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- 'The Art of Endless Space' Coming in Summer 2026
November 23rd 2025 An exciting new listing has confirmed that Amplitude Studios and Titan Books are back in partnership for a third artbook, this time going sci-fi with a look at the 4X strategy game Endless Space . Spotted on the website of the book publisher, The Art of Endless Space is set to be released August 25th 2026 and comes as a hardcover. The cover for the book can be seen below and some of the details of the book are also available. It will have an RRP of £39.99/ $50 and while listed as having 224 pages, the description indicates it will in fact have over 250. Across its pages there will be artwork for unique factions, ships, alien planets, futuristic technology, and more, all alongside insights from the writers and artists. Amplitude Studios have a team of talented artists that have helped create a rich universe within Endless Space , making this book perfect for those that want to see the incredible concept art and illustrations that went into the game. There are two Endless Space games, but the description doesn't indicate this book is specifically for either one, so until more details are shared, it is likely players will be treated to art from both releases as even Endless Space 2 will be 9 years old when the book hits shelves. As mentioned this is not the first artbook from Titan Books for the Endless universe, as The Art of Endless Legend was published in December of 2024, 10 years after the game launched. The second book, The Art of Endless Legend 2 , is also coming April 14th 2026 following a delay earlier this month. To get a taste of what to expect from the newly revealed book, you can see a preview of the first artbook below. Endless Space is a 4X turn-based strategy game from Amplitude Studios, putting players in charge of interstellar empires in 3000 AD. It creates procedurally generated galaxy in which each faction looks to gain control through exploration, expansion, diplomacy, and warfare. The factions have their own lore and abilities, improving as you research new technologies and take advantage of the game's economic and political systems. The original Endless Space was released in the summer of 2012, and it's sequel, Endless Legend 2 , came in 2017, both are now published by Sega following the purchase of the studio. The Art of Endless Space will no doubt excite those that have been enjoying conquering galaxies, with more retail listings expected begin appearing soon. This report comes after spotting an early listing and at the time of writing this, only a Amazon UK listing could be found, but you can also find the book on the Titan Books website here . Buy Here (UK) Tags; #EndlessSpace #Endless #EndlessUniverse #TitanBooks #AmplitudeStudios #IcebergInteracgtive #Sega
- The Art of Endless Space
Book Details ISBN: 9781803369877 Publisher: Titan Books Page Count: 250+ Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 25/08/2026 (August 25th 2026) Other Editions: N/A About Teaming up with Amplitude Studio for another artbook, Titan Books is this time giving fans of Endless Space a look at the artwork that helped bring the universe to life. The popular 4X strategy game gives players the control of interstellar empires, and across more than 250 pages, The Art of Endless Space explores the art behind the characters, factions, ships, and more. Featured in the book are also insights from the developer, making this the perfect companion to the Endless Space . Categories Tags Based On: #EndlessSpace Series: #Endless #EndlessSpace Publisher: #TitanBooks Studio: #AmplitudeStudios #IcebergInteractive #Sega Platform: #PC Genre: #Strategy #SciFi #TurnBased
- 'Legend of Mana: The Art of Mana—30th Anniversary Edition' Coming in 2026
November 22nd 2025 Dark Horse Books have revealed that they have partnered with Square Enix to publish a look at the artwork behind Legend of Mana in English for the first time. This new book, Legend of Mana: The Art of Mana—30th Anniversary Edition , is set to arrive next year, following the Japanese release earlier this summer. With a publication date of July 28th 2026, this 80-page, 8.5” x 12” hardcover will showcase the art for the game's original release in 1999. Inside fans will get to look at the art and designs behind the locations, pixel characters, artifacts, bosses, and more. It will also boast new artwork created exclusive for this release by Yukata koyama, Shinichi Kamoeka, Masaki Takahashi, HACCAN, and Kanta Kamei. This makes it the perfect book for those that love the roleplaying game and want more from its world. The book has begun appearing on retailer websites and has an RRP of $29.99. If you're a stickler for numbers and dates as I can be, you may have noticed that calling it Legend of Mana: The Art of Mana--30th Anniversary Edition is a bit pre-emptive. In researching for this story, I have found that the Mana series is 34 years old, yet Legend of Mana is 26 (25 in the US having been released June 6th 2000). Some artbooks are done for anniversaries and launch up to a year either side of the celebratory date. However, most don't highlight that in the title, making them timeless. It is certainly being pedantic, but that's not the case here and the Japanese version was released in June of 2025—its 26th anniversary. I'd have thought it would be swung to mark the big 25, but this release is doing a big round up to the 30th anniversary. It of course has no bearing on the quality of the book and only nerds like me will notice this, but having seen other reporting, found it odd it hadn't at least been mentioned. Regardless of whether it's to celebrate 5 years, or 100, those that love Legend of Mana will no doubt have their eye on this release for the classic title. Legend of Mana is a high fantasy action RPG release on the original PlayStation in 1999 by Square (now Square Enix). Players are tasked with restoring the land of Fa’Diel after it was shattered into Artifacts of Mana. It's a non-linear game that allows flexibility in the quest order as you unlock new weapons, characters and regions of it world. It's real-time combat, highly-praised soundtrack, and stunning pixel art and painted backgrounds, came together to win over players when it first launched. It was rereleased with a HD update in 2021 for modern console, PC, and mobile too, allowing more players to discover the game. Future updates for Legend of Mana: The Art of Mana--30th Anniversary Edition will be shared here and you can wishlist the book below ahead of it going live for pre-orders; Buy Here Tags; #DarkHorse #SquareEnix #Mana #LegendOfMana
- Legend of Mana: The Art of Mana—30th Anniversary Edition
Book Details ISBN: 978-1506754048 Publisher: Dark Horse Page Count: 80 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: JP - 12/06/2025 (June 12th 2025) West - 28/07/2026 (July 28th 2026) Other Editions: N/A Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) TBC About A look at 1999's Legend of Mana artwork is being shared in this 80-page special, first released in Japan in 2025, then by Dark Horse in English in 2026. It explores the RPG's character pixel art, locations, artifacts, bosses, and more. Legend of Mana: The Art of Mana--30th Anniversary also features illustrations for the characters and backgrounds too, fully exploring the classic game. Categories Tags Based On: #LegendOfMana Series: #Mana Publisher: #DarkHorse Studio: #SqaureEnix Platform: #PlayStation Genre: #JRPG #RPG
- Flip Through - WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art
November 21st 2025 Another new release joins The Artbook Collector YouTube channel this week, this time celebrating 15 years of Wargaming's armoured warfare game in WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art ! Cook and Becker partnered with the game studio to look back on the last 5 years of updates and events for World of Tanks , including the recent 2.0 update, in this 256-page hardcover book. This is done through the concept art for the online game, giving readers a look at the tanks themselves, the epic battle keyframes, loading screen concepts, location art, medals, and more. All of this is alongside insights and interviews with some of the developers. As seen in the video preview, the WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art chapters are split into events and updates, including the Bootcamp and Stories, Halloween events, Steel Hunter, Return of the Waffenträger, among others. This breaks up the distinct modes and genres of World of Tanks , highlighting the broad range of options for players of the game through the talent of the artists. The book was sold exclusively through the Cook and Becker website , coming in three versions, a Standard Edition, Collector's Edition, and Deluxe Edition. Despite being released at the end of October, even the Standard Editions has sold out, highlighting its popularity. The publisher has since informed me that they are looking at the potential of a second print run though, so keep an eye out if interested in case that does happen. A full review with deeper thoughts on the content, book build quality, pricing and more can be found here if you would like to know more, I was very impressed with the book - Book Review . World of Tanks was first launched in 2010 by Wargaming and has remained a popular game and has been released on multiple platforms, including PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and mobile. It features hundreds of vehicles that existed in throughout history, from those used in battles, to some only found in blueprints. The game boasts multiple games modes, giving players the choice of large team battles, a battle royale mode, and more. The game shows no signs of slowing down, so perhaps there will be another artbook to celebrate its 20th anniversary too! If you enjoyed the preview, you can keep an eye on the book's stock, as well as other books and art prints from Cook and Becker here; Buy Here Tags; #CookAndBecker #Wargaming #WorldOfTanks
- WORLD OF TANKS: Journey Through Art
Book Details ISBN: TBC Publisher: Cook & Becker Page Count: TBC Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 31/10/2025 (October 31st 2025) Other Editions: Deluxe Edition, Collector's Edition About WORLD OF TANKS: Journey Through Art takes fans through the games history, with a look at the art for the moments, maps and, of course, the tanks of the game. The book is being published by Cook & Becker in partnership with World of Tanks developer, Wargaming. With art and developer insights, this book celebrates 15 years of the multiplayer tank strategy game, perfect for fans new and old. The book also has a Collector's Edition with maps and blueprints, a commemorative coin and trading cards. The Deluxe Edition features all of these extras but comes with a military-grade compass and is signed by Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi, all in a 15th Anniversary box. Previews Book Review - WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art Categories Tags Based On: #WorldOfTanks Series: #WorldOfTanks Publisher: #CookAndBecker Studio: #Wargaming Platform: #PC #PlayStation #Xbox #PS5 #XboxOne #Xbox360 #Mobile #Nintendo #Switch Genre: #Multiplayer #Strategy
- Outer Wilds: Design Works
Book Details ISBN: N/A Publisher: Lost in Cult Page Count: 250 Format: Paperback Publication Date: Q2-Q3 2025 Other Editions: Outer Wilds: Design Works DELUXE Buy Here About Lost in Cult present another book in the Design Works series, this time for Outer Wilds. There is also a Deluxe version of the book that includes the following; Softcover book with hard shell slipcase Paper-wrapped clamshell box Campaign Limited Edition 3D DIY papercraft spaceship model Set of six national park-style A4 posters Ten embossed Projection Stones, which unlock a secret within the book Solar system map (A3 height) Postcard set Sticker sheet and bookmark The official description is as follows; " Return to the captivating, time-looping solar system of Mobius Digital’s multi-award-winning sci-fi adventure in OUTER WILDS: DESIGN WORKS . Featuring exclusive interviews with the game’s creators and community, never-before-seen art and much more besides, this is the ultimate celebration of one of the most influential video games of the last decade. " Preview Book Review - Outer Wilds Design Works Categories Tags Based On: #OuterWilds Series: #OuterWilds Publisher: #LostInCult Studio: #MobiusDigital #AnnapurnaInteractive Platform: #PC #PS4 #XboxOne #PlayStation #Xbox #Switch #Nintendo Genre: #Puzzle #SciFi #Adventure
