"I never made a concious decision to have the club become one thing or another. It just happened. Before my eyes. Each savage event was a catalyst for the next. And by the time violence reached epic porportion I couldn't see it." - John Teller 

 

 

A wonderful companion book for fans of the tv show. Well thought out and beautifully put together. My favorite part was the commentaries from the actors. I loved all of the insight that was provided, especially by Kurt and Charlie. I enjoyed reading about all of the research that went into creating the show, and all of the behind the scenes details. It took me on a trip through memory lane and reminded me why I loved this show so much. 

 

"I realize, as I think you did - a good father and good outlaw can't settle inside the same man." - Jax Teller

 

 

 WARNING: SERIES SPOILERS

Welcome to the clubhouse..."Go inside the clubhouse and behind the scenes of the #1 smash hit FX television show Sons of Anarchy with this official book, the only one officially sanctioned by the show's creator and FX, which offers the definitive insider's guide to all seven seasons, including the series' memorable final episode.

Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector's Edition is an awesome tribute to the Teller-Morrow family. Inside you'll find:

An introduction by and interviews with Kurt Sutter, series creator on how the show came to be. Revealing interviews with the cast, including Charlie Hunnam (Jax), Katey Sagal (Gemma), Maggie Siff (Tara), Ryan Hurst (Opie), Theo Rossi (Juice), Kurt Sutter (Otto), and more "Creating the Chaos:" an all-access tour of the sets, the bikes, the tattoos, and much more. The actors' most memorable scenes and moments, in their own words. An oral history of the pivotal Season 6 finale "A Mother's Work". A look back at Season 7, the series' end and the Teller family legacy. Complete with a deluxe package, and hundreds of striking full-color photographs throughout, Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector's Edition is the must-have book for any Sons of Anarchy fan."

 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 

Anyone who is a die-hard fan of Sons of Anarchy knows how committed Kurt Sutter, show creator and writer, was to the show and to its fans. When a few distributors mistakenly shipped pre-orders of the collector's edition book one week before the series finale was to air, Mr. Sutter took to Twitter to issue a personal apology to fans in true Kurt Sutter style: 

 

FAN APOLOGY

---

It has been brought to my attention that our SOA Collector's Edition Book has been sent out a week early by some distributors and book outlets. This book contains details about the final episode of the series. This, my friends is a storyteller's worst nightmare. I wanted this book to be a compliment to the show. It contains personal messages and photos from the cast, in-depth behind the scenes information and detailed breakdown of episodes. It's a smart, well-conceived book that I was very excited for the fans to have. AFTER the motherfucking finale. There are a thousand fucking people I can blame. And I assure you, by the time I am done, my fucking basket will be filled with heads of incompetent cunts. But as far as the fans go, the burden is on me. I fucked up. It was my idea for the book, so ultimately, I am to blame. So if you received a book, I apologize. I ask that you not share your wrath or pain or opinion in social media so as to not spoil the experience of others. There is no excuse for utter ineptitude. It pains me that this will be the parting memory of some fans. I hope you all tune in for the finale. It plays much better than it reads.

Sincerely

ks

---

 

This same passion and commitment is truly apparent within the pages of the SOA Collector's Edition. According to Sutter, he wanted to give fans "something all encompassing. A potluck feast you could sink your voracious teeth into." And both he and Tara Bennett deliver. This book is absolutely gorgeous. It's filled with stunning photography:

 

 

 

                                               ❖

 

 

                                                ❖

There is information ranging from the inception and evolution of the story, including research into MC history and culture (yes, Jax's white kicks are actually part of modern biker culture!), to the thought processes behind set designs and music selection. But for me, the biggest treat was the insight provided by Kurt Sutter, Charlie Hunnam (Jax), Maggie Siff (Tara), and the rest of the cast into the minds of the characters--especially as related to Jax and Jax's journey. While I loved the behind the scenes "making of" information, what I loved most was reading about the story dynamics and the perspective of the characters as they faced their most poignant, life-changing moments. It was such a wonderful reminder of the reason I fell in love with this show to begin with: the well-written, complex characters. 

