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DC Comics Year by Year
by KC Carlson
As discussed briefly last month, we are now at that point in the calendar year where publishers begin showing off their special books for the coming holiday season. So, keep in mind that numerous of the items we’re talking about right here may not really ship until October or November. Also, with the high cover price of some of the items noted here, this might really be much more of a “Dear Santa…” concept listing than anything else.
1. DC COMICS’ 75th anniversary ITEMS
DC has always had a fascinating history, so expect a flood of stuff — some of it quite awesome — over the coming months to celebrate the company’s 75 years. For example, DC Comics Year by Year: A visual Chronicle. published by DK, this 352-page oversized hardcover tells the entire history of DC Comics, from the dawn of comic books in 1934 to the present. Month by month, it details the debuts of DC’s most significant characters as well as titles, as well as major trends as well as events, all profusely illustrated with traditional art, covers, as well as photos. I love chronological histories like this, as you can put so much perspective by knowing not only when something was very first published, however likewise what else was created or introduced around the same time. Written by Daniel Wallace, with an introduction by Paul Levitz as well as cover by Ryan Sook.
DC very Heroes supreme Pop-Up Book
DC Super-Heroes: The supreme Pop-Up Book: This book is mainly developed for kids, however you may want one for yourself, as it has some really outstanding stuff, including a light-up Bat-Signal, a cosmic Justice league of America battle scene, a twirling Lasso of Truth, as well as a transparent unnoticeable Jet! Over 25 outstanding scenes are included, all developed by pop-up engineer (I want that degree!) Matthew Reinhart. 12 pages. (Yes, you read that right. There should be multiple pops to a page.)
DC Postcards
DC Comics: 75th anniversary 100 Postcards Set: This very cost effective set of 100 postcards features traditional covers from throughout DC’s long history. samples shown include the golden Age, Silver Age, as well as the various modern ages (Copper? Bronze? Iron? West Coast? Dark? Platinum? It’s the new metal Men!).
Music of DC Comic
The music of DC Comics: 75th anniversary Collection CD: Collecting much theme as well as incidental music associated with DC characters over the last 75 years — all on one disc! (Notable omission: The Adventures of Superman TV theme). Here’s a rough track listing:
1. March of Superman (from the Fleischer cartoon) (1941)
2. theme From Superman (Main Title) – John Williams
3. Lois as well as Clark TV Theme
4. save Me – Remy Zero (Smallville theme)
5. Batman theme (60s TV Show) – Neal Hefti
6. The new Adventures of Batman theme (70s cartoon) – Jeff Michael
7. The Batman theme – Danny Elfman
8. Molossus (From Batman Begins) – Hans Zimmer
9. The Batman (Theme, 2004) – The Edge
10. Batman beyond cartoon Theme
11. Batman: The brave as well as the bold theme Song
12. Justice league limitless Theme
13. Justice league Animated theme (2001) – Kristopher Carter
14. very pals Animated theme (1970s) – Hoyt S. Curtin
15. The All new Superfriends hour theme (1977)
16. teen Titans Filmation cartoon intro (1967)
17. teen Titans Animated theme (2000s) – Andy Sturmer/Puffy AmiYumi
18. eco-friendly lantern Filmation cartoon theme (1970s)
19. eco-friendly lantern very first flight theme (2009) – Robert J. Kral
20. wonder woman TV theme (1970s) – Charles Fox
21. wonder woman Animated theme (2009) – Christopher Drake
22. Aquaman Filmation cartoon intro (1970s)
23. The Flash Filmation cartoon intro (1970s)
24. The Atom Filmation cartoon (1974)
25. Hawkman Filmation cartoon (1974)
26. Plastic guy Comedy/Adventure show theme – Dean Elliot
27. Swamp thing cartoon Theme
2. books about COMIC CREATORS
Al Jaffee’s mad Life
Al Jaffee’s mad Life: Jaffee is mad Magazine’s many prolific contributor, having appeared in over 450 issues of the magazine. His work very first appeared in 1955, as well as he’s only missed one problem because 1964. His many well-known development — now a cultural icon — is the mad Fold-In. Unbelievably, Jaffee never sees his painted picture really folded until it is printed in the magazine. He uses one of the oldest as well as reputable tools offered to artists to do the actual layout — his brain. It has served him well over a long as well as distinguished career. Al Jaffee’s mad Life is the story of that life as well as career, one of bringing millions of childhoods to untimely ends with the understanding that parents are hypocrites, teachers are dummies, politicians are liars, as well as life isn’t fair. I, for one, thank him for it. Al’s “Snappy answers to dumb Questions” has been adesign template for my worldview, as well as my admiration for his crazy inventions (second only to Rube Goldberg’s) has been the blueprint for exactly how my brain works. purchase this book.
