Customer Reviews

The DC Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the DC Universe

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I like this even more than the Marvel Vault, which came out last year. The DC Vault has better content as far as the history of DC is concerned, starting with More Fun comics and leading up to recent history. Martin Pasko, who many longtime DC fans will remember as a key writer during the 1970s, wrote the text that accompanies the multitude of pictures and collectibles. He includes numerous typed and handwritten memos from DC Comics writers and editors that give us a fascinating inside look at how certain decisions were made.

The collectibles that are reproduced here are really, really sweet.

For starters, the cover of the DC Vault is a reproduction of Dick Sprang's "Secrets of the Batcave" lithograph that he produced in 1994. Some of the 1940s items are the Junior Justice Society Decoder Wheel, a Wonder Woman Sensation Comics button, and a Batman 1943 mask that announces the newspaper comic strip. There are some never-before seen items, like Neal Adams concept drawings for a "Superman-land" amusement park, where we could have explored the World of Krypton. A sticker reproduces the "Shazam Is Coming" button that announced Captain Marvel's 1970 comeback into the DC Universe. My favorite reproduction is the History of the DC Universe Jam Poster (shown above), where a few dozen DC artists collaborated to draw their famous characters: Carmine Infantino on the Flash, Neal Adams on Deadman, Joe Kubert on Hawkman, Walt Simonson on Manhunter, Curt Swan on Superman, etc. I had this poster when it originally came out and somehow lost it, glad to have it back now. It even has Dave Gibbons doing Rorschach, which must make Alan Moore's head spin around.

If this wasn't enough, the DC Vault contains tons of preliminary cover and character sketches. There's a really cool Hawkman concept cover sketch by Kubert, as well as a Ragman character description. Brian Bolland's pencils to one of his famous Wonder Woman covers is included. There are a number of covers which had to be altered from their original state, and Pasko speculates on the editors reasons for doing so. There's so much in here that I can't possibly describe...if you're any kind of DC fan, you need to buy this book, now. Nuff said.

The DC Vault

All I can say is WOW!

The team of Martin Pasko and DC Comics (Paul Levitz provides the foreword) has produced a truly remarkable book with few faults. From a historical viewpoint, Mr Pasko has managed to shed new light on the murky origins of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholsons' company. The 'new' information not only includes what little we know of the various publisher mergings, but what fascinated me was the licensing impetus/juggernaut that grew out of DC Comcs/National Publications. With Dr No, the licensing arm behind the scenes kicked into high gear and with the merger of Kinney into a Time-Warner Corporation, DC was not only a publishing company, but a licensing monster!

As comic fans and readers, all we saw was the amazing array of products that came out of the mythcal offices we saw four color images of the heroes who saved the fictional universe again and again. DC swallowed Fawcett in the 1950's, and along with that, the amazing Captain Marvel franchise. Charlton Comics, oncde a major competitor, was also absorbed in the 1980's. The forays of DC Comics into network TV with the Adventures of Superman, Batman (West et al) and Superman films is referenced, but the Flash and Wonder Woman have been glossed over. Major talent movements from Marvel to DC (late 1960's), and the DC Implosion (1977/78) that purged the publishers low selling ranks, are covered by Pasko in a thoughtful, matter of factual manner.

Probably the greatest feature of this book is the wealth of 'vault' material included. Art pulled from files that never published, and actual copies of rare promotional items turn this into a true page turner. Items like the Ashcan Double Action #2, the Batman mask from 1943, the JSA Decoder, Superman's Buddy comic, and the History of the DC Universe poster are stunning. Even my 15 year old daughter was thrilled with the jewels in this publishing crown.

If there is a weakness to the book, it's the last couple of chapters that covers DC Comics from 1980 to present in 20 plus pages. The history of DC is complex, and the last nearly 3 decades is full of developments could fill a book on its' own. Dealing with issues of creators rights, the major Crisis, and DC Universe re-organization, and recently, the creation of specialty imprints such as Wildstorm, and the rise of exclusive creator contracts is either not discussed, or glossed over.

I do love the extensive use of high quality graphics 1935 to 1996 in the book and archive pieces. This is a true hands on book that could easily have been 200 more pages. Alex Ross fans will love the cover, and the note from Alex to Neal Adams.

The big question is, how can you expect to cover the history of such a company in so few pages? And secondarily, why do we nitpick so much. This is a labor of passion, and as such, should be read that way. Enjoy the glimpses into the files that only Paul Levitz can provide. Just enjoy.

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Tim Lasiuta

Last year Running Press gave comic book fans the very cool Marvel Vault, a "Museum in a Book" as they refer to it. This year Running Press is back with the DC Vault. If you haven't seen the Marvel Vault these books are part history book and part collectible. It comes packed with over two-dozen pieces of reproduction memorabilia from DC's decades-long history, all secured in clear plastic sleeves.

DC's history is an incredible story in itself. You'll read about the foundation that was laid for the modern comic book as far back as 1929 when publisher Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson tried to start up his own newspaper feature syndication while Harry Donenfeld and Jack Leibowitz were making a name publishing lurid pulp magazines. Bt perhaps the most important character in developing what we know as modern comics was M.C. "Max" Gaines. Gaines was the man largely responsible for Superman eventually seeing the light of day in Action Comics #1 after his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, had been turned down from newspaper syndicates.

