Comix 101, 1971

Two stories excerpted from COMIX A HISTORY OF COMIC BOOKS IN AMERICA by Les Daniels, published by Outerbridge & Dienstfry, 1971.

This was an early book which attempted to bring comic book history to the mainstream. The design is lacking. Page after page of type is only broken up by groups of stories, told two pages to a book page, which requires the book to be turned on its side. For these examples I've rotated them into a horizontal position. With the exception of some color in the center of the book, the stories reproduced are shot from the original comic books and printed in black and white.

If you're interested in this book, I have seen several reasonably priced copies available used through Amazon.com and other internet used book outlets.

"Lois Lane--Superwoman!" is from ACTION COMICS #60, May 1943. Drawn by George Roussos, ghosting for Joe Shuster.

"Karlovna Had A True Underworld" is from BLACKHAWK #14, Spring 1943. Drawn by Bill Ward.

Art credits are from the Grand Comics Database

COMIX A HISTORY OF COMIC BOOKS IN AMERICA Copyright © 1971 Les Daniels and Mad Peck Studios.

"Superman" and "Blackhawk" and distinctive characters therein are Copyright © 1971 DC Comics.

The long and short of The Early Long

Frank Belknap Long was a frequent contributor to WEIRD TALES. He was also a personal friend of H. P. Lovecraft and other writers in that eerie genre. Long was also a prolific writer of science fiction. He was born in 1903 (some accounts say 1901) and died in 1994. This introduction to his book, THE EARLY LONG, tells the story of his early life, his writing career and his friendship with Lovecraft.

Copyright 1975 Frank Belknap Long

Art of Jack Davis part 2

During Jack Davis' long and incredible career as a cartoonist he has achieved success in almost every medium he's attempted, except syndicating a newspaper comic strip. It's not for lack of trying. Here are some of his attempts at syndication, and examples of comic strips he worked on as an assistant to others.

This is a chapter from the First Edition of THE ART OF JACK DAVIS by Hank Harrison. Another chapter is here.

Copyright © 1987 Stabur Press, Inc.

Copyright © 1987 Jack Davis