Post image for CCL Podcast #256 – Steve Ditko Part 1 – Marvel Comics 1956-1966

Collected Comics Library Podcast #256
24,083Kb; 25m 37s

Regular readers of this blog and listeners of the podcast are aware that every year I adopt a character (or creator). This entails me researching and reading a superhero from many different incarnations throughout the entire lifespan. For 2010 I chose Spider-Man with a special focus on the work of Steve Ditko. Sure I’ve read this work in bits and pieces before, but I have never looked at it with the maturity that I have now as an adult. Since starting, I have been drawn into Ditko’s world like no other creator has done to me before. I want to share my experience with you and with that in mind I’m focusing on the complete body of work from Steve Ditko for the entire month of February.

I begin the series of podcasts (one per week) with Ditko’s time at Marvel Comics from 1956 to his departure in July 1966. I go over all of his work in this time period and where you can find it in collected edition form and I also have an interesting email question regarding Marvel Masterworks Dr. Strange Volume 3 – you don’t want to miss it.

In upcoming shows I’ll discuss his first professional work and his long tenure with Charlton, his time at DC Comics, his return to Marvel and various independent works even up until today, where he is still working on Mr. A. I plan on this being a very informative and fun series and I hope to also include a few interviews with industry professionals along the way.

All this including Bat-Manga Volume 2, some news and notes from the Library Binding Company and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Links of Note:
Steve Ditko Week – Book Steve’s Library
Super I.T.C.H by Craig Yoe

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International

The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Strange Suspense The Steve Ditko Archives Vol 1 HC
Strange & Stranger The World of Steve Ditko HC
The Art of Ditko HC
Superman: Mon-El Vol. 1 HC
Showcase Presents: Secrets Of Sinister House TP
Green Lantern: Secret Origin TP
Tiny Titans: Sidekickin’ It TP
Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover TP
Deadpool Vol. 3: X Marks The Spot Premiere HC
House Of M: Masters Of Evil TPB
Iron Man & The Armor Wars GN-TPB
Iron Man: Tales Of The Golden Avenger GN-TPB
Dominic Fortune: It Can Happen Here and Now TPB
Star Wars Adventures: Luke Skywalker And The Treasure Of The Dragonsnakes TPB
Little Lulu: The Big Dipper Club And Other Stories
The Complete Dracula HC
Super Zombies Oversized HC
Crogan’s March HC
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Strange Suspense The Steve Ditko Archives Vol 1 HC
Strange & Stranger The World of Steve Ditko HC
The Art of Ditko HC
Pre-Order Special: X-Men Inferno Crossovers HC – 40% off until Friday February 10th
Pre-Order Special: Absolute Promethea Book 2 HC – 40% off until Friday February 10th
Pre-Order Special: Bloom County Complete Library Vol 2 HC – 40% off until Friday February 10th
Pre-Order Special: Twilight GN Vol 1 HC – 40% off until Friday February 10th
Pre-Order Special: Transmetropolitan Vol 1 Back on the Street (new edition) – 40% off until Friday February 10th
RASL Volume 2 The Fire of St. George
Wonder Woman Warkiller
Batman Long Shadows HC
Dungeon Quest Vol 1
Tezuka’s Black Jack Vol 10
Hoshin Engi Vol 18
Spider-Man The Gauntlet Vol 2 – Rhino & Mysterio HC
Iron Man Deadly Solutions Premiere HC Cover A
Iron Man Deadly Solutions Premiere HC Cover B
Black Widow & The Marvel Girls
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CCL on Comic Book Page: Mayo Report: 2009 Year in Review

by Chris Marshall on February 3, 2010

Post image for CCL on Comic Book Page: Mayo Report: 2009 Year in Review

John Mayo from Comic Book Page and CBR, Bob Bretall and Chris Marshall of the Collected Comics Library podcast discuss the sales estimates for the top 500 comics and top 500 graphic novels and collected editions of 2009 and some of the sales highlights of the year.

Links:
Mayo Report articles on Comic Book Resources
Email us at MayoReport@ComicBookPage.com with any questions or comment you have on the episode or post on our forum.
Join the discussion on our forum
This podcast episode originated on the Comic Book Page website

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Post image for CCL Podcast #255 – Logicomix: An Epic Search For Truth (Bloomsbury)

Collected Comics Library Podcast #255
24,521Kb; 26m 05s

I admit I’ve never been one for biographical comics. No, I’m not talking about Art books or Retrospectives, but actual comic books about famous people. You see more and more pop up every month. Abrams recently has published Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness by Reinhard Kleist, Bluewater Productions has a whole ongoing series devoted to Female Force or Political Power and Bloomsbury USA published Logicomix about Bertrand Russell.

