Continuing my new series on comics and graphic novels that I found out about at the 2009 Long Beach Comic Con... Is something quite different! In that this is NOT a comic book or graphic novel. Instead it is a book that my wife Tina pointed out to me at a table in the back of the LBCC. It's 'The Knight Rider Companion' - the Ultimate book to the TV series! I'm the one actually calling it the 'Ultimate' book to the TV Series, as it has taken me several days to read it all! The author, Nick Nugent, and his publisher, Gary Spohn, were at their booth, awash in people interested in comics and graphic novels. However, Tina remembered how I enjoyed checking out the latest reincarnation of the TV Series 'Knight Rider', both at the SDCC and on TV, so she pointed me in Nick and Gary's direction. I'm glad she did! However, I must admit one thing before going on about this book... Which is, I was really a 'Dallas' TV Show fan when this original series first started back in 1982! Yeah, that's right! Ol' J.R. Ewing and his Clan had my (and my ex-wife's) attention during those years. Not the 'Knight Rider'. Yet I did know of the series, and am familar enough to recognize all of the hard work that must have gone into compiling this 'Companion' book. If it was a comic book / grahic novel compilation, it would be considered an 'Omnibus', that is how much info is in this Companion book! Here, I'll let you read what the PR says about what it contains: "To a generation, Knight Rider represents more than just a sophisticated talking car and its driver. It represents the vision of Wilton Knight and what technology can accomplish when combined together to invoke the belief that one man can make a difference. Michael Knight and K.I.T.T. defied the odds inside a sleek, black, Trans Am that could turbo boost, drive on two wheels, repel bullets, race through treacherous terrain, and crash through any obstacle thanks to its molecular bonded shell which made the car virtually indestructible. Devon Miles, Bonnie Barstow, April Curtis, and Reginald Cornelius III (RC3) operated in the background to help Michael and K.I.T.T. battle criminals who operated above the law. The Knight Rider Companion is the ultimate guide to original Knight Rider mythology. From the pilot, Knight of the Phoenix to the made for TV movie Knight Rider 2000, this book tells the story of this hit television classic through interviews with its cast, crew, and hundreds of rarely seen photographs, press shots, and other promotional materials presented in full color and high resolution print. The Knight Rider Companion features: a new Foreword by creator Glen A. Larson, Introduction by Robert Foster, Hall of Fame Autograph Guide, Knight Equipment Guide, Vehicle Specs Guide, Knight Gallery Featuring Posters and Promotional art, Episode Guide covering all Four Seasons of Knight Rider, and much more! Interviews with: Glen A. Larson, Michael Scheffe, Stu Phillips, Don Peake, Tom Greene, and many more!" I have mentioned a few times in earlier blogs that I was reading this book, at the bottom right (featurette) section of those posts. Tina, who wasn't a fan of the first series, or the latest series, thought highly of this book when just thumbing through it at the LBCC. She called it a 'high end book', and with her many years in publishing, she knows her stuff when describing books! I found that the Foreword by Glen A. Larson, the Introduction by Robert Foster, and the opening chapters to totally immerse me into the World of Knight Rider, even though I had missed viewing most of the 84 episodes that comprise the series. The black and white photos interspersed with the color photos were hi-lights to what was covered on the pages. I mainly enjoyed reading the background stories by those involved with the production of the show. Along with the stories by those that were the main characters in the show. The additional nuggets of knowledge inserted by Nick into the episode guides were though provoking. Makes me want to go out and rent the DVDs to watch this show after the current TV Season is over! You know, the subtitle under the Book's Title on the front cover says: "One Man Can Make A Difference". Well in putting this Companion book together, One Man has made a difference for sure! That would be Nick Nugent, who put together a well crafted book for those that have even a little bit of knowledge of Knight Rider history. This Companion book is a definite 'buy' for those that are real fans of the TV Series, or even David Hasselhoff fans from his other shows! You can find out more about this Companion book and how to purchase it by going to their Web Site by clicking here! My thanks to Tina for guiding me to this booth, AND to Nick and Gary for taking the time to show me what their booth was about! BTW.... Whereas Tina and I don't publish comics or books (yet?) or set up at comic cons anymore, (except at our own Facebook Virtual Comic Con Dealer Table), we do have thousands of indies and mainstream comics in our own online store. Be sure to check out our new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that our blogs are based on! It's due to sales at this online store that keep us going with the ability to post blogs like the one you have read here today! Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts! We do blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films! ~ Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com
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