by KC Carlson

Opening Explanation: Some folks have asked us why we’ve been adding an “Available in (month)” statement to several of our descriptions here. Normally, books listed in a catalog are scheduled to appear two months after ordering. When a particular book is planned to have an arrival date more than a month after that, we note the delay to set your expectations appropriately. More and more book collections are being printed overseas (usually in China), and shipping them takes extra time. The comic book titles, on the other hand, are mostly printed domestically. So this month, most of the July-solicited comic books should actually get to us in July, but many of the book collections solicited with the July comic books will not arrive here until September (or occasionally later). Many of these “late” books actually take the proverbial “slow boat from China” to get here.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volume 2 (DC Comics): Everybody’s got their favorite Bat-artists, but during the Bronze Age, mine was Jim Aparo, who drew an astonishing run on The Brave and the Bold. These Batman team-ups (most early issues written by Bob Haney) were some of the craziest comics published by DC in that era. Not only was he asked to draw an amazing array of stylistically different characters — in this book alone, co-stars include Plastic Man, Metamorpho, Wildcat, Mister Miracle, Richard Dragon (Kung Fu fighter), Deadman, Metal Men, Black Canary, The Creeper, Phantom Stranger, and the Teen Titans, as well as DC’s bigger guns including The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Hawkman and a super-surprise character in issue #150 — but any one of them could have been considered a “definitive” artistic treatment for that character.

Aparo could draw anybody and anything, a good trait to have on a book where an oft-whacked-out Haney would ask for anything. Case in point: The Brave and the Bold #124, a now-camp classic story starring not only Batman and Sgt. Rock (don’t even ask how or why), but also Bob Haney and Jim Aparo themselves, who are instrumental to the story in a way you’ve never seen before, or since. (Just don’t expect it to make sense.)

If you’re the type that needs every story you read to “matter” (however you define that), you probably should take a pass on this book. But if you’re the adventurous type, and you enjoy a variety of stories and characters (some serious, some bat-sh*t crazy) and really excellent artwork — don’t miss this book. Jim Aparo remains one of the most underrated artists of his generation, but these collections are helping to change that! Collecting The Brave and the Bold #123-145 and 147-151. (No, I do not know why issue #146’s Unknown Soldier team-up is not included. It may be because Aparo did not draw it, but there’s another non-Aparo story already in this volume (#137). Another DC mystery!) 520-page color hardcover. Available in September.

THIS MONTH IN CLASSIC COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS

Adventures Into the Unknown Archives Volume 3 (Dark Horse): More great pre-Code horror stories from one of the premiere horror and supernatural anthologies. Collects issues #9-12 and features work by Ogden Whitney, Bob Lubbers, John Celardo, Lin Streeter, and others. Forward by Bruce Jones and an introductory essay by Michael T. Gilbert. 216-page color hardcover. Available in September.

The Best of Milligan & McCarthy (Dark Horse): If you read Roger Ash’s interview with Miligan and McCarthy in the recent Back Issue #63, you already have a pretty good idea about what’s in this new collection. Collecting 20 years’ worth of the pair’s finest work from Vanguard Illustrated, Strange Days, 2000 A.D., and Vertigo, including “Freakwave”, “Paradax!”, Skin, and Rogan Gosh. The art has been newly freshened up by McCarthy and includes commentary from both creators. A must for both old fans and new readers! 264-page color hardcover. Available in September.

Child of Tomorrow! and Other Stories (Fantagraphics): Collecting 16 classic EC Comics sci-fi stories by the legendary  Al Feldstein, all from the first year and a half of EC’s Weird Science and Weird Fantasy. Bursting at the seams with grotesque creatures, ghastly destruction, and classic 1950s cheesecake, this volume also features a new interview with the writer/artist/editor about his years at EC. 208-page B&W hardcover.

Eerie Archives Volume 14 (Dark Horse): Collects issues #65-69 of Warren’s classic B&W horror, fantasy, and science fiction anthology. This volume features work by Alex Toth, Bernie Wrightson, Paul Neary, and others. The Eerie covers, by Ken Kelly and Sanjulian, are reproduced in color, and this volume’s introduction is by John Cochran. 256-page B&W (w/color) hardcover. Available in September.

The John Stanley Library: Nancy Volume 4 (Drawn & Quarterly): The fourth and final volume of the John Stanley Nancy, featuring the character in comic books, mostly from Dell in the late 1950s and early 60s. Beyond using the cast from Ernie Bushmiller’s original comic strip (most notably Nancy and Sluggo), Stanley created original characters for the comic books — most notably the cult classic Oona Goosepimple, who lived in a haunted house with many weird relatives and mysterious little people known as Yoyos. This volume also spotlights Spike and Mr. and Mrs. McOnions. The latter apparently later disappeared due to a McLawsuit by McDonald’s. (Just kidding!) 136-page color hardcover. Good stuff!