Not exactly a household name by any stretch, Bertrand Russell was in fact, one of the greatest philosopher/mathematicians in the modern era. Logicomix by Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos and Annie Di Donna, explores his life from his boyhood all the way through most of his life in 1939.

Now I know what you’re thinking, because I thought the exact same thing when I heard of the premise: Why is this guy important? And how this is an interesting and enjoyable topic. To pull of a biography of this sort, the authors and artists had to be very creative. Make no mistake, they have passion in their work and it shows. So much so that all four mentioned above are literally put into the story. The book is told in three separate and distinct viewpoints. The first being, as mentioned, the authors themselves as they plot out and create the very book in which you are reading. They discuss not only about the creative process, but about Russell, himself – what he stood for, his way of thinking and about logic and mathematics.

Bertrand Russell comes in as the second narrator and the second point of view. It’s the beginning of World War II and he is speaking in America in front of a crowd of anti-war protestors. They ask him what side he will take (it should be noted that Russell was a pacifist). He invites everyone in the lecture hall and begins to ask the protesters how they came to their anti-war stance. What was their “Tools Of Reason?”; what was their “Logic?” From the podium, Russell reflects on his life starting from when he was a boy and this is where the third story begins – an autobiography, of sorts.

The switching back and forth between three ongoing and overlapping stories did get confusing and, to be frank, there were too many interruptions. As a result, the pace of the book was slowed especially when the authors interjected themselves.

After reading, I now know who Bertrand Russell is and I get that he is important, but I’m still uncertain as to why. His work on logic, mathematics and other subjects are world renowned, but I’m still perplexed as to why his story needed to be told as a comic book/graphic novel. I guess the trouble lies with the makeup of the book itself. A 347 page Biographical Graphic Novel, as opposed to a 500 page prose novel, can only give a glimpse into a certain point in a person’s life in time. I have found that the problem is within the format. If the authors focus in on a small amount of time (like the Johnny Cash book), too little is given. If the authors cram in a large amount of time (like 67 years in this book), too much is left out.

Another thing that I had trouble with was that the authors, had to take liberties to move the story along. They did not mention Russell’s bother (though they strangely acknowledge this) and they took Russell’s life experiences from different points of time and events and meshed them together. We know that Hollywood does this all the time in order to make a more enjoyable 2 hours. Just look Mel Gibson’s Braveheart. But this is not the same sort of thing. The roots and foundations of this book and its’ subject matter is based on truth and fact. I may be bold in saying this, but I don’t think Bertrand Russell, himself, would find this to be – logical.

As for the book itself, it a very nice paperback. The page stock is heavy, the colors are bold and line work is not overly done. Lettering is used well within the word balloons and the captions standout as they are all yellow. The extras include Logicomix and Reality (which what I talked about above), a lengthy Notebook which boils down to a Glossary of important people and mathematical terms and finally a selected Bibliography.

Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou
Bloomsbury USA, 2009
352 pages, 9.2 x 6.7, $22.95 US
A copy of this book was supplied to me by Bloomsbury USA

All this including Fire & Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics for $1000 and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International
Marvel for April
Marvel for May
Image for April
Monthly Special – Trial of Sherlock Holmes HC – 40% off
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Batman: Under The Cowl TP
Justice Society Of America: Strange Adventures TP
Tales Of The Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 TP
The Losers Vol. 1 And 2 TP
Wildcats: Family Secrets TP
House Of Mystery Vol. 3: The Space Between TP
House Of M: Wolverine & Hulk HC
Secret Warriors Vol. 2: God Of Fear, God Of War Premiere HC
Avengers: World Trust Premiere HC
Alias Ultimate Collection Book 2 TPB
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man And The Avengers Digest
First Born Broken Trinity Deluxe HC
The World Of Cars: Radiator Springs TP
The Incredibles: City Of Incredibles TP
The Man With No Name Vol. 2: Holiday In The Sun TPB
Latest Pre-Order Special: Marvel Masterworks: Black Panther Jungle Action HC – 40% off until Friday February 5th
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Logicomix
Bloom County Complete Library Vol 2 HC
Crossed Vol 1 TPB
Crossed Vol 1 HC
Crossed Volume 1 Signed HC
Elephantmen Vol 3 Dangerous Liaisons
Twilight GN Vol 1 HC
Essential Iron Man Vol 4
Dark Reign Hawkeye
Wolverine Weapon X Vol 1 Adamantium Men
Ms. Marvel Vol 9 Best You Can Be Premiere HC
Star Wars Omnibus A Long Time Ago… Vol 1
Wonder Woman Warkiller
Saga Of The Swamp Thing Book 3 HC
The Nobody TPB
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Collected Edition Blog browsing on Wednesday afternoon

by Chris Marshall on January 27, 2010

Post image for Collected Edition Blog browsing on Wednesday afternoon

Just doing some catching up. Here are some linky-links for you – with comments.

