BIG BOOKS RULE!

KC Carlson by Deb Hayden Lockhart

KC Carlson by Deb Hayden Lockhart


A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

There are a number of interesting books out today (August 14, 2019) and some of them are quite large, so I’d better get going presenting them to you!

The Joker: The Bronze Age Omnibus

The Joker: The Bronze Age Omnibus


The Joker: The Bronze Age Omnibus (DC Comics): The Clown Prince of Crime gets his own Omnibus at last, and it clocks in at 808 pages, so it’s large enough to become a lethal weapon in the wrong hands. I guess you better know what you’re getting into…. It collects Batman #251, 260, 286, 291-294, 321, 353, 365-366, and 400; The Brave and the Bold #111, 118, 129-130, 141, and 191; The Joker #1-10; Detective Comics #475-476, 504, 526, and 532; DC Comics Presents #41 and 72; and stories from Wonder Woman #280-283.

Sharp-eyed Joker fans may have spotted something odd about that list — namely that the Joker series from 1975 originally only ran for 9 issues, but here it also lists The Joker #10! Yes, that’s right — the originally unpublished Joker #10 has been unearthed (was it in California all along?) and will be included in this volume! (Unfortunately we don’t know yet who wrote or drew that issue, so that will be another surprise!) Plus, there’s a great cover for the book by artist José Luis García-López!

This book seems like a great excuse for a celebration! Just be careful and remember not to shake the Joker’s hand.

Masters of Suspense: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Volume 1

Masters of Suspense: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Volume 1


Masters of Suspense: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Volume 1 (Marvel Comics): Before Stan Lee and Steve Ditko revolutionized comics heroism with Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, they applied their incomparable storytelling to taut suspense thrillers! Chilling stories cast with nervous-eyed dreamers and sweaty-palmed schemers, none of whom make it out without getting theirs. These parables of wrenching psychological tension, crafted by two of comics’ most creative minds, will leave you curled up and screaming for more!

Now, with this new collection they will all be collected into one place! (Well, once the second volume appears next year.) I was shocked to discover that these odd little stories first appeared in 1956 — the year I was born! That’s certainly an odd coincidence… They were originally published all over the place during the late fifties. (Mostly because the Marvel Super-Heroes were “on ice” between the Golden Age and the Silver Age of comics. Heh heh…)

Out today in most comic shops is the 688-page Volume 1, in which Marvel is honored to collect the first half of Lee and Ditko’s complete Silver Age stories of suspense. (Again, Volume 2 will be available next February… you may be confused — I was — because that is solicited in the current Previews.) This volume collects material from Journey Into Mystery (1952) #33, #38, and #50-73; Strange Tales (1951) #46, #50, and #67-91; Tales to Astonish (1959) #1-26; Tales of Suspense (1959) #1-15 and #17-24; Strange Worlds #1-5; World of Fantasy #16-19; Amazing Adventures (1961) #1-6; Journey Into Unknown Worlds #45 and #51; Mystery Tales #40, #45, and #47; Two-Gun Western (1956) #4; World of Suspense #2; Marvel Tales (1949) #147; Spellbound (1952) #29; Strange Tales of the Unusual #5; Astonishing #53; World of Mystery #3 and #6; Battle #63; and Gunsmoke Western #66.

Marvel 80th Anniversary Poster Book

Marvel 80th Anniversary Poster Book


Also from Marvel this week is the Marvel 80th Anniversary Poster Book — an oversized (11” x 15”) 40-page full-color book that turns into an instant poster collection of classic covers and previous posters from eight decades of Marvel Comics. (Man, I’d hate to have to edit that. Just 40 pages??? For 80 years of stuff!!! Yikes!)

EC Archives: Crime SuspenStories Volume 4

EC Archives: Crime SuspenStories Volume 4


EC Archives: Crime SuspenStories Volume 4 (Dark Horse Comics): This 688-page hardcover collects Crime SuspenStories (1950-1955) #19-27 — written by Al Feldstein and William Gaines with amazing art primarily by Johnny Craig and Jack Davis, with a cover by Craig. This volume is packed with shocking pulp stories of crime and intrigue! If you’ve been around comics for any length of time, you most certainly have heard about the legendary EC Comics and their even more legendary creators. This deluxe hardcover volume collects classic tales from the hands and imaginations of creators Al Feldstein, Harvey Kurtzman, Johnny Craig (the lead artist for this series), Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, and more! And if you don’t pick it up now it now, you’ll end up being Mad! Hardcover, 8½-in. x 11-in., 280 pages, full color. Published by Dark Horse.

The Archie Art of Francesco Francavilla HC

The Archie Art of Francesco Francavilla HC


The Archie Art of Francesco Francavilla HC (Archie Comics): Archie’s new hardcover art book is a beautifully designed celebration of artist Francesco Francavilla’s time at Archie — an era that helped change the culture and perception of Archie comics in important ways! This oversize hardcover edition features the complete collection of Francavilla’s Archie comic book covers, plus more, with behind-the-scenes information on Francavilla’s work and its place in Archie’s history, as well as an insider’s look at his ongoing legacy with the company. I’m really excited to see this book, as Francavilla really was the beginning of Archie slowly breaking out of their teenage “house style” art that lasted for decades. This begun the process of gently evolving the classic Archie characters by presenting more serious and down-to-earth stories, to expand their readership beyond young girls and boys and past the outrageous slapstick comics that Archie published for decades. (Now, that classic Archie material is mostly presented in their various digests and other high-page-count reprints). The Archie Art of Francesco Francavilla is a full-color, 160-page, 9” x 12” hardcover. With this book you get both great artwork and the much-needed evolution of a comic book franchise that had, over the decades, become more and more dated.

Archie by Nick Spencer Volume 1

Archie by Nick Spencer Volume 1


Also from Archie is Archie by Nick Spencer Volume 1. This 144-page softcover collects Archie (2015 2nd Series) #700-704, written by Nick Spencer, with art and cover by Marguerite Sauvage, Jack Morelli, and Sandy Jarrell. This is another example of evolving a brand new era of Archie Comics with new mysteries, new relationships, and much more!

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KC CARLSON: All the fits that’s new to print.

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. I’m actually not that irritated this week. Something must be wrong…

 

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