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

[Weird]

On a trip to DC when I was a kid I picked up "A Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics." What a great book - all the cool things you would want to read like the first Superman and Batman stories along with EC stuff, Pogo, and a bunch of other great things. I still have it on my bookshelf.

[Larryw7]

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.

 

COMICS BETWEEN THE PANELS is a must. It's such an entertaining read that I've gone through the whole book at least three or four times. The info on the Mile High Collection alone is worth the price of the book.

 

Also recommend Feiffer's GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES, and MEN OF TOMORROW by Gerard Jones(which can usually be found very cheaply on eBay).

[arexcrooke]

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

Thats funny!

[slab_em-migration]

"Comic Book Nation" by Brad Wright

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080186514X/002-1548818-4780868?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance

[Forbush-Man]

Steranko's History of the Comics Volume 1 & 2,........at least Volume # 1. I know it's 35 years old now, but it's still a great read. Nice information about Pulps too!