The Classic Comics Cavalcade reaches some kind of high-point this week:

Johnny Hazard by Frank Robbins began its syndicated life as juest another WWII Fighter Pilot strip. Sure, there was solid storytelling with terrific Caniff-school art, but nothing that really set it apart; that is– until the title character returned to civilian life and tried to find himself a decent job.  For the next 31 years, Johnny Hazard fell head first from one adventure to another. The transitions between stories– plane hijackings, mistaken identities, misplaced luggage, femme fatales in desperate straights– were as much fun as the actual adventures themselves.  Hermes Press offers two years of dailies (1946-1948) and it is a non-stop roller-coaster ride of fun and excitement with page after page of fabulous art.  Johnny Hazard is my all-time favorite comic strip.  Find out why! You won’t be sorry!

Collects: Hellblazer #34-46.  Still haven’t given old John Constantine a try?  Here is the absolute perfect place to step in and sample a terrific horror comic  as it hit one of its many artistic peaks.  The writer who would go on to produce Preacher–  Garth Ennis began his long tenure on Hellblazer with this justly famous story arc that featured our trench-coated anti-hero fighting off both Lung Cancer and the Devil.  This story-line is a true classic.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, The Hellblazer Library is just chock full of great horror stories and exciting art. Try this book– you will become a JC fan for life and the chances are good this storyline will force you quit smoking as well!  Chilling– and one of the single greatest endings to any comic story.  For the hundreth time, I do not exaggerate.

Last, but not least…

Collects all the Donald Duck stories from 1948. Although these stories are a year or two away from his peak, the earliest Barks output is far superior to the work of almost any other comic artists. These 3 20-page stories, ten  10-pagers and numerous single-page gag strips are more that just exciting, funny Donald Duck comics, together under one cover, they create  a veritable text book for budding cartoonists on  design a page, how to tell a story and how to make the reader laugh. These are all must have volumes and if you’ve been sitting on the fence about the great Duck-Man, he is your chance to dive in.