(Preorder) Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture (Hardcover) *Signed*
Hardcover, 464 pages, measures 8.3 x 11 inches, full color.
Each copy is signed by Eric Nakamura! (most likely will include other signatures of participants)
Please note this is a preorder: Books will ship out late October, early November 2024. The onsale date is October 21st.
Note: We are scheduled to have preview copies for SDCC only in late July. This pre-order will not and cannot include those copies.
We will also schedule events in Los Angeles, Northern California Bay Area, and New York (and maybe Philadelphia) and maybe more?!
In conjunction with the great Drawn & Quarterly, we present Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture, a hardcover curated collection of Giant Robot's best! Jam packed with so many great articles written by + interviews conducted by the passionate and creative Giant Robot contributors throughout the years. A beautiful hardcopy encapsulation of an era that lives on today!
Description from Drawn & Quarterly:
Celebrating the pop culture phenomenon that redefined what it meant to be Asian-American with tributes from Margaret Cho, Randall Park, Jia Tolentino, and more.
Los Angeles, 1994. Two Asian-American punk rockers staple together the zine of their dreams featuring Sumo, Hong Kong Cinema and Osamu Tezuka. From the very margins of the DIY press and alternative culture, Giant Robot burst into the mainstream with over 60,000 copies in circulation annually at its peak. Giant Robot even popped right off the page, setting up a restaurant, gallery, and storefronts in LA, as well as galleries and stores in New York and San Francisco. As their influence grew in the 90s and 00s, Giant Robot was eventually invited to the White House by Barack Obama, to speak at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and to curate the GR Biennale at the Japanese American National Museum.Home to a host of unapologetically authentic perspectives bridging the bicultural gap between Asian and Asian-American pop culture, GR had the audacity to print such topics side-by-side, and become a touchstone for generations of artists, musicians, creators, and collectors of all kinds in a pre-social media era. Nowhere else were pieces on civil rights activists running next to articles on skateboarding and Sriracha. Toy collectors, cartoonists, and street style pioneers got as many column inches as Michelle Yeoh, Karen O, James Jean, and Haruki Murakami.
Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture features the best of the magazine’s sixty-eight issue run alongside never-before-seen photographs, supplementary writing by long-term contributing journalist Claudine Ko, and tributes from now-famous fans who’ve been around since day one. Margaret Cho, Daniel Wu, and Randall Park celebrate Giant Robot’s enduring legacy alongside pioneering pro-skateboarder Peggy Oki, contemporary art giant Takashi Murakami, culinary darling Natasha Pickowicz, and critically acclaimed essayist Jia Tolentino.
The Art of Heikala - Works and Thoughts
Hardcover, 152 pages, measures approximately 10.6 x 9 inches.
The Art of Heikala: Works and Thoughts is artist Heikala's first published artbook. Known for their exquisitely detailed and ethereal works, Heikala has garnered a large following of admirers for obvious reasons. The Art of Heikala is a comprehensive collection of artworks, including exclusive never-before-seen art pieces and works in progress. This beautifully presented hardback book also features step-by-step tutorials on watercolor painting and product design.
New Fashion Illustration: Outfit Ideas for You
Softcover, 192 pages, 9.4 x 6.5 inches.
This is the second title of "Fashion Illustrations Series," which shows the latest trends in fashion illustration! Forty new artists have contributed a selection of their own special style of illustration, this time featuring twin styles. While the previous edition was all about women's fashion, this edition features a more diverse range of fashion illustrations, including men's, unisex, body-positive, and multinational styles. This title also focuses mainly on works by illustrators in their teens and twenties, guaranteeing a showcase of the very latest trends. As in the previous book, we have selected the paper quality for each page individually to maximize the appeal of the illustrations, making each turn of the page an exciting sensory and stylistic experience.
Written in Japanese.
Fashion Illustration: Outfit of the Day
Softcover, 192 pages, 9.5 x 6.5 inches.
This is the ultimate art collection book of illustrated Japanese fashion, featuring 40 different up and coming Japanese artists. Such fun usage of color and composition, with all different styles, this book is an endless source of inspiration and creativity.
Written in Japanese.
Gedoku: The Art of sakiyama
Softcover, 172 pages, 10.1 x 7.2 inches.
This is the first commercial art book featuring works by sakiyama, a popular illustrator with more than 110,000 followers on Twitter. Ruins, smirking wicked-faced young men, mysterious loners, a riot of wildly scattered flowers and more make up the dark and poisonous worldview that sakiyama is known for, but one that is also wryly humorous. sakiyama’s animated music video production for “Kansaete Kuyashiiwa (so frustrated with my instincts),” a song by ZUTOMAYO, rocketed the artist’s illustrations to international fame. sakiyama is also active across youth culture scenes, especially animated music video production and apparel collaborations.
This book contains over 170 pages of original illustrations, including newly drawn artworks, cartoons, and music video illustrations along with rakugaki sketches posted on Twitter, making this the definitive collection of an illustrator who is at the cutting edge of modern trends.
