BIG STAR, Little Book...

Cool. Talk about synchronicity, I just saw today that, after my post on the band a few days ago, that the awesome 33 1/3 series from Continuum has an upcoming book focusing on Big Star's 'Radio City'!

Synopsis: 'Bruce Eaton examines the key ingredients of 'Radio City's lasting appeal - and through extensive interviews with all of those involved, gets to the heart of the cult of Big Star.'

Sweet! I guess Eaton played w/ Alex Chilton at some solo gigs and the man 'children by the millions scream for' is interviewed heavily for the book. Great series if you've never checked it out...i've got some reviews of previous editions in the 'Wayback Machine'. Looks like books on The Clash's 'London Calling' and Madness' 'One Step Beyond' are set to drop soon as well!

AMBFAD Book Club

'Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman and Godzilla'

First 'Book Club' post of the year and it's a good one! I've actually been lusting over this since it was published by the always-awesome Chronicle Books back in 2007. There was a lone copy at one of the nearby Barnes & Noble, but the price tag always kept me at bay. Thanks to some well-placed holiday gift cards, I finally nabbed it.

For those who aren't familiar w/ the name, Eiji Tsuburaya was the visual effects mastermind behind 'Godzilla', 'Ultraman' and numerous Japanese sci-fi movies/TV shows revered around the world. The first book on this legendary film figure in English, this highly visual biography details his fascinating life and career, featuring hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art and on-set photos. Beautifully designed and lovingly authored by August Ragone, it's a fitting tip of the hat to one of the cinema's semi-unsung heroes.

For die-hard fans of Tsuburaya and the genre as a whole, the book also features profiles of his film collaborators, details on his key films and shows (most available on DVD) and features on the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create. Seriously, it is packed full of some great stuff.

I grew up on both the Godzilla films and the American syndication of the original Ultraman series...both are cultural pillars to me. If you can say the same, this book is worth checking out! Still in print and available via most online booksellers.

Merry X-mas To ME!

Last Christmas, I blogged about the most excellent 'Marvel Vault' museum-in-a-book dilly that I sort of gifted myself. A completely awesome historical retrospective of the mighty Marvel Comics and collection of reproduced promo items/memorabilia from over the years...it was like several gifts in one.


Since that time, as i've stated on here before, I think i've slowly converted from a lifelong Marvel guy to DC Comics disciple. In the past few weeks, in fact, (thanks to my local library) I actually tore through both the 'Infinite Crisis' TPB and all FOUR volumes of the '52' series that followed...amongst other fine DC offerings. To be fair, I also read Marvel's 'Civil War'...but it just didn't have the same oomph.

Anywho, it's fitting that the same company who did the Marvel vault just recently released a DC version as well. Looks to be just as cool and, just like last year, they had a stack of them at Costco...so I grabbed one to have placed under the tree for me. Hey, I was there picking up a mega-sized box of x-mas bows for the wife anyways!

This baby includes early sketches, covers, memos, press materials and tons more. From a working reproduction of a 1942 Junior Justice Society of America decoder...to a series of Public Service Announcements starring Superman and Batman...to the original pencils and inks for Wonder Woman #63...it contains more than 25 plastic-encased archival pieces to pull out and examine - all while learning about the artists, writers and heroes that make up the DC Universe.

This is another stellar gift idea for the comic book geek (old or new) in your life and, unlike Oprah, this 'favorite thing' of mine will only set you back $30. Worth every penny!

EVEN MORE (EL) FAMOUS MONSTERS!

(EL) FAMOUS MONSTERS!

AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club

'500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide'

Picked up a great book/tool for the comic luddite and aficionado alike over the weekend. '500 Essential Graphic Novels' provides a list of...well, 500 graphic novels that no self-respecting geek should be without. 350 authors and 400 artists are represented in this study of the genre.

The book is neatly divided into ten alphabetically organized chapter themes, each defining a graphic novel genre: from adventure through fiction and humor to war. Each chapter contains a thoughtful introduction, ten essential reads and nearly 40 other genre-defining works from 1987 onward. Each 1/2 page entry offers a plot synopsis and a qualitative review while showing the novel cover and (space permitting) a page excerpt. Even better, each entry also includes recommendations to other books of similar ilk.

