SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION, PART I Recently released is the first book of Yoshitaka Amano's HERO a lavishly illustrated 5 part graphic series, created by Amano and written by MG's own Jessie Horsting. Hero is a surreal, mind-bending journey as a New York musician learns that the world is not what it seems to be. He will soon discover that his lost love and family are somwhere in a tangled web of illusion, hidden by an ancient enemy. In volume one, Hieronymous attends a party where he meets a haunting woman and releases a midnight blue cyborg panther. Reality starts to unravel as the party is invaded by medieval Japanese warriors determined to kill Hero.

With the help of the cyborg and a stray cat, Hero is able to escape the increasingly bizarre streets of Manhattan, chased by the minions of the trickster demon Rudra. His journey leads to Paris, Las Vegas, Tokyo and eventually ancient Kyoto. In Paris he finds a companion in Victor Noir, an assassinated writer from the Napoleonic age. They are joined by a Vegas street punk, and later a wandering Samurai. Together they face Rudra in a fantastic golden temple, with a spire of a thousand rooms, one of which hides the Lady. Check out Amanosworld.com for the work of this incredible artist. Order the book from Amazon, Forbidden Planet, Bud Plant or a comic shop near you.

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION part 2 Available now from Bud Plant and Amazon.com is Drew Struzan's Ouvre, written by Jessie Horsting and sister Amy Horsting. This 300+ page volume covers all the famed Star Wars key art, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Back to the Future series, and the trying journey of the best -- and perhaps the last-- of the great poster artists. You can learn the stories behind classic posters from Bladerunner to The Shawshank Redemption.