COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS FOR NEW ITEMS [SEP15] — PART THREE (YIKES!): MUST BE HOLIDAY PUBLISHING MONTH! DINOSAURS, MICE, SPIDERS, BEAGLES, DUCKS, MECHANICAL BLOODHOUNDS, AND BOB HOPE (One of these things is not like the other…)


KC Carlson

KC Carlson


by KC Carlson

THIS MONTH IN CLASSIC COMIC STRIP COLLECTIONS

Amazing Spider-Man Newspaper Strips Volume 2: 1979-1981

Amazing Spider-Man Newspaper Strips Volume 2: 1979-1981


Amazing Spider-Man Newspaper Strips Volume 2: 1979-1981 (LoAC/IDW): The first volume of this new series looked awesome, so here’s Volume 2! It collects the wondrous wall-crawler’s long-running newspaper strip by Stan Lee, John Romita, and Larry Lieber, with all Sundays in color and integrated with the dailies — just as they originally appeared in newspapers worldwide. Edited by Bruce Canwell, this book includes more than 700 sequential comics, the complete run from January 1979 through January 1981. 320-page 11” x 8.5” B&W (w/ Sunday color) hardcover. Available in December.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Volume 9: 1941-1943

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Volume 9: 1941-1943


Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Volume 9: 1941-1943 (Hermes Press): Covering 1941 to 1943, this new volume features two complete adventures — one of which is one of the strip’s major storylines. “Martians Invade Jupiter” runs for 413 daily strips and is one of the most involved, exciting adventures in the Buck Rogers canon. The other story is “Mechanical Bloodhound”, which sounds incredibly less exciting. Maybe if it invaded Uranus… by Dick Calkins with Flint Dille. 272-page 9” x 12” B&W hardcover.

Dinomania: The Lost Art of Windsor McCay, the Secret Origins of King Kong, and the Urge to Destroy New York

Dinomania: The Lost Art of Windsor McCay, the Secret Origins of King Kong, and the Urge to Destroy New York


Dinomania: The Lost Art of Windsor McCay, the Secret Origins of King Kong, and the Urge to Destroy New York (Fantagraphics): This recently discovered comic strip by cartooning pioneer Windsor McCay, the creator of Little Nemo in Slumberland, opens a surprising window into McCay’s life and work. This new book showcases his exquisitely beautiful linework (reproduced from the original art). Author Ulrich Merkl explores the influences McCay brought to the strip (lost following the artist’s untimely death) — including McCay’s own Gertie the Dinosaur animated shorts, the animation in 1933’s King Kong, and the growth of New York City from the Holland Tunnel to the Empire State Building — and traces our love of dinosaurs and monster movies down through the decades. Each page of this deluxe oversize volume is overflowing with amazing imagery, with more than 650 photographs and illustrations (more than 250 in color) ― most of them seen here for the first time in a century! An essential volume for everyone interested in the development of the comic strip ― as well as our never-ending fascination with dinosaurs. 296-page 11.75” x 15.75” color hardcover.

The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Gift Box Set (Paperback Edition)

The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Gift Box Set (Paperback Edition)


Fantagraphics Box Sets: I can’t tie them to their latest volumes here (they’ve been previously listed), but Fantagraphics are also listing many of their popular comics series collections in deluxe box sets this month, for shipping before the holidays. Now available for ordering include The Complete Peanuts 1955-1958 Gift Box Set (Paperback Edition) which includes the softcovers of both The Complete Peanuts 1955-1956 and The Complete Peanuts 1957-1958 (the latter of which is also newly available this month, individually) — as well as Walt Disneys Uncle Scrooge Gift Box Set which includes both the Only A Poor Old Man and The Seven Cities of Gold individual volumes. Plus, there’s a Walt Disney Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Box Set, collecting Volume Three: Treasure Under Glass and Volume Four: The Last of the Clan McDuck” (which I discussed last week). The boxes are very sturdy and very attractively designed, featuring much artwork from their respective artists. All of these should be available in November.

Peanuts Every Sunday 1961-1965

Peanuts Every Sunday 1961-1965


Peanuts Every Sunday 1961-1965 (Fantagraphics): The early-to-mid-1960s strips in this latest volume make up the first golden age of Peanuts Sundays in one gorgeous, full-color coffee table book. Linus, Charlie Brown, Pig-Pen, Shermy, Violet, Sally, Patty, and Schroeder are all present, but the rising star is undoubtedly Snoopy. (I’d say the other “star” is the beautiful pastel coloring of these books, matching the original coloring from the original Sunday newspapers.) This book is a 288-page 13.2” x 9.5” color hardcover.

Peanuts Every Sunday: The 1950s Gift Box Set

Peanuts Every Sunday: The 1950s Gift Box Set


Also available is Peanuts Every Sunday: The 1950s Gift Box Set, collecting the first two books in this series (19521955 and 19561960) in a beautifully designed gift box, featuring all the characters. Both the new volume and the box set are available in November, just in time for gift-giving. The box set (combining the two books) is a 576-page 13.2” x 4.5” x 9.5” color slipcased hardcover. For most of the first 30-some years of my life, there was always a new Peanuts collection under the Christmas tree, and it was always the gift that captured my attention for the rest of the day. It’s nice that that tradition can now carry on to new generations.

