Comic Books 101: The History, Methods and Madness [Paperback]

Chris Ryall (Author), Scott Tipton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2009

60+ years of comic book exploits—on the page and behind the scenes.

Welcome to Comic Books 101, the complete, definitive and super-cool guide to the universe of caped crusaders, irradiated spiders, fantastic foursomes and the super-talents behind their creation.

Want to know when Marvel, DC and so many other publishers got their start? Wonder why Spider-Man can't challenge Batman or the Justice League? Curious why the Avengers don't battle it out once and for all? It's all covered here: the good, the bad guys and the ugly truths—like why one of Batman's originators died virtually unknown and penniless.

Whether you're an absolute newbie, a casual fan or a loyal collector, this book holds the answers. Comic Books 101 will increase your knowledge and enjoyment of this great art form, and grant you the superpower of impressing others with useless yet fascinating trivia! (Which superhero dated a mermaid? Who battled the evil Egghead," portrayed by what famous actor?)

• Includes an introduction by Stan "The Man" Lee, plus contributions from Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, Gene Simmons, Mark Waid, Paul Dini, Joe Hill, Marv Wolfman, Joe Casey and many others.
• Reveals backstories for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, the Justice League of America, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, The Mighty Thor, Iron Man, The Avengers, the X-Men…and other comic book greats.
• Offers an all-inclusive overview of comics, then and now—from the Sub-Mariner to Bone, from origins to Hollywood adaptations…complete with lingo, required reading lists, bios of the most influential names in the industry and much more!

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Ryall is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of IDW, a San Diego-based comic-book publisher. He's written dozens of comics and was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Short Story in 2006. He writes a weekly column for www.comics101.com and is the former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Content Provider/Webmaster for filmmaker Kevin Smith's pop culture site, www.MoviePoopShoot.com.

Scott Tipton, founder and Editor-in-Chief of www.comics101.com, writes the weekly column of the same name, the most highly trafficked. He has written for www.MoviePoopShoot.com, and has written stories for #2 and #3 of Doomed, and is author of the graphic novels Spike: Old Wounds, Spike: Lost And Found, and Angel Spotlight: Wesley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: IMPACT (June 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600611877
• ISBN-13: 978-1600611872
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief of IDW Publishing, a San Diego-based comic book and graphic novel publisher. I've been in this role for over half the company's existence, since July 2004. In that time, been involved in the acquisition of such brands as TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, STAR TREK, and many other major licenses. In my time at IDW, the company has grown to become the fourth-largest publisher in the United States.

I'm also an Eagle- and Eisner Award-nominated editor and comic book writer, having written nearly four dozen comic books. These comics include:

- SHAUN OF THE DEAD (4 issues, released as a TPB and hardcover)
- MASTERS OF HORROR (2 issues, released as a TPB)
- GEORGE A. ROMERO'S LAND OF THE DEAD (5 issues, released as a TPB)
- CLIVE BARKER'S THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (12 issues, released as a TPB and a hardcover)
- DOOMED (adaptations of stories from Robert Bloch, Rochard Matheson, and David J. Schow, including the Eisner-nominated "Best Short Story" from 2005, "Blood Son." Released as COMPLETELY DOOMED TPB and as DOOMED PRESENTS: ASHLEY WOOD)
- BEOWULF (4 issues, released as a TPB)
- TRANSFORMERS MOVIE PREQUEL (4 issues, co-written with Simon Furman; released as a TPB and as THE COMPLETE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE COLLECTION, VOL. 1 HC)
- "Circle Seven" in GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORRORS TPB
- ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS (co-created with Ashley Wood; released as an oversize HC, THE COMPLETE ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS TPB [now in its 2nd printing] and ZOMNBIUS TPB)
- ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS VS AMAZONS (released as an oversize HC, THE COMPLETE ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS TPB and ZOMNBIUS TPB)
- D'AIRAIN AVENTURE (2 issues, with "Zombies vs Robots Prequel" and "Black Magick"; The ZvR stories were collected as part of THE COMPLETE ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS TPB)
- "The Adventures of Booby-Watcher," a web-only tie-in to the movie ROLE MODELS; not collected)
- IDW: THE 10-YEAR HISTORY (an oral history of the company, co-written with Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko)
- GROOM LAKE (co-created with Ben Templesmith; 4 issues and a TPB)
- WEEKLY WORLD NEWS (4 issues and a TPB)
- ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS AVENTURE (4 issues and an oversize HC)
- Frank Frazetta's Neanderthal (one-shot for Image comics; collected in The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta, Vol. 2 HC)
- ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS: UNDERCITY with artist Mark Torres (4 issues starting in April 2011)

Prose:
- SUPERHEROES AND PHILOSOPHY (contributed a chapter, "The Fantastic Four as Family," co-written with Scott Tipton.
- COMIC BOOKS 101 (co-written with Scott Tipton; available as both a paperback and on the Kindle.)
- CLASSICS MUTILATED; I contributed "Twilight of the Gods," a mash-up of Twilight and Norse mythology, to this collection of "monster-lit" prose. Available as a prose book and on the Kindle.

