Benny Potter

Recent years show a sea change in Hollywood- the biggest movies come from the pages of comic books. These box office successes are driven by fans who love seeing their favorite heroes and villains from comics brought to life on the big screen, from Thor to Superman to Batman and Captain America, Wonder Woman and more. Baddies like Loki, The Joker and Lex Luthor only add to the fun. Welcome to the Golden Age of comic book movies and Comicstorians Benny Potter, Dan Rumbles and Jason Keen are here to help you understand why we these larger-than-life characters have captured the imagination of the world. When it comes to superheroes of the Silver Screen, nobody knows more than the masterminds behind the wildly popular Comicstorian YouTube channel. This definitive guide to comic book films divulges behind-the-scenes secrets and the hidden history behind these must-see movies including how, after very rocky beginnings, they shot to the top with DC and Marvel as two of the most important franchises in the industry. If you love The Hulk, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man and are still laughing about Deadpool, look no further. With The Rise of Comic Book Movies, you’ll feel like you are on the film set, walking the halls of Valhalla and in your very own Fortress of Solitude with your favorite reads.

Sulome Anderson

THE HOSTAGE’S DAUGHTER: A Memoir of Family, Madness, and the Middle East (Dey Street Books; on sale October 4, 2016; $25.99) is the gripping blend of reportage, memoir, and analysis by a journalist and daughter of one of the world’s most famous hostages, TERRY ANDERSON. Daughter SULOME ANDERSON takes an intimate look at her father’s captivity during the Lebanese Hostage Crisis and the ensuing political firestorm on both her family and the United States—as well as the far-reaching implications of those events on Middle Eastern politics today! In 1991, 6 year old Sulome Anderson met her father, Terry, for the first time. While working as the Middle East bureau chief for the ASSOCIATED PRESS covering the long and bloody civil war in Lebanon, Terry had been kidnapped in Beirut and held for more than 6 years by a Shiite Muslim militia associated with the Hezbollah movement. As the nation celebrated, the media captured a smiling Anderson family joyously reunited. But the truth was far darker. Plagued by PTSD, Terry was a moody, aloof, and distant figure to the young daughter who had long dreamed of his return—and while she smiled for the cameras all the same, she absorbed his trauma as her own. Years later, after long battles with drug abuse and mental illness, Sulome would travel to the Middle East as a reporter, seeking to understand her father, the men who had kidnapped him, and ultimately, herself. What she discovered was shocking—not just about Terry, but about the international political machinations that occurred during the years of his captivity. Sulome tells moving stories from her experiences as a reporter in the region and challenges our understanding of global politics, the forces that spawn terrorism and especially Lebanon, the beautiful, devastated, and vitally important country she came to love. Digging into the past, Sulome recounts how she long held her father’s place in history at arm’s length. Despite her intelligence and talent, Sulome acted out her psychological pain throughout her adolescence, getting expelled from boarding school and embarking on a painful road of drug abuse and crippling self-hatred. Only when she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a serious mental illness, did the missing pieces of the puzzle fall into place. As she began to recover from her condition, she chose to pursue the same career as her father, in the country where almost seven years of his life were stolen, precipitating a dramatic return to the past. In her quest, Sulome interviews many of the key figures tied to the events, including her father’s colleagues at the AP as well as former U.S. government officials and intelligence agents. She interviews such figures as Oliver North and the shady Lebanese editor who broke the story about the Iran-Contra scandal tied to the hostage crisis. At the end of this intricate journey, Sulome’s reporting culminates in extended interviews with one of the men who played a role in her father’s kidnapping. She conducts meetings with shadowy figures in the back alleys of Beirut and a dangerous Lebanese prison, taking her digital recorder places that could get her killed. In the process, she grows to love Lebanon in all its damaged beauty and cultural complexity, and THE HOSTAGE’S DAUGHTER becomes an urgent call for an understanding of Lebanon, its tenuous peace, and the key role it plays in the region. However it is also meant as a reminder to politicians and political actors that their choices are not without consequences. The people caught in the crossfire of war are not chess pieces, and political decisions have long-term effects on individual lives.

