Posts filed under SPT News

Coming October 20 "The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration of the Avengers and Beyond"

UPDATE: The release date for The Wakanda Files has been pushed back two weeks to October 20th, but not to fear - it’s on the way!

After a few years in the making, so glad another book I’ve authored is on the way soon!

In September of this year, get ready for The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration of the Avengers and Beyond: a technical journal, in-world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that is a collection of artifacts collected by Wakanda’s War Dogs intelligence group and curated/notated by Shuri herself. Much in the style of Epic Ink’s outstanding The Jedi Path, The Rebel Files and The Bounty Hunter Code, this book has tons in store for fans of any of the MCU characters.

Working with my friends at Marvel Studios and the publishers at Quarto, particularly my amazing editor, Delia Greve was such a pleasure. I’m so proud of this book, and can’t wait for everyone to read. Here’s more from the official press release:

THE WAKANDA FILES: A TECHNOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF THE AVENGERS AND BEYOND

By Troy Benjamin | Available September 29, 2020

An in-world book from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Wakanda Files— compiled by request of Shuri (Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War) as part of her quest to improve the future for all people—is a collection of papers,articles, blueprints, and notes amassed throughout history by Wakanda’s War Dogs. In a nod to Wakandan technology, the pages of the book have a printed layer of UV ink with content that is visible only under the accompanying Kimoyo bead–shaped UV light.

Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Wakanda has been on the forefront of what is technologically possible. Their ability to stay ahead of the rest of the world is second only to their ability to keep themselves hidden. As thearchitect behind many of Wakanda’s great advancements, Shuri is constantlyseeking ways to improve what has come before. To aid in her search, she researches the past for context, reference, and inspiration by compiling The Wakanda Files.

Organized into areas of study, including human enhancement, transportation, weapons, artificial intelligence, and more, The Wakanda Files trace the world’s technological achievements from the era of Howard Stark and early Hydra studies to modern discoveries in quantum tunneling and nanotechnology. Weaving together the stories, personalities, and technology that are the fabric of the MCU, The Wakanda Files offers insight into the enhancements, power, and technology behind Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Stark Industries, Hydra, and much more.

About the author

Troy Benjamin is a Los Angeles–based book and comic book author who has written exhaustive fan-centric publications including the Haynes Ghostbusters Ectomobile Owner’s Workshop ManualMarvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Declassified book series, How to Paint Characters the Marvel Studios Way, and has been a contributor to the official Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hardcover w/plastic slipcase • 160 pages • $60.00 USD, $80.00 CAN • ISBN: 978-0-7603-6544-1

Posted on July 24, 2020 and filed under Books, SPT News.

Now Streaming/VOD "Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters"

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At long last, the definitive documentary on the making of the original Ghostbusters film, “Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters” is slowly starting to roll out to audiences around the globe. Kickstarter backers have started receiving their digital codes and folks in the UK and Canada can now purchase or stream via their VOD platform of choice.

I was honored to be even a small part of the documentary, helping the Buenos chase down some archival from the famed USC and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences libraries, chiming in on cuts from time to time, and getting to say hello once or twice when they were in the States. This has been a long labor of love filled with enough peaks and valleys for them that could merit its own documentary, so it’s fantastic to see the final product out there being viewed by audiences.

For more information, and to find where you can screen the film, check out the Bueno Productions shiny new website at:

https://buenoproductions.com/films/cleanin-up-the-town-remembering-ghostbusters/

Now Available: How to Paint Characters the Marvel Studios Way

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Now available in brick and mortar and online book stores alike is How to Paint Characters the Marvel Studios Way! This long-awaited follow-up to the classic “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” is written by the Marvel Studios VisDev team (and they enlisted me to help cultivate their thoughts). Not only is it a great guide for conceptual artists, but for writers and world-builders, provides some incredible insight to developing three-dimensional characters with rich backstories and more!

For more information, check out the book’s listing here on SPT or via Marvel.com!

Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary Commentary Coming June 11th

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Entertainment Weekly exclusively revealed this morning that a new Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary edition steelbook is on the way this June… and there’s a familiar name amid the special features that will be on the disc! Indeed, I was fortunate enough to be asked along with my Ghostbusters Interdimensional Crossrip co-host Chris Stewart to join Eric Reich, Sean Bishop, and Ashley Victoria Robinson on a fan commentary track to play under the first movie!

We really did our best to focus on fun trivia facts both among the production and the lore of the series, point out tiny details in the corners of frames that we’ve always admired, and took advantage of having Ghost Corps’ Eric Reich with us to confirm or debunk some long-standing Ghostbusters urban legends behind the production. It’s a fun track and we hope that you all will enjoy it!

Here’s the rest of the details on the release, a visit to EW will give you a glimpse at a never before seen distributor pitch reel featuring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd in costume talking to theater owners!

GHOSTBUSTERS

6 Rare & Newly Unearthed Deleted Scenes, including the long-requested Fort Detmerring scenes!

Raw takes for the Central Park bums sequence

1984 ShoWest Exhibitor Reel, featuring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd pitching an early reel of footage to theatrical exhibitors.

Full Ghostbusters TV Commercial from the film

Ghostbusters TV Commercial Outtakes

“A Moment With the Stars” – original press kit featurette

Original Domestic Teaser Trailer

Original Stereo Audio for the Feature (Blu-ray only)

Fan Commentary featuring Troy Benjamin and Chris Stewart (Interdimensional Crossrippodcast),Ashley Victoria Robinson (Geek History Lesson podcast) and Sean Bishop (Ghostbusters prop replica expert), moderated by Ghost Corps’ Eric Reich

GHOSTBUSTERS II

Commentary featuring Director Ivan Reitman, Star/Co-Writer Dan Aykroyd and Executive Producer Joe Medjuck

“The Oprah Winfrey Show: Cast of Ghostbusters II” – June 1989

Full Ghostbusters II Theatrical EPK

Rare Unfinished Teaser Trailer – featuring the full commercial from the film!

Original Stereo Audio for the Feature (Blu-ray only)