Customer Reviews

THE INTERNATIONAL BOOK OF COMICS

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I stumbled upon this book and was ever so glad to have done so.

This book covers multiple genres of comics from chiefly the United States of America but also covers the European comic scene very well.

Nice illustrated with many, many, many different cover pictures and illustrations acompanied by a text that shows that (Gasp!) the author actually cares about the subject that he is covering.

Verdict a nice all around and little known comic history book that even the most jaded fan will love to have.

If you're among the elder set, this giant [9'" x 13" 256-page book counting the index] is sure to evoke expressions like "I remember that" or "I had that comic" - whether you're from the U.K., Europe, or North America.

First appearing in 1984, the book takes a nostalgic look at comics from the early and latter day British strips and comic books, right through to Continental European publications, and North American issues, including those in circulation at the time of publication. The text is grouped under headings like Sunday Funnies, Christmas In Funnyland, Superheroes At War, Canada: Superheroes and The Gold Rush; The Superheroes Take Over; The Marvel Age Of Comics; Sport In The Comics; TV Comics; Science Fiction Comics, etc. etc.

It's a massive compilation chock-a-block full of colour reproductions of titles like Crackajack Funnies [# 1 - 1938], Jingle Jangle Comics [# 1 - 1942], Pawnee Bill [# 1 - 1951]; Bat Man [# 1 - 1940], The Black Terror [First Issue - 1942], Blue Bolt [# 1 - 1940], The Doll Man [# 1 - 1941], Black Cat Comics [# 1 - 1946], The Crimson Comet [# 4 - 1948], Speed Savage Comics [Canadian - # 1 - 1946], De Wrekers [Dutch - 1967], Young Allies [Summer 1941], The Silver Surfer [# 1 - 1968], Tales From The Crypt [# 1 - 1950], Sweet Sixteen [# 7 - 1947].

Indeed, the only major comic heroes overlooked were The Phantom and Mandrake The Magician. I wrote to author Gifford in the late 1980s asking about the omissions, and in his reply indicated the fault lay with the publishers who were looking to trim the size of the volume. Mr. Gifford admitted to being "embarrassed" when he met Lee Falk [creator of both] at a show in Italy and got him to autograph a copy.

Even so, this is a delight both for old-timers who wish to invoke fond memories and for the younger set who may be interested in the history of the comic book world.