Art of Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin: A Life in Words as well as Pictures: A 312-page illustrated bio of the guy who redefined “cosmic” for the comics industry, beginning with Marvel’s Captain marvel as well as Warlock in the 1970s as well as exploding into creator-owned epics in the 80s as well as 90s. Starlin is one of those special talents capable of single-handedly creating his own universes. This is his story. Co-published by IDW as well as Desperado (the folks responsible for the amazing Art of Brian Bolland as well as Art of P. Craig Russell books). likewise offered in a signed & numbered edition.
Brush With Passion
Brush With Passion: The Life as well as Art of Dave Stevens: very first published in hardcover in 2008 as well as now out of print (and going for big collector prices), this is a new trade paperback printing as well as will probably sell just as quickly. This 288-page, full-color, lavishly illustrated book covers the life as well as profession of beloved as well as influential Dave Stevens, best known for his development The Rocketeer. includes numerous renowned paintings as well as previously unpublished artwork.
3. THE SIMPSONS
Simpsons World
Simpsons World: The supreme Episode guide HC: This mammoth 1,200-page slipcased hardcover features extensive episode synopses for 20 seasons of Simpsons (128 of the shows never before covered!). plus the largest compendium of Simpson facts as well as trivia ever compiled! Over 400 character profiles! screen shots! the best quotes! song lyrics! as well as all the secret stuff you may have missed! plus there are master lists of star guest stars, every “D’oh” or “Mmm…” Homer ever uttered, couch gags, church marquee messages, Krusty the Clown merchandise, chalkboard quips, character designs, production art, as well as much, much more. like a total filmography of Itchy & Scratchy cartoons as well as a loving tribute to Troy McClure! as well as best of all — it weighs 8.8 pounds! (Which probably likewise qualifies it as a weapon!)
Treehouse of Horror
Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of horror #16: It’s Halloween (Really? I haven’t even seen fireworks yet, much less Labor Day brats!), as well as it’s time for the annual fear-fest that is the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror. Our hosts this year include Evan Dorkin with a story about professor Frink called “The Glavin”, Peter Kuper embracing his inner-Poe with “The Tell-Tale Bart”, Kelley Jones as well as Kelvin Mao telling the story of Flanders’ supreme revenge on Homer, as well as Lemmy (from Motörhead) taking Homer on a heavy metal trip to Hell! 48 pages from Bongo, the comic business not scared to scare their customers to death!
4. marvel COMICS
Fantastic Four
I’m enjoying a great deal of marvel titles these days, however nothing new is jumping out at me this month. There’s a lot of Wolverine as well as variant titles (not variant covers, variant Wolverines — like Daken as well as X-23) as well as great deals of Thor miniseries. (I wonder if there’s a film coming out? anybody hear anything?) If you like vampires as well as mutants — you’re in luck! (I’m kinda vamped out these days, thanks.) think I’ll stick with the Age of Heroes titles I’m really enjoying like wonderful four (which adds artist Steve Epting this month) as well as the offbeat Thunderbolts (who now count Man-Thing (?!) as a member). The two primary Avengers titles (Avengers as well as new Avengers) are reading like new epics in the making, as well as both Avengers Prime (Bendis & Davis) as well as The Children’s Crusade (by Heinberg & Cheung) are solicited this month. Lotsa great stuff!
Acts of Vengeance
Marvel Books: Acts of Vengeance from the early 1990s is being Omnibused (is that a word?) this month. This early marvel crossover had a now-quaint premise — villains chose to assault heroes they didn’t typically fight — as well as the series provides up some fantastic moments, however it doesn’t really hold together as a whole, because it didn’t really have an anchor title. Still, it’s awesome that it’s all collected in one 744-page hardcover, with either a new cover by Alan Davis or a reprint cover from John Byrne . . . The earliest Thor stories by Lee as well as Kirby (and a cast of other creators) from journey into mystery are likewise on tap in a new 768-page Omnibus . . . The marvel Masterworks line celebrates its landmark 150th volume by starting a “new” series to reprint — marvel Team-Up, the then-revolutionary new series that teamed-up Spider-Man (and occasionally the Human Torch) with the stars of the marvel universe . . . The traditional hardcover reprint of the month is Captain America: war & Remembrance, which collects the entire Roger Stern/John Byrne run — including the traditional Captain America for president story — in one 224-page volume.
