not been amusing for years but are institutions, such as Heathcliff or Crock) dominate the paper.

In this sense, this book is not very helpful; it is a relatively uncritical appreciation of the comics. Nonetheless, it is an excellent book, a good summary of the major artists and developments in the comics since World War II. All the big strips are here: Garfield, Peanuts, Doonesbury, Calvin & Hobbes, the Far Side and many more, along with plenty of material from bygone eras.

This book is around 50% text and 50% comics, so there is plenty of fun stuff to read in either format. For what it is - an appreciative history - it is fantastic. The only flaw is that Walker ignores the comic strips of alternative newspapers, therefore neglecting such important works as Groening's Life in Hell (without which, there would be no Simpsons).

For anyone who has ever enjoyed the comics, this book is a great look at the field and a lot of fun.

Blondie, Archie, Nancy, Pogo, Beetle Bailey to Peanuts, Garfield, Mutts and Calvin and Hobbes, here's a lavish, full-color, oversized, hardback, coffee table book celebrating the best part of the newspaper. Comics curator Brian Walker, son of Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey, Hi and Lois), collects the best examples of this much-loved medium over the last half century. Now that the companion volume, The Comics Before 1945, has appeared, Walker's labor of love is complete. Together these inviting volumes offer a compelling tribute to the art of the funny papers. And Amazon's irresistable price is nearly half off retail.

Hey,where to start in writing a review on a book about Comics, when one has been reading them for over 60 years.An excellent book in every way.Physically,this book is beautifully constructed,with top of the line paper,printing and color illustrations.A great dust jacket, as well as glossy hard covers printed with comic strips.A large volume 10X14 inches,over an inch thick and 326 pages...WOW! By the way ,there is a companion book,which is just as good,covering Comics before 1945;same size and by the same author.
What great memories this book brought back.I was born in 1935 and was an avid Comic Strip reader of 10 where this book starts.
While there are many strips covered in this book that are unfamiliar to me,and probably to most people;all my favourites are there.All through the years,in my opinion the Strips and writers were at their best in the 40's and 50's.But then that was when they were really growing up and so was I.
My favourites were Dick Tracy,Little Orphan Annie,Li'l Abner,Smilin' Jack,Popeye,Beetle Baily,Joe Palooka,Blondie,Tarzan,Captain Easy,Mandrake the Magician,Mutt and Jeff ,Smokey Stover,Henry,Superman,Terry and the Pirates,Pogo and later Doonesbury.
Dick Tracy was my overall favourite,especially in its prime with super characters such as Flattop,Mumbles,The Mole,Brow, B.O.Plenty,Gravel Gertie and little Pebbles,Pruneface,etc.,etc.
Then there was Li'l Abner with Daisy Mae and Ma and Pa Yokum.The nation wide craze set off by those wonderful Shmoos and then the creation of Sadie Hawkins Day antics that swept the schools and colleges.Nothing like that kind of stuff today!
I guess all this fun was just too much for the prudes of political correctness, and their misguided efforts put the end to it all.
At the height of the Comic Strip days,everyone was aware of the 'funnies'and knew all the characters.If you didn't know who Dagwood or Annie's dog Sandy,or Fearless Fosdick was;you just didn't know what was happening.There is nothing like it today.I found the papers kept dropping reader favourites,cutting back on the number of strips,introducing strips with agendas and social engineering,to the point many readers lost interest and abandoned them.
As a matter of fact ,I was really following only Pogo and Doonesbury for the last few years and sadly we have even lost Pogo.Dick Tracy is not even carried by out largest paper in Toronto.I just read the Tracy strips on the Net for 2005.Fletcher and Collins give it a good try,but the storylines and artwork fall way short of the master, Chester Gould.Not only that,punching the keyboard and reading the screen is a poor subsitute for sitting back with the funny papers enjoying a coffee after breakfast or dinner;again in my opinion.
This book also covers a lot of what I call cartoons,and does a great job of it,but cartoons just aren't what the world of Comic Strips was all about.
Walker has also included a huge list of references if one wants to dig further.
This book should not be thought of as a review of any particular strip.It is really a history of Comics,a reference to use if one wants a quick look-see of what a strip looked like and a little about the artists who drew the strips.It also tells a lot about what went on behind the scenes with the artists,newspapers and syndicates over the years.
It also talks about Comics as an artform.Here I agree,one only has to look at how the artwork progressed in a strip like Dick Tracy and more recently Doonesbury,to see the advancement from very simple sketches to excellent art of colors, silhouette,perspective and all, to appreciate it.
After reading the book, I hope one day to visit the International Museum of Cartoon Art;although I continue to think of the Comic Strips as one thing and Cartoons as something completely different.
A great gift for a friend or yourself if you were a follower of the "strips".

