I'm a huge fan of Sammy Hagar. Now, if you had ask me during the Van Halen days when Roth and the boys were at their peak if I would ever accept anyone, let alone Sammy as the new lead singer I would have told you to "**** off". Come to think of it, that's exactly what I did say.

But ever since 5150 dropped, I have been a fan of his. The guy just brings so much raw energy to whatever he does and on top of that he gives some of the best interviews out there and is a likable guy, so a book by him just had to be kick ass. After reading the excerpt of Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine a few months ago, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Reading those few pages about his time with the Van Halen brothers had me convinced this was going to be the greatest Rock Bio of all time.

That was not the case here. The book is a very good and easy read. But it's far from perfect. It starts off rather slow. It's not until we get into his Montrose days does the book kick it up a notch. But once it gets into the Van Halen years or more to the point of when Sammy dishes on all things Eddie and Alex does this book go to a completely different level. You will find yourself turning pages as fast as you can. This is the fastest I have ever read any book. Less than a day. Sheesh!

Unfortunately these are the only high points of the book. There's plenty here to keep you busy. But I was disappointed that there wasn't more to the story about his tour with David Lee Roth. I knew there was some bad blood between the two out on the road and I was hopeful that we would get all the dirt once and for all. Sadly, that doesn't happen here.

After such a huge, thrilling ride for pretty much the entire book, it goes flat at the end. Not a whole lot was said about Chickenfoot at all to close it out which is kind of disappointing.

Having said that, I can absolutely recommend this book if your wanting to hear some juicy details about the VH boys.

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David

I come from a school of wanting my art to look a certain way. Growing up following the likes of Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri and others, I shouldn't like this. But a strange thing happened while reading V For Vendetta. I absolutely love David Lloyds art. The guy knows how to draw a picture that pulls you in. It's never going to get the accolades that today's artist get from fans, but that should absolutely have no bearing on picking this book up.

But lets be clear about one thing, you are picking this up for one reason and one reason only: Alan Moore. This book is one of his all time best and should be required reading for everyone. The story of Vendetta takes place in a dystopian future (well at the time it was written it was in the future) where Britain's society is under the rule of a totalitarian government. Enter the man known only as V, who is on a revenge mission against those that wronged him in his past, while also giving the people of England...hope, to rise up against the government.

V also has one of the coolest looking costumes accentuated with a Guy Fawkes mask. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just look at the book cover. Cool **** indeed.

I highly recommend getting this book. Just don't get the Trade Paperback as it's printed on cheap paper that doesn't do the art or the colors any justice. Go with the Hardcover Edition. There are a lot of reprints out there so make sure you're getting a copy of the highest quality before laying down you cash.

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Icons: The DC Comics & Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear

Outside of reading Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Sin City over and over, no other book has come close except Daredevil: The Man Without Fear. It's not lost on me that the author for each of these books is the one and only Frank Miller. The guy, when he is on his A-Game, simply knows how to tell a story that engages the reader from start to finish and this book fits in nicely here.

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear is an origin story about Matt Murdock who becomes Daredevil. We get to see his transformation from akward teenager to the masked Superhero and everything in between. And helping tell the story is the amazing art of John Romita Jr. I first discovered him by way of The Punisher War Zone. His style has never changed from book to book and that's a good thing.

I recommend this to anyone that wants a fantastic story with amazing art. By all means get this one. I have read this over and over and I never get tired of it. And should you get the Hardcover Edition, it comes with probably the coolest bonus stuff you will ever find. It comes with the full outline of the story as well as the screenplay format with penciled Notes for panels to be drawn. Also, there is a ton of Covers and Unused stories too.

Great stuff.

Rating: 10 Stars out of 10