Books

This landmark publication accompanies a major retrospective exhibition of Takashi Murakami’s paintings. Although other volumes on Murakami in English address the crossover between his fine art and commercial output, this book presents the first serious consideration of his work as a painter. It provides a sustained consideration of the artist’s relationship to the tradition of Japanese painting and his facility in straddling high and low, ancient and modern, eastern and western, commercial and high art. Lavishly illustrated with large-scale images of works that span his art student days to now—many reproduced together for the first time—the book contextualizes Murakami’s output in postwar Japan with essays that situate the artist in relation to folklore, traditional Japanese painting Nihonga, the Tokyo art scene in the 1980s and 1990s, and the threat of nuclear annihilation. The volume includes essays by curator Michael Darling, Michael Dylan Foster, Chelsea Foxwell, Reuben Keehan, and Akira Mizuta Lippit, as well as a biography and exhibition history, selected bibliography, and index.

Hardcover, 548 pages, measures 6 x 9 inches.

Following the successful release of multi-series trading cards based on the originalStar Wars film series (1977–83), Topps released the first volume of its Widevision series in 1995. These special cards were just as tall as the standard Topps trading cards but twice as long—a format that better reflected the widescreen dimensions of the films. Now, for the first time, every card, as well as rare promotional cards and limited edition chase cards, are reprinted in one deluxe collection. This new volume includes the fronts and backs of each card, showcasing original storyboards, fun facts, filmmaker quotes, behind-the-scenes photos, and exclusive commentary by George Lucas.

Also included are four bonus cards, rare promotional images, an introduction by Gary Gerani, the original editor of the Star Wars Topps series, and an afterword by Star Wars collector Stephen J. Sansweet.

Hardcover, 6" x 8.25", 368 pages, 308 images, Limited edition of 1500 .

26 pages, measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

From the vault, comes the second installment of "From the Pit" photo zine.

Before Giant Robot, owner and founder Eric Nakamura shot seminal late 80's / early 90's punk rock bands. Photo's capture performers in their early days. Beautifully shot; history was captured.

Features photos of such bands and performers as Firehouse, "5,6,7,8's," The Dwarves, Soundgarden, L&, The Go-Nuts, Rocket From the Crypt, Butthole Surfers and more!  Forward by Eric. 

26 pages, measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

Before Giant Robot, owner and founder Eric Nakamura shot seminal late 80's / early 90's punk rock bands. Photo's capture performers in their early days. Beautifully shot; history was captured. Features photos of such bands and performers as Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Courtney Love, Beck, Public Enemy, Jawbreaker, L7, Firehose, Mudhoney, Unwound and more!  Each photo has a little commentary by Eric. The cover photo wraps around the zine to the back.

Softcover, 40 pages, measures 10 x 6.8 inches.

Publisher Drawn & Quarterly explains, "Acclaimed cartoonist Adrian Tomine (New York Drawings, Shortcomings) returns with a dazzling new issue of his two-decade-long comic book series! Optic Nerve #13 features three complete stories, each distinct in their tone and visual style. "Go Owls" is a dark comedy about 12-step programs, drug dealing, and minor league baseball. "Translated, from the Japanese," illustrates the diary of a young Japanese mother, caught between two countries and hovering on the precipice of divorce. "Winter, 2012" is an autobiographical glimpse into Tomine's home life and his ongoing struggles with the modern world. Throughout Optic Nerve #13, Tomine channels contemporary zeitgeist and vernacular to produce flawlessly designed, compellingly readable stories."

Softcover, 326 pages, Measures 6 x 8.5 inches.

This beautiful retrospective of illustrator and manga artist Katsuya Terada is a must have for all art appreciators. Features his work for manga, novel illustrations and character designs. This is the catalog for his solo exhibition at Kyoto International Manga Museum earlier this year.

Softcover, 10" x 8.5", 128 pages, Full Color, Text in Japanese & English

A wonderful catalog of Murakami's prints from his KaiKai KiKi Gallery! Classic first run prints from his collection.

Measures 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 in; 64 pages; Hardcover

In this funny and sweet new book in the bestselling Darth Vader™ series, Eisner Award–winning author Jeffrey Brown offers an intimate look at the friendships between best pals in the Star Warsuniverse, from Darth Vader and the Emperor to Leia and her Ewok pals, Han and Chewie, C-3PO and R2-D2, the bounty hunters, and other favorite characters. Jealousy, birthday parties, lightsaber battles, sharing, intergalactic rebellion and more all come into play as Brown's charming illustrations and humor irresistibly combine the adventures of our friends in a galaxy far, far away with everyday events closer to home.

Zine measures 8.5 x 11 inches, 70 pages, Black & White.

Giant Robot history reprinted! Before it was a magazine, Giant Robot was a zine. And Issue 3 is back 20 years later! Culture that is still relevant and interesting to this day.  Re-discover it all! Articles on:

• Alfredo Alcala comic book artist
• MAK-90's - Are you safe without one?
• Emily's Sassy Lime vs Rice! The War.
• Doughnuts made by Cambodians.
• Asian Topics in old Punk Songs
• Hong Kong Films
• Nails, Youth, Sumo, UFC V, Pizzicato, Blurts, Sebadoh and Tons More!

Softcover, 32 pages, Measures 4.25 x 6 inches, black & white.

Released along with Katsuya Terada's second solo art show at our Giant Robot 2 gallery comes this Hot Pot Girls zine. Hot Pot Girls 2 features black and white photos of the artist's various drawings and paintings for his Hot Pot Girls show. What wonderful work!