Cary Elwes

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes the New York Times bestselling account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film (now in paperback) filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner. The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come. Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories. With a foreword by Rob Reiner and a limited edition original poster by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey, As You Wish is a must-have for all fans of this beloved film. "Fans who want to maintain a fairy-tale image of how 'The Princess Bride' was made will find that his gentle recollections serve this goal perfectly. Watch the movie all over again with newfound knowledge." — New York Times Book Review "An engaging memoir that charts the film's tumultuous journey from a project stuck in development hell, to charmed production, to flop, to classic."— Chicago Tribune “Cary Elwes' book recounts the wacky antics of Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, and others behind 'The Princess Bride'… . [A] delightful remembrance of the three months he spent making the unsung movie that went on to become a family classic.” — New York Daily News “A tender, comical behind-the-scenes look at the 1987 classic.”— US Weekly “Designed to hit all fan-service sweet spots for folks familiar with the film, as it’s stuffed with photos, recollections, and interviews with relevant parties. The book’s dust jacket is even a Shepard Fairey print, for crying out loud. I never had a chance.” — The A.V. Club

Dave Kindig

Dave Kindig is a self-taught entrepreneur and top car designer. From his childhood passion for Hot Wheels, Legos and drawing, Kindig has built Kindig-It Design, a one stop, complete custom shop where autos are turned into spectacular works of art. Before launching Kindig-It Design with the support of his wife, Charity, from a small garage in 1999, Kindig worked at High Performance Coatings in Utah. In the last 15 plus years his shop has grown from 4500 square feet and a handful of employees to a massive 27,000 square feet and nearly 30 employees in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah. Guided by his imagination and keen sense of style, Kindig-It Design turns out some of the most creative, one-of-a-kind vehicles on the planet. Kindig always pushes the envelope on what is possible with car design and year-after-year his shop churns out coolest rides. Dave and Kindig-It Design have won a number of awards including: the 2012 Master Builder Award at the Boise Roadster Show; the 2012 Goodguys Trendsetter Award at the Hot Rod Industry Alliance; Utah’s Finest award at the Utah AutoRama in 2014; the 2015 Al Slonaker Award at the Grand National Roadster Show; and more. In Velocity’s BITCHIN’ RIDES audiences go inside Kindig’s sprawling business to experience how he and his team construct vehicles that make the car lover in all of us swoon. Working on all car types and periods, BITCHIN’ RIDES shows how Kindig and his team render, design, build and restore vehicles from the ground up before revealing the results to the car’s owner. In each episode, Kindig meets with clients, reviews the car, crafts a design plan, and then tears down, remakes and then reveals the stunning new car to its owner.

Mike Massimino

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find yourself strapped to a giant rocket that’s about to go from zero to 17,500 miles per hour? Or to look back on Earth from outer space and see the surprisingly precise line between day and night? Or to stand in front of the Hubble Space Telescope, wondering if the emergency repair you’re about to make will inadvertently ruin humankind’s chance to unlock the universe’s secrets? Mike Massimino has been there, and in Spaceman he puts you inside the suit, with all the zip and buoyancy of life in microgravity. Massimino’s childhood space dreams were born the day Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Growing up in a working-class Long Island family, he catapulted himself to Columbia and then MIT, only to flunk his first doctoral exam and be rejected three times by NASA before making it through the final round of astronaut selection. Taking us through the surreal wonder and beauty of his first spacewalk, the tragedy of losing friends in the Columbia shuttle accident, and the development of his enduring love for the Hubble Telescope—which he and his fellow astronauts were tasked with saving on his final mission—Massimino has written an ode to never giving up and the power of teamwork to make anything possible. Spaceman invites us into a rare, wonderful world where science meets the most thrilling adventure, revealing just what having “the right stuff” really means. MIKE MASSIMINO BIO Mike Massimino served as a NASA Astronaut from 1996 until 2014 and flew in space twice: STS-109 on space shuttle Columbia in March 2002 and STS-125 on space shuttle Atlantis in May 2009 – the final two Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions. Mike became the first human to tweet from space, was the last human to work inside of Hubble, and set a team record with his crewmates for the most cumulative spacewalking time in a single space shuttle mission. Mike has a recurring role as himself on The Big Bang Theory; appears regularly on late night talk shows, news programs, and documentaries; and is a much sought after inspirational speaker. He received his BS from the Columbia University School of Engineering, and his two MS’s and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He currently lives in New York City where he is an engineering professor at Columbia and an advisor at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum.