This guide really runs the gambit, where you find Alan Moore and Frank Miller comfortably hobnobbing w/ Daniel Clowes and Charles Burns...allowing you to expand your parameters into some great new stuff or give you hours of fodder to argue over what was/wasn't included. As author Gene Kannenberg Jr. explains in the introduction, this is in no way definitive...there is just too much stuff out there to include it all.

That said, he's done a fantastic job in showing you where to start. Getting back into the whole world of comics myself, this is a great 'field guide' to help me continue to get up to speed. It came out in August and i've seen it at most of the major book sellers, so it should be easy to find. Could either save you some money spent on something bad or make you drain your savings on all the stuff you never knew about. Either way, good times!

AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club...Sort Of.

'Wonder Women of America'

I have a thing for cute chicks dressing up in capes, masks, boots, chains, spandex and/or leather. Now, 'i'm not talking chips, dips, chains, whips...candlewax on the nipples, or witchcraft or anything like that, no, no, no. Just a couple of hundred kids running around in their underwear.' You know...like a COMIC BOOK CONVENTION.

I had always seen pictures, but until I actually attended my first 'con' earlier in the Summer...I never really understood just how fanatical some folks can be about their favorite comics and/or movies. As I stated in my recap of my trip to Wizard World, I saw huge armadas of dudes in full Stormtrooper outfits...girls done up as everything from Power Girl to Spiderwoman (unfortunately, no Red Sonjas)...entire families (including infants) dressed up as the Justice League. It was pretty freaking wild, most definitely geekery of the highest degree.

Don't get me wrong, lest you forget i'm a proud geek myself, I fully endorse people letting their Superman 'S' emblazoned freak flags fly...especially the ladies. The new book from Amos Publishing, 'Wonder Women of America' is a celebration of these proud women who bravely subject themselves to leering glances from dudes like me, just to rep their favorite comic/film/video game heroine.

Compiled over 4 days at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con, 'Wonder Woman of America' contains 185 photos of more than 100 women - from all walks of life, in all ages, shapes and sizes - dressed to the hilt as their favorite fictional babes. The book also contains quotes from many of them, giving some insight into why they dress in costume.

Personally, I feel safer just knowing they're out there...available for purchase at STRANGEco.

AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club

A lot of cool stuff i've really been looking forward to is finally available to burn a hole in my wallet. Both the trade paperback for 'Madman Atomic Comics Vol. I' and the art/bio book 'Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko' came out last week...reviews for both forthcoming as soon as my copies come into Beyond Tomorrow Comics (PALATINE REPRESENT!).

That said, i'm really looking forward to receiving...

'DARWYN COOKE: RETROACTIVE 1998-2008'. A humdinger of a 48-page collection of selected art produced over the last ten years, from Darwyn’s time as an animation artist to his current career as a superstar comic book writer/illustrator. The book collects all-new, never-before-published art, rarely-seen material, and some sketchbook pages, with most being finished, full-color illustrations.

While checking out the artist tables at Wizard World Chicago, I happened upon Alberto from Brandstudio Press giving some dude a little sneak peek and man did it look gorgeous. I also overheard him saying that Darwyn wanted to sell it only as a San Diego Comicon exclusive, but (lucky for us who couldn't attend) they have some copies avail via their website HERE. I think it's limited edition, so if you are a fan...better act now. I ordered mine the day it went on the website. Whee!

AMBFAD Book Club

Nobody does it better. Well, at least to my knowledge, nobody has done it better than Penguin Publishing. To coincide w/ the 100th anniversary of Ian Fleming's birth, they've given the Bond novels the much-deserved face lift the classic series deserves.

Artist Michael Gillette was commissioned to paint fourteen iconic covers and I can't think of any other way to describe them than: SEXY. Each cover taps into the iconic concept of the 'Bond Girl', made almost as famous as 007 himself thanks to Hollywood, done up in a colorful 60's vibe to eye-catching results.

Fourteen book biographies, one for each back flap, replaced the usual author biography (which is found on page one). A short extract from each book graces the back cover.

The books are also numbered on their spines for the completist who wants to savor each story in order. The extra touch of a coordinating female silhouette adds to the package as well.

I think I ended up checking out and reading just about all of these from the library as a kid, so it's cool to see such great stories get an equally great look to match. Unfortunately, while the swanky, demi-format hardbacks were published on 29-May, they are currently available only in the UK and the £210 it'll cost you to order the entire set comes out to ~ $400 USD! A little too steep for my blood.

