STUFF TO READ
The Art of Toy Story 4 [Chronicle Books, $40] The must-have animation artbook of the month, this 176-page hardcover generates the kind of warm-fuzzies you feel after meeting an old friend for the first time in a few years. The faces are familiar, the joyful glow is there, but there’s a new tilt to the proverbial brush stroke that sparks nostalgia for the past and excitement to find out what’s happened since then.
Character studies, sketches, concept art, color scripts, storyboards and process stills help piece together the story of Pixar’s hotly anticipated sequel, set up with a bubbly foreword by Annie Potts (voice of Bo Peep) and a heartstring-tugging intro by director Josh Cooley.
Inside Family Guy: An Illustrated History [Dey Street Books, $35] Marking the 20th anniversary of the seven-time Emmy-winning Fox toon, this family sized 240-page hardcover celebrates the irreverent show’s legacy with exclusive cast and crew interviews, script excerpts, production notes, episodic and character insights -- all punched up with plenty of full-color visuals. Long time TV critic and early Family Guy fanclub member Frazier Moore authored this must-have guide, which features a foreword by series creator Seth MacFarlane.
DC Comics Super-Villains: 100 Greatest Moments - Highlights from the History of the World’s Greatest Super-Villains [Chartwell Books, $25] Veteran comics and pop-culture writer/editor Robert Greenberger (The Essential Batman Encyclopedia) takes a crack at DC’s 100 Greatest Moments series with this dark and devious edition. This 200 page volume packed with colorful artwork spotlights key moments that shaped 74 of the publisher’s best baddies -- from film mainstays like the Joker to mythic beings, maniacal machines and even truly evil historical figures. Just … don’t get any ideas.
The Road to Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame - The Art of the Marvel Cinematic Universe [Marvel, $50] Entertainment writer and the studio’s go-to “The Art of the Movie” author Eleni Roussos (who has penned BTS books on Captain Marvel, Ant-Man and the
Wasp, Black Panther, Infinity War and more) is your guide through this hardcover recap of the expansive movieverse that led to the box office record-shattering Endgame. Clocking in around 180 pages, this slimmer release nevertheless offers Art of tome collectors as yet unpublished artwork, interviews and photos.