Korak, Son of Tarzan Volume 2 (Dark Horse): Completing Russ Manning’s acclaimed run on Korak, written by the prolific Gaylord DuBois. Collects Korak, Son of Tarzan #7-11 and #21, originally published by Gold Key Comics in the 1960s. Jungle action like you don’t see any more. Forward by Stephen R. Bissette. 192-page color hardcover. Available in September.

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Volume 12 (Marvel): Collecting The Mighty Thor #206-216, featuring work by Gerry Conway, Len Wein, John Buscema, Sal Buscema, Don Perlin, Marie Severin, and Jim Mooney. Featuring favorite villains the Absorbing Man, Loki, Mercurio the Four-Dimensional Man, Ulik, and Xorr the Spawner of Worlds. (Verily, you must remember him!) Plus Odin, Sif, the Warriors Three, and a partridge in a pear tree! Oops, wrong holiday — I meant to say, Thor visits Rutland, Vermont, for Halloween! (And everyone there thinks his costume is lame!) 240-page color hardcover. Available in October.

PS ARTBOOKS:

Harvey Horrors Collected Works: Black Cat Mystery Vol. 3 Harvey Horrors Collected Works: Black Cat Mystery Volume 3: Collecting issues #42-47 from 1953. 256-page color hardcover. Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics Vol. 2 Roy Thomas Presents Planet Comics Volume 2: Collects issues #5-8 from 1940. Includes work by Will Eisner and an introduction by Roy Thomas. Resolicitation. Previous orders have been canceled. NOTE: Deluxe and TPB versions of previous PS Artbook collections are also available on the website.

THIS MONTH IN CLASSIC COMIC STRIP COLLECTIONS

Gahan Wilson Sunday Comics (Fantagraphics): Resolicitation. Previous orders have been canceled, so if you want this 184-page color hardcover collecting all of Wilson’s Sunday comics that originally appeared from 1974 and 1976, you should re-order it now.

Library of American Comics Essentials Volume 3: Polly and Her Pals 1933 (IDW/LoAC): Cliff Sterret’s Polly and Her Pals was a fascinating early comic strip. Art Spiegelman called it “a glorious composition… A happy pop synthesis of art deco, futurism, surrealism, dada, and pure cartoon.” Most of the praise for the strip has focused on the amazing Sunday pages by Sterret (also available from LoAC in an earlier collection), but the daily strips — due to their rarity — have eluded archivists for the past ninety years. Until now, as LOAC Essentials Volume 3: Polly and Her Pals 1933 will offer the entire year of Polly dailies, which are equally inventive, just in a much smaller space. 336-page, special format (11.5” x 4.25”), B&W hardcover.

VIP: The Mad World of Virgil Partch (Fantagraphics): Largely forgotten today, Virgil Partch was one of the most prominent and prolific magazine gag cartoonists of the 1940s and 1950s due to his unusual, surreal style and abbreviated signature (VIP). Over 3,000 VIP cartoons graced magazines during his career. Although occasionally associated with The New Yorker, he actually sold few cartoons to the magazine because (according to VIP biographer Bhob Stewart), “editor Harold Ross couldn’t stomach VIP’s drawing style.” Despite this, Partch did work for the New Yorker as a gag writer during this period, as well having an interesting pre-cartooning career as part of the pre-strike Disney animation department. He also worked briefly for the Walter Lantz studio on Woody Woodpecker cartoons.

My parents were huge VIP fans, and I inherited several best-selling VIP cartoon collections as (probably) too young a child. His magazine cartoons were obviously for adults, but his bizarre drawing style and odd humor were immensely addictive for kids like me. Besides his better-known magazine cartooning, Partch also drew the syndicated comic strips Big George and the lesser-known The Captain’s Gig, as well as illustrating several children’s books.

Fantagraphics’ new coffee-table volume collects artwork and original writings for this first-ever career-defining collection of Partch’s zany, boozy, sexual, sometimes surreal, and always hilarious cartoons. 240-page color and B&W hardcover.

SHELFBUSTERS! (Gimongous Hardcovers)

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Volume 1 (Marvel): It all began when Mr. Fantastic decided to solve everything! (That trick never works!) So, for the next few years of stories — all written by superstar writer Jonathan Hickman — the FF dealt with ominous warnings from an older Franklin Richards and fought the War of the Four Cities. Dad Nathaniel Richards returned, as did Galactus, and a new Annihilation Wave threatened to invade from the Negative Zone, causing tragedy to strike! Hickman also brought us the awesome arrival of the Future Foundation, one of Marvel’s best concepts in decades! Guest-starring Spider-Man, Dr. Doom, Sub-Mariner, and the Inhumans. Artists include Sean Chen, Dale Eaglesham, Steve Epting, Barry Kitson, cover artist Alan Davis, and others. Collecting Fantastic Four #570-588, FF #1-5, Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5, and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal #1. 736-page color really big hardcover. Available in October.

Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 1 (New Printing!) (Marvel): Vintage Stan Lee & Jack Kirby FFness — now back in print! Collecting the original Fantastic Four #1-30 and FF Annual #1 — their first three years’ worth of stories — plus all the original lettercols, pinups, a historical overview, commentaries, and other DVD-style special features. (No Easter Eggs though, unless you saved some from last month.) 848-page color hardcover. The Marvel Universe starts here! Available in October.

NOW IN PAPERBACK

Essential Fantastic Four Volume 9 (Marvel): Collecting Fantastic Four #184-188 and #190-207 (#189 was a fill-in, retrospective issue), plus FF Annual #12 & 13. Featuring work by Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Bill Mantlo, George Perez, Sal Buscema, Keith Pollard, John Buscema, and Bob Hall. Featuring (deep breath), the Brute, Salem’s Seven, Molecule Man, Diablo, the Impossible Man, Namor, Dr. Doom, Quasimodo, the Inhumans, the Mole Man, and Sandman! Whew! 512-page B&W softcover.

Jack Kirby’s OMAC: One Man Army Corps (DC Comics): Collecting all eight issues of the original post-apocalyptic series from the 1970s by Jack “King” Kirby. 176-page color softcover.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Omnibus (DC Comics): Featuring the original two epic stories by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill in one gigantic trade paperback. The greatest “team-up” of literary characters ever! 416-page color softcover.

Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age All-Winners Volume 1 (Marvel): Collecting All-Winners Comics #1-4 from 1941, featuring Marvel’s first super-team , the All-Winners Squad. Staring Captain America and Bucky, Sub-Mariner, the Human Torch and Toro, the Wizzer, the Destroyer, the Angel, and the Black Marvel in giant 64-page original issues. (Why they didn’t call themselves “the League of Bad Name Choices” is lost to the ages.) Creators include Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, Al Avison, cover artist Alex Schomburg, and others. 288-page color softcover.

BOOKS ABOUT COMICS

American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s (TwoMorrows): The latest volume in TwoMorrows’ acclaimed comic book history series. Noted comics historian Bill Shelley is the author of this year-by-year in-depth book on the 1950s, a major transition period for comic books. Major topics to be discussed include EC Comics’ “New Trend” titles, including Tales From the Crypt, Weird Science, and Harvey Kurtzman’s Mad; Carl Barks’ work on Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge; the return of superhero comics with the Flash in Showcase #4, Martian Manhunter, Adam Strange, and Green Lantern at DC — as well as Timely’s not-quite-as-successful revival of Captain America, Sub-Mariner, and the Human Torch; and the introduction of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby’s Fighting American and the Fly. Plus, Shelley covers events behind the scenes, such as Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent, Congressional inquiry, and the establishment of the Comics Code, that changed the history of comics! 256-page color hardcover. Profusely illustrated and highly recommended.

Conan the Phenomenon (Dark Horse): A richly illustrated visual history of Conan from the earliest prose pieces by Robert E. Howard to Frank Frazetta’s explosive artwork, including coverage of the feature films and a history of the character in comic books, with emphasis on the rebirth of the character at Dark Horse. Written by comics historian Paul M. Sammon with an introduction by Michael Moorcock. 176-page color softcover. Available in September.

Frank Frazetta: Art and Remembrances by Frank Frazetta, Jr. (Hermes Press): A complete art monograph covering the entire life of the legendary fantasy artist written from a firsthand perspective by his son, Frank Frazetta, Jr. Filled with insights, stories, and anecdotes, as well as full-color, never-before-seen sketches, drawings, paintings, photos, memorabilia, and early comic book work by the master. Frazetta’s classic images of Tarzan, Conan, John Carter of Mars, Buck Rogers, Vampirella, and many others still endure. Plus, the book provides a selection of Frazetta’s media work, including book covers, record album artwork, movie posters, and more. There are two versions of the book: the 208-page color and B&W regular hardcover and a 224-page signed and numbered (by author Frazetta Jr.) special edition, limited to 1,000 copies and only available from shops serviced by Diamond Distribution. The limited edition also features additional pages, a special bookplate, a slipcase, and different cover art than the regular edition. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee availability of the limited edition due to likely allocation.

Frazetta Sketchbook (Vanguard): This was originally released earlier this year, but rapidly sold out — so here’s a new printing. This is for the fan of Frazetta’s sketch work — rare and unpublished drawings and painting preliminaries include barbarians, beasts, buxom beauties, monsters, Tarzan, and Conan — as there are few finished pieces here. Compiled by J. David Sperlock. Available in both hardcover and softcover. 160 color and B&W pages.

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KC CARLSON SEZ: Slowest Boats to China: Christopher Columbus’ Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. China’s still waiting. Wonder where he ended up?

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you.