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Post image for CCL on Comic Book Page: Mayo Report: December 2009 Collected Edition Sale Estimates

John Mayo from Comic Book Page and CBR and Chris Marshall of the Collected Comics Library podcast discuss the sales estimates for the top 300 graphic novels and collected editions for December 2009.

Links:
Mayo Report articles on Comic Book Resources
Email us at MayoReport@ComicBookPage.com with any questions or comment you have on the episode or post on our forum.
Join the discussion on our forum
This podcast episode originated on the Comic Book Page website

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Shipping and Product Changes updates as they relate to collected editions only (via Diamond). Changes will also be reflected in the New Releases Schedule, too.

SUPPLIER/TITLE OLD DATE NEW DATE
MARVEL COMICS
Fantastic Four: In Search of Galactus PC HC (Variant Vol.  39) 2/10/2010 2/17/2010
Avengers: Korvac Saga PC HC (Variant Vol. 38) 2/10/2010 2/24/2010
Incredible Hercules HC: Sacred Invasion 2/17/2010 2/24/2010
MMW Fantastic Four HC Vol. 12 (Variant Vol. 132) 2/17/2010 2/24/2010
MMW Golden Age/Daring Mystery HC Vol. 2 (Variant Vol. 133) 2/17/2010 2/24/2010
Strange Tales HC 2/10/2010 2/24/2010
Fortune & Glory: True Hollywood Comic Book GN-HC 2/24/2010 3/24/2010
Kabuki: Reflections HC Reg./Ltd Ed Var 2/24/2010 3/24/2010
Iron Man: Extremis HC Reg./Var. 3/17/2010 3/31/2010
  • Spin Angels Premiere HC (Marvel, JAN100668, $24.99) solicited as containing Spin Angels #1-3 and running 168 pages will now contain Spin Angels #1-4 and run 192 pages.
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Post image for CCL Podcast #254 – Irredeemable TPB Vols. 1-2 (Boom! Studios)

Collected Comics Library Podcast #254
17,774Kb; 18m 53s

It’s not often that a new series gets my attention, in fact, as a “Trade Waiter” it’s 99% never. I like to joke that because I hold out for the collected edition, I’m always preverbal guy at the party talking about last years summer blockbuster movies in December (Star Trek comes to mind – I just saw it on DVD).

But that’s not the case with Irredeemable by Mark Waid and Boom! Studios. For a year I’ve been told by friends and read on numerous message boards what a great new superhero (or anti-superhero) series this is. A few months ago I found myself at my LCS thumbing though an issue. It looked good, but my CE mentality took over and I decided to wait as usual. This past Saturday I was on vacation and my Brother-In-Law and I took our sons to the comic shop. I picked up both trades of Irredeemable and I’m so glad I did. This indeed is a great series and a breath of fresh air to the over used plots of dismantlement and reassembling of the JLA or Avengers or X-Men or whomever. As I say in the podcast, you can jump right in as the story moves very fast and Waid gets you up to speed. But story is not all we talk about; in fact I hardly touch on it. Each trade only collects four issues so there’s not too much to give away. But I do talk about the two books themselves and my guess as to what will make up the Hardcover as well as the extras included.

All this including the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International
DC Comics for May
DC Comics for June
Dark Horse for June
Monthly Special – Trial of Sherlock Holmes HC – 40% off
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Irredeemable Vol 1 TP
Irredeemable Vol 2 TP
Marvel Masterworks: Dr. Strange Volume 4 HC
Marvel Masterworks: Dr. Strange Variant Volume 130 HC
Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era – Jungle Adventure Volume 1 HC
Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era – Jungle Adventure Variant Volume 131 HC
Thor By J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 3 Premiere HC
X-Men: Asgardian Wars HC
Thing: Project Pegasus Premiere Classic HC
Thing: Project Pegasus Premiere Classic Variant Vol. 37 HC
Captain America: Road To Reborn TPB
Hulk: Fall of the Hulks Prelude TPB
Wolverine & Black Cat: Claws TPB
Wolverine First Class: Class Actions TPB
Ultimatum: Requiem TPB
The Barry Windsor-Smith Conan Archives Volume 1 HC
Latest Pre-Order Special: Avengers/X-Men: Utopia – 40% off until Friday Januray 27th
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Irredeemable Vol 1 TP
Irredeemable Vol 2 TP
Neil Young’s Greendale HC
Seven Soldiers Of Victory Vol 1 HC
Sweet Tooth Vol 1 Out Of The Woods
Life and Times of Martha Washington in the 21st Century
Ghost In Shell Vol 2 Kodansha Edition
Red Tide
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys Vol 8
Daredevil/Echo Parts Of A Hole Premiere HC
Avengers The Initiative – Dreams & Nightmares Premiere HC
Spin Angels Premiere HC
Spider-Girl Vol 12 The Games Villains Play Digest
Spectacular Spider-Girl Who Killed Gwen Reilly?
Super Spy The Lost Dossiers
Market Day HC
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Collected Edition Blog browsing on Tuesday afternoon