Captain Waters unfortunately is " like a voice crying in the desert". His well written expose of the mismanagement of our Aviation Industry by FAA Officials never ( to this Day ) caught the interest of main stream media.Recent aircraft accidents could have been avoided had more emphasis been placed on regulation on Airports, Security and Aircraft Operations. Too few people have been advised of the failings of our FAA regulators to keep the flying public safe. A must read for anyone wanting to hear the truth about Air safety.

Brian continues to do a job for all aviation by TELLING IT LIKE IT IS. This is over due in aviation.
Paul Stebelton, USAF Pilot (Retired), Accident Prevention Specialist (FAA, 13 years)

Do you think your safe? Maybe you'll think again after reading Captain Power-Waters Danger in the Air. This bestselling author unleashes yet another earthshaking book blasting the FAA and Airline Industry as he uncovers their unsafe practices. Now when I'm on an airliner, I have to ask myself, "Do I feel luck?"
Captain Steve Goodman, Air Frame and Power Plant Mechanic, Aircraft Inspector

If you are interested in the inside story of the attack on America, how the Federal Aviation Administration contributed to it, how airport security is still a Joke, and how the FAA and airlines are fighting to extend the time a pilot is confined to the cockpit, then this is the book for you.
Carl T. Butterworth, Senior Captain, American Airlines, Retired Brigadier General, Air National Guard

Captain Power-Waters, drawing on his vast experience in aviation...brings together facts and information concerning the truth about aviation safety and the failures made by the agency tasked with overseeing it-the FAA.
William A. Faville, Former Director, Safety and Technology, National Air Traffic Controller Association

This writeup contains spoilers about the events that happened in the couple of years of Daredevil prior to the issues (Vol. 2 #s 26-31) reprinted here, so if you haven't read the earlier issues and are planning to, you may want to skip this review; the first issues of Volume 2 are reprinted in the Trade Paperback "Guardian Devil".


The Kingpin knows that Matt Murdock and Daredevil are one and the same, and has for quite some time (okay, everybody probably knows that one; it goes back quite a ways). But it, although the Kingpin's organization and Daredevil are constantly at war with one another, it's been a long time since Kingpin attempted to strike out at the Matt Murdock side of the DD/Murdock double identity. Quite a complicated relationship has developed between these two enemies over the years, and the Kingpin seems to have reached the point where he feels it's some kind of matter of honor to strike only against the Daredevil aspect of his nemesis; this in fact goes along quite faithfully with his character: the Kingpin is a ruthless, murderous individual, but he has his own code of honor that makes sense to him, and he prides himself and not violating it even when it would make his life a lot easier.

Here's the hook for the story: the Kingpin's men also know, with a fair degree of certainty, that Murdock is Daredevil, but they know their employer's general feelings on the matter and play ignorant. Into this scenario comes a breash, ambitious young up-and-comer in the world of organized crime, a new lietenant to the Kingpin named Sammy Silke. When Silke, who's got a deep resentment of all the costumed characters involved in the organized crime business or involved in opposing it, learns of what the others know, he's appalled and launches a two-fold plan: destroy Murdock/Daredevil on his own; and try to convince others in the Kingpin's crime empire to join him in a coup attempt against the now-blind Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin.

"Underboss" may be the single best 6-issue run of Daredevil out there, and brings in some of the most shocking changes in the status qwuo to hit the Marvel Universe in the last few years. Truly outstanding.