Polaris: The Art of Meyoco
Softcover, 192 pages, 7.5 x 7.7 inches.
Polaris is artist's Meyoco carefully curated and created collection of illustrations featuring their bright, colorful compositions and adorable characters and settings. This collection spans Meyoco's career including brand new pieces created just for this book!
hyka reoenl Artwork: International Edition
Softcover, 140 pages, 10.1 x 7.2 inches.
Girls living in a decadent, yet beautiful world.... In the past few years, reoenl has been creating illustrations of characters with various worldviews and backgrounds and has been releasing them through social media and doujinshi (self-published fan magazines). The story "hyka," which was serialized on PIE International's official website, has become a universe that contains all of reoenl's creations. This book is made up of two parts: a booklet summarizing his unique worldview centered on "hyka", and a booklet summarizing various commercial works. It is a must-have complete art collection for fans who want to immerse themselves in the unique and all-consuming world that reoenl creates.
An Extraordinary Ordinary Day - The Art of 526
Softcover, 140 pages, 8.3 x 5.8 inches.
Delight in the casual, yet heartwarming, slices of everyday life in 526’s illustrations.
The much-anticipated commercial debut collection of 526 on the theme of “daily life,” showcasing moments from the lives of people today captured in single illustrations.
526 is a new creator whose ability to evoke empathy has been getting a lot of attention: in 2021, their illustrations posted on social media received more than 840,000 likes. Featuring students, parents, pop idols, office workers and other people of various ages and occupations as the main characters, the meaning and emotion expressed in the illustrations and titles are sure to enhance reader’s enjoyment of 526’s work even more.
This book is sure to play an active role in expanding awareness of people’s everyday lives against the backdrop of ordinary scenes in Japan today.
Take a look at each of these lovely slices of daily life captured by 526.
Ushimitsudoki Midnight: Art Collection of DaisukeRichard
Softcover, 160 pages, 9.5 x 6.5 inches.
Daisuke Richard’s first comic art collection book KIKANETSU (9784756251046) went viral not just in Japan but also internationally giving him a huge attention in the industry and leading him to do many new commercial works in collaboration with big companies and artists (e.g. book covers, album covers, character design for Netflix anime, a collaboration with Red Bull, solo exhibitions and many more). The title of this new book “USHIMITSUDOKI”, meaning “in the dead of night” or “witching hour”, was chosen because the many melancholic girls illustrated in this book were given wings and horns to make them look like Yokai spirits, adding a creepy feel to each of the illustrations (as in the cover art). Collecting over 140 illustrations, including original illustrations and commercial works, this book is the world’s most anticipated book in the anime/manga illustration scene.
Written in Japanese.
KIKANETSU: Art Collection of DaisukeRichard
Softcover, Measures 8.75 x 7.25, 160 pages.
Ayumi Kasai Illustration: The Master and Lover’s Quarrel
Hardcover, 16 pages, 5 x 8.5 inches.
The artworks of the The Master and Lover’s Quarrel series are now available in this illustrated card collection with a bonus short story!
In 2021, BL (Boys Love) illustration legend Ayumi Kasai published Aphrodisiacs, her first art book in a decade, which was well received not only by her fans but also by BL fans all over the world. This new book contains cards of 38 illustrations from her popular The Master and Lover’s Quarrel series, which was also included in Aphrodisiacs, along with two newly drawn illustrations. The cards can be peeled off for displaying your favorite artworks on walls or sending them as postcards.
What’s more, the beginning of the book features a short story by Yoichi Onoe, “The Sincerity of Privolva.” The story reveals the never-before-seen relationship and life of Master and Shizuho, giving you a peek into their secret life to enjoy together with the illustration cards.
New Retro Illustrations: Retro Reimagined by a New Generation
Softcover, 192 pages, 9.5 x 6.5 inches.
“New retro”, a combination of the word “New” and “Retrospective”, is a newly coined phrase meaning “appreciating and enjoying something old while reimagining it into something modern.” This book introduces 40 up-and-coming illustrators working in this “new retro” style. Through the 300 illustrations showcased in this one book, readers can appreciate and enjoy retro culture, items and motifs reimagined and transformed into something new.
Wonderland: The Art of Nanaco Yashiro
Softcover, 168 pages, 7.5 x 8.7 inches.
Nanaco Yashiro’s illustrations feature various motifs such as a woman in a feathered robe from Japanese mythology, a large tiger reminiscent of Arabia, a man in a spacesuit, and concept art for an imaginary movie about heaven and hell that the illustrator created herself and are each drawn sometimes in delicately refined watercolor brushwork and at other times in bold strokes with acrylic gouache. While the themes and motifs may vary, all of them depict Nanaco Yashiro’s signature style which is sure to continue fascinating her audience forever. This book contains nearly 120 carefully selected illustrations, including many that have been newly drawn for this book, which are grouped in different themes, such as plants, animals, beautiful women, and fairytales, allowing readers to enjoy the lovely and mysterious world of Yashiro’s works. This book will not only appeal to Nanaco Yashiro's current fans but will also captivate those who are new to her beautiful, delicate, and colorful illustrations.
Eternal - Ilya Kuvshinov Illustration Works
Paperback with cover sleeve, Measures approximately 9.5 tall x .75 thick x 7.5 wide inches, 224 pages.
From the artist and publisher that brought the hugely succesful Momentary, comes the second collection of illustration artwork by Ilya Kuvshinov.
This book collects over 300 new artworks including commercial works artwork produced after the release of Momentary.
You may also know Kuvshinov from the character and visual designs of the anime movie The Wonderland, directed by Keiichi Hara, Crayon Shin-chan series and Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045. Kuvshinov was influenced by many Japanese artists and is now established as an influencer in his own right.
Daydream: The Art of UKUMO Uiti
Softcover, 192 pages, 10 x 7.2 inches.
UKUMO uiti (pronounced Wukumo Wu Ichi), is well known in the Japanese illustration community. Daydream brings together selected illustrations from the artist’s 3 Doujinshi collections, “Dreaming Girls”, “The Summer Gate,” and “CEH[A/W],” which sold out immediately. Featuring an additional 20 new and original illustrations, this book showcases about 170 illustrations in total. UKUMO creates background illustrations, fantasy art, and illustrations of girls, and has beeen featured in PIE International’s Background Illustration series.
Fans of Senbon Umimshima, Yogisya, and nekosuke will surely fall in love with UKUMO’s illustrations. The book is divided into themed chapters according to the four seasons and events in each one (e.g. New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day). Readers can travel through UKUMO’s dreamy world while enjoying Japan’s four seasons at the same time.
The Art of yoco: For Eternity and a Second
Softcover, 152 pages, 8.25 x 5.75 inches.
yoco is an illustrator who is active mainly in the BL (boys’ love) genre and who is particularly known for her exquisite, painterly illustration style. Her dramatic compositions evoke pure scenes of longing, while also fulfilling a slightly voyeuristic desire to take a peek inside a beautiful, ephemeral world of pure and delicate boys and young men, rendered in pale colors and fine lines, but also with a hint of melancholy and shadow. The Art of yoco For Eternity and a Second is the long-awaited first collection of the artist’s illustrations and paintings that have appeared in many BL novels, along with newly drawn illustrations.
James Jean - Pareidolia: A Retrospective of Beloved and New Works by James Jean
Softcover, 288 pages, measures 9 x 12 inches.
Pareidolia is a long-awaited collection of the art of James Jean, featuring works that span the majority of his career.
Born in 1978, Taiwanese-American James Jean became one of the most prolific artists/illustrators in commercial and fine art. He created numerous covers for American Comics and also collaborated on special projects with PRADA in 2007.
As much of his art has previously only been available for consideration formatted as album covers or other specialized commercial art, this book holds many visual treats for fans across the globe. Bilingual introductions by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and film director Guillermo del Toro! Includes supplementary poster. Text in Japanese and English.
EYE: YONEYAMA MAI
Softcover, 272 pages, 11.6 x 8.3 inches.
Amazing work from the illustrator & animator Yoneyama Mai in one beautiful book!
From working on visual development for the anime film Promare, to production of the end credits for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and more, Yoneyama Mai is active in the world of anime and illustration. This edition features a complete archive of the illustrations that make you feel the flow of emotions and movement that Yoneyama Mai is known for.
This is the first collection of original works by Yoneyama Mai, who has more than one million followers on Twitter and is getting attention from both animators and creators! Enjoy the vivid colors and delicate details in Yoneyama’s work.
Science Fiction Illustration: The Near Future and Fantasy Worlds Creators' Showcase
Softcover, 192 pages, 10.16 x 9.76 inches.
This book is a large-format anthology that introduces 32 contemporary artists and their works depicting near-future and imaginary worlds with a variety of illustration styles and outstanding techniques.
Inside you will find a devastated apocalyptic world, a society with advanced science, humans and cities that are a fusion of machines and advanced technology, characters traveling through an infinite universe, novel gadgets with huge potential, and the future that we may have dreamt of during childhood. Enjoy these highlights from the world of science fiction illustration printed in full color and with a beautiful binding. Also, at the end of the book, there is a feature on the method of Atsuya Uki, a visual artist and illustrator who creates unique worlds with his vivid colors and bold compositions.
Spy x Family - Hugging Clip Plush Blind Box
Figure measures approximately 3 inches long.
This collection of plush hagu chara feature all of your favorite Spy x Family characters, ready to clip onto anything you'd like! Press together their feet and their hands open, allowing you to have them hug your computer screen, your books or anything they can grab their lil hands onto! Collect all 6.
Random assortment. Sold Separately. Chosen at random.