- Book Review - Outer Wilds: Design Works
November 21st 2025 Very few games pull you into their world like a black hole in the same way that Outer Wilds from Mobius Digital Games does. It combines exploration, space travel, quantum mechanics, a solar system with unique planets, time loops, a mystery to solve, aliens, and oh yeah… an exploding sun. There is a big story to tell behind the creation of the game and fortunately Lost in Cult stepped in to make it a reality. Now here as part of their ongoing series of gaming deep dives, Outer Wilds: Design Works has made its way into the hands of fans to share the secrets and artwork behind its development. A copy has landed in the collection here, so find out if this deserves its place in your shuttle, or should be left back at the campsite! Build Quality This is my second book in the series (following Sable: Design Works) and the second that is a paperback. I’m very vocal about how I dislike paperbacks for books like this, as historically they don’t open fully with more than 150 pages and often fall apart. However, I’m very happy to say that Lost in Cult have done it again and impressed me with this release. Rather than simply gluing the page signatures to the spine as seen elsewhere, the page block is attached to the cover by endpapers, just as you would see in a hardcover. This means that the pages open well, it’s not rigid, and I don’t fear the cover popping off at any given moment. A huge win for the book and an example of what should be the standard for paperbacks. It comes with 252 pages and is 21cm x 28cm, making it a good-sized book and perfect for displaying the contents inside. It also includes a silver dustjacket (seen above), that has a some of the locations on it and the game title on the back, as well as a circular cutout revealing the black cover underneath. It’s simple, yet effective, and stands out on a shelf. Overall, a fantastic job from the team. Content The Design Works series are not simply artbooks, they are deep dives into the development of the games they are based on, along with design documents, early builds, art, and more. In the case of Outer Wilds: Design Works, a lot of early art is featured, which is what interested me personally as a fan of concepts and designs. This makes it an appealing to both those that like ‘Art of’ books, but also want to get lost in the text, discovering the stories behind Outer Wild’ s creation. To speak on that text, it’s fantastic. Author Chris Schilling had done such a great job not only sharing the details of Mobius Digital’s hard work on the game, but coming across like a true fan to make it an engaging read. Outer Wilds is a special game and those that saw it through to the end (which should be anyone that reads this spoiler heavy book) don’t just like they game, they love it, and each will feel that love when reading through the pages. Chapters in the book cover earliest beginnings of the game as an idea, to working on the DLC, Echoes of the Eye . Each chapter highlights different aspects of the game, including the creation of Timber Hearth, the planet you wake up on, the soundtrack, the writing of the text left behind by the Nomai, quantum mechanics, and of course, the ending. A lot is covered and it feels like discovering the unique solar system all over again. Interviews are included heavily too, with stories and fascinating insights shared by Creative Director Alex Beachum, narrative designer Kelsey Beachum, Creative Lead Loan Verneau, composer Andrew Prahlow, and more. These are also fun to read and read like a conversation rather than a straight Q&A, giving it a less serious tone despite the tough task they had, much like the game itself and the situation the player finds themselves in. Fellow fans will get a lot out of this as I did, I liked learning about the origins of the texts you find, their challenges with computing restrictions, the ups and downs of building a solar system, the text adventure prototype, as well as so many other things. It’s nice to know they planned the anglerfish early on to freak me and many others out, those evil things were horrifying when I first encountered them! Before I waffle on about the text to much and turn this review into a book itself, it’s worth highlighting that reading this through to the final chapters brought back the feelings you experience when you had the Warp Core in hand and were finishing the game. Players know that very few games can invoke that kind of emotion, so for this book to bring me back to that through interviews and its writing is hugely impressive. Chris Schilling speaks in the epilogue about the daunting task of writing this book, not knowing that not only did he nail it, but a reviewer with little writing experience would be inspired to improve his own work too. The artwork and 3D models are a joy to take in and showcase a wide selection of elements from the base game and the DLC. Early suit designs, environment art, ship sketches, icon and text graphics, plant concepts, and much more are featured and displayed with a high print quality. There is a lot here to pore over, each piece carrying the same charming appeal seen in the final result, even at various stages of production. These mixed in with the screenshots and graphic design aids the text in bringing your mind back into game world, like entering another loop without the risk of an explosion. Highlights for me include the concept art for the suits and shuttle, the two most valuable tools the ‘Hatchling’ needs to complete their adventure. I’m a sucker for early designs, and there are some great pages here for those. I’m also very fond of the pieces for various locations too, especially the early chapter with a look at the art for Timber Hearth, as well as a striking piece for Brittle Hollow also standing out. Those after art for the game won’t be disappointed with Outer Wilds: Design Works. From a content perspective then, if you hadn’t guessed already, I’m very happy with this book. There’s more to point out too, such as the inserts about player community members, but before this part of the review extends beyond 22 minutes, I’ll say that fans will enjoy this a lot. Credits No credits are featured in the book for the artwork unfortunately, the only downside for me personally. Not every book includes them as collectors will know, but I always like to see them myself. It doesn’t affect the quality of the book itself, but it’s always nice to have a list if they’re not on the page. Use of Space Outer Wilds: Design Works is excellent in this regard, balancing the spreads with clean and easily readable page design. You can see in the previews that the art gets space to breathe and that the backgrounds are kept clear to have the text and art speak for itself, which I often prefer. There are pulled quotes highlighted in large font that I like, and the swirling text for each chapter heading is effective too. A great job from the team at Lost in Cult for the book. Value The book is sold on the publisher’s website and retails at £49.99, around $65 in the US, which for the quality of the book from a smaller publisher feels about right. Typically, it’s conventional ‘Art of’ books that join the collection here, and although this isn’t the same type of book, it now shares a similar RRP as releases from bigger publishers at the higher end. I cannot speak to the delivery charges outside of the UK though, so bear this in mind if you are shipping it elsewhere. For the quality and care put into the book, I think this is a solid price point. Verdict Outer Wilds: Design Works is an excellent deep dive into one of the most unique titles in gaming. It’s brilliantly written, filled with interesting stories and details, and delivers a wealth of artwork that any fan will appreciate. This superb look at Outer Wilds is like discovering another planet filled with new secrets to get lost in, leaving you wanting to wake up at the campfire to start a new loop when you finish the last page. You may not be able start the game for the first time again, but you can put on the game’s unforgettable soundtrack and discover this book for the first time, which I can happily recommend doing. If you would like to add this book to your own collection, you can order the book below and discover more from Lost in Cult, including many more Design Works books, here . Buy Here Tags; #LostInCult #DesignWorld #MobiusDigital #OuterWilds
- The Art of Star Trek & Defiant
Book Details ISBN: 979-8887243658 Publisher: IDW Publishing Page Count: 200 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 16/06/2026 (June 16th 2026) Other Editions: N/A About IDW Publishing is giving readers of the comic series' Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant a look at the artwork behind them in this exciting artbook. With a look at the covers, character and alien concepts, interiors, ship designs, and more, the 200-page hardcover delivers a look at work that goes into creating a 65 issue long story. As well as a look at the art, The Art of Star Trek & Defiant also features interviews with some of the artists themselves, giving insights into their process. Over 65 artists worked on the comics and are given the showcase they deserve, including Ramon Rosanas, Francesco Francavilla, Declan Shalvey, Rachael Stott, Malachi Ward, JK Woodward, Liana Kangas, Ángel Unzueta, and many more. Categories Tags Based On: #StarTrekDefiant Series: #StarTrek Publisher: #IDWPublushing Studios: #IDWPublushing Platform: #Comics Genre: #Action #SciFi
- Book Review - WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art
November 18th 2025 After launching its first beta 15 years ago, World of Tanks from developer Wargaming has continued to grow with an increasing arsenal of tanks, epic battles, new game modes, and unique events. No game as successful as this can be made without talented artists and their work is never done. WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art from publisher Cook and Becker is a celebration of their art, showcasing it in a new book that looks back at the fun mix of new content from the last handful of years. The book finished production in late October and copies have begun arriving for those that placed an order. A Collector’s Edition and Deluxe Edition with added extras were also available, though have quickly sold out. The Standard Edition has also recently run out of stock, however, there is a potential for another print run, so keep an eye out on the Cook and Becker website for that. One of these copies has now arrived here though, so I can give you my thoughts on this new volume of tank-filled artwork. Build Quality WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art is larger than I was expecting, coming in at 30.7cm x 25.5cm and thick too, with 256 high quality pages. It comes as a hardcover book that feels well-made and has a simple yet effect cover seen above. I also like the binding because it has a good amount of flexibility that allows the pages to open up easily and lay flat. I’m impressed overall with the physical quality of this book from the publisher. Content This book takes a look at the recent years of World of Tanks , from the introduction of the battle royale mode in 2019, to the 2.0 update and its Tier XI tanks and v.4 Garage. This makes the it a continuation of the last artbook from Cook and Becker, The Book of World of Tanks, that covers the previous 10 years. A lot has been added to the game since 2019 and that is reflected in the variety of artwork and designs found here, giving new fans and old a lot to dive into. I enjoyed the art selection