Prior to all of this, I served as Editor-in-Chief for filmmaker Kevin Smith's entertainment Web portal for four years; was a corporate speechwriter for American Honda; a creative executive with Dick Clark Communications; and an advertising copywriter. In 2010, I wrote the text for Oakley's "Legion of Oakley" advertising comic book campaign and Web site.

I'm based in San Diego, where I live with my wife Julie, daughter Lucy, a cat, Pablo, and my adopted second child, who I call MacBook Pro.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Primer for the Curious, a Fun Read for the Fan June 7, 2009

By Timothy P. Young VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Scott Tipton and Chris Ryall, two fans who ended up working in the industry (like so many other comic writers and artists) have teamed up to bring us the non-definitive work on one of America's great contributions to world culture, the comic book.

Intended more as a primer than anything else, Comic Books 101 takes us through an overview of the history of the industry, walks us through the typical artistic comic book production process, and gives us a solid, if occasionally too brief, background on the major characters, authors, and players of the past 60 years. Yes, there are Marvel and DC, Spiderman, Iron Man, Superman and Batman, the JLA and the Avengers, Jack Kirby, George Perez, Alan Moore, and a whole bunch of other historical bits.

Tipton and Ryall tend to keep things light and not overly pedantic, not being afraid to share opinions and personal recollections via sidebars or in-text mentions (when discussing the state of DC's hero Green Lantern, they end the chapter by stating things are "in our humble estimation...as it should be."). This chattiness is both the weakness and the strength of the book. On one hand, the personal nature of the essays detracts from a more objective overview of certain subjects and might put off the hardcore fan wanting to know more about the Blackhawks or Nick Fury.* On the other hand, the writing style is perfect for engaging the casual fan or the true neophyte. Throughout Comics 101, the overall tone lets the reader know that these are two guys who truly love comics, and want to share that love with the rest of the world.

A particularly moving moment comes in the profile of a Marvel editor named Mark Gruenwald, responsible for much of Marvel's late 80s-early 90's success: rather than just giving us a capsule review of his importance, Tipton gives us a personal essay about Gruenwald, of how they met, and the importance he had not only within the industry, but in nurturing fans. Tipton's testimonial gives us a brief portrait of a man who knew how important the reader is to the medium, and it results in a meaningful, moving essay.

In addition to providing a safe, undaunting haven for the curious, Ryall and Tipton outdo themselves by providing a list of recommended reading--from graphic novels to deeper histories of comics in general. They break it down by character, company, and creator, and it's possibly the most valuable resource one could have for diving into the morass of comicdom, with its 60-plus year history and ever-changing emphases.

In many ways, this work, while not definitive, is definitely the best starting point I've ever been fortunate to read. The authors make the convoluted world of comics incredibly accessible, and for that, I salute them.

Comic Books 101 is highly recommended.

*Slight Disclaimer--I'm a long-time reader and (very)occasionally correspond with both authors via Tipton's site, and he's covered both the Blackhawks and Nick Fury in much greater depth in his weekly column.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good solid book. June 22, 2009

By Two readers

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

What a good book. On the way from the mailbox, I flipped through it and found a whole bunch of "No kidding, I didn't know that" factoids, and I have been reading comics for 35 years now. Written by fans, but in no means fannish, this is a book that the old jaded collector and the non comic reader will enjoy.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun even if you aren't a major comic fan. July 21, 2009

By Esther Schindler TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I bought a copy of this book for a teenage friend who is becoming a VERY good comic artist. I figured it would help her to have a definitive history of the field. I read through most of the book before wrapping it (one benefit of giving books as gifts--nobody knows you sampled the goods!) and truthfully, I sort of wish I wasn't giving the book away. Not because it isn't good, but because it is SO good.

I'm not a big comics fan. I like them, but I don't get excited about 'em. However, this book is just loads of fun even for someone who reads comic strips in a casual way. I really enjoyed the history of the Superman comic, such as learning how his parents' first names changed over time, or his gradual acquisition of various superpowers. I never followed Wonder Woman (sorry, fans!), so I liked the overview of her backstory. I chuckled at the bio of Stan Lee and what he accomplished. And I loved looking at all the photos of comic book covers, especially since I remember how much trouble my brother got for owning some of these in the 50s. ("They'll rot your brain!" my parents declared.)

As a result, I'm likely to buy another copy of this book to give as a holiday gift. Maybe a few.