Best Selling Books by Les Daniels

The definitive chronicle of DC''s celebrated characters and their talented creators.

Follow the Amazon princess as she evolves from curiosity to feminist icon. The Eisner Award-winning book includes archival comic-book art and photographs, and is one-third of the superhero trilogy.

Presents rare and never-before-seen early artwork by Superman''s teenage creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (including a two-page doodle from 1936 featuring early Superman costume designs), and he chronicles the evolution of the character from an orphan alien comics hero to a complex multimedia icon.

On the comic strip character - Batman

A coffin drifts on the Bay of Bengal... Within lies Sebastian Newcastle, rapt in the dreamless sleep of the Undead. His flight from England, spurred by the agonizing memories of his ruined love, Felicia Lamb, ends in the heart of India''s darkest cult. The Thugs still make human sacrifice to Kali, the Goddess of Death... sacrifice she will accept only when there is no blood spilled. Reginald Callender, accused of the death of his fiancée, Felicia, has sworn vengeance on Newcastle. He has tracked the vampire to India, but the terrors of this strange new land—from the savage prowling panthers to the murderous Thugs—prove as formidable as his ancient enemy. Moreover, he has lost his heart to the beautiful widow Sarala Ghosh. But like Felicia before her, Sarala is headed for her own dark destiny in the cold embrace of Sebastian Newcastle.

Comix – A History of Comic Books in America (1988) : Covers the whole history of comic books in America to 1970–the major creations, the major creators, the major comic book lines, the major comic book enemies. Co-authors Les Daniels and The Mad Peck tell the story of how comic books captured the imagination of millions and became an American institution, and whether or not they deserved to. Adjoining the text, providing an illustrated history of their own, is a large selection of complete comic book stories. No selected snippets. Full stories. “It seems safe to say,” the authors write, “that no book to date has contained such a wide range of comic book tales Where else can one find in the same volume such divergent personalities as the Old Witch and Donald Duck, or Captain America and Those Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers?

The Black Castle is a fast-moving tale of battle between brothers. One is seen as evil because he is a vampire, while the other is perceived as good because he is a man of God. But the vampire only does what he has to do to survive while the churchman, an Inquisitor, inflicts pain for the power it confers upon him. Which is the greater evil?

For over 50 years, Marvel comics has been the world''s leading publisher of comic books. This book is the fascinating story of Marvel, beginning with the invention of the comic book and the discovery of Marvel''s formula for success with the launch of two offbeat super heroes, the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch. Captain America, introduced nine months before Pearl Harbor, immediately became one of the best-selling comic books of all time.

The super-powered trilogy that captured the world''s greatest superhero triumvirate of all time is now available in paperback. Relive the adventures of Krypton''s favorite son inside and outside the comic book world in Superman: The Complete History. Uncover the Caped Crusader''s mysterious real-world origin and his evolution into a hugely successful TV and movie franchise in Batman: The Complete History. Follow the Amazon Princess as she evolves from curiosity to feminist icon in the Eisner Awardwinning Wonder Woman: The Complete History. Each book is filled with enough archival comic book art, photographs, and in-depth history to satisfy the most demanding fan—and is now priced to appeal to the most casual reader. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and all related characters, names, and indicia are trademarks of DC Comics 2004.

Into the fabulous realm of sixteenth-century Mexico comes Alfonso Martinez a Spanish alchemist searching for the legendary Aztec gold. With him is the silver skull of Don Sebastian de Vilanueva - wizard, vampire, explorer of earths dark mysteries. Then the skull falls into the hands of a virgin priestess the sensuous leader of an Aztec cult. And in awesome scenes of occult ritual and bloody human sacrifice, Don Sebastian is brought back to life. So begins and unholy alliance as vampire and priestess join forces, summoning all the dread powers of evil at their command.

This is the frightening adventure of Don Sebastian, the immortal vampire; a dark figure emerging from the shadows of the past to haunt Victorian London. Sebastian, who dwells among the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition and the French Revolution, seeks sanctuary and sustenance in a stable society of gaslight and hansom cab. In Yellow Fog, Les Daniels has turned the traditional Victorian vampire story inside out, revealing both the aspirations of the undead and the depths of degradation that only mortals may achieve.

The French revolution is raging. Dr. Guillotin’s marvelous invention is working full time and the streets of Paris are awash with blood of royalty. Into this dark chaos, Don Sebastian de Villanueva is summoned. The vampire, horrified by man’s inhumanity, has seen the human bonfires of the Inquisition, the human sacrifice of the Aztecs. But he has seen nothing to match this…

''Living in Fear'' unearths images overlooked or forgotten in the history of the movies, literature, comics, radio, theatre, and television. Guaranteed to send a frisson through the most jaded horror fan, here are a host of insights and leads for the student of popular culture and hours of entertainment for fans of Stephen King, John Carpenter, and other contemporary terror inspirers.

An illustrated volume features original comic book artwork that depicts DC Comics'' most significant characters and artists, in a tribute that showcases both pop culture favorites and lesser-known classics.

As beautiful as Aphrodite, strong as Hercules, wise as Athena, and swift as Mercury, the much-adored Wonder Woman is celebrated in this long-awaited Masterpiece Edition. This incredible collection pays tribute to the Golden Age of Wonder Woman in two ingenious formats: a compact, inexpensive, trade edition, and a larger, more deluxe collector''s edition. Both contain an exclusive 8-1/2-inch action figure of Wonder Woman, circa 1941, and a lavishly illustrated hardcover book chronicling the origins and early history of the Amazon Princess. The Wonder Woman figure is available only in these editions, and it authentically replicates the heroine as she appeared in her earliest days--complete with star-spangled cloth skirt, golden bracelets, and detachable magic lasso (the one that can make a man forget everything). The larger collector''s edition also contains a faithful color reproduction of the very first Wonder Woman comic book. Both editions will be treasured by fans of the woman who wants to "change your mind--and change the world!"

Covers the whole history of comic books in America to 1970--the major creations, the major creators, the major comic book lines, the major comic book enemies. Co-authors Les Daniels and The Mad Peck tell the story of how comic books captured the imagination of millions and became an American institution, and whether or not they deserved to. Adjoining the text, providing an illustrated history of their own, is a large selection of complete comic book stories. No selected snippets. Full stories. "It seems safe to say," the authors write, "that no book to date has contained such a wide range of comic book tales Where else can one find in the same volume such divergent personalities as the Old Witch and Donald Duck, or Captain America and Those Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers?"--From publisher description.

From the late 1930s to the mid-1950s, DC Comics introduced the fantastic characters that became everyone''s favorite super heroes: Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Shazam! This brilliantly illustrated volume features entirely new, large-format photography of the original comic books, showcasing this fabulous visual world. 0-8109-4969-5$29.95 / Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

The spanish inquisition: Europe is lit by the human bonfires of religious fanaticism, and blood-drinker Don Sebastian de Villanueva is sickened by the screams and suffering. But even the undead may be powerless to prevent the human horrors of a new Dark Age. 16th-century Mexico: when the silver skull of Don Sebastian falls into the hands of an Aztec cult, an unholy alliance is formed between the resurrected vampire wizard and a virgin priestess.

The classic boxed set captures the golden age of the Caped Crusader with an exclusive, fully articulated action figure of the early Batman; the first-ever facsimile reprint of the first Batman comic book; and a lavishly illustrated, full-color hardcover book detailing Batman''s early years. Color images.