a lot, because while I’m sure it would be easy for them to include pages of single pieces for the tanks themselves, the large amount of concepts for battles and environments gives it a nice variety of content. The talent of the team gets to shine with dynamic scenes of warfare and moments that highlight that concept art is often more than just a look at a design, but also captures the feel for the atmosphere and action too. As well as this you get a fantastic selection of concept art for tank stages, loading screens and how they differ for the difficulties, screenshots, icons, character art, and more. All of this together makes it intriguing showcase, even highlighting different themes such as realistic environments, sci-fi horror, and pop-culture designs from their collaborations for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Terminator, and Warhammer 40K. I always like a book that gives me a look at all the different aspects of a release, so I’m very happy with what they show here. The chapters are split into modes and events, including Bootcamp and Stories, Halloween events, Steel Hunter, Return of the Waffenträger, Collaborations, Battle Pass XII, and the 2.0 update. It’s a great way to highlight what they added and get into the details and art for each one too. Through the text you are given details on the work of the developers, in-game mission details, how tanks were created for events, design choices, and more. Reading about things like the role of the historians at Wargaming and the team being in the game, along with quotes from members of the team, is engaging throughout and well written. A highlight for me was the Halloween chapter, as it gives a lot of art and insights into the Mirium Sequence, the multi-year horror sci-fi event that comes with tank ‘body horror’ concepts. From MIRNY-13 to Babylon Project, the team got to flex their creative muscles with unique tank and location designs that creates a fun section of the book. The new creations and reinvention of existing tanks, alongside concepts of battles and scenes that capture the horror theme, makes this a standout chapter for me personally. There are many great sections across the book I could continue to write about, like the stunning environment art of Scandinavian locations and the look at loading screen variants, because there is a lot to enjoy. Overall, despite only covering a handful of years, there is a lot to pore over here and I like what Wargaming and Cook and Becker decided to feature. Credits Sadly, there are no artist credits in the book, so while there are quotes featured from members of the art team, there’s no way to know who did what. It’s a shame as it’s always good to know who is responsible for what you are seeing. Use of Space The design team did a brilliant job in WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art, the pages are full and the layouts display the art and text clearly. The backgrounds include different colours and simple designs as seen in the previews, avoiding being dull, but without being distracting. Page layouts change throughout too, mixing up image sizes to best display them for the reader and giving the art a strong showcase. Value As mentioned at the start of this review, the book is currently sold out, but as there is a possibility of a second print run, I’ll give my thoughts on the pricing here. I paid £43.49 (around $55) for the book itself which is a fairly standard price the book and so no complaints there. Shipping was £11.94 to the UK and given how expensive it has recently been for imports, this is a very reasonable price. At just over £55 for an imported book at this quality, I’m very happy with what I paid. For those in other countries this could of course be different. I have been stung hard in the past by imports and sometimes have to pass on buying a book, but Cook and Becker have done a great job with pricing here. Verdict WORLD OF TANKS. Journey Through Art is a superb showcase of artwork to celebrate 15 years of the online game, one that players will no doubt appreciate. The chapters that were included make for a fun mix of genres and artwork alongside the interesting insights, all presented in a well-made book. Whether you’ve been rolling onto the battlefield since the very beginning, or new to tank warfare, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. To keep an eye on the stock for this book, but also to find the previous release The Book of World of Tanks, as well more from Cook and Becker, visit their website here; Buy Here Tags; #WorldOfTanks #CookAndBecker #Wargaming
- The Art and Making of Daggerheart
Book Details ISBN: 979-8337400853 Publisher: Titan Books Page Count: 256 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 04/03/2027 (March 4th 2027) Other Editions: N/A About The Art and Making of Daggerheart is a dive into the creation and concept art behind the tabletop role-playing game from Critical Role's company Darrington Press. Through hundreds of pieces of concept art and insights from developer interviews, fans of the game will get a peak behind the curtain at how it was created. Author Carlos Cisco takes readers through the process of making the hit TTRPG, from inception to creation, while displaying character art, world concepts, and more from the artists behind its visuals. This 256-page hardcover is perfect for those wanting more from the world of Daggerheart and its incredible artwork. Categories Tags Based On: #Daggerheart Series: #Daggerheart Publisher: #TitanBooks Studio: #CriticalRole #DarringtonPress Platform: #TTRPG Genre: #Fantasy
- Flip Through - The Art of Zootopia 2
November 14th 2025 The preview on The Artbook Collector YouTube channel this week is a look at the return of the city of Zootopia, Rudy, and Nick in The Art of Zootopia 2 ! Disney and Chronicle Books return with a look at the art behind another movie from Disney Animated Studios, adding to their ever-growing catalogue when this book releases November 18th. The 172-page hardcover features a collection of character designs, location art, keyframes, storyboards, and more! All of this is alongside descriptions and insights from the teams behind the movie, including Director Byron Howard, Art Director Meg Park, and Editor Jeremy Milton. It goes without saying that the book contains spoilers for the movie, not just because of this early look, but because the releases from Chronicle Books for Disney Animated Studios and Pixar come out before the movies hit the big screen. This is great as it means you can jump right in after the credits have rolled, but does mean that looking too soon can give away plot points. You can read my spoiler-free review of the book too, which highlights that I think that this is another great release from the publisher with a nice mix of content and art styles. Check it out here for deeper thoughts and details - Book Review . Zootopia 2 is set for release on November 26th and sees the return of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they jump into an undercover mission to find a new visitor to the city, a mysterious snake. Together they visit new corners of Zootopia, uncovering conspiracies as it becomes clear things aren't quite what they expected. It follows the first Zootopia movie from 2016, a gigantic hit at the time, making this a highly anticipated sequel and no doubt making this a popular book too. If you enjoyed the preview and would like to add The Art of Zootopia 2 to your own collection, you can order the book here; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #ChronicleBooks #Disney #DisneyAnimatedStudios #Zootopia
- The Art of Zootopia 2
Book Details ISBN: 978-1797233628 Publisher: Chronicle Books Page Count: 178 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 18/11/2025 (October 18th 2025) Other Editions: N/A About Zootopia returns and brings with it another artbook in the ongoing Disney 'Art of' series. The Art of Zootopia 2 features a look at the art for the characters, storyboards, settings and more for the animation. The team behind the movie also lend their insights throughout, perfect for fans wanting to learn more about the movie while enjoying the art that helped make it happen. Preview Book Review - The Art of Zootopia 2 Categories Tags Based On: #Zootopia2 Series: #Zootopia Publisher: #ChronicleBooks Studio: #Disney #WaltDisneyAnimationStudios Platform: #Movies #DisneyPlus Genre: #Comedy #Family
- Creating Worlds Interview: Dylan Cole on His Career, Avatar, and His New Book
November 14th 2025 Whether it's a city of the future, or an alien planet, the incredible visuals behind the worlds in movies are built with the help of talented artists and their work. Behind some of cinema's biggest releases is industry veteran Dylan Cole, now the Production Designer on James Cameron's Avatar movies for Pandora. The next movie in the series, Avatar: Fire and Ash , is coming on December 19th, but not before he releases a look back at some of his earlier art in his upcoming artbook, Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole ! The book is being published by Insight Editions (Titan Books in the UK) on November 18th and will showcase a collection of some of his best work, including never-before-seen pieces too. Ahead of its release, I had the privilege of speaking to Dylan himself about Creating Worlds, as well as his career, art, and his favourite books as a fellow collector. Enjoy my interview below, as well as preview pages from the new book. Thanks for speaking with me about your new book, Creating Worlds! How are you feeling about it ahead of its release and how did it come about? Cole: My pleasure! I am very excited to share it with the world; there is almost 20 years of work in it! I had been wanting to do an art book for quite a while, but gathering all the rights was a major roadblock since we don't own the work we do for films. After Disney bought 20th Century Fox, I realized a big chunk of my professional work was under one roof, so I thought it would be cool if I could have an official Disney book of my work. I casually asked our EVP of Franchise Development at Lightstorm, Josh Izzo, about that possibility and who to talk to, and within a week I was pitching Disney and a week after that, I had a deal and a publisher. It was crazy, from casual question to a book deal within a couple weeks. I am honored because Disney doesn’t do many books with contemporary artists, they focus on artists from the past, so it was a major vote of confidence to have them agree to do this. You have had great success working in the industry and have contributed to huge movies, including Avatar and Alita: Battle Angel . What were some of the personal milestone moments of your early career, big or small, in the build up to getting to where you are now? Cole: Starting with an internship at Industrial Light and Magic was huge while I was still at UCLA. I interned in the matte painting department in 2000. I had barely even touched a computer for art and got in based on my traditional painting, which was great. I didn’t learn a lot of techniques when I was up there, it was more just being exposed to it all. I got to see matte paintings by the best in the world and after that summer, I basically locked myself in my room and practiced until my work looked better. Getting to work on Lord of the Rings was the big one. Fellowship of the Ring came out when I was in college, and I fell in love with it immediately and dreamt of working on it. I busted my butt on my first few jobs and got the gig for Return of the King at 23 years old. It was a pinch me moment for sure. I distinctly remember jumping up and down in the Rhythm and Hues parking lot on a misty evening in December of 2002 getting the news! Fans of movies can pore over endless illustrations and concept art pieces online and in books, with more access to the work of artists than ever before. Is there a part of your job that you think isn’t highlighted though? Something most fans won’t realise or be aware of? Cole: The art gets all the attention online, and especially the big pretty keyframe stuff, but as a