The Art of the Introduction

July 5, 2010
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Introductions have become a staple in just about every collected edition published these days. They are designed to give the reader insight into what to expect, what to look for and why the following is important. It sets the stage as to what’s to come and to give you an overview of why the book is appealing and worthy of your time.

I tend to read the introduction (or forward or commentary) not only as the first thing but also as a follow up after the book is finished. For me, it make it more complete. Some introductions have stuck with me over time and it makes me want to read the book over and over again. People like Alan Moore can do this. He did so inside the pages of The Complete Frank Miller Batman. Moore is a master himself and him commenting on Frank Miller’s work elevates it. Not only is the story a masterpiece but somehow, but it somehow exemplifies it and makes it more important.

Speaking of Moore, I’m currently reading, for the first time ever, his run on Swamp Thing with DC’s Deluxe Editions. Volume Two has a wonderful intro by Neil Gaiman, who offers up not only his friendship with Moore but he’s one of the few people who can get inside and understand just what Moore is conveying to the reader. Gaiman had me primed and ready by the time I turned the page to Swamp Thing Annual #2 which featured Deadman, Phantom Stranger, The Spectre and Etrigan, The Demon – all of whom are favorites of mine. Also, I would have been completely lost if Gaiman was not there to explain Saga of Swamp Thing #32 which was an homage to Walt Kelly’s Pogo. Moore’s use language alone is baffling, unorthodox, and incomprehensible all the while being beautiful and full of meaning. I had no idea that after Moore was done writing the story he had a hard time going back and writing in plain old English!

You wouldn’t get that from reading the monthly periodical.

What are some of you favorite introductions?

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0 Responses to The Art of the Introduction

  1. collectededitions on July 6, 2010 at 3:06 pm

    Bar none, Tori Amos’s introduction to Death: The High Cost of Living. Great short piece of writing, sticks in my head.

    Reply
  2. Kinetic007(Jared) on July 12, 2010 at 1:36 am

    I make a point of reading the introductions in each collected edition as well. As you say Chris, they can give you a real insight into a bit of the history and the atmosphere at the time that the book was written.
    I have also just started the Saga of the Swamp Thing and enjoyed the Len Wein intro.
    The intro by Mike Barr in the Camelot 3000 collection is also an excellent read.
    For different reasons, I like the Kurt Busiek intro to Avengers Forever. Mainly due to the fact that I was collecting the mini-series in singles at the time (one of my first introductions to an event/mini-series) and I loved it. I just wasn’t sure why. Busiek highlights alot of the uncertainity and general feelings I remember having at the time.

    Reply
  3. pmpknface on July 15, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    This is a GREAT topic! I’ve been bugged, for a while now, that Marvel isn’t putting intro’s into their collections and even asked Joe Q about this at a panel, but he said you’d have to contact Jen Gruenwald who apparently doesn’t reply to emails. In any case, here are a few of my favorites:

    – Frank Miller’s intro to the WOLVERINE mini and DD: MAN WITHOUT FEAR mini. It really gives you insight as to how and why these stories got to be.

    – Alan Moore’s intro to PROMETHEA vol 1. Man, it’s long but it’s really like a prequel or necessary reading to the story.

    – SANDMAN: all of ‘em. Except one… and I forget which one… but that 1 gives away too many plot points. Otherwise, these are all gems.

    – 100 BULLETS: yea, all of them. Each brings something new to the table and a different perspective.

    – JM DeMatteis’s intro to KRAVEN’S LAST HUNT. I’m biased because it’s one of my favorite stories ever, but the intro adds another layer of things for you to notice in the book. Much in the way you spoke of…

    – SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING HC’s – that I am enjoying greatly! I just read volume 3 last week, and that one didn’t disappoint.

    I can also think of a few manga volumes that have good interviews, appendices, and backup material: the Vertical HC’s of Tezuka’s BLACK JACK, OISHINBO, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL to name a few.

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