Luckily, the most recent paperback versions currently available in the states are pretty damn retro-cool looking as well...

...and, as the excellent stories within are the most important part anyways, totally worth the $13 to add to your home library. Trust me, at least in this case, you CAN judge a book by it's cover...these read just as fun as they look.

If you want more info, check out the killer 007 microsite Penguin has set up HERE!

Reason #247 Half-Price Books Rules...

Aside from nabbing a nearly-mint copy of the 3rd pressing of Mike Allred's 'Madman: The Oddity Odyssey' for next-to-nothing at their Memorial Day 20% off sale last Friday...I also grabbed the insanely fresh lunchbox above for only $6 (looks to be up to $15-16 on ebay and other comic sites)!

I don't usually bring my lunch to work, let alone a lunchbox...but it will be good for storing various collectible odds and ends while on display. Seriously tho, those purchases were only the tip of the iceberg and the AMBFAD Book Club will have plenty of reviews of stuff to make you drool over the next few months.

AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club Too

'KIRBY FIVE-OH!'

Speaking of 'King' Kirby, I also recommend picking up the 50th issue of The Jack Kirby Collector, a double-size softcover BOOK instead of the regular magazine. 'Kirby Five-Oh!' spotlights the 50 Best of Everything from his 50-year career in comics...including his 50 best stories, 50 best character designs, 50 best examples of unpublished art and much more.

It's really fucking sharp, jam packed w/ tons of art (in both color and b&w) and these guys are absolute Kirby freaks, so they really know what they are talking about. Another great way to appreciate the work of a true master and i've seen it at both Border's and Barnes & Noble. Pick one up today before they're gone!

AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club

'Godland (Volumes I, II and III)'

My first three legitimate trade collections purchased in umpteen years, Joe Casey/Tom Scioli's 'Godland' is hitting the sweet spot for me right now. A total homage to/revival of the Cosmic Superhero Epic as told by many great comic writers of the 1970s, the writing/illustration of the series is strongly inspired by Jack Kirby's style in his Eternals and Fourth World series.

As Kirby-esque as it is, you end up really not caring it's a near rip off. It's kind of how I feel about Oasis...ripping off major elements of the Beatles, but doing it so well I can't help but enjoy it. To be fair, Casey and Scioli add a more modern take on the subject matter and their own brand of humor to the story as well.

The main character of the series is astronaut Adam Archer. As the sole survivor of an ill-fated journey to Mars, he meets the alien entities known as the Cosmic Fetus Collective (HA!), who transform him into a cosmic being and instruct him in the uses of his new powers. In origin, look and powers...Archer is a total hybrid of the Silver Surfer and The Human Torch.

Four years later. Archer has become a famous superhero, but is distrusted by government and the public (Spiderman anybody?). In another instance of Fantastic 4-ish parity, he military have provided him with a base smack dab in the middle of NYC, Infinity Tower (Baxter Building?), from where Archer and his three sisters, Neela, Angie and Stella, protect the Earth w/ the help of a giant, dog-like alien named Maxim (almost a spitting image of the Inhuman's Lockjaw).

There are some fun villains as well like Basil Cronus, a floating skull in jar on a quest for the ultimate high, Destro-lookalike/former butler Friedrich Nicklehead, mega-dominatrix/torture-artist Discordia and her father the Tormentor. If that ain't enough, how about a floating pyramid from the middle of the earth piloted by a meglomaniacal King Tut-like religious fanatic named King Janus? Crazy, but uber fun stuff.

As I stated, the series has been going since 2005 and i'm catching up via the trade collections released by Image Comics: 'Hello, Cosmic!' (Issues #1-6), 'Another Sunny Delight' (Issues #7-12) and 'Proto-Plastic Party' (Issues #13-18). Volume 4: 'Experimento Afterlife' is slated for release at the end of August.

Unfortunately, the series will be ending with issue #36, a little more than a year away. Kind of an interstellar bummer, but at least they'll leave behind an impressive body of work! Check it out for yourself, true believers!