production designer, the concept art is just the beginning of the process. There are sets to design in full to cover all angles, storytelling considerations, endless details to consider, construction methods, finishes, set decoration, greens, lighting, etc. Your art and the world building you accomplish within a single image is always incredible. Creating images in any discipline is something that takes a lot of time and practice to improve. Aside from this, what else do you feel has helped improve your art most? Improved technology, working with others or something else? Cole: Thank you! I try and think through the image and imply story wherever I can. That is what will make an image compelling. I had the benefit of learning a lot from Robert Stromberg. He is an absolute master at beautiful composition and storytelling. I am also super fortunate to have had Robert write the afterword to Creating Worlds. Working with others is always huge. I am constantly learning from all the great artists I am fortunate enough to work with. I also have the fire to try to make every new image I do better than the last. I certainly haven’t succeeded, but it helps me continue to improve. I also look at a lot of things besides concept art. Other concept art is probably the last thing I look at, a lot of it can be quite derivative these days. I am always referring to nature and great traditional painters of the past and present. I have been in love with the Hudson River School of artists like Bierstadt and Church. I wear that influence on my sleeve in a lot of my work. Avatar: Fire and Ash is undoubtedly going to be one of the biggest releases this year. As a production designer on the movie, I wanted to ask about the concept art that has been publicly released, which includes your own. It’s unusual for a movie to be promoted with artwork like this, so it’s clear that the work you and fellow artists do is held in high regard. What do you think of this approach for marketing and promotion? Cole: I think it is incredibly gratifying and speaks to how Jim and Lightstorm value our art and designs. I also think a piece of concept art can often evoke more of a feeling of the world that a movie still can. The movie still shows a very specific moment, often in the middle of a moving shot, where in contrast the art can be broader and encapsulate the whole shot or scene, perfectly in focus, leading eye around the image. It’s kind of like how good poster art can encapsulate a film. Concept art can do that for a set or scene. From getting a job and starting to work on ideas, to getting a design approved and seeing it on the big screen, what is the biggest pay off for you personally when working on a movie? Cole: I enjoy all the stages. I enjoy the sense of discovery- finding a design direction with the team that I am excited about, thinking it solves the problems and hoping the director agrees. I also love the part where the set is working- when it is being shot on or captured on. You have done your job and movie making is happening. I like seeing a director like Jim elevate and use my sets in ways that I wouldn’t expect. And conversely, I like when he finds the angles that were my favorites and shoots them the way I was hoping. It is all a big ride and surprise. Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole will be a showcase of your work across multiple movies and includes your insights too. What were your goals for the book and did they change as you worked on it? Cole: My goals were first and foremost to show a lot of my art as big and cleanly as possible, preserving my intended aspect ratios and show the art in an uncluttered way. I wanted this to be an art book, not an “art of” book. I think of ‘art of” books as more cluttered with lots of small images, trying to cram as much as possible onto a page. In my book, I have a lot of double page spreads and most pages have just single images on a page so they can breathe and be appreciated. Those goals stayed the same throughout and I am happy with the final product. What was the experience of going through your past work and writing about it for the book like? Cole: It was definitely a trip down memory lane. It was particularly fun to get a bunch of my childhood artwork from my mom and to go digging through my garage for my younger stuff. As for older professional work, it was shocking to see how much I have grown and improved as an artist and I talk about that a bit in the text. It took a lot of restraint not to go back and touch up or rework old pieces. There were several times in my career where I feel my worked jumped in quality. The first was on Alice in Wonderland , the second was on Maleficent . Writing about it was a challenge because there was just too much to talk about. First and foremost, it is an art book and not an autobiography so that was a helpful thing to remember. I also wrote the book in first person in my voice and I wanted it to sound like me. I enjoyed being able to share little insights and stories about particular pieces. I also had the surprising experience of finding paintings I had completely forgotten I had done! Most were forgotten for a reason, but there were a couple pleasant surprises that I was proud to show. The book will feature your art for movies from Disney and 20 th Century Studios, so I’m curious as to what it’s like working with them from a curation perspective. What was involved in choosing what to include and how much input did they have? Cole: Overall, it was pretty smooth, there were a few things from earlier films I wasn’t able to show and a few things with likeness rights, but that is usual. As for which specific images, I got to show whatever I wanted. I was working with Insight Editions, who published it, and then Disney would just approve it mainly from a legal standpoint, not a creative one. I was extremely hands on with the layout and selection of images. I am incredibly fortunate and grateful because I was able to show work that hasn’t been released before. Fans have a lot to look forward to in Creating Worlds, including a foreword from James Cameron himself! Are there any pieces of art or features in particular you are excited for people to see? Cole: I am excited to show a lot of art that hasn’t been released, in particular for scenes that were cut from Avatar: The Way of Water . I am also really excited about the Imagineering chapter which includes a lot of recent work for the Disney California Adventure expansion. I am mainly just excited to show the variety. I like the contrast of the sleek futurism of Tron: Legacy to the organic wonder of Avatar , to the layered textures of Alita: Battle Angel . People will also get a glimpse into my process as I break down a few paintings and discuss the steps in my workflow. The artbook market has been strong for many years now and there doesn’t seem to be any indication that will change in the short term. Big studios and publishers frequently reveal books and others, including artists themselves, are finding success on crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter. As someone that has had art featured in multiple publications and a new one of your own coming, what do you think the future is for artbooks? Cole: I think all of those avenues are viable and important. Each has their own ups and downs. I think the important thing is to get the art out there and in people’s hands. I am a GIANT collector of art books, and I am just thrilled to be part of the game. I hope the younger generations continue to enjoy art books and not just rely on social media on their phones for looking at art. The experience of flipping through a book of large, beautiful images is incomparable. The detail, slower pace, and tactile reality of a book is incredibly important. I’m the nerd that will giddily sit by myself late on a Saturday night with a glass of wine and a big art book on the coffee table and just slowly flip through and enjoy. Of course, I have to ask about your own collection! What kind of artbooks do you buy and what are some of your personal favourites? Cole: Wow, yeah… I have a pretty big collection to say the least! I have been buying them for the last 30 years. They range all over from film art books to fine art books, to making of books, modern and classic illustrators, game art books, landscapes, instructional… you name it! As for favorites, that is tough!!! The Invisible Art by Craig Barron and Mark Cotta Vaz about the history of matte painting is a personal favorite. The Art of Star Wars books for the original trilogy were massively formative for me and paved the way for what I wanted to do in my career. John Berkey and John Harris are heroes of mine and I frequently return to their books. I also love traditional painting and drawing and my friend, Jeremy Mann, has some of the best books you’ve ever seen. I have also recently really enjoyed the Gallery Editions (each publisher has a different name) of comic art where the original art is printed at one to one scale. The ones for Batman: Year one and The Killing Joke were recent purchases I have loved. To end the interview, let people know what you have going on right now and where they can find and support you! Cole: It is a very busy and exciting time with the release of the Creating Worlds followed closely by the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash . I am busy working with imagineering on Avatar attractions and gearing up for Avatar 4 and 5. You can find me at- @dylancoleart on Instagram and X www.dylancolestudio.com A huge thank you to Dylan Cole for taking the time to do this interview! Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole is coming out November 18th from Insight Editions and November 30th in the UK from Titan Books. The previews above are just a small taste of what to expect in the 296-page book and be sure to visit Dylan Cole's website to discover more of his art. If interested, you can order the book for your own collection here; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #Disney #InsightEditions #TitanBooks #DylanCole #Avatar
- Book Review - The Art of Zootopia 2
November 13th 2025 Zootopia heads back to the big screen this year, inviting fans of the first animated movie to visit the animal filled city for another adventure. The partnership between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde isn’t the only one that is returning either, as Disney and Chronicle Books are again showcasing the art behind the movie in The Art of Zootopia 2 ! The book has a November 18th release date and has now joined the collection, so check out my thoughts below on the latest addition to the large catalogue of Disney Animation artbooks. I’ve kept the review and previews spoiler free too. Build Quality Chronicle Books has long been the artbook publisher for Disney Animated Studios, as well as the Pixar, with this release proving again as to why this is. It’s another well-made book, coming in at just under 29cm x 24cm, matching the others in the series and this time has 172 pages. It has a hardcover with a dustjacket and good quality gloss paper, all held together by reliable binding. If you own previous releases from Chronicle Books you know what to expect here and that’s always a positive thing. The only downside for me personally is that there is no art under the dustjacket, just a debossed logo. Content The Art of Zootopia 2 showcases a lot of art for the movie that covers keyframes, character designs, costume design, in-movie posters, locations, storyboards, and more. Disney Animation Studios artbooks have always done a great job at highlighting all types of art that helps create their movies and that doesn’t change here. I’m a big fan of not just the range of what is shown, but the variety of art styles too. The brilliance of the artists is on full display, whether it be with digital 2D art or 3D models, detailed colour concepts or loose earlier art, it all succeeds in bringing life and character to the animals and world of the movie. The teams have always done a wonderful job and this book highlights again how pivotal they are