by Chris Marshall on January 19, 2010

Post image for Collected Edition Blog browsing on Tuesday afternoon

I took a short vacation this past weekend. While I was away I was able to get a lot of reading done and if you caught my Twitter feed then you know what I’ll be talking about for this week’s podcast. Now on to some linky-links:

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Shipping and Product Changes updates as they relate to collected editions only (via Diamond). Changes will also be reflected in the New Releases Schedule, too.

SUPPLIER/TITLE OLD DATE NEW DATE
MARVEL
Avengers: Korvac Saga Prem. HC Reg./Var. 38 2/17/2010 2/10/2010
Captain America: Theater of War HC 2/3/2010 2/10/2010
Fantastic Four: In Search o/Galactus Prem. HC Reg./DM 39 2/3/2010 2/10/2010
Incredible Hercules HC: Sacred Invasion 2/3/2010 2/17/2010
MMW Fantastic Four HC Vol. 12 Reg./Var. 132 2/10/2010 2/17/2010
Fantastic Four by J. Hickman Prem. HC Vol. 1 2/17/2010 2/24/2010
Ghost Riders TP: Heavens on Fire 2/3/2010 3/3/2010
Iron Man: Extremis HC Reg./DM 4/14/2010 3/17/2010
Wolverine: Origins Prem. HC: Seven/Hard Way 3/17/2010 3/24/2010
DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Hack/Slash TP Vol. 7 New Blood, Old Wounds (MR) 1/27/2010 2/3/2010
  • The release of Image Comics’ Popgun Vol. 4 has been pushed back from Feb. 10 to Feb. 24.
  • MMW Inhumans HC Vol. 2 (Reg./Var. 136: NOV090529-30, $54.99) will now be 320 pages, not 304 pages, and will include the previously unannounced Marvel Fanfare #14.
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Post image for CCL Podcast #253 – Kim Thompson, Vice President of Fantagraphics

Collected Comics Library Podcast #253
51,445Kb; 54m 48s

I’m excited to move out of 2009 and in to 2010 and what a better way to kick it off then an interview with a true journeyman, Kim Thompson the Vice President and Publisher of Fantagraphics Books. Kim has been in the industry for over 30 years specializing in alternative and independent comics. Kim has also championed the cause of European translations, which we discuss in-depth today. We also talk about Fantagraphics commitment to classic comic strip reprints like Peanuts, Price Valiant, Dennis The Menace and Pogo. For even more on Kim Thompson, be sure to visit his Blog page.

Also on the show I congratutalte Greg S. from Ogden, Utah on winning the 6th Annual NCAA Football Bowl Contest. Greg has chosen Showcase Presents: Warlord Volume 1 as his prize.

All this including thoughts on Human Taget comic books and trade paperbacks and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Links of Note:
Human Target comic books

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International
Monthly Special – Trial of Sherlock Holmes HC – 40% off
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Batman: The Brave And The Bold TP
Dead Romeo TP
Doc Savage: The Silver Pyramid TP
Human Target TP
Agents Of Atlas: Turf Wars Premiere HC
Cable Vol. 3: Stranded Premiere HC
Runaways: Escape To New York Premiere HC
Spider-Man: Return Of The Black Cat Premiere HC
Spider-Man: Election Day TPB
Ultimatum TPB
The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Vol. 9 HC
Elephantmen, Vol. 2: Fatal Diseases TP
Army Of Darkness Hellbillies & Deadnecks TPB
Femforce Omnibus Volume 2 TP
Latest Pre-Order Special: Amazing Spider-Man By JMS Ultimate Collection Book 3 – 40% off until Friday Januray 22nd
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Complete Alice In Wonderland Vol 1 HC
Walt And Skeezix Vol 4 HC
Power Girl A New Beginning
Teen Titans Child’s Play
100%
Star Trek Alien Spotlight
Official H/B Of Marvel Universe A To Z Vol 13 Premiere HC
Avengers The Contest Premiere Classic HC Cover A
Avengers The Contest Premiere Classic HC Cover B
Avengers Standoff Premiere HC
X-Men Forever Vol 2 The Secret History Of The Sentinels
Farscape Vol 4 Tangled Roots HC
The Barry Windsor-Smith Conan Archives Vol 2 HC
Conan Vol 8 Black Colossus
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