I never really liked Daredevil but this changed when I read "Underboss" by Bendis. Bendis' talent lies in making super heroes like Daredevil seem realistic and as if he could exist in our world. Underboss is a story about Sammy Silke, a traditional mobster who is trying to become the new Kingpin. It is reminescent of the Godfather by Mario Puzo but there are no ripoffs of line (Unlike another book called Dark Victory published by Marvel's competitor.) Sammy wants to be the new Kingpin by taking out Daredevil the traditional way:using traditional hitmens form the mob. He doesn't want to hire colorful villians such as bullseyes or boomerang. Just take out Daredevil like the mob would do it. Does he succeed? Buy the book and find out.

Underboss is Bendis at his best. Here he writes grounded and realistic crime stories, even though the main character (to a certain extent) is a blind man in tights.

Underboss introduces Silke, a new player in the crime underworld, that will have a significant impact in Murdock's life by the time this story arc is over. Silke is a very interresting character, I only hope Bendis picks up on his storyline in the next arcs. The plot starts with Silke and some of the Kingpin's men betraying the blind Wilson Fisk Caesar style, while a reward is being offered to the man who kills Matt Murdock. What unfolds from the two plot lines is great and makes the reader want to read the whole thin in one go, I admit wanting to put it down, but not being able to.

Bendis makes this a realistic crime story, which is ultimately about betrayal. He focuses on Silke, Murdock, the death of Wilson Fisk and also has Vanessa Fisk playing a significant part in the story. Bendis writes some of the best dialogue in the industry, and his style of talking heads once again help the story a lot, since its mostly moved by dialogue. Bendis also jumps around a lot in time to tell this story and it works well, never leaving the reader confusued.

The art by Maleev is very good, his layouts are great and his pencils give the book a perfectly suited Noir feel. His storytelling abilities are great as well, as his drawings are never ambiguous, always sending a clear message of what is happening, this is mostly evident in the 'Nuff Said' issue, where there is no dialogue, even without Bendis' biggest device to move plots is not present, Maleev still manages to make the story interresting even though the plot doesnt move forward too much, it still shows the consequences of having a price on your head, as well as teasing the return of Bullseye in the latter volumes of the series.

"Daredevil: Underboss", is not your average superhero book, its an extremely compelling story, which will most definately leave you wanting more when its done, and trust me when I say, the next volume is even better.

Daredevil is a book at its best when the lead character is pitted against real danger and Brian Michael Bendis puts him there. In the Underboss storyarc, a criminal named Mr. Silke has stepped in on the Kingpin's territory and is attempting to root it out from the inside. Convincing his own henchmen that Wilson Fisk's reign needs to end, he manages a coup of epic proportions, with Matt Murdock caught in the midst of the whirlwind. The ramifications of this storyline are still rocking Daredevil's world now.
With Bendis penning the book and Alex Maleev depicting the dark world of Hell's Kitchen, Underboss is an amazing read. These two talents have established a unique style for the book that puts it among the Frank Miller, Kevin Smith and David Mazzuchelli runs of Daredevil perfection.
The trade paperback format does all of the art justice, compiling several issues of intensity into one amazing read.

I was never a huge Daredevil fan, for no reason in particular. With the recent attention from the feature film, and my appreciation for the writing of Brian Michael Bendis, I enthusiastically dove right into "Underboss". Bendis is remarkable, bringing the reader right in with Daredevil/Matt Murdock's thoughts and feelings. Maleev's art is perfect for the portrayal of the darkness and seedier side of Hell's Kitchen. The city lives and breathes around us as we follow Matt through his trials and tribulations.

As much as I enjoy traditional superhero stories, I'm even more impressed with Bendis' intention of making sure the reader knows all about the man behind the mask. By making us aware of Dardevil's internal struggles and imperfections, I was identifying and empathizing with him all the way. After a certain point, some costumed crusaders can lose the reader by being too invinceable, too invulnerable, too perfect. Matt Murdock is a human being, whether he's in costume or not.

Bendis and Maleev also give us a well developed plot and a diverse cast of supporting characters. It's easy to envision "Underboss" as a gripping thriller of a movie, or a page turner of a novel. Congratulations to Bendis and Maleev for giving us such enjoyable reading. I look forward to reading the next collection.