Review :: Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics

September 03, 2012 By: Andy Mansell Category: DISCUSS, Reviews

This is for all of you out there in Heroesland who were unfamiliar with Joe Kubert and did not understand the importance of his his place in comic’s history or the importance of his (and other’s) stature in the history of our beloved medium. There is nothing to be ashamed of–comics has a long rich history and it is hard to get involved in comics’ past when the present is moving so quickly toward the future.
Now, I love comic books and there is only one thing I love more than Comic Books (besides my wife, daughter, and  those fresh Harris Teeter donuts with the sprinkles) and that is Books about Comics. I am a Comic Lit junkie and I try to read every book that gets published about Comic History and Comics Analysis.  And there is a lot out there.  Some of it is OK, some of it is good and some of it is great.  Most books are for the experienced Comic Enthusiast but  sometimes a book is published for fans who are new to our rich history. And Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics by writer Christopher Irving and photographer Seth Kushner is an ideal place for the initiate to annoint themselves in the rich history of Comic book past. In all honesty, the book is really a Photography Portrait album peppered with quite a few fascinating quotes from the creators themselves.
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STAFF PICKS ROUND UP :: AUGUST 29, 2012

August 30, 2012 By: Rico Renzi Category: DISCUSS, Spotlight on New Releases, Staff Picks

ANDY’S PICK :: COMICS REVUE PRESENTS AUG 2012: For any of you who have considered delving into the treasure trove of comic strip reprints, Comics Revue is the absolute perfect place to start.  Since 1984, Revue has been publishing healthy chunks of some of the greatest comic strips to ever grace the newspaper comic section. Currently, the all-star line-up includes: Flash Gordon from the 1960s written by the late great Harry HarrisonModesty BlaiseDick Moore’s run on Gasoline AlleyTarzan Sunday pages by Russ Manning! Milt Caniff’s Steve CanyonAlley Oop from the ’40s, Roy Crane’s Buz Sawyer from the early 60s! (it’s still awesome!)  Krazy Kat dailies from the 30s, Secret Agent Corrigan by Williamson and Goodwin and tons more–The Phantom, Latigo, Tarzan dailies, Mandrake the MagicianRick O’Shea and a one of the great under- appreciated humor strips, Sir Bagby!

You don’t need to try this particular issue, any one on the Heroes shelf will do.  It is such an ideal comic anthology.  You will find things you love, things you like a lot and things you can live without.  But once you get a real taste of classic comic strips, the one thing you can’t live without is the bi-monthly dose of Comics Revue.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: INFERNAL MAN-THING #3: The late, great Steve Gerber’s final script gets the royal treatment via fully painted art from modern master Kevin Nowlan. This story is a sequel of sorts to an issue Gerbs wrote during his Man-Thing stint in the 70s, a run that is now regarded as a classic. Pick up these three issues and find out why.

KARLA’S PICK :: PHANTOM LADY #1: This week marks the debut of Phantom Lady #1, the first in a four-part mini-series featuring the Lady herself and her crime-fighting partner Doll Man. Amanda Conner lends her talents to the cover art for this issue, with interiors by the lovely Cat Staggs. I’m excited to see where writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti take this beloved Freedom Fighter and pulp heroine, and though her costume doesn’t look nearly as pin-up as her past incarnations, I’m sure this bombshell won’t disappoint!

HEATHER’S PICK :: Wolverine and the X-men #15: There’s so much to love about this book: Wolverine dealing with a bunch of teenagers, bamfs running amuck through the Jean Grey School and stealing Wolverine’s whiskey all brought to us by Jason Aaron’s excellent sense of humor.  Now we add to that an unlikely friendship between one of my favorite, Broo and Tony Stark.  I’m also excited to see new students are joining the school and looking forward to the resolution of the AVS storylines.  As always, do not feed the bamfs.

RICO’S PICK ::  ALL ACTION CLASSICS No. 4: THE WIZRD OF OZ:  L. Frank Baum’s Classic a seen through the lens of brilliant cartoonist Ben Caldwell, check it out!

 

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