Customer Reviews

Comix: A History of Comic Books in America

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The main advantage that "Comix: A History of Comic Books in America" has over most similar volumes is that Les Daniels is able to provide a large selection of complete comic books stories. "No selected snippets," the dust jacket proudly proclaims, "Full stories." Consequently, within these pages you will find a 1942 Captain America story, a 1951 story of "The Fox and the Crow," a several horror stories from Sixties Warren comics, and a 1969 story involving "Those Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers." However, do not expect to find the choicest examples possible reprinted within these pages. So while you will find "If," a classic Harvey Kurtzman war story from the glory days of E.C., there is a 1943 Superman story from "Action Comics" in which Lois Lane apparently becomes a Superwoman. Representing Marvel Comics you will find a Dr. Strange adventure instead of something from Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four appear in "A Visit with the Fantastic Four," a filler story from issue #11. However, you will find reproduced "At the Stroke of Midnight!" a horror story (that I think was the first story in the first issue of "Chamber of Darkness") written and illustrated by Jim Steranko and wonderfully representative of his best work. You will also find four stories in full color: "Two-Face Strikes Again," a 1953 Batman story; a Carl Barks Donald Duck story; "A Little Stranger," a 1952 E.C. horror story; and a 1955 Bill Everett Sub-Mariner story in which Namor "meets a new enemy...Fire!" So, you can draw up whatever wish list in your mind of what you would have liked to have seen reproduced in "Comix" in a perfect world, but this is still a more than decent collection of stories to read over.

The history of comics is divided into eight chapters, all of which, except for the first, are followed by several reproduced comics indicative of the comics under discussion: (1) The Coming of Comics deals with the very first comics, which were simply reprinted daily comic strips rather than the original stories that would truly define the art form; (2) The Birth of the Comic Book looks at how Superman and Batman basically created the American comic book market, including an interesting analysis of "Blackhawk" comics; (3) Dumb Animals is devoted primarily to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and the rest of the Disney creations, but also "Felix the Cat" and the Dell comics that captured the animated animal market; (4) The E. C. Revolution looks a the glory days of William Gaines comic line that includes "Tales from the Crypt," "Frontline Combat," and "Science Fantasy," but which now consists of "Mad" magazine; (5) The Comics Code Controversy deals with the successful crusade of Frederic Wertham and his "Seduction of the Innocent" to clean up comics; (6) The New Comic Books looks at how comic books reacted to the Code's profound and depressing effect on the industry, focusing on the advent of the black and white Warren magazines that did not have to conform to the Code; (7) Mighty Marvel looks at the transformation of Atlas comics into the Marvel juggernaut led by the Fantastic Four and the Amazing Spider-Man under Stan Lee's leadership; and (8) Underground Comics looks at the three types of comics within this industry: the "eight-pagers" (a.k.a. "Tiajuana bibles") dealing with explicit sexual themes, the kinky comics dealing with self-described deviant behavior, and the totally unrestricted self-expression represented by "Zap" comics and Robert Crumb.

Basically, "Comix" looks at the history of comic books through the end of the Sixties. Consequently, it only deals with what we would now consider to be the first half of the history of comic books. However, for my purposes, which is to find interesting information about the origins of comic books in general-and Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man in particular-for my Popular Culture class, this book serves as an adequate resource. Daniels tends not to get bogged down in details, preferring instead to focus on representing characters, creators, etc., from the particular period under discussion. Ultimately, "Comix" is not a definitive text, but rather an introductory one that takes us up to the point where the rights of creators and the proliferation of alternative comic presses would redefine the entire field. Now if somebody would like to address what has happened in the history of comic books in America (and around the world) since then, I would like to read that book as well.

Shhh! Be quiet and buy this before everyone comes to their senses and raises the price of this one through the roof.

I bought this book back in the early seventies and still have my copy today.

It features a lot of reprints (some in color) and not the run of the mill reprints either. Who would ever think of a Carl Barks Uncle Scrooge tale in the same section as the origin of EC's Old Witch while nearby lurks an Atlas Sub-Mariner tale. Joy!!! Many of the stories reprinted in this book I have not seen reprinted since.

There is also a nice secition on Underground Comics written during the time they were in full florish with no end in sight.

It is reflective of the the time it was written (the later 60's) and has a vitality you don't see in many of todays books on comics.

My verdict: Buy it and take home a living piece of history written at a time before, slabbing comics (heck they didn't even bag them much in those days),

One of the earliest books of it's kind: "Comix ~ A History Of Comic Books In America" was published in 1971, when comic books STILL ruled the earth.

From: Action Comics No. 1 {June 1938} through to Zap Comix {Still releasing new issues in 1971}. This is a well-researched and graphic love-fest of information on the subject of comic books. Complete comic tales are included: "Fox & The Crow", "Sub-Mariner", "Those Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers".

With pages & pages of fantastic graphic art that jumps off these pages, it should also be noted that the text by author, Les Daniels is excellent and full of insight. From the golden age of comics in the 1940's through to the witch-hunts of the 1950's when the United States Senate established the "Comics Code" to protect the little children of America from those 'Evil' comic books. The 1960's are well represented with the DC and Marvel years of superheroes into the late 60's-early 70's when the counterculture brought forth those perverse and obscene 'Comix' books {Zap Comix, being the most famous of these}.

This book serves two purposes well. Firstly, it is an informative read, and secondly, because of the graphics of The Mad Peck Studios, it represents this time period as a visual delite. This WAS 1971.

I purchased my copy of this gem in a Berkeley book shop in 1971, and it is still proudly on my bookshelf today. A good informative book that is fun to read.
Four Stars !!!

I first discovered this book in my town's public library when I was beginning what would become a lifelong interest in comic books. It wasn't until years later that I was able to buy my own copy and curiously, it was not until just now that I actually read through the text (as compared to skimming through and concentrating on the comics). For me, Comix opened the doors of the comic book world. I first learned of Blackhawk, EC Comics, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, as well as R. Crumb and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. I would compare Comix to A Night to Remember, Walter Lord's account of the sinking of the Titanic. In both cases, later research has challenged some of the points each writer made, but while their books cannot be described as "definitive", they remain classic titles of their respective genres. There is a fine selection of stories; I would particularly note the excellent Vietnam story "Landscape", "Julius Caesar", an early Mad effort pointing out its lampooning techniques, and "At the Stroke of Midnight", featuring superb illustrations by Jim Steranko. A cautionary note for parents: there is a chapter on underground comics and while not explicit, does have some R-rated material that they might not find appropriate for very young children(some brief nudity and drug references). Otherwise, Comix is a title that should be regarded as an essential purchase for the collections of serious comic book enthusiasts.