The first monograph by the art director for leading video game company Blizzard Entertainment Brutal: The Art of Samwise is a career-spanning art book that assembles the many artistic creations of world renowned artist Samwise Didier into one volume. For nearly thirty years, Samwise's unique art style, which combines the use of bold colors, visual storytelling, and a touch of humor, has been featured in numerous art books, illustrated novels, album covers, comic books, and video games, and is instantly recognizable to his legions of fans. Brutal: The Art of Samwise celebrates all the artistic creations of Samwise's imagination, including many images never seen before from his personal archives. This book also contains selections of Samwise's favorite and most iconic images he created for the video game company, Blizzard Entertainment, where he has worked since 1991. As a senior art director for Blizzard, Samwise was responsible for directing the art style for Warcraft, StarCraft, and Heroes of the Storm, as well as for creating artwork for the World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo franchises.

Brutal: The Art of Samwise

Computers & Technology

Didier, Samwise

Games & Strategy Guides

Cernunnos

After their plane crashes, the influencers and their guide are stalked by a mountain man of local legend - Skinner - who tracks, murders and skins his victims. When the celebrities mount a desperate counterattack, they discover that there is much more to the Skinner myth than any of them could have imagined - a nightmare-creature that can assume any form. Will the celebrities survive, or be cancelled by the horrific monster of a thousand faces?

Skinner

Comics & Graphic Novels

Neilson, Micky

Manga

Dark Horse Books

Over the past two decades, Blizzard Entertainment has had a tremendous impact on the world of games and global pop culture. From its humble beginnings as a three-person console-game development studio in 1991 to the creation of the blockbuster Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® series, Blizzard has a history of crafting stunning worlds of science fiction and fantasy. The company’s distinctive gameplay and storytelling styles have captivated an international audience numbering in the tens of millions whose passion cannot be quelled. Twenty years after Blizzard opened its doors, the company’s World of Warcraft® boasts the title of the world’s most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game, and the studio is widely recognized as one of the leaders in creatively driven game development. An epic volume of art and behind-the-scenes insights, The Art of Blizzard® celebrates the studio’s genesis by examining the creative forces behind these games and showcasing their artistry through more than 700 pieces of concept art, paintings, and sketches. Commentary on the art is provided by Blizzard Entertainment’s own Nick Carpenter, Sam Didier, and Chris Metzen, who’ve each played important roles in shaping Blizzard’s game universes over the years.

The Art of Blizzard Entertainment

Metzen, Chris

Carpenter, Nick

Insight Editions

Blizzard Entertainment changed gaming forever. From its humble beginnings as a three-person console-game development studio in 1991 to the creation of the blockbuster Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® series, Blizzard has crafted stunning worlds of science fiction and fantasy for more than two decades. An epic volume of visuals and behind-the-scenes insights, The Art of Blizzard Entertainment celebrates the genesis. This collection showcases nearly 700 pieces of concept art, paintings, and sketches accompanied by commentary from the Blizzard game development teams, including Nick Carpenter, Samwise Didier, and Chris Metzen. All three were essential in shaping Blizzard’s game universes over the years, and along with a team of international artists, revolutionized gameplay and storytelling. Artists such as Roman Kenny, Peter Lee, Bill Petras, Glenn Rane, and Wei Wang helped develop and expand Blizzard’s unique vision, and their contributions are featured here along with work by Brom, who offers a foreword to the collection. Millions of people around the globe play Blizzard games every day—The Art of Blizzard Entertainment is an opportunity to explore the core of what makes the experience so transporting. This deluxe edition is bound in saifu cloth and accompanied by a portfolio of collector art prints, all housed in a finely crafted double-slot slipcase with foil stamping. Each deluxe edition also includes a card of authenticity hand-signed by Brom, Samwise Didier, and Wei Wang. The Art of Blizzard © 2012 and All rights reserved. Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft, Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Blizzard are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Grimbeard: Tales of the Last Dwarf collects the adventures of Blizzard Entertainment art director Samwise Didier’s brawling, elf-hating Captain Grimbeard. Captain Grimbeard is right ticked off! Our most noble dwarf (and hero of this story) awoke from a night of merriment to find that he had mysteriously traveled one thousand years into the future. On top of that, he also discovered that the world he once knew was now ruled by the most detestable and dandyish of all creatures—those annoying elfs. Oh, and did I mention that every dwarf in existence was somehow wiped off the crust of the world by those aforementioned scoundrels? Well, not every dwarf. A collection of bawdy and boisterous short stories featuring all original artwork by legendary Blizzard Entertainment art director Samwise Didier, this tome follows Captain Grimbeard as he organizes underground fight clubs, boxes elven bounty hunters, ducks amorous giants, and most important—searches for a place to empty his beer-filled bladder.

Grimbeard: Tales of the Last Dwarf

Literature & Fiction

Humor & Satire

From legendary Blizzard Entertainment artist Samwise Didier, The Last Winter is a lavishly illustrated epic fantasy novel. Upon the death of Sprign, goddess and creator of the Pandyr and all other beasts in Mistgard, the island has come under attack by ruthless frost and fire giants from afar. Long fragmented, every creature in the eight clans must now come together to defend their land. Hammerheart must join with Darkcloud, Mistcloak with Thundermaw, and, most important, the children of Sprign must unite with their forgotten comrades of the ninth clan: the Bearzyrk. Led by the eldest of the Pandyr, the clans make their way to the Aesirmyr Peaks for a final standoff. As frost covers Mistgard, old prejudices must be overcome if the Pandyr hope to match the giants Lord Wintyr and King Sumyr in battle. Features all-new original illustrations throughout from Blizzard Entertainment art director Samwise Didier.

The Last Winter

United States

A guide to illustrating a wide variety of fantastical characters and creatures from video game artist Samwise Didier. In this interactive guide, video game illustrator Samwise Didier will guide you through the process of creating unique, engaging fantasy characters and creatures. From armored warriors to imposing dragons and other mythical beasts, each section will present you with tips and tricks on how to make your illustrations pop off the page. By following the step-by-step instructions and adding your own touches, you’ll soon be able to create your own colorful fantasy world. In addition to the 96-page instruction book, this set includes a 64-page drawing pad so you can perfect your newfound skills.

How to Draw Mythical Monsters and Magical Creatures: An Artist's Guide to Drawing Mythical Creatures from One of the Masters!

Humor & Entertainment

Thunder Bay Press

The first installment in a new series of illustrated dark fantasy novels from New York Times best-selling author Micky Neilson and legendary Blizzard Entertainment artist and director Sam Didier. Welcome to Texas! Well, the new Texas, that is. After seceding from the oppressive USA, the Lone Star Nation has been reduced to a desolate wasteland full of biker gangs, strip clubs, and run-down towns where justice usually comes in the form of a bullet—and lots of ’em to boot. In this new Texas, the bizarre is commonplace, and every soul on the road has something to hide. Growing up as a freak in a traveling carnival, one might expect to have it rough. But being beaten, shot, hung, and left for dead by the very people who raised you? That’s downright extreme. Unfortunately for his attackers, Jo Jo, the former “Feral Kid,” is very hard to kill. And now he’s out for that most basic of human desires: payback. Traveling the strange highways of this new Texas, Jo Jo comes across an eccentric gallery of freaks and rogues: a young dancer on the run from her depraved father, a messianic head of a biker cult, and a gruesome collection of outcasts, cutthroats, and assassin clowns. Each confrontation brings Jo Jo closer to his ultimate target: the Rambling Man—the sinister ringleader of the dark carnival and the man who wants Jo Jo dead more than anyone. ’Course that’s just fine with Jo Jo, ’cause he feels the exact same way.

Strange Highways

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Insight Comics

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Didier, Samwise. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Didier, Samwise

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Didier, Samwise. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Brutal: The Art of Samwise

Skinner

The Art of Blizzard Entertainment

The Art of Blizzard Entertainment

Grimbeard: Tales of the Last Dwarf

The Last Winter

How to Draw Mythical Monsters and Magical Creatures: An Artist's Guide to Drawing Mythical Creatures from One of the Masters!

Strange Highways