AMBFAD Book Club (artificially sweetened w/ SUCARYL)

'Krazy Kids' Food: Vintage Food Graphics'

I've actually owned this one for a while since it was re-released by Barnes & Noble publishing in 2006, but the last nostalgia-fueled AMBFAD Book Club post sparked me into recommending it now. You may find it w/ another cover if you are looking for it online or at your favorite bookseller (FYI), but I digress.

'Krazy Kids' Food' is collection of vintage food graphics used to advertise children's products from the 1930s up through the 1970s. Advertising classics (and not-so-classics) like Mr. Bubble, Maypo, Mr. Wiggle, Shake-A-Pudd'n, Tang and Space Food Sticks all make appearances (just to name a few). The evolution from kid-targeted packaging using mostly established cartoons like Mickey Mouse and Popeye to integration of their own imaginary pitchmen into popular culture, like Tony the Tiger and Twinkie the Kid, is really pretty fascinating.

Even more fascinating is some of the products people used to actually let us eat as children. (Not that) nutritious and delicious concoctions like Fizzies, Kream Krunch Cereal, King Stir, Wrapples, Puddin' Head, Space Food Sticks and Koogle parade through the book in glorious color. Also included are some of the not-so-PC mascots of the past like the Frito Bandito, Chief Big Wheels and the 'Rots O' Ruck' Candy guys. Yikes.

Released as part of the TASCHEN Icons series back in 2003, the design and layout is class act. After a nice two-page introduction...it goes right into nothing but photos of the goods. More importantly, it was helmed by Steve Roden and the amazing Dan Goodsell, both artists and curators of the largest archive of original kids' food packaging in the world! Package all that together and you've got a fun-filled book that'll make you feel like a kid again.

Plus, speaking of Dan Goodsell, i highly recommend checking out the jaw-dropping website he maintains showcasing off this massive collection of packaging, print ads, animated TV spots, theme park memorabilia and other great treasures at Tick Tock Toys. While you're there, make sure to check out his blog and original art site as well for more great stuff. I can (and have) spent hours there since he started it in 1999.

AMBFAD Book Club (w/ 1 Stick Bubble Gum)

'Wacky Packages'

As a small fry, I amassed a large 'collection' of bubblegum cards ranging in a myriad of subjects that included MLB, NBA, NFL, Star Wars, KISS, Three's Company, Close Encounters, Marvel Superheros, Charlie's Angels, Weird Wheels, Battlestar Galactica, Evel Knievel and so many others long forgotten. I loved sifting through the cards, the checklists and the stickers like a millionaire counting his cash.

My stacks upon stacks of comics were only eclipsed by the armada of shoe boxes full of these cards, not-at-all-neatly organized into groups using rubber bands. I remember selling the KISS cards sometime in Junior High at one of the memorabilia/swap meet type things that would show up in College Hills Mall every so often...the rest went to destinations unknown via garage sales and trading them for other stuff. Ancient memories the lot of them.

So, over a lunchtime trip to the comic book shop near my place of employment, I was elated to find a book completely devoted to one of the best offerings of of the bubblegum card genre: 'Wacky Packages'. They were a series of collectible stickers featuring parodies of consumer products and well-known brands and packaging first produced by the Topps company in 1967, then revived in 1973 for a highly successful run. In fact, for the first two years they were published, Wacky Packages were the only Topps product to achieve higher sales than their flagship line of baseball cards.

The book serves as a first-ever collection of Series 1 - 7 (from 1973 and 1974), released directly from Topps to honor the 35th anniversary of their existence. Not just content to offer up pictures of all 232 stickers, the book also includes a really cool forward from Art Spiegelman...a pioneer in Wacky Packages, conceiving all of the 1st series titles from 1973. You may better know him for his 1992 Pulitzer Prize-winning comics memoir, 'Maus'. All that is cool enough, but what really drew me in was the design of the book itself...

From the dustcover made from the same waxy paper that the cards were originally packaged in to the four never-before-published 'Lost Wackys' (actual stickers) included exclusively with this book...it's apparent that some thought went into the experience of enjoying this book as much as you enjoyed the stickers it focuses upon.

The overall design is so clean and neat and full of little creative touches that include a lone stick of that pink cardboard that they would pass off as 'gum' staring back at you when you peel back the dustcover. Even better, the pages are stitched in, rather than just glued. It's a hell of a lot more expensive to produce a stitched book, but it's a hell of a lot more durable as well...perfect for those of the 'collector' mentality likely to buy the thing.

Really, you just have to see it in person to get the just of it and if you are a fan of this type of ephemera...I highly recommend checking it out. It was just released to stores this week, both online and I actually saw a bunch at Barnes & Nobel as well. Enjoy and save a piece of 'gum' for me!

AMBFAD Book Club/Poster Extra!

'Some People Can't Surf: The Graphic Design of Art Chantry'

While we're talking rock posters, i'd be remiss if I didn't mention a literary blast from the past in the excellent book 'Some People Can't Surf: The Graphic Design of Art Chantry'. Now, to poster/graphic design Luddites, Chantry may not be a household name, but to anybody who was even a passing fan of the grunge movement that burst out of the Northwest in the early 90's...you may just be a fan and didn't even know it.

Published back in 2001, this book is a fantastic encapsulation of an extremely influential figure in modern graphic design. Due in part to Chantry designing the book itself and packing it with hundreds of his vibrant images from his own personal collection, the book successfully traces his career from covers and layouts for the seminal music magazine The Rocket, to album covers for such cult bands as Mudhoney, the Reverend Horton Heat, the Fastbacks and many more.

Throw in Chantry's commentary on the unusual origins and unorthodox processes behind his work, as well as providing context for his oft-copied look and you've got a robust case-study justifying consideration that he is indeed one of the greats. Well, at least that's what author Julie Lasky pleads a pretty rock-solid case for and you can color me convinced. Unfortunately, I think it's wrongfully out of print...but there are copies both new and used available at Amazon.

I also suggest heading over to artchantry.com for a link to some of his stuff you can actually buy and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. You'll be glad you did...promise!

AMBFAD Book Club Two-fer

'Art of Modern Rock: Mini #1 A-Z & Mini #2 Poster Girls'

I love rock. I also love posters, the alphabet and girls. If you are anything like me (God help you), i've got a pair of books that I think you'll enjoy. 'Art of Modern Rock: Mini(s)' are the impish siblings of the gargantuan 2004 coffee table collection of dynamic rock posters: 'Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion'. Filled with classic hits from the original volume plus loads of new material, the Mini(s) have been reformatted into a perfect bite-size package that will actually fit nicely on your bookshelf.

'A-Z' is organized into a clever, alphabetical collection ranging from themes 'Anarchy' to 'Zombie', w/ all the key poster tropes and genres getting some play. Rock poster luminaries like Derek Hess, Emek, Kozik and Scrojo (to name a few) are all well-represented w/ some of their most classic work included within. Bottom line, even in it's smaller format, this is a beefy bunch of good stuff any aficionado can enjoy.

'Poster Girls' is organized in a very similar way, except under a larger context of the female form and it's historical importance as a key muse to the art form. A bountiful bevy of rock-and-roll vixens, indie beauties, alien seductresses, ass-kicking cowgirls and punk rock babes all parade through the pages inside to beautiful results. Exploitation or tribute? I like to think it's the latter, but you can decide for yourself.

The author, Dennis King, is an internationally recognized authority on vintage/contemporary rock and roll posters, graphics and screen prints (plus, Japanese pop culture artifacts and baseball cards). He maintains one of the largest private poster collections in the world and is regularly called upon by publications, libraries, and museums worldwide for authentication and historical commentary. It's this virtual bottomless pit of material to pull from that make these books so fantastic. You can actually check out some his gallery online at D. King Gallery.

For further poster fun, I highly recommend checking out the kick-ass blog 'OMG Posters!' for up-to-date news on some of the freshest stuff popping out there and if you really want to go nuts, spend a few hours going through the cavernous collection of stuff at 'Gigposters.com'...neatly organized by everything from artist, band and venue. Links for both are over to the right and both books are available at most major booksellers right now.

AMBFAD Book Club TOO!

'The Incredible World of Spy-fi: Wild and Crazy Spy Gadgets, Props, and Artifacts from TV and the Movies'

Another great bargain-bin discovery at Half-Price Books, 'The Incredible World of Spy-Fi' was actually published in 2004 ('missed it by that much')...but the treasures within are totally timeless. Anybody who reads this blog knows that i'm a total horror/sci-fi geek when it comes to film/TV, but the 'spy' genre is equally important in the molecular structure of my geekdom. I bonded (pun not totally intended) w/ my Dad over all the 007 flicks and even read a healthy handful of Ian Fleming's books in my youth.

