GREAT SHOWDOWNS in Film

Growing up I either was watching movies or reading books and one constant seemed to always exist, the dynamic relationships of good vs evil! Whether it was cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, King Kong vs Mecha-Godzilla or Vader vs Luke, etc. One thing was for sure, the protagonist and antagonists struggles with one another always made for captivating and imaginative entertainment. Author and illustrator Scott Campbell in his latest book GREAT SHOWDOWNS has created a collection of some of the greatest mash-up showdowns in pop-culture history. Our good pals over at Titan Books who distribute this title sent us one to check out, click ahead for my review of some of the greatest confrontations in film history… 

I’ve seen Scott’s work for years, I’ve been to numerous pop culture gallery shows here in Southern California where his work has made it’s rounds and it’s always been a treat to see. Not only is Campbell’s style fresh and unique, it’s art that connects us to some of the most memorable motion pictures in a single glance. Cartoony and simple are his characters, but the depth, drama, adventure, fun and at times complex relationships are so easily identifiable in every one. As much as there are great showdowns, there are also just some unforgettable confrontations from some of cinema’s most memorable moments.

The Avengers vs Loki

Now,this book isn’t full of a lot of words, in fact in the over 70 pages within it, there are just a few quotes and forewords from Scott and fans of Scott’s who are as random as some of the movie showdowns that fill the pages.

“I love this book!” – Morgan Spurlock

“In this beautifully funny chronicle of the world’s most momentous confrontations, there is only one true victor. And his name is Scott Campbell.” – Edgar Wright

“His simple yet evocative style is instantly recognizable, and timeless. I love his artwork!” – Seth Green

“Scott’s art is clever. It’s Smart. It’s Simple. It’s hilarious. His Showdowns series is one of those “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?’ strokes of brilliance that deserves recognition. Or at the very least, a very cool book to show it all off” – Neil Patrick Harris

Marty McFly (as Darth Vader) vs George McFly

Campbell himself in his introduction really sets the book up beautifully as he explains how some characters clash against other characters, sometimes against animals and other times against inanimate objects;

“The GREAT SHOWDOWNS is a gathering of those epic moments of conflict. The greatest moments of struggle in film history. I have invited these moments to come and be a part of this collections for us to look upon.” – Scott C

The Griswolds vs Marty Moose

I’d seen some of Scott’s more famous Showdowns like the Ghostbusters vs Slimer, the Griswolds vs Marty Moose, Han Solo vs Greedo and Marty McFly vs Griff’s 2015 Gang, but sitting down this past weekend and going thru the book, I found myself laughing at the gems inside I found, from classic movies like The Black Hole to contemporary hits like Marvel’s The Avengers. The brilliance of this book is that unless you’re a super film buff, there are some showdowns you may find yourself pondering their origins, and that of course then creates opportunities to call a friend, or snap a pic and post it to Facebook to ask…”anyone know what famous showdown this may be referencing”? Suddenly we’re using social media to our advantage to interact, learn and maybe help Scott sell an extra copy or two of his cool book.

Darth Vader vs Luke Skywalker

It’s a fun-size, hard cover and will cost you less than $15 on most book selling sites. And it’s truly a great coffee table book for conversation starters at parties!

Check out GREAT SHOWDOWNS by Scott Campbell and other awesome books over at www.TitanBooks.com and order GREAT SHOWDOWNS today over at Amazon.com 

Indiana Jones vs the German Mechanic