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This week on the podcast I sit down with comic book historian and writer, Chris Irving for a candid discussion about all things comics. From Marvel and DC reprint projects to digital comics and movies we even touch on current happenings. I’ve known Chris for a few years now but never had the chance to talk to him at length. He is a wonderful and very knowledgeable person and I am so glad he took the time out of his very busy schedule with Hermes Press and Graphic NYC to join me.

Chris

Links of note:
Chip Kidd’s Glass Books via The Comic Archives

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades and Forbidden Planet International (UK)

This week on the podcast I continue my look at classic comic strips with Peter Maresca of Sunday Press Books. The aptly named company has been reprinting Platinum Age, turn-of-the century, newspaper strips for a few years now and has an excellent reputation of reproduction. Maresca comes on the show to talk about his love for this special time period of comics and the wonderful library he is amassing, including Little Nemo In Slumberland, Krazy Kat and Sammy Sneeze, just to name a few. We also talk about how helpful the late Bill Blackbeard was to Sunday Press Books.

I want to thank Peter for taking the time to come on the CCL Podcast!

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades and Forbidden Planet International (UK)

Today on the show I’m proud to have on a real icon of the comic strip medium, Brian Walker. Brian grew up with comics and even has it in his blood, as his father is Mort Walker, creator of several strips including Sam’s Strip, Beetle Bailey and Hi & Lois. He comes on today to talk not only shop but about his newly published The Comics: The Complete Collection (Abrams ComicArts) which is actually a combination of both of his The Comics Before 1945 and The Comics Since 1945. It is now available in a very nice oversized, affordable hardcover edition.

I’d like to thank Abrams ComicArts for supplying me a copy of the book.

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades and Forbidden Planet International (UK)

I’m very happy to say that they pulled it off without a hitch, well perhaps the World War III mini series during week 50 was a hitch, but a small one at that. I ended up buying every issue and eagerly awaited these newfound characters week to week in their own soap opera-esque adventure. DC also added in some nice bonus features to this maxi-series; first in week’s #2-11 with Donna Troy guiding us through History of the DC Universe and then weeks 12-51 with 2-pages spreads of updated Secret Origins showcasing both Heroes and Villains.

Of course DC has collected 52 in a nice set of four trade paperbacks; 304 pages, $19.00 each, and you probably have read it in one form or another, but you may not know is that DC published 52:The Companion, a collection of Best Of and Origin stories of the main characters of 52. The work of some of the greatest writers and artists are highlighted here including Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Steve Ditko, Alex Toth, Walt Simonson, and Greg Rucka. This book is a must have.

Here is a complete rundown of what is included:

• Superman: The Man of Steel #97, Feb. 2000, featuring Steel
• Detective Comics #350, Apr. 1966, featuring Elongated Man
• Secret Origins #35, Dec. 1988, featuring Booster Gold
• Rip Hunter: Time Master #6, Jan. 1962, featuring Rip Hunter
• Gotham Central #40, Apr. 2006, featuring Renee Montoya
• Mysterious Suspense #1, Oct. 1968, featuring The Question
• Animal Man #16, Oct. 1989, featuring Animal Man
• Strange Adventures #226, Oct. 1970, featuring Adam Strange
• Metal Men #45, Apr. 1976, featuring The Metal Men
• JSA #43-44, Feb./Mar. 2003, featuring Black Adam

Now if the above list sounds good, the book only gets better with the very nice introduction and running commentary for each story from Mark Waid. He not only describes what makes these characters pertinent to the 52 series, but why these particular stories were chosen for this volume. Probably the most interesting inclusion is Strange Adventures #226 with Adam Strange by Murphy Anderson and Gardner Fox. This is not your typical comic book as it is written mostly in prose with just one or two illustrations per page. Waid points out that it has never been reprinted until this volume, so any fan of  Silver Age Science Fiction comics will want to check it out.

Events come and go every year and with it there are these types of tie-in collected editions to look forward too. DC Comics, and the others, should consider themselves lucky that they have a vault filled with past treasures – and they should share those treasures on a regular basis.  It gives the reader the background they need with new found characters and teams and their current perils. Could we see a Flashpoint: The Companion? Perhaps. Trades like 52: The Companion is a great way to relive the past and perhaps, you may just have a new favorite other then one of the Big 7.

As someone who is a self-proclaimed connoisseur of reprint and collected editions it’s a treat to come across a book (or books) that are ideal for your distinguished taste. Both Art Out of Time and the companion follow-up Art in Time (Abrams ComicArts) by Dan Nadel are two such books. Anyone who reads this blog or listens to this podcast must own these great books – not only for historical reasons but for pure enjoyment of a time gone by. Nadel packs in so much and yet he leaves you wanting more. Which is his overall goal. For the real enjoyment is the hunt that you must undertake after your read these books – to seek out, back issue hunt and explore the hidden gems of a classic era in comics. Today on the show Nadel shares with the why’s and how’s of these books and his overall take on the reprint market itself.

