Yes, here is some very exciting news! Over at the KIOWA COUNTY SIGNAL website they just did a very excellent Book Review on Chip Kidd’s latest project, the BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN Graphic Novel, published by DC Comics with artwork by Dave Taylor. For people who have read the book you know that the main focus, or theme, is “Architecture” and it’s funny because the Kiowa County Signal gave the book a score of “8 out of 10 Skyscrapers!” But seriously, it’s well-written and we appreciate it. So, please read it by clicking HERE!

At the recent 2012 San Diego Comic Con Chip Kidd announced that he’ll be designing a brand-new book for PictureBox Inc. The title is “The Passion Of Gengoroh Tagame: Bara Master ” ( Gay Bondage Manga ) and it’s set to be published in Spring 2013. Plus, it will be an over-sized volume & the Japanese language will be translated by Anne Ishii. The Book Cover Prototype is shown up above & we want to thank Tom Spurgeon, the Writer of THE COMICS REPORTER website, for breaking this story. In fact, the article he wrote is wayyy better than what you’re reading here, ha ha! So please, check it out —> CLICK HERE!

Chip Kidd is pretty well known for being a HUGE Batman Fan. So, you know as he was running around the San Diego Comic Con and came upon the “Sideshow Collectibles” Booth he had to have totally spazzed-out over these brand-new BATMAN items, ha!! This company always produces the most excellent stuff and we gotta say we are very impressed. For a Serious Batman Collector this show must be total torture!

The 1st pic is a new Batman Figure that is a more Modern-Day “Comic Book” Version of the character. Plus, the details are insane! Next is a Life-Size Bust of Batman and it’s said that it’s so realistic that it’s like looking at a real person, scary! Last, but not least, is another statue. This one is full-figure and shows the Caped Crusader standing on a Gargoyle ( Which is probably on the roof of some building in Gotham City. That city has a TON of Gargoyles, ha! ).

THE HIVE will be the next new book by Charles Burns & published by Pantheon. It is the second book of an on-going Trilogy Series with “X-ed Out” being the first installment. If you read that book then you will remember the main character named Doug.

Much has happened since we last saw Doug, the Tintin-like hero from X’ed Out. Confessing his past to an unidentified woman, Doug struggles to recall the mysterious incident that left his life shattered, an incident that may have involved his disturbed and now-absent girlfriend, Sarah, and her menacing ex-boyfriend. Doug warily seeks answers in a nightmarish alternate world that is a distorted mirror of our own, where he is a lowly employee that carts supplies around the Hive.

THE HIVE has a release date set for October 9th, 2012. So, Please look for it then at your favorite Book Store. Charles Burns will also be making many public appearances to speak about the book. Here are a list of events:

10/9: Philadelphia/Free Library
10/10: NYC/Strand
10/11: Boston/Harvard Bookstore at the Brattle Theater
10/17: Seattle/Fantagraphics
10/23: SF/SFJCC
10/24: Seattle/Town Hall
10/27: Boston Book Festival
11/10: Brooklyn Comic Art Festival
11/11: Montreal
11/12: Toronto
11/17: Miami Book Fair

Wait, There’s More! Oh yeah, the main reason for this post was to share an excellent review that appears in the very latest issue of Publisher’s Weekly Magazine that just hit newsstands on July 2nd, 2012. So please be sure to keep an eye out for that new issue.

PANTHEON BOOKS will be setting-up this year at the San Diego Comic Con in booth # 1515. The event dates are July 12th-15th, 2012. Chip Kidd will be there every day at noon to greet people and sign books or whatever you might bring. I mean, Chip will literally sign anything, FREE!! This year the main two books that Pantheon is really excited about are BUILDING STORIES by Chris Ware and THE HIVE by Charles Burns. Last week we posted an excellent “Chris Ware” Video Interview where he discusses his brand-new Graphic Novel. You can check that out by clicking HERE. Also, if you need ANY information about the SDCC Event then please click HERE too. Hope to see you there!! Oh yeah, one last thing, down below is a map of the Convention Center to give you an idea of where the booth is. This crazy event is HUGE!

OK, The “Official Tumblr for Fans of Chuck Palahniuk” is now open & the entries have been completely crazy! But we would not expect anything less from the guy who wrote: Fight Club, Damned, Pygmy, Lullaby, Bonsai, & many more. His new book, “Invisible Monsters Remix” was just released to rave reviews. So, if you’re a big fan of his be sure to check this out, CLICK HERE!

Whoops, like a total Idiot we forgot to post yesterday that it was George Orwell’s 109th birthday! Oh well, better late than never!

Random House just re-released Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novel, “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” in Soft Cover Paperback ( it’s the one shown on the left, the other Cover on the right is for the eBook Edition & Audio Book ). So, we thought we would present this wonderful video of a Speaking Lecture Mr. Chabon did at the Dominican University of California in 2010. In it, Michael talks almost exclusively about the creation of this iconic novel & how he came about writing it, it’s very entertaining for sure & lasts for about an hour. So, go fix yourself some Popcorn, grab a drink, get comfy, and enjoy.

This is just a quick post to share this wonderful photo of the original house that Author George Orwell lived in for many years on the tiny Scottish isle of Jura. In fact, this is where he wrote his classic “1984″ novel book.

The JOHN UPDIKE SOCIETY recently announced that they have purchased the original childhood home of John Updike. It’s located at 117 Philadelphia Ave. in Shillington, PA. The good news is that they plan to turn it into a Museum and preserve it as a memorial to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Author. John Updike burst upon the scene in 1960 with this novel, “Rabbit, Run”. After that ( and lucky for all of us who love reading great books ) he had become quite prolific. Sadly, Mr. Updike passed away in 2009 at the young age of 76. But, his house, along with his writings, will live on as a wonderful legacy. For more information about the JOHN UPDIKE SOCIETY please CLICK HERE.