to the films. Art fans, artists, animators, and more, will find a lot to enjoy here. Some of the characters get a nice selection of art too and it’s always impressive to see how many takes on one animal can be wildly different in personality just from each design. In other instances, they explore using different animals for the same character, a nice look behind the scenes at what didn’t make the cut. Environment art is fantastic too, with some concepts of entire areas with the bright colours that animated movies are great for. In other areas they showcase the front of building or an isometric view of room interiors that gives a sense of the space for the location. Key frames are used throughout and really capture moments of action or emotion, masterfully executed pieces that people will no doubt enjoy looking back at after seeing the film. Storyboards too are found on multiple pages and are a great look at how scenes are mapped out. The only negative for myself personally is that I would have loved to see more of the earliest line sketches, as they are always fun insights into the character development and what they have included is fantastic to see. Artists can capture so much movement and personality in so few lines that I’m always wanting to see more. But that is also just a personal preference of mine for animated movie artbooks. The text throughout is done through interviews with people behind Zootopia 2 , adding snippets of character backgrounds, notes on the visual designs, the work of various teams, production design insights, and more. A lot of people were interviewed from different departments, including Director Byron Howard, Head of Animation Kira Lehtomaki, Production Designer Cory Lotis, Art Director Meg Park, Artist Ami Thompson, and Editor Jeremy Milton. There isn’t a huge amount to read, but the variety of voices gives the book a good range of insights. Credits Short and sweet as always for a Chronicle Books release, as the artists are credited on every page so you know who did which piece you’re seeing. It’s the best way to do it and I’m always happy to see it done this way. The artists are also listed in the front of the book too as a bonus. Use of Space The positives keep coming as the pages are full and the layouts make the most of the space as well. The backgrounds have simple designs that utilise animal patterns that I think works well to make pages more interesting without being distracting. The use of bordered and loose art is a nice mix that prevents a boring a sterile look too. There is a little image loss in the centre fold in places, but not enough to take away from the art. It’s a great job all round from the design team at Chronicle Books. Value The book has an RRP of $45/ £35 which is lower than many artbooks on the market, though the series is on the smaller side too. The pricing has always been very fair for the Disney series of books and you won’t feel let down by what you get for your money. As always, I compare prices on Amazon to stay consistent and a handful of days before its release, you can order a copy with 7% off in the US, and a huge 25% off in the UK. Both of these are very good price points and again highlights that they will fluctuate too. Even without a discount though, this a well-priced book. Verdict The Art of Zootopia 2 is a superb showcase of the talent that helped create the movie, showcasing a variety of artwork and styles in a thoughtfully designed book. If you enjoy Zootopia , you’ll like what you get here too, as it offers a fun look at the designs behind the studios’ animal-filled world. It’s also easy to recommend to fans of animation in general, as well as artists wanting some charming animal references on their shelf. With all this at a good price point, Chronicle Books proves again why they are one of the best out there for animated artbooks. If you enjoyed the review and previews and would like to order the book yourself, you can do so here; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #Zootopia2 #Disney #DisneyAnimationStudios #ChronicleBooks
- Lost in Cult Reveals a Deep Dive into Insanity with 'Amnesia: Design Works'
November 11th 2025 Refusing to slow down, Lost in Cult continue their commitment to both physical media and their ongoing Design Works series with a new entry coming in 2026 for the award-winning horror series, Amnesia . Amnesia: Design Works sees the UK publisher partner with developer Frictional Games, highlighting the creation and art behind the insanity and scares of the original indie hit and its sequels. Pre-orders for the 200+ page hardcover book were made available at the same time the book was announced on social media today and its expected to ship in Q3-Q4 of 2026. You can reserve a copy on their website . Authored by Toussaint Egan, players will get an inside look at the development of the series' four releases – Amnesia: The Dark Descent , Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs , Amnesia: Rebirth , and Amnesia: The Bunker . This makes it the perfect addition to the shelf of those that have felt their palms sweat while attempting to make it to the end of each game and came out of the other side as fans. It also includes interviews with the team at Frictional Games, including studio co-founder Thomas Grip, Fredrik Olsson, Dan Pinchbeck, Jessica Curry, and more. Of course, a Design Works entry isn't complete without imagery included too, with this release coming with concept art behind the creepy creatures that have you running to the nearest safe spot. Expect a look at the enemies, environments, assets, and more that helped to create the Amnesia games. Lost in Cult remain consistent in their approach to their Design Works series, as again a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition are available to pre-order. The Deluxe Edition of Amnesia: Design Works can only be ordered until 9th of January though, so be sure to grab this before then if you want exclusive goodies. This Deluxe Edition will include the 200+ page hardcover, as well as the following as extras; Black foiled slipcase Raw greyboard-style presentation box Art postcards x4 Sketch postcards x4 Replica notes x6 Embossed bookmarks x4 Embroidered patch Folded print The Amnesia games are first-person survival horrors developed by Frictional Games, with only the second being made by The Chinese Room. The series choose to feature intense scares and puzzles over combat, beginning with the very first title, Amnesia: The Dark Descent in 2010. This first entry saw the protagonist Daniel explore Castle Brennenburg, while avoiding the creepy enemies that risk turning him insane. Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs then came in 2013, Amnesia: Rebirth launched in 2020, and the most recent entry, Amnesia: The Bunker , arrived in 2023. The games are known for their intense gameplay and atmosphere, making them favourites of many in the genre. A trailer for Amnesia: Design Works can be seen below that was posted on YouTube. If you have been visiting the site, then you'll be aware that the announcements of Design Works books keep coming, with two revealed last month as well. The most recent reveal was for Tunic: Design Works and it's an example of Lost in Cult's commitment to highlighting the smaller titles in video games, as well as different genres. The publisher is also releasing more vinyl soundtracks and publishing video games physically too, so be sure to visit their other products if you're a collector. More in the Design Works series to check out; Cocoon: Design Works Alan Wake: Design Works Animal Well: Design Works VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works Ultros: Design Works Outer Wilds: Design Works Mouthwashing: Design Works Mundaun: Design Works Future updates for Amnesia: Design Works will be reported as they happen and head to their website to order a copy here . Tags; #Amnesia #LostInCult #DesignWorks #FrictionalGames
- Amnesia: Design Works
Book Details ISBN: TBC Publisher: Lost in Cult Page Count: 200+ Format: Hardcover Publication Date: Q3-Q4 2026 Other Editions: Deluxe Edition About Amnesia: Design Works from Lost in Cult takes readers behind the scenes of the Amnesia series from Frictional Games, giving them a peak at the development of the horror releases. The 200-page hardcover explores the dark and frightening games, starting with Amnesia: The Dark Descent , followed then by the sequels Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs , Amnesia: Rebirth , and Amnesia: The Bunker . Interviews with the developers provide the insights and stories that helped create an award winning decent into madness, alongside concept art for the designs too. Frictional Games co-founder Thomas Grip, Fredrik Olsson, Dan Pinchbeck, Jessica Curry, Rasmus Gunnarsson, Mikko Tarmia, and more were interviewed for the book, making it a must-have for fans. A limited Deluxe Edition comes with a presentation box, a slipcase, a print, art postcards, bookmarks, a patch, and replica notes. Preview Categories Tags Based On: #Amnesia Series: #DesignWorks #Amnesia Publisher: #LostInCult Studio: #FrictionalGames #TheChineseRoom Platform: #PlayStation #PC #PS5 #Nintendo #Switch #Xbox #XboxSeriesS #XboxSeriesX #PS4 #XboxOne Genre: #Horror #Survival
- The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie
Book Details ISBN: 978-1789099904 Publisher: Titan Books Page Count: 160 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 11/11/2025 (November 11th 2025) Other Editions: N/A About In 2025 Macon Blair brought back the 1984 cult classic movie, The Toxic Avenger. It's just as wild as the original and stars Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia Davis, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon. The film follows a janitor that is changed into a grotesque mutant and is filled with over-the-top gore, humour and action. The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie gives fans a look behind the curtain of the film, featuring concept and production art, as well as interviews with the cast and crew. Complete with a glow-in-the-dark neon cover, this book dives into the madcap mayhem of Tromaville like never before. Preview Book Review - The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie Categories Tags Based On: #TheToxicAvenger Series: #TheToxicAvenger Publisher: #TitanBooks Studio: #CineverseCorp #IconicEvents Platform: #Movies Genre: #Comedy #Action
- Book Review - The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie
November 11th 2025 The Toxic Avenger made a return at Fantastic Fest in 2023 and then hit the big screen in 2025, bringing back the over-the-top character and gore the cult classic was known for. The new take on the mutant hero from Legendary Pictures was met with high praise and now fans can find out how the movie came together in the new book, The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie ! A copy has joined the collection courtesy of its publisher Titan Books and I’ve been able to dive into this book that comes with engaging content, but is not quite as advertised. Build Quality The book comes as a 28cm x 31cm oversized hardcover, bigger than most and the cover feels strong too. It has good quality paper inside and the binding works well, allowing the pages to fully open and lay flat. It has 160 pages, slightly lower than most books of this type, but this and the size of the book is certainly what helps the pages open nicely. It’s well-made and I like the cover too, the green of the logo and Toxie stand out on suitably the black background. Content This is where things get interesting, but I’ll start with the positives before pointing out the glaring issue with this release. Author Dan Jolin has done a fantastic job, there is a huge amount of insights and details here, both through what he has written and through interviews with the team behind the movie. You get some fun and interesting commentary from Director Macron Blair, Producer Alex Garcia, Toxie actor Peter Dinlage, Toxie’s physical performer Luisa Guerreiro, Elijah Wood, and more. These insights and interviews cover everything from how working on the movie began and the changes made to the character, to how the actors came on board, working with Millenium FX, and how it was filmed. It has pages for each character and location, which even includes the mutant bird, highlighting its puppetry and creation. The back of the book has a section on the visual effects and a chapter with the making of the original movie from creator Lloyd Kaufman, that is a very nice touch. A chapter I was fond of was for Luisa Guerreiro and her physical performance as Toxie under the prosthetics. Appropriately noted as the star of the movie, it’s a wonderful testament to her performance, even with the conditions she worked under, such as extreme heat and having to wear an earpiece so she could actually hear people. All of this comes with a huge amount of set photos, movie screenshots, and a look at the prosthetics. It highlights that the movie used as little digital effects as possible, going practical where they could. There is a chapter on the effects though, which does detail where CGI was used and notes that 200 digital shots were used where practical wouldn’t quite work. Film buffs and fans of the movie will like seeing the behind the scenes inclusions shown here and as a ‘Making of’ book it’s very good. However, the book falls flat for me with what should have been a highlight—the art. Historically, even movie artbooks simply called ‘The Art of’ have been a 50/50 split of artwork and photos which can be misleading, but that’s what I hope to see in ‘The Art and Making of’, or at least a 70/30 divide. This book forgets its title though, because if you’re after concept art, especially for the characters, you’ll be left disappointed. It almost feels disingenuous to review this as an artbook, because it clearly wasn’t the intent to be one as expected, but as it’s in the title and that was the reason for this review, it’s only fair to point out to that you don’t get that here. To speak on what you do get, it’s mostly artwork for the locations and graphic design. You get some nice poster art and logos for the movie title and companies in the town of Tromaville. The location art consists of a look at interior room designs and ariel views of their layouts too. There is also a concept of the ‘Nutzmobile’, van of the band Killer Nutz, as well as some medical equipment concepts. The most frustrating lack of art is for the characters, because there are only the 2 pieces seen below. Both are for Toxie and they aren’t large either. I was hoping there would much more as the designs are interesting in the movie. Now by far the biggest point of confusion is that concept art is actually mentioned for the characters… but not included. Blair did concept sketches for Monster Garbinger and the mutant bird for example, which just makes the whole thing even more odd and it’s clear this should have been called ‘The Making of the Movie’. Blair is quoted as saying the following in the book; “ Before we got a greenlight, there was a long period of time where I did a lot of my own concept art, just little sketches and watercolours. ” Seeing these would have been great, but the book is very much focused on production design and set photos, with around a couple dozen concepts that are included amongst the hundreds of images used. It ultimately let me down from the art side, despite the title and description of the book. Credits The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie notes on the page that Vanessa Menendez and Millenium FX did the concept pieces for Toxie, but elsewhere the artist names are not included. It is likely that Millenium FX is responsible for most of the concepts, but without confirmation that is just a guess. It’s sadly inconsistent for the specific pieces that you see, despite there being so few of them. Use of Space The page design throughout is excellent and they are filled nicely too. You won’t find wasted space and they layouts vary from page to keep the book interesting. The large pages allow everything to printed at a good size and the backgrounds swap and change colours throughout to prevent it from being sterile, which wouldn’t suit a book for such an odd film at all. Overall, the team that worked on the page design did a fantastic job. Value The book comes with an RRP of $39.95/ £29.99 which is about right for the size and type of book this is. Titan Books have always had some of the most reasonable pricing and this is no different. As always, I compare the prices on Amazon for consistency and have seen that ahead of its release, it can already be found with 24% off in the UK, a big early discount. Nothing in the US, but prices do fluctuate and the UK is typically early to pull the trigger on price reductions. Even at full price though, those that loved The Toxic Avenger won’t feel overcharged, bearing in mind they are aware it’s primarily a ‘making of’ book. Verdict The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie delivers an in-depth look at this new take of Toxie, offering an interesting read and putting the spotlight on the teams and people that deserve the recognition. However, on the art side I felt let down by the lack of early concept art outside of graphic design and room interiors. To mention art and not show it doesn’t line up with the books title and description, making it only recommendable to those that are looking for production details, as opposed to a wealth of concept art that many would be expecting. If you are interested in reading about the making of The Toxic Avenger , you can order the book here; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #TheToxicAvenger #TitanBooks #LegendaryPictures
- Flip Through - The Art of Naughty Dog
November 7th 2025 The Artbook Collector YouTube channel looks back to 2014 this week, showcasing a preview of iconic video games in The Art of Naughty Dog ! Published by Dark Horse ahead of the release of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End , this 184-page hardcover takes readers through the history of Naughty Dog and the art that helped create some of the biggest names in video games. Inside, concept art and illustrations can be found for Crash Bandicoot , Jak and Daxter , Uncharted , and The Last of Us . The concept art covers all of the series' releases from the studio, including Crash Team Racing , Jak X: Combat Racing , and the DLC of The Last of Us , Left Behind . From the earliest concept art for the characters and environments, to key art and illustrations, it's a showcase of the work of the artists that have worked on the games. Most interestingly, there is a chapter of unreleased games too, with a fascinating look at Jak 4 and a collection of concept art for an unreleased sci-fi game. It ends with a look at some art for the fourth Uncharted game and finally a curation of fan art too. Naughty Dog is a multiple award-winning game studio that is now part of the PlayStation Studios family. They started in 1984 and became a well-known name in the 1990's with the release of Crash Bandicoot on the original PlayStation. Not sticking to just one winning franchise, they moved on to Jak and Daxter on PS2, then to Uncharted on PS3, maturing with each new IP they released. They ended the PS3 era with The Last of Us , their most critically acclaimed game that has since had a sequel, a remaster, a remake, DLC, and a TV show. Naughty Dog are now known for their storytelling and high visual fidelity, pushing each console they release on to its limits. A flip through of other artbooks from Naughty Dog and Dark Horse can be found with these links to the YouTube channel; The Art of the Uncharted Trilogy The Art of The Last of Us The Art of The Last of Us Part II The Art of Naughty Dog is sadly harder to come by now as it has sold through its print run. However, second hand copies can be found online, including via Amazon with these links below; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #NaughtyDog #DarkHorse #Uncharted #CrashBandicoot #JakAndDaxter #TheLastOfUs #PlayStationStudios
- The Art of Naughty Dog
Book Details ISBN: 978-1616554774 Publisher: Dark Horse Page Count: 184 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 14/10/2014 (October 14th 2014) Other Editions: N/A About The Art of Naughty Dog dives into the art behind some of the most iconic franchises from not just the studio, but from the history of video games. The book features a look at the concept art and illustrations behind Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, taking readers through the rich history of Naughty Dog in the run up to the release of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. As well as a look at what was released, the book also includes a section of unreleased games too, including Jak and Daxter 4! Preview Categories Tags Based On: #NaughtyDog Series: #TheLastOfUs #CrashBandicoot #JakAndDaxter #Uncharted Publisher: #DarkHorse Studio: #NaughtyDog #PlayStationStudios Platform: #PlayStation #PS4 #PS3 #PS2 Genre: #ThirdPerson #Action #Horror #Platformer
- The Art of Endless Legend 2
Book Details ISBN: 978-1803369860 Publisher: Titan Books Page Count: 240 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 14/04/2025 (April 14th 2026) Other Editions: N/A About Titan Books and Amplitude Studios team up again for a follow up to The Art of Endless Legend. This time it's an artbook for the sequel, Endless Legend 2, the strategy game set in the Endless Universe. In The Art of Endless Legend 2, fans will find concept art and illustrations for the factions and environments, with commentary from the writers and artists that worked on the game. This book is a showcase of the talent of the team and their fantasy artwork across 240 pages in a hardcover release. Categories Tags Based On: #EndlessLegend2 Series: #Endless #EndlessLegend Publisher: #TitanBooks Studio: #AmplitudeStudios #HoodedHorse Platform: #PC Genre: #Strategy #Fantasy #TurnBased
- 'The Art of Endless Legend 2' Now Coming in April 2026
November 5th 2025 Endless Legend 2 was released in early access in September, 11 years after the original game, receiving high praise from players. The artbook, The Art of Endless Legend 2 , was set to be released very soon, but a setback has moved it back into 2026. As spotted on the Titan Books website today, the original release date of December 30th 2025 has sadly been updated, now replaced with April 14th 2026. The 240-page hardcover is being made in partnership with the game's developer Amplitude Studio and publisher Hooded Horse, highlighting the concept art and insights behind the turn-based 4X strategy game. It will give fans a look a the factions, environments, weapons, and more for the world of Saiadha, with early sketches, detailed scenes and unused designs. Some online retailers are yet to update their listings, with Amazon US already showing the new release, among others. Emails should soon be reaching customers that pre-ordered too if they haven't already been received. UK sites are still showing the old date, though this is not unusual following a delay and should be updated soon. No reason has been given, but delays are unfortunately common in the world of publishing. The previous artbook for the series was The Art of Endless Legend , also published by Titan Books in December of 2024 and 10 years after the release of the game. Given the long wait for that book, even after a short delay this follow up is still coming significantly quicker, much to the joy of those wanting more from the Endless Legend series. If the first book is anything to go by, this will be another fantastic look at the concept art for the units and factions, as well as the superb art depicting battle scenes, environments and character moments. You can preview The Art of Endless Legend above to give you an idea of what to expect for the new book. A copy of The Art of Endless Legend 2 will be joining the collection here to be reviewed when it arrives in April and future updates will be reported on this website too. Pre-order the book for your own shelf below; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; Based On: #EndlessLegend2 Series: #Endless #EndlessUniverse Publisher: #TitanBooks Studio: #AmplitudeStudios #HoodedHorse