Art in Time: Unknown Comic Book Adventures, 1940 – 1980 By Dan Nadel
Published by Abrams ComicArts
304 pages, 11 x 8, $40.00
My thanks to Abrams ComicArts for supplying me a copy of the book.

Chris

Links Of Note:
PictureBox
Comics Comics

Collected Comics Library iPod App
http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

DGTL Comics
www.dgtlcomics.com
@dgtlcomics
dgtlcomics@gmail.com

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades and Forbidden Planet International (UK)

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.

• Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual–March 2009. Before you click, guess what was #1? Yep. You’re right.
• Cosmic Comix and Toys has a nice article on DC Archive Editions. They guys even point to my Collected Comics Library site. For that I thank them very much.
• What would a Cable Omnibus look like? Les Sports De Combat maps it out.
• Chris Mautner, and friends, from one of the best comic blogs around, Robot 6, has another installment of What Are You Reading. Includes a lot of collected editions.
• Recoloring: Jog takes a look at The Incal. One word: Fascinating.
• Richard Bruton, FPI Blog, on Classics Illustrated.
• Fantagraphics has just released Luba by Gilbert Hernandez. FIY, there will be a Collectors Edition of Luba, signed by Hernandez, with a special binding, and strictly limited to 30 copies, and will most likely be a convention exclusive starting this summer!
• Review: KC Carlson, via Comics Worth Reading, has an excellent look at the new Max Fleischer’s Superman 1941-1942 DVD and even touches on the older versions, too.
• Scott’s Classic Comics Corner: DC’s Bureau of Missing Reprints Part 1 and Part 2. I agree with some picks like Vigilante, but Rex, The Wonder Dog? Well, let’s hope DC finishes up Kamandi before that comes to print.
• Newsarama has a preview of Apes & Babes: The Art of Frank Cho.
• ICv2.com has a preview of The Best of Simon and Kirby.
• A few things regarding the latest New York Times Graphic Books Best Seller List (April 11 and April 18). First, Raoul, Trade Talks laments the list while Heidi MacDonald, The Beat, and friends, takes a look at it, not once but twice.
• This fall, IDW’s Library of American Comics serves up laughs for all ages with George McManus’s classic Art Deco comedy, Bringing Up Father. Also IDW will Celebrates 10 Years with 2 Volume Hardcover Collection.
• In last week’s Pipeline, Augie De Blieck Jr. takes a look at The Insanity Of Collecting Deadpool. Awesome stuff.

Batman: Battle for the Cowl Companion HC
Projected to collect Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon, Battle for the Cowl: Man-Bat. Battle for the Cowl: Arkham Asylum, and Battle for the Cowl: The Underground, and maybe also the Gotham Gazette issues.
DC Classics Library: Batman: A Death in the Family HC
Gotham Central Vol. 2: Jokers and Madmen HC
Projected to collect #11-20
Outsiders: The Deep HC
Flash Chronicles Vol. 1 TP
Projected to collect early adventures of Barry Allen
Flash vs. The Rogues TP
Supergirl: Who is Superwoman? HC
Wonder Woman: Rise of the Olympian HC
Blackhawk: Blood and Water HC
A three-part 1988 miniseries by Howard Chaykin
Superman: Adventures of Flamebird & Nightwing TP
Legion of Super-Heroes: Enemy Rising TP
Batman: Private Casebook TP
Booster Gold: Blue and Gold TP
Tangent: Superman’s Reign Vol. 2 TP
Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come Part II TP
Superman/Batman: Search for Kryptonite TP
Superman: Kryptonite TP
Wonder Woman: The Circle TP

Next Bruce Rosenberger, KomicsKast, shares his first of I hope many to come segment on Old Time Radio shows. Thanks Bruce, I now have another great radio show to listen to during those long boring hours at work.

Email Ric at ric.croxton@gmail.com with any questions or comment you have on the episode or post on the The Book Cave Forum. This podcast episode originated on the The Book Cave website.

Collected Comics Library Podcast #193
29,516Kb; 31m 20s

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/
It’s that spooky time of year, especially if you live in Detroit! Come on in and grab a scary book!
Tonight, I give you a history lesson on The House of Mystery and The House of Secrets from DC Comics. Two great titles that had a significant influence on Neil Gaiman and his epic Sandman series.
So turn down the lights and curl up with a good podcast!
Boo!
Count Chris

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