That said, luckily, the level of geekdom displayed by author Danny Biederman is unparalleled and we have a blast of a book as a result. Biederman has been immersed in the world of international espionage (at least as Hollywood depicts it) from the time of his youth in the 1960s, when he was introduced to a world of 'spies, gadgets, adventure, and beautiful women - everything that a ten-year-old boy could possibly want.' Since then, he has collected over 4,000 props from various sets, amassing such an impressive bunch of artifacts that the CIA asked him to exhibit it at its HQ in 2000.

This book tells the story of each film and TV series through Biederman’s props, with both historical perspective and (often funny) personal anecdotes (his search for his 'holy grail,' the cigarette-pack transmitter from U.N.C.L.E., is fantastic) thrown in for good measure. Great stuff from James Bond, 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', 'Mission Impossible', 'The Wild Wild West', 'I Spy' and even Maxwell Smart's shoe phone/Austin Powers glasses are all represented (to name a few).

With over 200 color images from this vast collection and insight offered up from such a fanatic, this is a must-have for anybody who even remotely digs the genre. Like I said, I got it for a steal and it's available on most of online retailers, new and used. Check it out.

AMBFAD Book Club

'Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation'

I actually bought and read this extremely cool book over a month or so ago, but kept forgetting to post up w/ a review. 'Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation' examines a really interesting period in animation that virtually discarded the 'lifelike' aesthetic popularized by the Disney classics of the 1940's, for a more graphic and often abstract approach.

The work shown within really had so much in common w/ the equally modern painting and graphic design movements of the era, with extremely creative results. Even better, while examples from heavy-hitters like Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers and UPA are all represented within, the groundwork for the movement started and was most predominantly featured in everything from commercials to industrial and educational films to fair and expo infotainment.

The book is brimming w/ wonderful art within, organized by thes studio/ad firm/ etc. it came from. Not just pretty to look at, it also features some in depth historical perspective behind the period and the people that created it. The author, Amid Amidi, is the publisher/editor of Animation Blast magazine, cofounder of the extremely excellent animation blog CartoonBrew.com and has done a fantastic job in putting together a book that is both fun for the eyes AND your head.

It was actually published back in 2006, so it's available on all your favorite online booksellers or, if you're lucky like me, a Barnes & Noble that still happened to have a copy in stock. For a chronicle of the book's inception/birth and a glut of examples of the period it's about, you should also check out the blog he had up for it HERE. More book club fun on the way!

More AMBFAD (Comic) Book Club

'The Golden Age of DC Comics: 365 Days'

A total steal at $9.99 via the bargain bin at my local Barnes & Noble! Comics historian Les Daniels, graphic designer Chip Kidd, and photographer Geoff Spear raided the official DC archives to offer up a book that is a little less an detailed historical retrospective, but more so a visual appreciation for the medium from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s.

Once you get past the issue that, at first glance, it seems like a day-by-day calender project turned into a hardcover semi-coffee table book at the last minute...it's a really fun read. The design proves interesting, w/ every two pages being coupled w/ a historical footnote and a blown-up image of the particular comic being referenced and/or relevant.

All the DC luminaries are in there...Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Captain Marvel...but so are failed characters, short-lived ideas and even the funny animals that were used as fillers at the time. Again, a fun read for both comic geeks and casual fans...the bargain price-tag made it even better. It's on Amazon, but kind of hefty...check your local B&N first.

A Little More 'Jolly' Jack

An interview clip w/ Jack Kirby from a long out-of-print documentary called 'The Masters Of Comic Book Art.'

Really articulates a few things that i've been reading in that 'King of Comics' book. Seems Jack, while an artistic genius, wasn't the greatest communicator...oft going into several different points in one sentence. It's a flaw that folks attribute to his lack of proper financial compensation relative to his importance to the industry. He could create comics that sell, but had trouble selling himself and his worth.

The book also talks about how one of Jack's greatest fears was not being able to provide for his family...here, boiling down the inspiration for his prolific output to how he 'had to make sales.' A lot of that comes from his humble depression-ear beginnings and, in the early days of the comic industry, seemed like a worthwhile concern.

More music stuff coming soon...big album review on the horizon, of one of the most anticipated (at least for me) releases of 2008. Stay tuned!