Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story (Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story (2010)) Kindle & comiXology

This is a very funny read, especially the last third when Bendis and Andreyko are pitching "Torso". The jokes are well-paced, and the page layouts are interesting. There's a lot of good advice for cartoonists/writers drawn to Hollywood.On the downside is the familiarity of the story -- is anyone really surprised by the stupidity of Hollywood types? Also, there's rather too much reliance on repeating panels (although some of it is justified by the humour).The "Torso" pitch made me want to read the book, but it seems to be out of print, and I couldn't find the movie either. It would be nice to have an update of its status in a future edition.

Hollywood is stupid, we all know. But the expirience described in this book are asinine and only the truest hollywood excecutives can provide a wolrd with so much dense that the only reaction upon reading this is gasp, relax and enjoy the ludicrous ride. This book is fun-- is the type of book one can read in one sitting, re-read and it never gets old. one of Bendis' best, highly recomended and this edition is in color, hardcover and 100% awesome.

This was a fascinating book. I've always wanted to be a screenwriter, and I love that this book takes you inside the big mess that is Hollywood and shows what it's like. Brian Michael Bendis is a fantastic writer, and he really gets you into this autobiographical story. It doesn't hurt that I'm also sort of obsessed with comic book movies.Regardless, I think this would be interesting story even to someone that wasn't as interested in the writing as I am.

Ever interview for a job when you already have one you're content with? That was Brian Michael Bendis' situation when he sold his first script to Hollywood. He was making a name for himself as a comic book artist/writer when he got noticed by Hollywood. And that's where the journey begins...Bendis delves into the Twilight Zone that is Hollywood when he goes about meeting the studio heads, agents, producers and other bizarre individuals who become the characters of this hilarious graphic novel. Since he already has his dream job, Bendis has the luxury of being able to "look outside in" at the weirdness of Tinsel Town.From the producer who insists Elliot Ness is a fictional (and not historical) character to the "HBO incident," Bendis delivers a great story that comments on our youth-fixated culture, capricious attention spans and the miracle of how a broken-down system like the one in Hollywood still manages to crank out dozens of movies per year.I've been lending this series out to many friends who are non-comic-readers. If you have a bias against comics, get past it and pick this book up! You won't be sorry!

Buying anything written by Brian Michael Bendis is well worth your time and money, whether it's for the incredible wit, realistic dialogue, or 180 degree plot twists. But "Fortune and Glory" not only entertains, it informs. It's the pull-no-punches true story of Bendis' attempt to turn his acclaimed books "Goldfish" and "Torso" into major motion pictures. Bendis' dealings with the God-and-creativity-forsaken drones of Hollywood read as equal parts comedy and tragedy (or course, the tragedy comes about so ridiculously that it, too, is comedy). Whether it's the suggestion that Pauly Shore plays the grifter Goldfish or that the "Untouchables" police captain Elliot Ness be 19-years old, you'll be laughing at Bendis' pain (laughing at other people's pain is always fun). In an industry where executives scan magazine articles and buy property rights for no other reason than so somebody else can't have them, it's a wonder any good movies ever get made."How many studio executives does it take to change a lightbulb? One...but does it HAVE to be a lightbulb?" - Bendis

Good, fun read, but hardly the indispenisble tome that many people and critcs claim it to be. It goes on a little too long and drags in places and there are other examples of Hollywood exposed that are as good.The story: Brian Michael Bendis writes a graphic novel (Goldfish - well worth reading!)(and before this, unless you don't mind elements of that story being revealed), it receives the attention of Hollywood, and then thw whole misadventure of hurry up and wait commences. Movies like the Kevin Bacon vehicle The Big Picture cover similar ground - but actually between the two, the latter works better for me - maybe because it is a movie about the movie biz (rather than a comic about a comic in the movie biz), and maybe because, as Bendis repeatedly points out - if the foray into Hollywood doesn't work out, he's still got comics (whereas Kevin Bacon and all the other wannabes in Hollywood only have their dreams and hopes of making it)(thus, the desperation meter is running that much higher).Still, an excellent change of pace from Bendis' usual blood and guts style... it starts off with an excellent Bugs Bunny/Hollywood analogy, and as far as the artwork, as another reviewer commented, it's reminiscient of Fred Hembeck. Overall though, I'd try to borrow a copy - it's a very fast read (Bendis is among the best when it comes to dialogue), and as the author himself points out, the cover price IS criminally high.