Hardcover, 7.25" x 8.25", 144pp, Full Color

Renowned cartoonist Julie Doucet has created a unique, mass produced artistí«í´s book. Printed on a half dozen different papers in eight colors, this amalgamation of drawing, collage, painting, and narrative is a visionary meditation on love and its discontents. Using cut out, collaged letters and phrases to compose her oblique, poetic text, Doucetí«í´s words are as graphically enticing as her images. The book moves from pointed collages made from 1960s Quebecois magazines to abstract, psychedelic drawings to a moving catalog of her loverí«í´s possessions, and back again. The diversity of images could be the work of multiple artists, but Doucetí«í´s funny, frank sensibility ties it all together. Doucet, long known as the "female R. Crumb," and regarded as the finest female cartoonist of the 20th century, has never before published a book like this: a pure, non-comics distillation of her artistic sensibility. This complete work of art will appeal both to fans of her graphic novelsí«ÌÎÌÓwho will appreciate her sense of humor and vivacious drawingí«ÌÎÌÓand art aficionados who will be moved and surprised by her skills, and bowled over by her unforgettable images.

Hardcover, 6" x 8.25", 220pp, Text in English and Japanese

Some copies have some minor imperfections to the cover to some degree.

Buenos Aries is sort of a visual journal of acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Doyle (2046, Hero, Infernal Affairs). The book documents his everday experiences on the set of Buenos Aries, a film that recreates the experiences of director Wong Kar-Wai and his crew while in Argentina in 1996. Each page is in entry penned by Doyle himself which is accompanied by incredible photographs of behind the scene moments on set and various locations in Argentina.

Paperback, 7.5" x 7.5", 120pp, Full Color

Hilarious, disgusting, mysterious, and cuter than a puppy playing with a kitten, Chocolate Cheeks is the next great "Yikes" book from Steven Weissman. The Pullapart Boy (a 21st Century Frankenstein's monster for kids), his social circle having dwindled down to his stupid brother (Dead Boy), their dead dog (Elzie Crisler), and a fat kid that nobody likes ("Chubby" Cheeks), attempts to make some new friends. Meanwhile, across town, the Little Tin-Stars (Cow-Boy and Cow-Girl) are in a desperate fight against the forces of nature, hostile natives, a river monster, their own horse and a man called Chocolate Cheeks. Juxtaposing gag-driven, newspaper-fashioned strips (employed to great effect in 2006's Chewing Gum In Church) with the sprawling, Western comic approach of his legendary "Look Out For Big Della" (from 2002's White Flower Day), Chocolate Cheeks is Weissman at his best: stunning, memorable, poignant, hilarious, and just gross enough to delight the children.

Hardcover with Dust Jacket, 6.25" x 9.25", 304pp

Opening its doors in 1970, Hampshire College was once known as a land of eternal partying, where countercultures thrived and jocks were nowhere to be found. Self- proclaimed nerd Richard Rushfield knew this progressive Massachusetts campus was the place for him, offering a chance to shed his squeaky-clean California upbringing. He was part of the freshman class of 1986, hiding out from Reagan-era excess in a liberal haven where overachievement and preppy clothes were banned.

By turns hilarious, ironic, and steeped in history, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost takes readers to a campus populated by Deadheads, club kids, poets, and insomniac filmmakers, at a time when America saw the rise of punk and grunge alongside neo-conservatism, earnest calls for political correctness, and Take Back the Night vigils. Shunned by all of the school's reigning subcultures, Rushfield joins the most hated clique on campus, the Supreme Dicks, navigates a dating scene where to express interest in anything is social suicide, and mostly avoids class where hippie professors blather on about post-structuralism. Culminating in a mad clash of slackers and yuppies, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost captures a watershed moment for American youth in one hilarious and unforgettable trip.

Hardcover, 6.5" x 9.25", 270pp

On March 17, 2009, Laura Ling and her colleague Euna Lee were working on a documentary about North Korean defectors who were fleeing the desperate conditions in their homeland. While filming on the ChineseåÐNorth Korean border, they were chased down by North Korean soldiers who violently apprehended them. Laura and Euna were charged with trespassing and "hostile acts" and imprisoned months, enduring interrogations and eventually a trial before North Korea's highest court. They were the first Americans ever to be sentenced to twelve years of hard labor in a prison camp in North Korea.

Journalist Lisa Ling immediately began a campaign to get her sister released, one that led her from the State Department to the higher echelons of the media world and eventually to the White House.

Somewhere Inside reveals for the first time Laura's gripping account of what really happened on the river, her treatment at the hands of North Korean guards, and the deprivations and rounds of harrowing interrogations she endured. She speaks movingly about the emotional toll inflicted on her by her incarceration, including the measures she took to protect her sources and her fears that she might never see her family again.

Hardcover, 8.75" x 8.75", 150 pages, Black & White

If kozyndan created a world of their own, then this book contains portraits of the people who would exist in it. Inspired from a photo album found in a Venice Beach thrift shop, kozyndan sought to create imagined personae to capture essence of these photographs. This collection is composed of small, detailed graphite portraits, each piece capturing the surreal humour and observation that has become fundamental within Kozyndan's distinctive style of artwork.

On Sale at 50% off the original price of $60.00

Limit: 1 per customer

Hardcover, 11" x 9", 168pp

The latest limited edition from Ryan McGinness - No Sin/No Future follows the trajectory of the artist's book Project Rainbow (2003, Gingko Press). A collection of snapshots, sketches, and scans, all extracted with a discerning eye from the artist's studio archives. Sketchbook notes collide with paintings-in-progress and combine with vectors and bitmaps to create a dense site-specific visual concoction that provides unprecedented insight into how this artist's mind works and the mental processes that deliver his unique style. The work of Ryan McGinness has exercised great influence in graphic design and visual art circles, and is collected by venerable institutions around the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The edition is limited to 2500 copies.