Jim and Amber Marchese

WE tv's Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars Returns with New Counselors, New Celebrity Couples and New Drama Season Six Includes the Series' First Same-Sex Couple and the First Three-Person "Throuple!" Speak with Jim & Amber Marchese, the Stars of Real Housewives of New Jersey, as they Undergo a Unique Brand of Extreme Couples Therapy In WE tv’s hit series Marriage Boot Camp Reality Stars which returns for its sixth season on October 7, new counselors Dr. Venus Nicolino (“LA Shrinks”) and Dr. Ish Major (“Ex Isle”) have their work cut out for them as they attempt to mend the broken relationships of some of reality TV's biggest stars. Dr. V and Dr. Ish will push these couples to the limit with physically, mentally and emotionally draining exercises to see if their relationships are worth saving or if it's time to call it quits. This season includes stars from Bachelor in Paradise, R&B Divas: Atlanta, Mob Wives, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and Real Housewives of New Jersey. Amber Marchese (Real Housewives of New Jersey) has been a lifelong resident of the great state of New Jersey, currently residing in the town of Colts Neck. She is married to a caring, supportive man, James Marchese, with a typical fiery Italian side to their marriage. The couple have four children, who keep them on their toes. Recently, Jim and Amber have been fighting about issues in the bedroom – Amber has lost her libido because of cancer treatments (she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 31), and Jim gets frustrated. Additionally, Jim’s hot temper, control issues and overprotective nature are crippling their marriage.

P.J. Soles

40 years ago, visionary filmmaker Brian De Palma helmed the ultimate coming-of-age horror film with Stephen King’s CARRIE, a story both celebrated and revered by cinephiles and ultimate horror fans alike. To celebrate this landmark anniversary of the movie, non-profit cancer support center weSPARK and Theatre at The Ace Hotel, along with home entertainment brand SCREAM FACTORY, will mount a once-in-a-lifetime cast and crew reunion and screening of the brand-new restoration of the film, paired with a 1970s prom-themed party, at the historic Ace Theater in Downtown Los Angeles on Friday, October 14, 2016. The star-studded cast and crew reunion is set to include Carrie stars Academy Award™-nominated Piper Laurie (The Hustler), Nancy Allen (Dressed to Kill, Robocop), William Katt (The Greatest American Hero), P.J. Soles (Halloween), Academy Award™-winning editor Paul Hirsch (Star Wars: Episode IV) and Casting Director Harriett B. Helberg (The Jazz Singer). The cast will participate in a live Q&A moderated by Bryan Fuller (the creative genius behind NBC’s Hannibal, ABC’s Pushing Daisies and the upcoming series American Gods). In an effort to raise critical funds for weSPARK Cancer Support Center in which Carrie’s Nancy Allen is Executive Director, the event will see the Ace Theater transformed with prom-themed decor, during which attendees are encouraged to dress in their best 1970s formal attire or favorite character from the film for an opportunity to pose for a photo in a special photo booth and win Best Dressed “Carrie” character Costume contest. “I want a recount! I can’t believe “Carrie” is celebrating its 40th Anniversary! This movie changed my career much like weSPARK has changed my life, and to bring these two worlds together for good, only adds to the specialness of this celebration.” – Nancy Allen, Carrie’s, Chris Hargensen Tickets to the star-studded screening and Q&A will start at $25, with higher ticket tiers to include Scream Factory’s brand new 2-disc Carrie (Collector’s Edition) Blu-ray release with nearly 3 hours of bonus material, a specially commissioned original poster from a local artist, access to a private VIP pre-reception, and opportunities for photos with cast and crew. Ticket Tiers: $25 - General Admission including Prom-Themed After Party $75 - Preferred Seating + Exclusive Carrie Poster + New Scream Factory Blu Ray + Photo Op including Prom Themed After-Party (Limited availability) $125 –VIP seating + Exclusive Carrie Poster & Blu-ray + Photo Op with cast/crew including After-Party + Private Pre-Party (Limited availability) All proceeds will directly benefit weSPARK’s cancer support programs.

