On top of my comic book work, I also write hardback books about video game history.
Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat 'em Ups
(£34.99 / Bitmap Books)
Available now on the Bitmap Books store.
Get ready for the fight of your life in Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups. Written by award-winning author Dave Cook, and opening with a foreword by legendary Double Dragon creator, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, this odyssey through bare-knuckle nostalgia features over 200 games spanning 37 years, starting with Irem’s 1984 arcade mash, Kung-Fu Master, continuing through the genre’s ‘90s heyday, and finishing with indie brawlers such as Mother Russia Bleeds and Streets of Rage 4.
At over 450 pages, Go Straight takes a deep dive into familiar beat-’em-up legends like Double Dragon, Golden Axe, Final Fight and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as delving into the more obscure brawlers you just have to try, like Denjin Makai, Shadow Force and Gaia Crusaders. As well as reviewing each game, Go Straight features hints, tips and guides to levels and enemies. The book is packed full of screenshots, sprites and level maps, all lovingly curated and presented to our usual high standards.
Go Straight is printed lithographically to the highest standards. This ensures that the colours in the book are really vibrant and that the pages have a high-quality, luxurious feel to them. As standard, each book is offered in hardback with a spot-varnished fascia featuring artwork by artist Jorge M. Velez.
If you have fond memories of playing side-scrolling beat-’em-ups at home on the couch or in noisy arcades, or if you’re excited by the genre and jumping in for the first time, Go Straight is the perfect guide for you.
Get a copy from the Bitmap Books store.
Run 'n' Gun: A Guide to On-Foot Shooters
(£34.99 / Bitmap Books)
Available now on the Bitmap Books store.
Enter a world of nostalgic bullet hell with Run ’n’ Gun: A History of On-Foot Shooters, written by award-winning video game journalist and comic book author Dave Cook. Hot on the heels of Cook’s previous Bitmap Books release, Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat Em Ups, this new project charts 40 years of run ’n’ gun history across over 496 gorgeous pages.
Opening with guest forewords by Mega Man’s legendary producer, Keiji Inafune and Cuphead creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, our explosive journey begins with 1975’s Gun Fight and the birth of the run ’n’ gun genre, before marching onward throughout the decades. With over 300 games featured, you’ll uncover incredible behind-the-scenes stories, interesting quotes, mind-blowing trivia, expert gameplay tips and beautiful high-quality screenshots.
All the classics are here, including Contra, Gunstar Heroes, Metal Slug, Mega Man, Sunset Riders, Midnight Resistance and Turrican, as well as some hidden gems you might not have tried before, such as Demon Front, Nitro Ball and Rapid Reload. As the years march on, you’ll become better acquainted with modern shooters, such as Cuphead, Blazing Chrome, Huntdown and Gunvolt.
Featuring guest contributions from Chris Scullion, Kurt Kalata, Sega Lord X and Graeme Mason, Run ’n’ Gun: A History of On-Foot Shooters is an action-packed celebration of the genre. Whether you’re new to shooters or loading up your Spread Gun for the first time, this is the perfect reference guide.
Run ’n’ Gun: A History of On-Foot Shooters is printed lithographically to the highest standards. This ensures that the colours in the book are really vibrant and that the pages have a high-quality, luxurious feel to them. As standard, each book is offered in hardback with a spot-varnished fascia featuring artwork by artist Jorge M. Velez.
The collector’s edition of Run ’n’ Gun: A History of On-Foot Shooters can be found here.