It’s all a class struggle! It’s the privileged, drug-using movie stars against the poor simple trappers engaged in their humble pursuits for the “physical and spiritual health it provides” but also for the extra income, which allows them “to buy Christmas presents” for their loved ones. While making a few valid points about the ecologically uninformed emotionalism of certain city-dwelling activists as well as their use of some suspiciously sensationalist photos, Carman strays magnificently off his tether in his description of the “religion” of film-industry activists, who depict animals as possessing “godlike qualities, the ability to communicate with man, to walk on air, never age, and survive great injury without blemish, [who] are born without sin and have life eternal.” His personal view is more down-to-earth: “After cleaning their dung, working hard in the hot fields to harvest their feed, and putting up with their often stubborn behavior, it was never hard to butcher them.” And Jesus told him to. RA

Publisher: Krause
Paperback: 160 pages

This is a sort of class yearbook for people who are REALLY INTO comics. The year is 1993. The “superstars” include writers, pencillers, inkers, painters, letterers and colorists who helped create what the editors of this volume determined to be “comics which received wide potential distribution.” The other main criterion for inclusion was whether or not the many people who had been contacted had returned a form sent by the editor. This form included basic stuff like contact address, education and projects they had worked on. It also included a section on “dream projects.” Reading the answers to this query really makes one aware of just how INTO comics you have to be to appreciate this book at face value. The most peculiar aspect to the whole project is that the only index in the book lists the superstars by their birthdays. For the reader who isn’t fanatical about comics, this book provides a scary glimpse at the hard-working people behind the scenes who probably won’t get another 15 minutes like this. SA

Publisher: Krause
Hardback: 256 pages
Illustrated

Sure, we’ve all gotten a chuckle out of William Shatner’s bloated “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but how about J.R.R. Tolkien singing in “Elvish”? Let’s stretch out a little and really groove… celebrity style! The chuck-wagon vocal screechings of Walter Brennan, James Dean jamming on conga drums, Jim Nabors belting out show tunes and Cole Porter, African revolutionary leader Kwame Nkrumah’s solo LP, Marilyn Chambers’ 7-inch release, Joan Collins in a duet with Bing Crosby, David Hasselhoff crooning “How Deep Is Your Love” (German-only release), Telly Savalas’ three classic LPs, Rodney Allen Rippy disks and so much more. Fifteen hundred “celebrities and other interesting folks” with recordings to their credit are listed, with Rev. Louis Farrakhan’s singing career being notable by its omission. Author Lofman also has the temerity to answer the burning question “Why do they do it?” SS

Publisher: Krause
Paperback: 448 pages
Illustrated

Toys and games, etc., based on characters from ‘60s and ‘70s TV shows. The book is chock-full of pictures of cult toys from shows like The Munsters, Star Trek (of course!) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and tells what the toys are worth today in three separate collectible conditions: mint, excellent, good. Complete with names of collectors, toy dealers’ and fan club addresses, and online collecting info. DW

Publisher: Krause
Paperback: 224 pages
Illustrated

Normally I don’t like to see a police car at all, but this book is the best way to see them, in photographs. Covers the entire history of the police car, from horse-drawn patrol carriages to present-day cars with many detailed black-and-white photos. Quite a few limited-edition vehicles, as well as a Ferrari said to be “donated” by (i.e., confiscated from) local drug dealers in San Mateo, CA. Some motorcycles too. DW

Publisher: Krause
Paperback: 304 pages
Illustrated

The most absurd cars ever—loads of black-and-white photos of functional and not-so-functional cars of all kinds. Cars that double as boats, cars with many headlights, cars from famous films and, yes, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles. (The oldest known Wienermobile is a 1952 model. In 1988, six new Wienermobiles were made.) A category for every letter in the alphabet from “Artistic Autos” to “Zany Cars.” DW

Publisher: Krause
Paperback: 304 pages
Illustrated