Michael Clarkson

Long before skydiving and paragliding, bungee jumping and zip lines, there was a far simpler way to get a thrill: barrel-jumping. Extreme adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers would cram themselves in a wooden barrel and launch themselves down waterfalls. And an even smaller group of dedicated thrill seekers would risk their lives going down America’s most wondrous, massive and dangerous waterfall: Niagara Falls. Through extensive research, Michael Clarkson’s THE AGE OF DAREDEVILS (Little A, on sale 10/1/16) reveals the thrilling true story of a the Hill family, a family that sought adventure at every turn – from secret marriages, heroic rescues and dangerous stunts, to the ultimate daredevil act: jumping down Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel in the summer of 1951. Incorporating family drama, action and adventure and love story, this true tale chronicles the lives of the men and women who devoted themselves to the extraordinary sport of jumping over Niagara Falls at the dawn of the twentieth century. Internationally known in the 1920s and ’30s for their barrel-jumping exploits, the Hills were a father-son team of daredevils who also rescued dozens of misguided thrill seekers and accident victims who followed them into the river. The publicity surrounding the Hills’s spectacular feats ushered in tourism, making Niagara Falls the nation’s foremost honeymoon destination, but ultimately set Red Hill Jr. on a death-defying path to surpass his father’s extraordinary leaps into the void. In 1951, Red Hill Jr. risked it all – goaded on by his lineage and a promise to his wife, he climbed into a barrel, and jumped down the falls in front of 200,000 spectators. Like the works of Jon Krakauer and David McCullough, THE AGE OF DAREDEVILS explores the primal forces of fear and the thirst for adventure that drive humans to the brink of death to see if, and how, they can somehow escape. Along the way, Clarkson reveals the lure of Niagara Falls – how it became the premiere destination for honeymooners in the mid-twentieth century and how it still remains one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders, ushering in more than 22 million visitors a year – and reveals the escapades of other daredevils like Annie Edson Taylor, Bobby Leach, Gene Lussier and Karl Soucek.

Phoebe Robinson

Phoebe Robinson is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actress whom Vulture.com, Essence, and Esquire have named one of the top comedians to watch. She has appeared on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers and Last Call with Carson Daly; Comedy Central’s Broad City, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, and @midnight with Chris Hardwick; as well as the new Jill Soloway pilot for Amazon, I Love Dick. Robinson’s writing has been featured in The Village Voice and on Glamour.com, TheDailyBeast.com, VanityFair.com, Vulture.com, and NYTimes.com. She was also a staff writer on MTV’s hit talking head show, Girl Code, as well as a consultant on season three of Broad City. Most recently, she created and starred in Refinery29’s web series Woke Bae and, alongside Jessica Williams of The Daily Show, she is the creator and costar of the hit WNYC podcast 2 Dope Queens as well as the host of the new WNYC podcast Sooo Many White Guys. Robinson lives in Brooklyn, NY. Visit Phoebe online: www.phoeberobinson.com

Ryan Devlyn

Many TV viewers recognize young actor Ryan Devlin from his roles on Veronica Mars and Jane the Virgin or as host of MTV’s hit dating show Are You the One. In addition to his acting career, Ryan spearheaded the launch of This Bar Saves Lives, a snack bar (found in Starbucks, Whole Foods, Target, etc.) with a worldwide life-saving impact. A few years ago, Ryan traveled to Africa for a humanitarian trip and saw the tragedy of severe malnutrition in children. Upon his return, Ryan and his co-founders (including his Veronica Mars co-star Kristen Bell) came up with one of the most direct life-saving efforts available. For every This Bar Saves Lives snack bar sold, a life-saving packet of food is sent to a child in need. Although 2.6 million children die of malnutrition each year, This Bar Saves Lives is having a direct impact on helping children, having sent well over a million food packets thus far.

Joan Embery

Joan Embery (born in San Diego, California) is an animal and environmental advocate. A Trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation, a professional Fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and a member of the Advisory Board of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's Wildlife Health Center, she founded the American Association of Zoo Keepers. The goodwill ambassador to the San Diego Zoo's Zoological Society of San Diego for 32 years, she has hosted educational series "Animal Express", "Animals of Africa", and "Baby Panda and Challenge to Wildlife Specials for Public Broadcasting". She has raised awareness of animals and wildlife conservation through her books, tours, projects, and appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Entertainment Tonight, ALF, The Phil Donahue Show, Newhart, Hollywood Squares, Win, Lose or Draw, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Xuxa, Leeza, Kidsongs and PM Magazine. In addition to being an environmental activist, Embery is a skilled horsewoman who has won many awards. Embery studied zoology and telecommunications at San Diego State University before earning a bachelor of arts degree in communication at Eastern Illinois University. She lives with her husband Duane Pillsbury on Pillsbury Ranch, a 50-acre ranch in Lakeside, California home to show horses, wildlife ambassadors, native wildlife, and personal pets.

Kansas

The Prelude Implicit features 10 all new tracks written by the band and co-produced by Zak Rizvi, Phil Ehart, and Richard Williams. KANSAS's signature sound is evident throughout the album. It showcases Ronnie Platt's soaring lead vocals, David Ragsdale's blistering violin, Williams and Rizvi's rocking guitar riffs, the unmistakable sound of David Manion's B3 organ and keyboards, Ehart's thundering drums, and Billy Greer's driving bass and vocals.