 

This book is a true love letter to both show and fans. The blurb does not lie: it's a must-have for Sons of Anarchy fans.

 

Final Rating: 5 Stars

 

Tak jak usiadłam, żeby przejrzeć tylko, zobaczyć jak to się prezentuje, tak już zostałam w zaciekawieniu wertując całość, do ostatniej strony. Wertując, czytając, przeglądając i jednocześnie zachwycając się grafiką. Łyknęłam wszystko na raz i nie wyobrażam sobie, aby można było to zrobić inaczej. Książki to co innego, ale przy komiksie pierwszy raz zdarzyło mi się coś takiego, że totalnie odleciałam w prezentowany świat. Świat do którego scenariusz napisał Christop Her Golden. Nie wiedziałam gdzie jestem, byłam totalnie nie świadoma otoczenia w jakim się znajduje. Wróciłam do świata żywych dopiero, gdy zakończyła się historia z pierwszego tomu Synów Anarchii. Cała recenzja na: http://agapilecka.pl/blog/sons-of-anarchy-synowie-anarchii-christopher-golden-damian-couceiro/

Sons of Anarchy Vol. 2 - Ed Brisson

So, yeah, I totally got this along with the Robocop and Planet of the Ape comics.   Thank Primus Humble Bundle went with books - and mostly books I'm not interested in - because I don't think I could have kept up with another round of comics -_-

 

I figured I'd give volume two another go.   It's not quite as bad as the first, in which the dissonance between these protagonists being shown as heroes but being total and utter dicks.   The way they treat women, all the illegal shit...

 

I just can't see them as heroic in any way, and I'm having trouble rooting for them - which you're kinda supposed to do. 

 

So, yeah, not moving forward with these, but I don't really regret reading the first two.   At least I understand more why I didn't connect and stick with the SoA show.

Sons of Anarchy Vol. 1 - Damian Couceiro...

I may have enjoyed it more if I'd stuck with Sons of Anarchy.   The whole 'we're doing all this illegal shit, but are heroes of this story' bothered me.   I like grey areas, but this wasn't gray.   It was a slightly darker black: these men were murderers, were into some pretty dark shit pretty deep, and I couldn't buy them as heroes.  

 

I lost interest, pretty much.   That said, at least the show - and these comics - don't shy away from that and try to pretend that they're heroes.   The comics had the same feel as what I remember of the show, and was, for some reason, a bit more palatable.   Maybe because it didn't quite as dark as some of the story lines, or maybe because I know I only have eleven issues - and I really probably won't continue with this series after that.  I'm just not that into it. 

 

Still, this is another story in which SAMCRO has to protect a girl, a daughter of one of their members who has passed away.   The girl is, of course, screwed up and doing porn because she couldn't make it as an actress.   When she has to go in late to get her phone she's forgotten, she witnesses a child pornography being made.   Deeply upset, she walks out - with the two prepubescent girls.   When people come after her, hired by her former boss, she turns to SAMCRO for help. 

 

And it doesn't work any better in this story.  I was a bit more tolerant of it - then again, it wasn't asking for, like, ten hours of my life per season.   It's impossible to view these men as heroes, no matter that Tig points out to Kendra that he's the best white knight a girl like her can hope for.   In fact, that line turned my stomach: he's no white knight, and she knows it.   She knows he's protecting her because of what happened to Dawn (Tig's daughter) in the show.   It's made clear to the reader early on.   (I'd probably care more if I stuck around for the episode in which that happened, or remembered it, or something, right?)  But a white knight doesn't go around drinking, getting into bar fights, and yeah, murdering the crap out of people.  

 

So while it didn't shy away from the issue, it didn't really get to the heart of the problem.   

 

Anyway, I enjoyed it far more than the dissonance bugged me.  I didn't enjoy it enough to invest the time and money to get more issues, but enough to read on through the second volume!