Snoopy vs. The Red Baron

Snoopy vs. The Red Baron


Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (Fantagraphics): This new book collects every battle drawn by Charles M. Schulz with Snoopy as the famous World War I flying ace facing off with the infamous Red Baron of Germany. Including both dailies and Sundays, Snoopy vs. the Red Baron follows the valiant and indefatigable Snoopy as, time after time in his Sopwith Camel (er, doghouse), he braves the wrath of his always unseen aerial foe. 200-page 9.5” x 6.8” B&W hardcover. Available in November — just in time for the new Peanuts movie, which features a Snoopy vs. Red Baron sequence! (I bet you’re hearing the Royal Guardsmen song in your head right now, aren’t you? I am. But I’m weird.)

Steve Canyon Volume 6: 1957-1958

Steve Canyon Volume 6: 1957-1958


Steve Canyon Volume 6: 1957-1958 (LoAC/IDW): Things take a decidedly domestic turn in this sixth volume. Can Summer and Steve rekindle their love amidst the action of… high school basketball? Can Poteet find happiness on the polo field? Since this is Steve Canyon, not all the action takes place at home, and old friends unexpectedly pop up in new places: Miss Mizzou feels overdressed on Finger Island. Colonel Sam Index reappears at Higgs Air Base. Princess Snowflower comes to America as a pawn in Doagie Hogan’s plan to attack Communist China. And Savannah Gay teams up with none other than Bob Hope in a special Christmas story. Everyone’s favorite Light Colonel dodges death and femme fatales alike (and hopefully golf with Hope, as well) in this latest volume! 336-page 11” x 8.5” B&W hardcover. Available in December.

Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Volume 8: The Tomorrow Wars

Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Volume 8: The Tomorrow Wars


Walt Disneys Mickey Mouse Volume 8: The Tomorrow Wars (Fantagraphics): When a magic cloak sends Mickey to the future, he expects to see wild innovations ― but he didn’t count on high-tech warlord Pegleg Pete, whose robot Mekka Men hold the World of Tomorrow in an iron grip. It’s up to Mickey, Minnie, and fembot femme-fatale Mimi to end this electronic enemy’s reign of terror! Plus, another time traveling adventures features Mickey on Cap’n Skidd’s 19th century ghost ship, facing a two-timing island princess. Then Mickey inherits Uncle Max’s “House of Mystery” ― and his battle against creepy chemist Drusilla and her morbid minions. Restored from Disney’s original proof sheets of the amazing newspaper strip, this volume also includes more than 20 pages of futuristic extras! 288-page 10.5” x 8.8” B&W (with partial color) hardcover. Also available is the new MIckey Mouse Box Set, collecting both Volumes 7 and 8 in a beautifully decorated slipcase. Both items are available in December.

White Boy in Skull Valley: The Complete Sunday Comics

White Boy in Skull Valley: The Complete Sunday Comics


White Boy in Skull Valley: The Complete Sunday Comics (Sunday Press): Yeah, I’ve never heard of this either. But it’s published by Sunday Press, who have done some remarkable book projects in the past (like Little Nemo in Slumberland, Walt and Skeezix, Krazy Kat, and Forgotten Fantasy — to name just a few.) Don Markstein’s Toonopedia has come to the rescue with a complete history of the strip. Don has told the story better than I can, so go visit here for more details. This complete collection will be a huge 168-page 11” x 16” color hardcover. It’s already rolling off the press as you read this and will be available in November.

ARTIST/GALLERY EDITIONSIDW’s Artist’s Editions present complete stories with each page scanned in color from the actual original artwork, printed the same size as first drawn. IDW’s Artifact Editions (like an Artist’s Edition) also present pages scanned from the actual original artwork. Unlike an Artist’s Edition, these will present books even if all the original artwork cannot be obtained. They can also include extras such as advertisements, portfolio pieces, color guides, and more. Graphitti Designs Gallery Editions are somewhere in the middle, striving to present complete stories (when possible), while also providing a selection of available pages and other artifacts. Everything is scanned from the original artwork. So far, they are exclusively producing work from DC Comics and its imprints.
Graham Ingels EC Stories Artist’s Edition

Graham Ingels EC Stories Artist’s Edition


Graham Ingels EC Stories Artists Edition (IDW): Everybody loves to look at EC original art, and never was there an EC horror artist that was also as beloved and acclaimed as “Ghastly” Graham Ingels! So this volume is a no-brainer for many of you! This Ingels Artist’s Edition will include a sampling of Ingels’ most awful (aka: best) stories, as well as a horrifying selection of some of his most terrifying covers. It’s in the tradition of the fan-favorite Wally Wood, Jack Davis, and Best of EC Comics Artists Editions — and you know how good those were! 152-page 15” x 22” B&W (but scanned in color) hardcover. Available in January 2016.

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KC CARLSON: Wow, it’s not even close to Christmas yet, and I’m already totally exhausted! Ho! Ho! Ho! (More like Ow! Ow! Ow!)

Dear Santa, please make sure Secret Wars is over by Christmas. That would be the best-est thing ever! (I need money to buy other people gifts!)

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. We kinda liked Secret Wars