Companion Books THE MLJ COMPANION
THE MLJ COMPANION documents the complete history of Archie Comics’ super-hero characters known as the “Mighty Crusaders”—THE SHIELD, BLACK HOOD, STEEL STERLING, HANGMAN, MR. JUSTICE, THE FLY, and many others. It features in-depth examinations of each era of the characters’ extensive history: THE GOLDEN AGE (beginning with the Shield, the first patriotic super-hero, who pre-dated Captain America by a full year), THE SILVER AGE (spotlighting those offbeat, campy Mighty Comics issues, and The Fly and Jaguar), THE BRONZE AGE (with the Red Circle line, and the !mpact imprint published by DC Comics), up to THE MODERN AGE, with its Dark Circle imprint (featuring such fan-favorites series as “The Fox” by MARK WAID and DEAN HASPIEL). Plus: Learn what “MLJ” stands for! Uncover such rarities as the Mighty Crusaders board game, and the Shadow’s short-lived career as a spandex-clad superhero! Discover the ill-fated Spectrum line of comics, that was abruptly halted due to its violent content! See where the super-heroes crossed over into Archie, Betty, and Veronica’s world! And read interviews with IRV NOVICK, DICK AYERS, RICH BUCKLER, BILL DuBAY, STEVE ENGLEHART, JIM VALENTINO, JIMMY PALMIOTTI, KELLEY JONES, MICHAEL USLAN, and others who chronicled the Mighty Crusaders’ exploits from the 1940s to today! By JON B. COOKE, RIK OFFENBERGER and PAUL CASTIGLIA, with a new cover by RICH BUCKLER and JOE RUBINSTEIN.
INCLUDES 64 FULL-COLOR PAGES OF KEY MLJ STORIES! (288-page FULL-COLOR trade paperback) $34.95 • (Digital Edition) $14.99 ISBN: 9781605490670 • Diamond Order Code: MAY161832
MARVEL COMICS IN THE 1960s
MARVEL COMICS IN THE 1980s
QUALITY COMPANION
Issue-By-Issue Field Guide
Issue-By-Issue Field Guide
Presents a step-by-step look at how Marvel Comics emerged as one of the most dynamic, slightly irreverent, and downright original pop-culture forces in the artistic life of America. In scores of handy, easy to reference entries, MARVEL COMICS IN THE 1960s takes the reader from the legendary company’s first fumbling beginnings as helmed by savvy editor/writer STAN LEE (aided by co-creators JACK KIRBY and STEVE DITKO), to the full maturity of its wild, colorful, offbeat grandiosity. With the history of Marvel Comics in the 1960s divided into four distinct phases, author PIERRE COMTOIS explains just how Lee, Kirby, Ditko, and others created a line of comic books that, while grounded in the traditional elements of panel-to-panel storytelling, broke through the juvenile mindset of a lowbrow industry and provided a tapestry of fullblown pop culture icons.
Looks at Marvel’s final historical phase, when the company moved into a darker era that has yet to run its course. It saw STAN LEE’s retreat to the West Coast, JIM SHOOTER rise and fall as editor-in-chief, the twin triumphs of FRANK MILLER and JOHN BYRNE, the challenge of independent publishers, and the weakening hold of the COMICS CODE AUTHORITY that led to the company’s creative downfall—and ultimately the marginalization of the industry itself. Comics such as Claremont and Byrne’s X-MEN, Miller’s DAREDEVIL, the NEW UNIVERSE, the new wave of dark heroes such as WOLVERINE and the PUNISHER, and more are all covered in analytic detail. However, the 1980s represented years of upheaval in the comics industry—with Marvel at the center of the storm that marked the beginning of the end of Marvel comics as you knew them!
Dedicated look at the Golden Age publisher of UNCLE SAM, PHANTOM LADY, BLACK CONDOR, THE RAY, HUMAN BOMB, DOLL MAN, PLASTIC MAN, the BLACKHAWKS, and others now under the DC Comics umbrella. Includes A-Z character profiles of every Quality costumed hero, and FULL-COLOR reprints of several 1940s key stories with art by LOU FINE, REED CRANDALL, JACK COLE, CHUCK CUIDERA, MATT BAKER, WILL EISNER, and others! There’s a chronology and oral history with commentary by major Quality creators, plus it covers the characters’ revivals from the 1960s to today that introduced the Quality characters into the DC Comics universe, and the Freedom Fighters’ own series. Written by MIKE KOOIMAN with JIM AMASH.
(224-page trade paperback) $27.95 ISBN: 9781605490168 (Digital Edition) $11.99 Diamond Order Code: SEP131334
(224-page trade paperback) $27.95 ISBN: 9781605490595 (Digital Edition) $11.99 Diamond Order Code: SEP141665
(256-page trade paperback with COLOR) $31.95 ISBN: 9781605490373 (Digital Edition) $12.99 Diamond Order Code: AUG121323
4
Celebrating the Forgotten Golden Age Publisher
SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION In the Silver Age of Comics, space was the place to be, and this book summarizes, critiques and lovingly recalls the classic science-fiction series edited by JULIUS SCHWARTZ and written by GARDNER FOX and JOHN BROOME! The pages of DC’s science-fiction magazines of the 1960s, STRANGE ADVENTURES and MYSTERY IN SPACE, are opened for you, including story-by-story reviews of complete series such as ADAM STRANGE, ATOMIC KNIGHTS, SPACE MUSEUM, STAR ROVERS, STAR HAWKINS and others! Writer/ editor MIKE W. BARR tells you which series crossed over with each other, behind-thescenes secrets, and more, including writer and artist credits for every story! Features rare art by CARMINE INFANTINO, MURPHY ANDERSON, GIL KANE, SID GREENE, MIKE SEKOWSKY, and many others, plus a new cover by ALAN DAVIS and PAUL NEARY! (144-page trade paperback) $19.95 ISBN: 9781893905818 (Digital Edition) $8.99 Diamond Order Code: JUL073885