You might be interested to know that Superman was not the first work that Siegel and Shuster did for DC. The book contains pages of pre-Superman work by the duo including the characters Slam Bradley and Dr. Occult. One of the rarest Super/Batman Comics is New York World's Fair #1 1940. On July 3, 1940, the World's Fair featured a Superman Day. The book contains rare color photos taken at the fair of Siegel and Shuster along with others, enjoying the day and having fun. As the golden age history of DC reveals itself, you'll get to see house ads promoting new characters and titles that have not been seen for decades.

The first bit of reproduction material in the book is a copy of an ashcan edition of Double Action Comics #2. Ashcan editions were dummy copies of titles used for nothing more than to secure a copyright to a title. Only three ashcan editions of Double Action #2 are known to exist. If you're a fan of 40s and 50s nostalgia, you'll find yourself positively giddy over the vintage product and merchandise ads that re-reprinted in the book. Kellogg's long defunct "Pep" cereal feature a Superman comic strip, and there's also ads for Superman sweatshirts, bubblegum cards, and moccasins.

The second grouping of memorabilia items includes a Batman promotional mask created for the Philadelphia Record newspaper, a Wonder Woman sticker based on a button that was offered in Sensation Comics #5, and a Justice Society decoder that you received for joining the Junior Justice Society. Needless to say if you had the originals they'd be almost priceless. A check of eBay turned up exactly ZERO decoders!

By the 1950's Superheroes were all but gone and DC was publishing a variety of different comics including humor, westerns, war, romance, sports, and movie and TV tie-in comics. It's practically a forgotten era and Pasko does a remarkable job of giving the reader a feel for the times with so many examples of the period.

Among the other more interesting bits of nostalgia contain within the Museum in a Book is a Superman Promotional booklet created for a hospital fund in 1948, a Batman and Robin postcard from 1960, a reproduction sketch by artist Joe Kubert for Brave and the Bold #43 (1962), a fold-out notice announcing DC's new address on Fifth Ave (1980), and reproduction cover pencils to Wonder Woman #63 (1992) by artist Brian Bolland.

The book is a large, spiral bound hardcover book, which makes it very easy to thumb through the pages and examine all of the little treasures inside. Yes it's $50, but it is well worth the price and you can certainly find it discounted at the usual sources.

This book is great. History in its written form, and things that you can touch! Great for any DC fan -- a must for any comic book or comic book movie fan.

I have wanted this book ever since I first saw it. I have always been a huge DC fan since my early days of perusing the comic book rack at Hudson's Drug Store in Euclid, Ohio. The new trend of reproducing actual "artifacts" for "museum" books is continued here. (I have a John Lennon book published through the Rock Hall and Museum that features this concept.) You are able to see and touch actual full-size reproductions of historical items that are either not in existence anymore, or only available at a high cost from some collector. It is a real "coffee table" book. I need to find room for it in my bookshelf soon, but I can't stop reading it and looking at the beautiful illustrations and photographs. It is informative as well as entertaining. I highly recommend it to any true DC fan.

These are truly museum quality artifacts contained in this book. My husband, an expert in DC Comics historical material, really has enjoyed this Christmas gift. Highly recommend this for comic aficionados!

The DC Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book brings the reader an adventure that could not be told through a mere comic book. From W.C. Brigham's early work of Cowboy Jack to today's masterpieces by Frank Miller author Martin Pasko (with foreword by Paul Levitz) has provided a behind the scenes look at DC Comics.

From serious to silly, from comedy to tragedy the story of DC Comics is laid out in a fun and informative fashion that transports the reader through time... A business that was shaped by war propaganda, counter culture revolt and social issues like racism, is discussed and enhanced with pictures of comic books, inter-office memos and story boards that are spectacular. It is a journey of epic proportions.

Happily, Pasko takes the reader not only through DC's stories of superheros, detectives and characters but also through DC's business decisions. Events like costume changes, timelines and personnel choices all shaped today's DC Universe and their bottom line.

Also included are painstakingly reproduced copies of rare memorabilia like secret decoders, masks and book marks that were used as promotional items. These are thankfully encased in plastic sleeves so the reader may take them out, examine them and replace them in the book without the worry of misplacing them.

Of course, like any "museum" the works contained within are far from complete and one can only hope that a "Volume 2" is in the works... However even the casual reader will be amazed (and reminded) at the legacy that DC's team of writers, artist and business people have give to the world.

I got this for my husband for Christmas. He loves it! The pull-out items are really need. The quality is superb. After opening it, (the last gift of the day) my husband disappeared into the parlor. when I found him later, he was deep into the book and its contents. I couldn't have chosen better...except for maybe the Marvel Comics Vault for next Christmas! :)

I received this book through Amazon and am very satisfied. The book was reasonably priced and shipped very quickly. The actual book is in excellent condition and is more than what I had expected.
My son and I had to look very closely at the reproductions as they look real. Would buy from this seller again.

A tremendous for the buck.

A great review of the history of DC with beautiful replica collectibles.

Highly recommended!