EISNER AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Here is the incomparable cast of the DC Comics universe: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, the Green Lantern, and the rest of the Justice League as you’ve never seen them before.  Mythology brings together the best-loved comic characters in the world, brought to life by one of the most astonishing young artists working in the medium today, Alex Ross. The award-winning designer/writer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear have teamed up to create a book like no other, with an introduction by M. Night Shyamalan, the acclaimed director of Signs and The Sixth Sense. Ross has often been called “the Norman Rockwell of comics,” and this book reveals not only his lifelong love of these classic super heroes but also his vision: Mythology takes you into the studio for a behind-the-scenes look at his fascinating creative process. The combination of Ross’s dynamic art and Kidd’s kinetic design make images from his most memorable stories–including Kingdom Come, Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, and Uncle Sam–soar off the more than 280 pages. There are also hundreds of never-before-seen sketches, limited edition prints, and prototype sculptures. Vintage DC comic panels are interspersed throughout, as reference points from which Ross launches his extraordinary interpretations. And most exciting for Ross fans, inside is a DC Comics first: an exclusive, original Superman-Batman story, written by Kidd and painted by Ross. Also included is an all-new origin of Robin, written by Paul Dini. Mythology is a book in which every page explodes with the power of the icons it celebrates. Adult/High School-This is a coffee-table tribute to the work of the cartoonist. Kind of an odd blend of Norman Rockwell meets Saturday morning cartoons, Ross's gouache painted art glows on the pages. Interspersed with quotations by the artist and those who know him, Kidd's sparse text takes readers on a brief tour of Ross's childhood to his early days in advertising and comic books, finally ending with the limited series "Kingdom Come" (Warner, 1998), which combined hyper-realistic artwork with unusually complex storytelling. The book not only displays samples of finished works but also includes sketches, photographs of live models, and comic art dating back to the 1930s. For a humorous touch, Kidd includes samples of Ross's childhood art, with pieces ranging from rough copies of comic covers to endearing sculptures of Batman and others made out of construction paper. Ultimately, Ross is an artist who quests to reuse and redevelop classic characters like Superman and Wonder Woman and elevate their stories to a level more sophisticated readers can enjoy. High goals, but this man makes it work. Matthew L. Moffett, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. *Starred Review* Ross is arguably comic books' only genuine superstar, whose artistic touch turns any title into a bestseller. His ultrarealistic, painted renditions of iconic superheroes--in which he rather marries the styles of Norman Rockwell and Jack Kirby--impart a grandeur to the characters that their typical adventures only hint at. So singular is Ross' talent and so vast his following that they warrant this lavish, coffee-table-book retrospective of his work for DC Comics that spotlights his portrayals of the company's big guns--Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman--but includes some of his renderings of their lesser lights. Though the book contains numerous excerpts from various stories, including two all-too-short, brand-new strips and preliminary sketches, pencil drawings, and other rarities, Ross' approach is best displayed by the many full-page, posterlike paintings in the book. The lavish tribute is written and designed by Chip Kidd, himself a superstar in the world of book design, and he shows off Ross' grandiosity to full advantage. Ross' exceptional photorealism is actually more convincing than the looks of most of the comic-book adaptations that have hit the movie screen of late, and this succulent artbook should attract noncomics readers as well as the hardcore fans who already revere Ross. Gordon Flagg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved “Alex’s unique style combines the best of the fantastic and the real, creating a world where myths walk and leave tangible footprints in the sand.” —Paul Levitz, President and Publisher, DC Comics Here is the incomparable cast of the DC Comics universe: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, the Green Lantern, and the rest of the Justice League as you?ve never seen them before. Mythology brings together the best-loved comic characters in the world, brought to life by one of the most astonishing young artists working in the medium today, Alex Ross. The award-winning designer/writer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear h