What book(s) on comics should a newbie read?

[runningman]

I'm looking for some reading material to go along with my recent rediscovering of comic collecting.

 

Maybe something on the history, art form, a book of a general nature. As well, perhaps a biography of one of the greats would be interesting.

 

What book would board members suggest? What have you read that has stayed with you?

 

Thanks

[THE_BEYONDER]

Why read books about comics...when you can read the comics themselves?

[runningman]

I new that was going to be said.

[Silver Surfer]

Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics-Marvel. Written by Les Daniels it has Spider-Man on the cover and has 700 color illustrations and some great insight into the various era's. If you like Marvel its an absolute must. I am glad I purchased it. Also, try some of the GA Masterworks editions that have come out. Don't waste your time with these essential books because they are in black and white and after getting a migrane from reading a few pages you want to throw it in the fire place.

[sckao]

Maybe something on the history, art form, a book of a general nature. As well, perhaps a biography of one of the greats would be interesting.

 

Some books that may be of interest:

 

Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics.

Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross

Comic Wars by Dan Raviv

Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

[Silver Surfer]

Tales to Astonish (tribute to Jack Kirby) or the Stan Lee bio.

[Forbush-Man]

The Comic Book Makers by Joe Simon.

[Sharkey]

"Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics" by Julius Schwartz

 

"The Great Comic Book Heroes" by Jules Feiffer

 

The Les Daniels books on Marvel and DC

 

The Jack Kirby Collector (any issue) available from Two Morrows Publishing

 

Mark Evanier's web site http://www.newsfromme.com

 

Mark Evanier's collection of columns "POV" that were published in the Comic Buyers Guide and collected in three TPBs. I always like his stories about comics and the entertainment industrly. You can buy them from his web site.

 

Oh, and there are a million other books worth reading. These are just some of my favorites.

[runningman]

Tales to Astonish (tribute to Jack Kirby) or the Stan Lee bio.

 

Who wrote the Stan Lee bio?

 

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[valiantman]

Strangely, no one has mentioned:

 

Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #35

 

(The price guide section is important, but the book has lots of other great info, too!)

 

[PovertyRow]

Right now what kind of comic books interest you? Are there any you think may interest you in the future? Do you have any general genres (horror, superhero, sci-fi, crime, romance etc) that appeal to you? Any time periods you are interested in? There are highly specialized and very general books - lots of them. So give us a bit more of your tastes and interests!

[HouseofComics.Com]

Those books are all good--check them out and pick what interests you.

 

I would strongly suggest the Overstreet Comic Book Grading Guide and strongly second the recommendation for Evanier's POV.

 

Marc

[mlovest]

Don't forget the Gerber cover books--not much reading, but great covers! "The Photo-Journal Guides" are four separate volumes, two each for silver and golden-age comics.

 

V/R

Mike

[Silver Surfer]

Tales to Astonish (tribute to Jack Kirby) or the Stan Lee bio.

 

Who wrote the Stan Lee bio?

 

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

Jordan Raphael and Tom Spurgeon. Its called Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book.

[goldust40]

Also worth mentioning - Comics Between The Panels by Duin and Richardson (Dark Horse). Great fun, informative, and an excellent primer for newcomers about writers, artists, and both the history of the medium and fandom.

[Kermit the frog]

The silver age of comic book art!!!

great book to read/drool over...

 

regards

[runningman]

I'm a big spidey fan, especially the silver age. Any specific recommendations here?

[Ringfinger]

Silver is a good start for anyone.

[That Ron Dude]

If the Marvel Masterworks count as books on comics, they are inexpensive and show a lot about how the comics got to where they are today. The Overstreet book is a book of lists but it can't be missed. And Understanding Comics might be good for the right person.

[PovertyRow]

Something else to consider is the Marvel reprinting of their Silver Age books IN the silver age. Books like Collectors Items Classic can be had quite inexpensively and these are genuine 60's books reprinting many of them more memoprable (and more expensive) tales of Spidey, Doc Strange, Hulk, FF, Thor etc. These can often be had for a few dollars in still decent shape and you actually have real SA Marvel Superhero books.