- Upcoming Artbooks: November 2025
November 1st 2025 As we head into the end of the year, 2025 plans to end on a strong note for artbooks with more big releases to look forward to. Here is a list of some of the artbooks the site has been tracking and reporting on for movies, games, animation, comics, and more! 11th - Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga - Spider-Man: Homecoming - The Art of the Movie Titan Books continues their ongoing series of reissues for the Marvel Studios artbooks, this time with a look at Spider-Man's first solo outing following his debut in Captain America: Civil War . The book showcases concept art for the suits, characters, locations, technology, and keyframes. This is again all alongside insights from the visual development team. These books come highly recommended for those that missed out on the originals, as they come at a reasonable price, with all of the original content, also with and improved print and binding quality too. You can read my review of the last book, Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: The Art of the Movie here . Those interested can pre-order Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga - Spider-Man: Homecoming - The Art of the Movie here for when it arrives on the 11th. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 11th - The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie Also on the 11th The Toxic Avenger: The Art and Making of the Movie arrives from Titan Books to focus on the return of Toxie in Macon Blair's revival of the cult classic movie. Starring Peter Dinklage, the film follows a janitor that is changed into a grotesque mutant and comes filled with over-the-top gore, humour and action. This book gives fans a peak behind the curtain at the concept and production art, as well as interviews with the cast and crew. Enjoy a look at the strange town of Tromaville like never before across its 160 pages. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 18th - The 2000 AD Art Of Sean Phillips The 2000 AD Art Of Sean Phillips features the early art of the award-winning artist, taking you back to his time working on 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Magazine. It highlights his evolving talent while working on the publications, also giving fans of the 2000 AD series and Sean Phillips the opportunity to add an exciting retrospective to their shelf. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 18th - Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole *November 30th in the UK from Titan Books Dylan Cole has been creating art for movies for over 20 years, contributing to some of the biggest movies ever released, including Avatar and The Lord of the Rings . Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole is set to showcase some of his work, offering a collection of his incredible art that fans of the artist and cinema will want to add to their shelves. It includes previously unseen concept art, matte paintings, and poster designs, as well as insights into the creative process of Cole too. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 18th - Superman: The Art and Making of the Film Abrams Books is working again with Warner Bros to start a new run of artbooks for the new DC movie universe, following its fresh start under its new leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran. This 176-page hardcover offers a look at the concept art, set photos, and production details of the latest iteration of the Man of Steel. Superman: The Art and Making of the Film could become the start of a new collection of books after a strong start for the new timeline. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 18th - The Art of Zootopia 2 The 18th is a busy day with a fourth release, as The Art of Zootopia 2 is being released by Chronicle Books, who are again in partnership with Disney for another look at an animated movie from the studio. This entry in the ongoing Disney 'Art of' series features a look at concepts for the characters, settings, and more for the animation. The team behind the movie give their insights throughout, perfect for those wanting to know more about the return of Zootopia, while enjoying the art that helped make it happen. It releases before the movie too, perfect to for when you get back from the cinema. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 20th - Doctor Who: The Art of Time Travel The wonderful artwork of Peter Mckinstry is collected in this huge 324-page hardcover for the first time, showcasing his work on the iconic BBC series Doctor Who. Doctor Who: The Art of Time Travel from BBC Books shines a spotlight on the artist's concept art, sketches, and more for the Whoniverse. It covers many years of the series, including the most recent era, making it perfect for long-time fans of the Doctor. It's worth noting the many sites outside of the UK are not selling the book, but you may be able to find it by shopping around, or by importing a copy. Buy Here (UK) 25th - The Art of Warhammer Video Games The Art of Warhammer Video Games comes from DK in partnership with Gams Workshop and features over 200 pages of art for video games set in the Warhammer Universe. This includes Dawn of War , Boltgun , and Space Marine 2 . The titles inside get a showcase through concept art, promotional art and commentary from the development teams behind each release, covering 30 years of their video game history. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 25th - The Art of Invincible Season Two The Art of Invincible Season Two is the second artbook for the animated show from Image Comics and Amazon, based on the comic series of the same name. This hardcover book will feature a look behind the scenes of the critically-acclaimed series through artwork for the characters, settings, key art, and interviews with the creators. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) 25th - Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps - The Art of the Movie Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps - The Art of the Movie will deliver the look at the MCU debut of Marvel's first family, with concept art for the characters, world, and technology of the movie. There are more firsts with this book too, as it's the first to lift the page cap since Endgame, now coming with 256 pages, as well as an additional 32-page booklet with more artwork. It also comes with a slipcase and 5 lithograph prints as seen with other recent Marvel Studios artbooks. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) ?? - Hidetaka Tenjin's Artistry of Gundam - Udon Custom Edition Udon is showcasing the artwork of Tenjin's artwork in Hidetaka Tenjin's Artistry of Gundam , a look at his work on the mecha franchise. From illustrations to box art, this 144-page hardcover will cover his contributions to the hugely popular series. This is the oversized 10" x 13.6" Udon Custom edition sold exclusively on the Udon Entertainment website. You can order that edition here , or pre-order the regular edition below, but note that the release date is unclear, showing as December 2nd in the UK, but March in the US. Buy Here (US) / Buy Here (UK) Updates for these books will be reported as they happen, with more future artbook releases found on the Upcoming page ! Tags; #TitanBooks #MetroidPrime #InsightEditions #ChronicleBooks #Marvel #Disney #DoctorWho #UdonEntertainment #SpiderMan #Avatar
- Hidetaka Tenjin's Artistry of Gundam
Book Details ISBN: TBC Publisher: Udon Entertainment Page Count: 144 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: November 2025 Other Editions: Udon Custom Edition About This 144-page hardcover artbook from Udon Entertainment celebrates Gundam with a collection of Hidetaka Tenjin’s illustrations for the iconic franchise. Starting with Mobile Suit Gundam, the mecha anime series, Gundam has also become popular in manga, video games and Gunpla model kits. Hidetaka Tenjin's Artistry of Gundam collects art across its many releases, featuring box art, illustrations, and more. An oversized 10" x 13.6" Udon Custom edition was also sold exclusively on the Udon Entertainment website. Categories Tags Based On: #Gundam Series: #Gundam Publisher: #UdonEntertainment Studios: #BandaiNamco #Gunpla Platform: #TV #Manga #Movies #Models #VideoGames Genre: #Action #SciFi
- The Art of Invincible Season Two
Book Details ISBN: 978-1534348332 Publisher: Image Comics Page Count: 232 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: US - 25/11/2025 (November 25th 2025) Other Editions: N/A About This is the second artbook for the animated show from Image Comics and Amazon, based on the comic series Invincible. This hardcover book will feature a look behind the scenes of the second season of the critically-acclaimed series. The Art of Invincible Season Two includes art for the characters and settings, key art and interviews with the creators. Categories Tags Based On: #InvincibleSeason2 Series: #Invincible Publisher: #ImageComics Studio: #AmazonStudios #PointGreyPictures #SkyboundEntertainment #SunSkyEntertainment Platform: #TV #PrimeVideo Genre: #SuperHero #Action
- Superman: The Art and Making of the Film
Book Details ISBN: 978-1419780752 Publisher: Abrams Books Page Count: 176 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 18/11/2025 (November 18th 2025) Other Editions: N/A About Superman: The Art and Making of the Film provides a behind-the-scenes deep dive into 2025's Superman from director James Gunn. Authored by James Field, this book gives readers the history of how the movie was made, from initial conversations to post-production, which includes interviews with the creative team. The concept art covers the characters and locations for the movie, featuring a look at Metropolis, the Fortress of Solitude, and of course, the costume designs for the many heroes and villains of this big screen debut of the new DC universe. As well as this, there is set photography that captures the production of as they worked on the return of Superman. Categories Tags Based On: #Supermsn Series: #Superman #DC Publisher: #AbramsBooks Studio: #DCStudios #WarnerBros Platform: #Movies Genre: #SuperHero #Action
- The 2000 AD Art Of Sean Phillips
Book Details ISBN: 978-1837865291 Publisher: 2000AD Page Count: 272 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 21/10/2025 (October 21st 2025) Other Editions: N/A About The 2000 AD Art Of Sean Phillips features the early art of Sean Phillips, the award-winning artist and comic book veteran. The book takes you back to his time working on 2000 AD and Judge Dredd Magazine, highlighting his evolving talent while working on the publications. It offers fans of the 2000 AD series and Sean Phillips the opportunity to add an exciting retrospective to their shelf, a look at a time early in both of their historical runs. Categories Tags Based On: #JudgeDredd #2000AD #Dredd #SeanPhillips Series: #JudgeDredd Publisher: #2000AD Studios: #IPCMedia #Fleetway Platform: #Comics Genre: #Comics #Action #SciFi
- The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock
Book Details ISBN: 978-1837865383 Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd./ 200AD Page Count: 176 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 21/010/2025 (October 21st 2025) Other Editions: N/A About This book is a dive into the work of Jock on Judge Dredd, from sketches to final art and even some concept art on the 2012 Dredd movie. Preview Book Review - The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock Categories Tags Based On: #JudgeDredd #2000AD #Dredd #Jock Series: #JudgeDredd Publisher: #RebellionPublishingLtd #2000AD Platform: #Movies #Comics Genre: #Comics #Action #SciFi
- Flip Through - The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock
October 31st 2025 On The Artbook Collector YouTube channel this week is a look at the recently released book, The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock ! The book was released on October 21st as a 224-page hardcover from Rebellion Publishing and showcases the superb artwork of Mark Simpson, aka Jock. It covers his artwork for the iconic Judge Dredd comic, as well as the 2012 movies, and other titles in the 2000 AD line of comics. Inside the talent of Jock is on full display, with layout sketches, cover designs, inks, finished interiors, and final cover art. As well as this, his move into concept art gets a showcase for the Dredd movie, where he helped shape the more grounded look through character and locations designs. It's a brilliant mix of artwork that fans of the artists will enjoy having collected in one volume. I liked the book a lot and shared more details and personal thoughts in my book review, which you can read here - Book Review - The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock Jock is an acclaimed illustrator and concept designer best known for his striking and bold comic book art. He got his work first published for Judge Dredd , as explored in this book. Since his early career, he has gone on to work for both DC and Marvel, which included creating art for Batman: The Black Mirror , Spider-Man , Wolverine , and Detective Comics . Jock also created concept art for Dredd , which then allowed him to do more movie art, which includes Ex Machina , Star Wars: The Last Jedi , and X-Men: Days of Future Past . The talent and style of Jock has made him a notable and influential name in comic books, a reputation that will no doubt continue as his career keeps going. If you like the preview above The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock, you can order the book for your own shelf here; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #JudgeDredd #Jock #RebellionPublishing #2000AD
- Metroid Prime 1–3: A Visual Retrospective: The Official Art and Making of Metroid Prime 1–3
Book Details ISBN: 978-1913330286 Publisher: Piggyback Page Count: 208 Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 22/10/2025 (October 10th 2025) Other Editions: N/A About Metroid Prime 1–3: A Visual Retrospective highlights over 20 years of concepts, sketches, illustrations and insights behind Metroid Prime. Below is the official feature list for the book; Covers Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and Metroid Prime Remastered Includes a foreword by Metroid Prime producer Kensuke Tanabe Features a vast array of high-quality art and sketches from the developers Comes with exclusive Retro Studios-penned introductions to each game Dozens of producer notes offer commentaries, insights and anecdotes on the featured artwork Stitch-bound, with a lavish cloth hardcover featuring an etched Samus metallic foil, and printed on high-quality art paper Preview Book Review - Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective Categories Tags Based On: #MetroidPrime Series: #Metroid Publisher: #Piggyback Studio: #Nintendo #RetroStudios Platform: #GameCube #Wii #Switch Genre: #FPS #Action #Adventure
- Book Review - Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective
October 31st 2025 Over 20 years ago, Metroid made the jump to 3D on the GameCube with Metroid Prime , giving players a new way to experience the popular game series. With two sequels and a remaster available to play, as well as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releasing very shortly, now is a great time to look back at the series through the artwork that helped bring it to life. An art showcase been made possible with the release of Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective from publisher Piggyback in partnership with Nintendo, having been released on October 28th. A copy of the book has joined the collection, so I can give my thoughts with some previews of this highly anticipated release. Build Quality The book comes as a 23.5cm x 31cm cloth hardcover with 210 pages, a good size that feels well made. I like the image of Samus on the front too, it’s etched in metallic which is a nice touch. Inside the paper is high quality and thick as expected and held in by strong binding. While solid, this binding is a little tight and prevents the paper from laying open and flat, particularly at the front and back of the book, but no more significantly than seen in many other artbook releases. Content The book is split into chapters for each of the 4 games covered; Metroid Prime , Metroid Prime 2: Echoes , Metroid Prime 3: Corruption , and Metroid Prime Remastered . These chapters follow the same formular to cover everything and I like the simple and easy to follow approach. They begin with an introduction to the game, followed by a focus on Samus herself that includes her suits, weapons and technology. This is then followed by bosses, enemies, and environments. There’s nothing unusual in this, but it works well and that will always be a positive. The art itself is a nice mix of early paper sketches, full colour concepts, and some 3D models too, giving a full look at the work of the artists that create the games. I’m always happy when early sketches are included, as opposed to just the detailed final art, because it gives a peak at the earliest beginnings of the world and characters. A lot of the environment concepts are small sketches of assets that are implemented in each area, a nice inclusion among the designs of full areas. I also really like the use of early sketches placed in the backgrounds to fit more in, a great use of the space. I’m a fan of the art style too, it captures the futuristic sci-fi look while feeling more grounded, as the only clean and shiny designs are for Samus, as opposed to the darker colours of the enemies and world she finds herself in. The exaggerated shapes and proportions give the games an interesting visual design, without the art here looking cartoonish or over the top. You can see images in the previews photos, so if you like what you see, you’ll no doubt enjoy the rest of the book too. Pages for the Space Pirates, the mix of creature concepts, and Luminoth are person highlights for me. The only downside for the art itself is that are some darker images that come across a little murky, particularly in the Remaster chapter with its dark environments. In a few other instances the colour of the designs match closely with darker backgrounds, as seen with Emperor Ing, and this stands out as the rest of the book has a great print quality. Fortunately, it’s not a frequent issue and the vast majority looks fantastic. There isn’t a lot of reading in the book, most of it is simple in-game details about the design you are seeing, but it’s the insights from Producer Kensuke Tanabe that I really like. He is the only person interviewed and gives his personal insights and memories into the making the games throughout. I really enjoyed what he shared as it is very honest and interesting. He speaks to the relationship of Nintendo and developer Retro and how the games came together, such as highlighting how using the Morph Ball in pipes was initially disliked, until it was made into a playable form and presented to Nintendo, who then changed their mind. The most surprising notes from Tanabe are about what didn’t work, not something you often see in an artbook, which typically keep the details positive. He spoke about how Retro felt fatigue working on two Metroid Prime games in a row and wanted to move on, before ultimately making another. He also spoke about how some gameplay mechanics were not conveyed effectively and that weakpoints in Metroid Prime 3 should probably have been removed from bosses. This is good to read about, not only pointing out that game development is tough and not everything works out, but also showing that lessons are learned too. Tanabe’s notes make it a much more engaging read, as the generic details elsewhere didn’t add too much for me. Credits Sadly, there are no artist credits in the book, which is always disappointing. Ideally you want to see them on each page for the artwork, but at the very least in a list in the back or front with the names of the artists that helped make the games happen. It does cover over 20 years of artwork which could make some pieces hard to attribute to a specific person, but they do know who was working at the studio at the time, so a list should have been included. Use of Space Overall, I really like the page design of Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective, it mixes up the layouts throughout and the pages are filled. It uses loose and framed artwork to make sure there is no wasted space, with gaps between the art filled with the descriptions and notes from Tanabe. The only negative is the image loss in the centre fold due to the tight binding mentioned earlier. It’s far from the worst for this, because it doesn’t affect too many images and doesn’t detract much from the book overall. It’s always worth mentioning this though, as there are publishers that have minimised or removed the issue, so it doesn’t have to be an ongoing problem in artbooks. Value The book has an RRP of $50/ £40, a standard price for a hardcover artbook of this size, so this is good news. The build quality and large amount of artwork won’t leave anyone feeling disappointed at this price point. As always though, I use Amazon for price comparisons and the book is 7% off in the US, a small price drop shortly after release. This of course will fluctuate as is common for artbooks, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for reductions. Regardless of whether you find a deal or not, the full price is very competitive for artwork that fans will welcome onto their shelf. Verdict Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective delivers a wealth of concept art that players will no doubt enjoy poring over. It’s inclusion of a large number of sketches will be welcomed by many that like to see early concept art, with some of the development insights adding interesting details too. While it does have a few smaller issues, overall, it is a book I would be happy to recommend to fans of the series. If you enjoyed my review and previews and would like to add this book to your own shelf, you can order the book here; Buy Here / Buy Here (UK) Tags; #PiggyBack #MetroidPrime #Metroid #Retro #Nintendo
- Tunic: Design Works
Book Details ISBN: TBC Publisher: Lost in Cult Page Count: 300+ Format: Hardcover Publication Date: Q4 2026 Other Editions: Deluxe Edition About Tunic: Design Works from Lost in Cult is a deep dive into the development of the action-adventure game from developer Isometricorp Games, alongside artwork. The seven-year journey is tracked in this book that explores Tunic's locations, themes, and mechanics. As well as this, it features a look at the original sketchbooks with the art, notes, and more development insights, that highlights how the idea from Andrew Shouldice went from paper to screens. A limited Deluxe Edition was also made for the book that includes a presentation box, a slipcase, a poster, art prints, a bookmark, patch set, and a mystery Famicom box. Preview Categories Tags Based On: #Tunic Series: #DesignWorks Publisher: #LostInCult Studio: #IsometricorpGames #Finji Platform: #PlayStation #PC #PS5 #Nintendo #Switch #Xbox #XboxSeriesS #XboxSeriesX #PS4 #XboxOne Genre: #Action #Adventure
- Elden Ring Official Art Book Volume III
Book Details ISBN: 9784047337435 Publisher: Udon/ KADOKAWA Page Count: 320 Format: Paperback/ Hardcover Publication Date: Japan - 25/12/2024 (December 25th 2024) English edition - 06/01/2026 (January 6th 2026) Other Editions: N/A About The third volume was again released in Japan as a paperback, before getting translated for the West as a hardcover from Udon Entertainment. This book joins the now three-volume set and covers the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. Elden Ring Official Art Book Volume III features art and illustrations for the world and its deadly inhabitants across 320 pages. Categories Tags Based On: #EldenRingShadowOfTheErdTree Series: #EldenRing Publisher: #Udon #Kadokawa Studio: #FromSoftware Platform: #PC #PlayStation #Xbox #PS5 #XboxSeriesS #XboxSeriesX Genre: #RPG






























