The Life of Singleton

Featuring nearly 400 original interviews with close friends, family members, and colleagues, The Life of Singleton is the definitive account of prolific filmmaker John Singleton’s life and times.

John Singleton became a living legend at just twenty-four when he earned Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Boyz N the Hood, the sleeper hit of 1991 and one of the decade’s most important films. Over the next thirty years, he amassed a Hall of Fame career featuring more classic films, number one hits, and one of the top-rated series on cable television. Throughout his career, Singleton was committed to bringing the raw and authentic stories of Black America to the big screen, and inspired generations of filmmakers in the process.

Driven by diligent reporting, and featuring astute storytelling, sharp analysis, and fascinating anecdotes from a long list of sources, The Life of Singleton details the life and death of Hollywood’s first self-proclaimed hip-hop director. From Singleton’s time as a driven young film student at USC to his last days on the Costa Rica set of Snowfall, Thomas Golianopoulos takes readers behind the scenes of the filmmaker’s work, family, relationships, and controversies, and unwraps the complex man behind it all.

The Life of Singleton is perfect for readers of hip-hop memoirs and biographies like The Marathon Don’t Stop, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane, and Dilla Time, and film histories like Alright, Alright, Alright and Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs