In the early beginnings of the Golden Age the United States government recognized that advertising to a young audience would help garner pro-American support for the War effort. So much so, that heroes like Batman, Superman and Captain America wanted kids (and the adult parents) to help out by purchasing war bonds. But even after WWII, the US didn’t stop there. Hundreds of public service announcements were authorized through various publishing houses and even commissioned to-notch artists and writers like Will Esiner, Milton Caniff and Walt Kelly, to name a few. Governemt, and even Corporate, sponsored ads even run today and now, for the first time a collection has been published Government Issue – Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s (Abrams ComicArts) that showcase this artform and today I interview the editor, Richard L. Graham. This truly is a fascinating look into the USA’s forgotten and overlooked use of some of our favorite super-heroes and cartoon characters. Original art abounds from Walt Disney and Joe Maneely and scores of others. If you like your comic book history, and I know that listeners and readers of the podcast and blog do, then you will enjoy this trip back through time.

I want to thank Richard Graham and Abrams ComicArts for supplying me a copy of this book and if you would like a free copy for yourself, please listen to find out how.

Chris

Links Of Note:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries Image & Multimedia C0llections – Government Comics Collection

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Trades and Forbidden Planet International (UK)

What I received was truly exceptional:

• Speed Racer complete manga set
• X-Men Files
• The Wizard King by Wally Wood
• some Looney Toon toys for the kids
• and an original Batman sketch

(this is what I gave away to Travis aka Night Nurse)

Also included, to me, was a nice reference book that I had never heard of: The Great Comic Book Artists Volume 2 by Ron Goulart. I have, just this past week, tracked down Volume 1 on eBay and I can’t tell you what an indispensable pair of books they are.

I readily admit I had no idea who Goulart was but I found out he is a writer of many science fiction and fantasy novels. He was the ghost writer for William Shatner’s Tek War books and he even did some scripting at Marvel in the 1970’s and for you DC Archives collectors, Goulart did the introductions to Superman Volumes 2 and 7, Plastic Man Volume 2, and The Spirit Volume 5.

But here, we get the historian in him. The two volume set (by now there should be a volume 3 or 4!) is quick and concise 2 page spread of the artist and his black and white illustrated work. This includes a short, well written biography and background. I’d go so far to say that it’s a wikipedia before there was wikipedia. Don’t be fooled either, these are not just Goulart’s “favorite” artists – these are the best, from as far back as the 30’s and 40’s with Will Eisner and Mac Rayboy up until the 80’s with Frank Miller, Bill Sienkewicz and Howard Chaykin. Everyone is covered and you’d be hard pressed to list what “great artists” are missing – well, perhaps Gray Morrow.

If you are into history and reference like me, then you want these on you bookshelf. I can’t thank Thermite on the 11 O’Clock Comics Forums enough for giving me this book. I have no intention of ever giving away to anyone other then my children.

The Great Comic Book Heroes Volume 1
by Ron Goulart
Special Thanks to Jerry Bails, Mike Barson, Jerry DeFuccio, Don and Maggie Thompson, Bruce Hamilton (Another Rainbow), Russ Cochran and Steve Saffel (Marvel Comics)
128 pages, $12.95, 1986, St. Martins Press
Also includes a selected informal bibliography of all artists listed in the book

Artist profiles:
Neal Adams, Matt Baker, Carl Barks, Dan Berry, C.C. Beck, Charles Brio, Dick Briefer, John Buscema, John Byrne, George Carlson, Howard Chaykin, Gene Colon, Jack Cole, Reed Crandall, Jack Davis, Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, Lee Elias, George Evans, Bill Everett, Lou Fine, Frank Frazetta, Fred Guardineer, Paul Gustavson, Bob Kane, Gil Kane, Walt Kelly, Jack Kirby, Bernard Krigstein, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, Joe Maneely, Jesse Marsh, Sheldon Mayer, Mort Meskin, Frank Miller, Bob Montana, Klaus Nordling, George Perez, Wendy Pini, Bob Powell, Mac Rayboy, Jerry Robinson, John Romita Sr. Alex Schomberg, John Severin, Joe Shuster, Bill Sienkewicz, Walt Simonson, John Stanley, James (Jim) Steranko, Frank Thorne, Alex Toth, George Tuska, Ed Wheelan, Barry Windsor-Smith, Basil Wolverton, Wally Wood, Bernie Wrightson

The Great Comic Book Heroes Volume 2
by Ron Goulart
Introduction by Ron Goulart
112 pages, $12.95, 1989, St. Martins Press

Artist profiles:
Arthur Adams, Murphy Anderson, Segio Aragones, Steve Bissette, Brian Bolland, Wayne Boring, Carl Burgos, Jack Burnley, Nick Cardy, Paul Chadwick, Johnny Craig, R. (Robert) Crumb, Bob Davis, Mort Drucker, Will Elder, Billy Ely, Ken Ernst, Creig Flessel, Gill Fox, Bob Fujitani, Joe Gallagher, Dave Gibbons, Jean Giraud (Moebius), Jerry Grandenetti, Mike Grell, Milt Gross, Chad Grothkopf, Irwin Hanson, Russ Heath, Graham Ingels, Al Jaffee, Mike Kaluta, Fred Kida, Bob Lubbers, Russ Manning, Norman Maurer, David Mazzuccehelli, Tarpe Mills, Ed Morre, Paul Murry, Bob Oksner, Carl Pfeufer, Fred Ray, Pierce G. Rice, Frank Robbins, Boody Rogers, Fred Schwab, Howard Sherman, Dan Spiegle, Dave Stevens, George Storm, Curt Swan, Frank Thomas, Jimmy Thompson, Ogden Whitney, Mary Wilshire

Recommended reading:
Star Hawks The Complete Series By Ron Goulart and Gil Kane (Hermes Press)

It’s important to remember that Cap was born out of necessity in the worst war of all time and into the greatest generation. Even though we are all familiar of Captain America thanks to The Avengers #4 (March 1964) and Tales of Suspense #58 (Oct. 1964), Marvel Comics is well aware that the importance of the character lies with his earliest adventures in Captain America Comics #1-75 and other Golden Age titles (All Winners Comics #1-19, Marvel Mystery Comics #80-84 and #86-92, USA Comics #6-17, and All Select Comics #1-10). Over the years Marvel has painstakingly republished the stories as part of their Masterworks line and even collected the short lived 1950′s Atlas Era revival. But the love of the Golden Age version has always been a favorite of Roy Thomas.

Thomas was a writer and editor-in-chief at Marvel and was looking for a new angle on classic stories. He came up with The Invaders. This was a 5 member team of Captain America, Bucky, Sub-Mariner, The Human Torch and Toro, all of whom did have adventures with one another in the 1940′s comics, but did not ever consolidate into a formal team. The Invaders #1 (1970) changed all that with the premise being untold tales of this retro fitted superteam. It worked so well that in just a few issues Thomas quickly expanded the lore by reintroducing more obscure golden age characters including Whizzer, Miss America, Blue Diamond, Jack Frost, The Patriot, Red Raven, and The Thin Man in the pages of Marvel Premiere. Under Bucky’s leadership they became known as The Liberty Legion and now the complete storyline has been collected in Marvel Premiere Classic – The Thing: Liberty Legion.

The plot is as simple as they come: Cap, Namor, Torch and Toro have somehow been captured and brainwashed by the Red Skull and it’s up to Bucky to rescue them before they and the Nazi’s destroy New York City and take over the world. Bucky realizes that he is a bit out of his league and must recruit the other heroes and form the Liberty Legion. With each appearance Thomas retells the origins and brings us up to speed. As with most reviews here on the CCL Blog, I avoid spoilers but I can tell you that the fight sequences and the interaction between characters are well done, especially when brainwashed Cap meets up with The Patriot and calls him a poor imitation. The Red Skull is in typical form, even when his master plan goes array he yells out, “Not Now! Not when I’ve come so close to total triumph”!

The 4 part crossover with The Invaders did so well, that the Liberty Legion would see three more comics, this time teaming up (of sorts) with The Thing and the rest of the Fantastic Four for a series of time traveling adventures. It should be stated that a few of the characters, The Patriot, Red Raven and The Whizzer were reintroduced into the Bronze Age before Marvel Premiere #29, but here Thomas sets it all straight in the Golden Age taking into account their individual appearances elsewhere.

As for the extras in this book there are none, but what is nice is the complete Liberty Legion story all in one book. Marvel’s Invaders Classic TPB collects the initial 4-issue cossover, but nothing else. Also reprinted are the end notes from the original issues. In them Thomas describes just who these forgotten characters are and when they first appeared. Without them, the reader (of yesterday or today) would be lost and wondering who these people are. Thanks to books like these and the Captain America movie, Golden Age Marvel is in style and will be for another great generation.

Marvel Premiere Classic – The Thing: Liberty Legion Variant (Volume 69)
Written by Roy Thomas
Art by John Buscema, Sal Buscema, Frank Robbins, Don Heck and others
168 pages, $24.99, Marvel Comics
Collects The Invaders #5-6, Marvel Premiere #29-39, Fantastic Four Annual #11, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #1 and Marvel Two-In-One #20

Recommended reading:
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Daring Mystery Volume 2 – The Blue Diamond (introduced Daring Mystery Comics #7, April 1941)
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age USA Comics Volume 1 – Jack Frost (USA Comics #1, Aug. 1941)
No reprint of first appearance – Miss America (Marvel Mystery Comics #49, Nov. 1943)
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Human Torch Volume 1 – The Patriot (Human Torch Comics #3, Spring 1941)
Golden Age of Marvel Volume 2 TPB – Red Raven (Red Raven Comics #1, Aug. 1940)
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Mystic Comics Volume 1 – The Thin Man (Mystic Comics #4, July 1940)
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age USA Comics Volume 1 – The Whizzer (USA Comics #1, Aug. 1941)

While Reed, Sue and Ben have seemingly moved on from Johnny’s demise to create the Future Foundation with Spider-Man (geez, how many team and solo books can he be in anyway?) this is a perfect time to get reacquainted with ‘ol Hot Head before his expected return in Fantastic Four #600 in 2012. And there’s no better place to learn about his roots then a visit, not to the early Fantastic Four comic books (which are great in of themselves), but to the Human Torch short story, solo adventures that ran in Strange Tales #101-134 and are collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch Volumes 1-2.

If you know your Marvel history then you know that the FF #1 predated the debut of Spider-Man (Amazing Fantasy #15) by about 10 months; November 1961 vs. August 1962. But let’s not forget that the FF appeared in Spider-Man #1 (Mach 1963), setting the stage for the friendly feud between Spidey and Torch, and interestingly enough there was no Fantastic Four book in that hot summer month; #6 was held off until September. But it’s October, 1963 when things really heat up.

Strange Tales was started in 1951, as part of Atlas Comics horror line. As that genre wained, thanks in part to Fredric Werthem, Stan Lee thought that a superhero should be added and since Spider-Man had his own title and the Fantastic Four was popular, there was no better character to take over, and add a bit of a rivalry, Johnny Storm, The Human Torch. Of course Johnny was the Silver Age and second Human Torch. The first being created by Carl Burgos in 1939 for Marvel Mystery Comics and ran from #1-98 and in Human Torch #1-35. Both comics were cancelled in 1949 and after a short resurrection (along with Captain America and the Sub-Mariner in the 1950′s), the Golden Age original faded into obscurity until Fantastic Four Annual #4 (November, 1966).

Johnny’s adventures in Strange Tales differed slightly from Fantastic Four as it was geared for a little younger audience. Here, Lee was more focused on action then science, more earth born street level thugs then cosmic fears from beyond. Johnny was more like his new rival Spider-Man, having to go to high school, have a girl-friend and having to fit in. I can only imagine kids in the early 60′s arguing on the playground who was the better hero (we adults do this now on our own playgrounds called forums). So just keep that in mind if and when you pick these books up.

As for the comics themselves, they are a lot of fun and full of nostalgia and loaded with some of the best talent one book has ever seen. Stan Lee and his brother Larry Lieber do the majority of the writing, but Jerry Siegel (Superman) comes by for #112-113. As for the artwork, that job is left up to Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers who at times turn it over to Steve Ditko, Wally Wood, Bob Powell and the aforementioned, Carl Burgos.

Let’s look at some of the more notable comics:

• Issue #101 is a reintroduction to the origin of the Human Torch and the Fantastic Four.
• Issue #106 brings the four of them together (boy, that was quick!), and Reed, Sue and Ben come back for #108-109 (and make other short appearances throughout the run).
• Issue #107 is one of those books that can’t get reprinted enough; it’s Johnny vs. Namor, The Sub-Mariner in an epic battle that should not be missed! It’s also the fourth appearance of Namor in the Silver Age and his first outside of the FF title.
• Sandwiched in between Siegel’s brilliant #112 and #113, there is Strange Tales Annual #2. This particular book has Stan writing and Steve Ditko inking Jack Kirby’s pencils and even features Spider-Man – you won’t find this comic in the Amazing Spider-Man Masterworks or The Steve Ditko Visionaries HC!
• Issue #114 (November 1963) gets even better with the return of Captain America. As a reader of that time, it would have been awesome to witness his return (except his red shorts), but then be somewhat disappointed with the surprise ending. But fear not because Steve Rogers would be resurrected for good, a few months later in The Avengers #4 (March, 1964).
• Skipping ahead, Johnny’s buddy, Ben Grim comes by and teams up for the run of #121-134. Reading the issues, I’m not sure this move was necessary. One the good side they battle Namor in #125, but this team-up concept without Reed and Sue, helped end the Human Torch in Strange Tales to make way for the super spy, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

As for the extras in these two Masterworks, Volume 1 only contains an introduction by Dick Ayers while Volume 2 has Bruce Canwell doing that duty. In the second volume there is cover art for the complete 8-issue reprint run (1974-75) of The Human Torch. This series collected the Silver Age, Atlas Age and Golden Age comics that featured The Human Torch. Both volume have creator biographies.

Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch Volume 1 HC (Variant Volume 66)
Written by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jerry Siegel, Robert Bernstein and Ernie Hart
Art by Dick Ayers, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko
$50.00 ($55.00), 272 pages, Marvel Comics
Collects: Human Torch stories from Strange Tales #101-117 and Strange Tales Annual #2

Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch Volume 2 HC (Variant Volume 114)
Written by Stan Lee and Larry Ivie
Art by Dick Ayers, Bob Powell, Carl Burgos and Jack Kirby
$50.00 ($55.00), 256 pages, Marvel Comics
Collects: Human Torch stories from Strange Tales #118-134

Also recommended:
Marvel Masterworks: The Golden Age Human Torch HC Volumes 1-3
Marvel Masterworks: The Atlas Era Heroes featuring Marvel Boy, Human Torch, Captain America and Sub-Mariner HC Volumes 1-3

That’s the case with Steve Saffel who continues his reprint series on Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Titan Books recently released a follow-up to 2009’s The Best of Simon and Kirby with Simon and Kirby Superheroes. This book collects everything just as it says it does and in a wonderful full color fashion. Saffel took his time in constructing the 480 page hardcover pouring his love into every page he edited. The well crafted book shows that he cares for the preservation of the material and is not out to get a quick buck from releasing cheap and easy reprints and where getting the book to market is more important then the quality of the work. Some restoration had to be done to a few of the comics but rest assured it was done with the hands of Harry Mendyk, who worked with Saffel on the first book.

Any fan of either comic book legend will want to buy this and add it to their shelf that would undoubtedly include work from major publishers like DC and Marvel. The Simon and Kirby Superheroes also contains an insightful introduction by Neil Gaiman that gives us an account of just how and why he optioned to do his own revival of Sandman. Gaiman also reminds us that not only has there never been another Jack Kirby, but there has “never been another Joe Simon, as well”. Another person to take us our journey through time and art is Jim Simon, Joe Simon’s son. He recounts the 1940’s and 1950’s and offers us an uncommon family viewpoint of these two great men and there process.

Sadly, a few of the series are short lived so as fast as you get acquainted with a hero, he quickly goes away. Below is a listing of how the book is broken down by character and the issues collected:

• The Black Owl, Prize Comics #7-9, 1940-41
• Stuntman, Stuntman #1-3, 1946
• The Vagabond Prince, Black Cat Comics #7-8, 1946
• Captain 3-D, Captain 3-D #1, 1953
• Fighting American, Fighting American (Volume 1) #1-7, 1954-55, and (Volume 2) #1-2, (1966
• Private (Lancelot) Strong, The Double Life Of Private Strong #1-2, 1959 and Adventures Of The Fly #2, 1959
• The Fly, Adventures Of The Fly #1-2, 1959 and The Double Life Of Private Strong #1, 1959

Some of these stories have never been published and also included are rare and unseen artwork. As good as this book is, I do have two issues to take to task:

1. The dimensions of The Simon and Kirby Superheroes is 11.2 x 7.9 while The Best of Simon and Kirby is 12.2 x 9.1, therefore the two are different when lined up on my bookshelf. For a reprint  series of this importance, I’m surprised that they do not have coherent uniformity.
2. Besides Simon and Kirby’s names there is no listing of other Artist or Writer credits. The only way I knew that Steve Ditko was involved on Captain 3-D was to read the text provided by Neil Gaiman and Jim Simon. I’m curious as to who else worked on these comics and the only way to do that is to hunt each individual comic down on the comics.org database.

Those two things won’t be a hindrance for me with future Simon and Kirby projects from Steve Saffel and Titan books. In fact here is a rundown of future volumes:

• Joe Simon: The Man Behind The Comics
• The Simon and Kirby Library: The Birth Of Romance
• The Simon and Kirby Library: Crime Drama
• The Simon and Kirby Library: Oh! The Horror

The Simon and Kirby Superheroes
Titan Books, 2010
480 pages, $49.95
A copy of this book was supplied to me by Titan Books

For more information on The Best Of Simon and Kirby, please listen to Collected Comics Library Podcast #233 – Interview with Steve Saffel, August 26, 2009

I started this for my own personal reason back in 2007, when I wanted to learn more about Thor. I remember growing up with the reruns of the The Marvel Super Heroes mini-cartoons and getting more familiar with him in The Avengers and Secret Wars comics of the 1980′s. But it wasn’t until he was seemingly killed off in the Disassembled storyline that I wanted to know more about him, Odin and Asgard. I reread the Masterworks and picked up inexpensive but essential comics from back issue bins.

In 2008, I chose to focus on Luke Cage and Iron Fist, reading all the Essentials that were published up to that point. In 2009, I went ahead with the daunting task of reading all 27 Volumes of The Spirit Archives. That works out to be one book every two weeks. Couple that with all the other reading I do for this blog not to mention spending time with my family and non-comics book activities and that’s a whole lot of reading to get done in one calendar year. Not only did I have a much better understanding for The Spirit, but also for his creator Will Eisner. That impacted me on my decision to switch things up in 2010 and instead of a superhero, I chose Steve Ditko. Not only did I reread everything I owned by him including my Spider-Man and Dr. Strange Masterworks (Marvel), but I bought Strange Suspense The Steve Ditko Archives (Fantagraphics), Strange & Stranger World Of Steve Ditko (Fantagraphics), The Creeper By Steve Ditko (DC), The Art Of Steve Ditko (IDW), his Atlas-Era Marvel comics and current independent work with Robin Snyder. I even recorded a five-part podcast series covering his entire body of work.

Now it’s 2011 and I’m going back to where it all began – The Golden Age Superman. In general GA comics are not the easiest comics to read. Most of the time super heroes fought petty criminals and mad scientists. You almost had to wonder why a God among men would bother with such lowlifes. But that’s the charm. It is a simpler time with simple writing and a country trying to get by while the men were away fighting WWI. I’m fortunate to own all the Archives: Superman in Action Comics Vols. 1-5, Superman Vols. 1-8, and Superman: World’s Finest Comics Vols. 1-2. I also have The Complete Diamond Anniversary Edition Superman Collection (Bosko edition) that wonderfully collects all of the 1941-1943 Superman cartoons from Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios. There are a few different DVDs of these cartoons, but from all accounts the Bosko disc is still the one to buy.

I hope you, too, pick a character(s) or creator(s) to learn more about and to let me know who it is.

Wonder Woman #600 came out last week and the comic community, the internet and even ABC News is all a buzz about her new costume change. I think it’s a good move not only for the character, but to get people talking about comics in general. I’m sure the debate will go right into Comic Con. I do have a feeling that Diana Price will return to her original one piece outfit someday because we have seen it before back in 1968 when Diana and all of the Amazons lost their magic and became for the most part – mortal. Diana wore a Mod-type outfit and learned Kung-Fu in the process. It actually made her a stronger and more interesting character. But that only lasted 30 odd issues before she went back to the red, blue and gold bustier that we all know her for. I’m sure that’s what DC is doing again – rehashing what came before – new outfit, new attitude and old numbering system.

Today’s show is no different. I covered the Wonder Woman Archives way back for Podcast #4. You can listen to it if you want but I warn you that the audio is suspect. In this updated installment I talk about not only the Archives but also, the Showcase Presents volumes, the aforementioned Diana Prince trade paperbacks and two books that you may not be aware of The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Volume 2: Wonder Woman by Michael L. Fleisher (MacMillan, 1976) and Wonder Woman (Bonanza, 1972) which is a Greatest Golden Age Wonder Woman collected edition of sorts and it even has an introduction by Gloria Steinem. The contents of that book can be found at The Wonder Woman Pages.

Also on the show I go over Dave McKean’s new printing of Cages (Dark Horse, September 2010), Siegel and Shuster’s Funnyman: The First Jewish Superhero, from the Creators of Superman, The Linked Photographers’ Guide to Online Marketing and Social Media by Rosh Sillars and The Last Airbender movie which Patrick and I saw this past Sunday. and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

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• ICv2.com has info on IDW‘s new The Complete Li’l Abner. Dean Mullaney’s Library of American Comics project has been nothing sort of spectacular. This book and series can’t come out fast enough.
• ICv2.com also has a list of 2010 Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Full List of 73 Titles). Please pass this link along to friends and family you know who would be interested.
• ICv2.com also has the Chip Kidd cover to the Strange Tales HC anthology. It will collect Strange Tales #1-3, The Megalomaniacal Spider-Man and material from All Select Comics 70th Anniversary Special, $29.99, February 24, 2010.
• Boom! Studios to Launch New Imprint with a focus on literary comics and selective reissues of out-of-print works. I’ll be interested to see what they have planned.
• David Welsh, Precocious Curmudgeon, blogs on Deb Aoki revealing the results of her 2009 Manga Readers Polls over at About.Com.
• The Emerald City ComiCon (ECCC) is once again bringing back its popular Monsters & Dames art book for 2010. Only 850 copies will be printed.
• Heidi MacDonald, The Beat, has all the SPACE Prize winners. I’ve been meaning to go to this for years, but this year it fall to close to C2E2 so I’ll have to miss it for another year. Also posted are the Fall/Winter Xeric winners.
• Chris Arrant, Newsarama, on Popgun Volume 4 and it’s creators. This is a fun anthology. If you never picked it up, I think you’ll be surprised. I hope to devot a podcast to this series someday.
• Twilight: The Graphic Novel. Need I say more?
• Blake Bell, via Fatagraphics, Fire & Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics. There’s a link to Everett’s Facebook page where you can see and read about the progress of the book. It’s scheduled for September and is not selling for $999.98 as you’ll see on Amazon.com.

• My review of Essential Nova Volume 1 TPB (Marvel Comics) from The Collected Editions Blog. This is a tie-in to the audio review I did on this book back for CCL Podcast #226.
• 2009 Ignatz Awards Nominees Announced.
• Bill Jordain, Golden Age of Comics is back at it again with 2010 Vintage DC Comics & Marvel Comics Calendars. I was able to get the 2009 calendar and I absolutely loved it. I’m sold on these two for next year – one for me and one for my son.
• Tom Spurgeon has his CR Sunday Feature: Let’s Start Making A List — Works To Consider For Best Of Decade, 2000-2009. All the best is listed and it’s ongoing so be sure to drop by and send in your suggestions.
• Pádraig Ó Méalóid, FPI Blog, asks his friends What’s Your Opinion Of The Term Graphic Novel?
• My thanks to Alan Gardner, Daily Cartoonist, for posting the Dear Mr. Watterson teaser. Now go out and buy The
  Complete Clavin And Hobbes.
• Until I caught this off of CBR, I had no idea this was going on: Michigan’s Inaugural Cherry Capital Con Traverse City, MI, August 29-30. Sorry, I’m not able to attend.
• Press Release: The Hero Initiative and Marvel Comics Announce the Wolverine 100 Project.
• Product Update: Top Cow includes First Born in the Broken Trinity Deluxe Hardcover.
• Review: Jog, The Blog by Jog, on A Distant Neighborhood Vol. 1 (of 2).
• Review: Jay Tomio, BCS, on his $225 Fatale: Inherit the Earth HC.

Since starting this blog back in 1998 and recording the podcast (2004) I’ve read several Collected Editions. Most have been America Comic Books or Comic Strips. I’ve only ventured outside the boundaries to read some Franco-Belgian comics, Marvel UK or some Italian or German interpreted material. All of those are fairly easy to find on Amazon.com or some other book market site, but when it comes to the Far East that’s another story altogether. I’m not talking about Manga. No, just about everyone, including me, has picked up Naruto or Bleach or has watched some sort of Anime at one time or another. No, I wanted to dig deeper, but looking for collected editions of pre-Manga Japanese or Indian, Chinese or Taiwanese comics is a far greater challenge.

But I have found what I was looking for with Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater by Eric P. Nash (Abrams ComicArts). When I came across this book, I didn’t have much of an initial reaction, but upon opening up the cover I was struck by the classic artwork from a Japan that for the most past no longer exists – truly a Golden Age. Kamishibai is what Manga was before there was Manga. They are story board paintings set in sequence and one by one they are turned and narrated by storytellers. It was a very simple street theater and adored by thousand and thousands of children all over Japan throughout its rich history.

Mr. Nash does an excellent job going through this history and even citing example of where some of our modern day superhero creators like Bob Kane or Steve Ditko may have gotten ideas for certain characters. Also included are several stories starring the Golden Bat, Jungle Boy and Prince of Gamma, in which Nash has done written narration and history of the characters.

But like so many visual mediums, transformation occurs and when World War II began. The street theater became propaganda. Nash covers this period in detail and includes several examples of Anti-American and political Kamishibai. Some of which caught me off guard, the government was targeting children and teenagers after all.

Even the period after the war ended bought on new style Kamishibai, not so much a return to heroes and villains but slice of life stories such as the heartfelt Prayers For Peace, in which a girl struggles in a post-atomic bomb and war ravaged part of the city. The imagery is stunning and you can’t help but to think of her very existence and how, or if, it will go on.

Nash also goes into the birth of what we know as Manga and even a bit of Anime. With the rise of television and well placed American influences, Kamishibai took a back set to emerging technologies and even 1960’s Adam West Batman.

Any fan of Manga or Japanese and WWII history, for that matter, will welcome this book to their shelf. Along with rare artwork on every page, Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater also includes a glossary of terms and the dust jacket folds out to a brilliant, giant poster. Due in stores on September 1, 2009, 304 pages, Hardcover, 9.2 x 8.6 x 1 inches, $35.00 US; $45.50 CAN; £19.99 UK

For more comments on this book and the latest Collected Edition news on Dean Mullaney’s Library of American Comics (IDW), Ed Brubaker’s Criminal Deluxe Edition (Marvel Icon) and Savage Dragon Ultimate Collection 1 HC (Image) listen to the Podcast.
Collected Comics Library Podcast #231
32,846Kb; 27m 48s

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

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