I thought this would be a good idea for a post, just posting some of the many book review videos that have been done for Chip Kidd’s Graphic Novel, BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN (DC Comics). The interesting thing about “video reviews” is that, since the format is so visual, the reviewers can also focus quite well on the amazing artwork of Dave Taylor. Besides the compelling storyline, the book’s other main interest is that the art is also a very enjoyable part of the book. So, this is really cool. Thanks to everybody who took the time to create these videos.

As a side note:

One of the videos (the 4th one) is an “Audio Only” Interview with Chip Kidd that was done BEFORE the book came out. So, in contrast to the other ones, which were obviously done by readers of the actual book, it’s kind of interesting. Hey, here they are… please enjoy.

Last year, around February, Chip Kidd was in Texas to speak at a special lecture given at the Dallas Museum of Art. So, to promote the event he got the chance to talk with the crazy guys over at FANBOY RADIO. ( We mean “crazy” in a good way, they’re awesome!)

The cool thing is that you can tell that the people doing the interview either, did some amazing research, or they’re just honestly huge fans because their questions were really really clever. I mean, they discuss Graphic Design, Book Covers, Comic Books, Batman, and a few of Chip Kidd’s Books like – The Cheese Monkeys, The Learners, Batman: Death By Design, and much more.

OK, I know this podcast interview is “a year old”, but it’s actually still very timely today and it shares some really good insight into design and other issues. So, please enjoy… oh yeah, and please share it with everybody you know

THANK YOU FANBOY RADIO!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR IT LIVE:

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Over at the DESIGN LAB website ( The Blog for the Mail Chimp Company ), they did a very excellent write-up about their experience with Chip Kidd and his recent visit to the company. Also, a Graphic Artist named Jason Travis created a poster for the event, which you can see up above. For more information about Mail Chimp, please CLICK HERE!

Next week, May 8th to be exact, DC Comics has plans to release Chip Kidd and Dave Taylor’s BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN in the Trade Paperback Format. Now, we have always preferred the hardback editions but this is very good news for people wanting the book at a slightly lower price.

Also, right now it’s available for a limited time, and at a special discounted price, if you CLICK HERE!

Over at THE SPHINX Blog they did a series of articles where they deeply examine Chip Kidd’s book, “BAT-MANGA: The Secret History of Batman in Japan“. You remember this book, it featured very detailed reprints of long lost manga comic book stories of Batman and Robin that were illustrated/written by Jiro Kuwata in the 1960′s. Great stuff!!

Well, THE SPHINX does a great job at breaking down and analogizing many of the individual panels and does so with a sort of a tongue-in-cheek snarky humor, it’s fun! Now, we’re linking to PART ONE and while there please be sure to view their left side-bar for Parts 2, 3 and 4. Hey, you’ll be both entertained and rewarded!

HEY! Also, if you would like an Autographed Copy of BATMAN BAT-MANGA signed by Chip Kidd then please CLICK HERE!

Just the other day, on April 9th, 2013, the Book Jacket Designer and Author Chip Kidd was interviewed on the WLRN – TOPICAL CURRENTS Radio Show in Miami by Literary Contributor Ariel Gonzalez. The main focus of this special podcast was the origin and creation of Chip Kidd and Dave Taylor’s Graphic Novel, BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN (DC Comics). Mr. Gonzalez had some very excellent questions and everything went really well, whew!

So, for your listening pleasure, we have posted it down below. Please keep in mind that there is a short interview with another guest before Kidd. This was Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society of the United States. We suggest listening to the entire podcast because Mr. Shapiro’s discussion is very informative. But, if you would like to skip ahead to just Chip Kidd’s interview then please go to about the 23:20 mark.

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Here’s a quick post to share some wonderful news concerning our friend Yuji and his movie, TOKYO TOY GUY. This is THE Documentary Film all about a few very serious Vintage Batman Toy Collectors from 5 major countries. He showed the film to a major audience last weekend at the 2013 MEFCC event. Those letters stand for “Middle East Film and Comic Con”. This is held every year in Dubai. For more info about that convention show, just CLICK HERE!

The good news is that the film was a major success! They even has an interview and discussion about the movie live on stage. Another cool thing is that, as an example of what Yuji was talking about, he brought the TOKYO TOY GUY Movie Poster and a copy of Chip Kidd’s book, “Batman Collected” as examples. He told the audience how this book was a major inspiration for the movie and as a side-note we should mention that Chip Kidd and his Vintage Batman Toy Collection actually appear in the movie.

OK, the film has not been released in the USA yet. Yuji said he is working on “foreign distribution”. But as soon as we have more information about that we will mention it here for sure so please stay tuned to CHIPKIDD.COM, thanks!

OK, this post is more for fun than anything but I guess it also holds some Historical value too so this could be fun. Here are some random vintage photos we have come across lately showing some Famous Authors… when they were teenagers!

The first Victim, I mean Author, is a picture of Neil Gaiman when he was very young. That’s the photo up above, but you should get that because, really, he still looks the same!

Now I bet that if I didn’t tell you who this next photo is you might have a hard time guessing, give it a try. OK, that’s long enough. This is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name, Mark Twain. He’s shown here at the tender age of 15! Yes, he does sort of look like Huckleberry Finn, ha!

Next up is a favorite of many Classic Book Readers, this is an old yearbook photo of our favorite “Catcher in The Rye” Writer, J. D. Salinger. He’s only 17 years old in this picture but, to me anyways, looks a lot older.

The next photo here is another 17 year old. Later in life in wrote such books as “The Old Man and the Sea” and “The Sun Also Rises”. Of course, we’re talking about the great American Novelist, Ernest Hemingway.

Now Last, but not least, is another photo you might have a hard time guessing who this is. But shown here, as Robin (The Boy Wonder!) is Chip Kidd himself! This extremely serious Batman Fan grew-up to write two novels, “The Cheese Monkeys” and “The Learners”. OK, he seems a lot younger here “than a Teenager”, but I just wanted to share this fun photo, ha!

Here’s some Book Retail News that is sure to please Fans of both Chip Kidd and Batman, the Caped Crusader! Over at the ultra-awesome TFAW website they are selling Chip Kidd’s “BAT-MANGA: The Secret History of Batman in Japan” as a special Autographed Signed-Edition! This book is limited to 500 copies and for a short time it’s price is marked 17% OFF! So, Please be sure to get yours today, just CLICK HERE!

We’re really proud of the fact that Chip Kidd’s Book, BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN, is still getting nice reviews! I mean, we’re totally excited, seriously! Kidd’s first Batman Graphic Novel was published by DC Comics last year and is still selling pretty well (whew!). The artwork for this book was done by the amazing Dave Taylor. So, that’s probably the main reason, ha!

But check this out. Grant Watson, an award-winning Australian playwright and science fiction critic who writes a blog called THE ANGRIEST, just finished reading this book and posted a wonderful review (Thanks Grant).

Here’s one of the things he said about Chip Kidd:

“I love that Kidd has written what is effectively a thriller about architecture: design and construction is central to the book’s narrative, and several of the key characters are architects. The book is set in an undefined past: there’s a sort of 1940s vibe about the entire book that really works. It reminded me at several points of DC’s excellent Sandman Mystery Theatre, which is no bad thing.”

He also mentions Dave Taylor (Comic Book Artist) too:

“Dave Taylor’s penciled art is outstanding. He takes the architectural theme of the book to heart, giving each panel some beautiful art deco design. Everything in the book is beautiful: the buildings, the cars, the furniture – even the people. His characters are richly drawn and expressive.”

Hey, please read the full complete Book Review, you’ll be happy you did, just CLICK HERE!