5. THE BALLAD OF HALO JONES
Ballad of Halo Jones
First appearing in serialized type in the pages of 2000 A.D. in 1984, as well as later compiled into numerous as well as varied collections — all out of print — The Ballad of Halo Jones remains one of Alan Moore’s earliest, many popular, as well as in-demand works. originally developed in reaction to the testosterone-fuelled strips in 2000 A.D., Moore hoped to produce a strip based on a ordinary, unremarkable woman. He didn’t always be successful on those counts — Halo’s subsequent adventures are both amazing as well as often intense — however the series reportedly did draw in a big number of female readers, was likewise embraced by male fans, as well as ultimately was considered one of 2000 A.D.’s best strips. I was instantly taken in by the gorgeous artwork of the vastly underrated Ian Gibson. Reviewer Regie Rigby sums up the effect of Gibson’s art perfectly: “Halo’s world was a vastly different future to those envisaged in 2000 A.D.‘s other stories. Ian Gibson’s singular artistry gave whatever a sort of rounded organic look, however likewise absolutely breathtaking beauty. anybody who feels the way to make comics sexy is to draw small clothes as well as huge breasts ought to take a look at Gibson’s work on Halo Jones…”
This is one more in the long line of comic’s fantastic unfinished projects. It was originally visualized as a nine-book saga, spanning Halo’s life from adolescence to old age, however only three were done. What was completed is remarkable, yet bittersweet. This new collection from Rebellion/2000 A.D. is 202 pages.
6. BLONDIE volume 1
Blondie
IDW’s as well as The library of American Comics newest traditional newspaper comic strip series (Gosh, they have a lot. hope they can keep them all going!) is elegant Young’s Blondie. now a gag-a-day humor strip about a common American suburban family, mainly focused on goofy father Dagwood, it was completely a different strip when it very first debuted on September 8, 1930. Then, the unmarried Blondie Boopadoop, a flapper who hung around in dance halls, was the star of the strip. (Boopadoop came from the lyric of the popular song “I Wanna Be loved by You” which later became the signature tune for one more popular flapper — Betty Boop.) early on, Blondie met Dagwood Bumstead, the heir to a wealthy, high society fortune, as well as they fell in love. The aristocratic Bumstead parents were aghast that their child was dating below their class as well as ultimately refused him consent to marry the blonde. however the two young lovers ultimately hatched a hysterical plan — Dagwood goes on a hunger strike! (Ah! the origin of those outrageous sandwiches! He’s still hungry from the hunger strike!) ultimately the two were wed — in the traditional strips that close this volume — however their problems were far from over. much more than two years of everyday strips are collected in this 280-page volume, as well as numerous of the earliest strips have never been collected!
(Editor’s note: If you want to understand much more about the Blondie collection, come back Thursday, July 1 for Roger Ash’s interview with library of American Comics’ associate Editor, Bruce Canwell, which will be profusely illustrated with traditional Blondie art.)
7. the best AMERICAN COMICS: 2010
Best American Comics 2010
Every year, series editors Jessica Abel as well as Matt Madden ask a well-known guest editor to help them in selecting the best American Comics of the period passed. This year, the “name” editor is Neil Gaiman, who will assist scour the world of comics (meaning graphic novels, pamphlet comics, newspapers, magazines, mini-comics, as well as the internet) for the best stories from 2010. So simple. With Gaiman on board this year — a much more “mainstream” option than typical — there’s a possibility that the choices (always a secret prior to publication) might be slightly less esoteric than in some previous years, although those searching for a book full of eco-friendly lantern or Deadpool stories (or any type of superhero comics, for that matter) will probably be disappointed. A 416-page hardcover book, published by Houghton Mifflin.
8. POPEYE: the best COMIC book stories OF BUD SAGENDORF
Popeye Vol. 1
Historians typically agree that there are three traditional presentations of Popeye the Sailor Man: The original comic strip (Thimble Theatre) by E.C. Segar, the animated cartoons by the Fleischer studios, as well as the 1940s as well as 50s comic book storie