What are the best books about the history of the comic book industry?
I am a life-long comic book collector. I am interested in reading books about the history of comic book characters, and the history of the comic book industry. I am more interested in Marvel Comics, and the smaller companies. I am not interested in DC comics.
I am looking to purchase books about the history of the characters, and industry. I would like your suggestions as to which ones are the best. I would entertain ideas of books about the industry in general, the history of Marvel Comics, and their characters, the history of the smaller companies and their characters. I am not interested in DC specific books.
I already have the Marvel Essentials (almost all of them). I also already have a complete set of the Marvel Encyclopedias, and the book, Marvel Universe by Sanderson. Below is a list of books that I am looking at to possibly purchase. What are your thoughts on these? Are there any that you have read that you would add to the list?
Comic Wars: How Two Tycoons Battled Over the Marvel Comics Empire--And Both Lost
by Dan Raviv (Hardcover)
The Comic-Book Book
by Don Thompson (Paperback)
The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City
by Peter Sanderson (Paperback)
Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book
by Jordan Raphael (Paperback)
Amazing Marvel Universe
by Roy Thomas (Hardcover)
Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics
by Les Daniels (Hardcover)
Not only will I be awarding a winning answer, but I will also be tipping some of the runners-up (as long as they answer my questions correctly).
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$2 Answers
Now in terms of content, based on the essentials and encyclopedias you already own you're not going to get a lot of new information. But the way the information and art was organized by decade put issues and movements into a historical perspective quite nicely. I'm a lifelong Marvel collector as well and this book on display in my living room (rather than the garage with the rest of the collection) serves to promote Marvel comics from mere playful pastime to a legitimate art form. I'm very happy with it.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
http://www.amazon.com/Comics-Men-Cultural-History-American/dp/1604732679
-Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books Hardcover
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-History-American-Comic-Books/dp/1433101076
-A Complete History of American Comic Books (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Nation-Transformation-Culture/dp/0801874505/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285942313&sr=1-4
-Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Our-Gods-Wear-Spandex-History/dp/1578634067/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285942313&sr=1-5
-Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes (Paperback)
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I had to state that there was no best answer as my actual questions were not addressed in your answer. Sorry.
Thanks, I will take a look at those. I was hoping, though, for answers that would also address the books that I listed above and let me know what ideas everyone else had on them. I was also hoping to find out about books that people had read, and what their input was on them.
Thank you sir! And of course I meant John Romita. I always get the Romitas and the Buscemas mixed up for some reason.
To bad that you did not answer this a few weeks ago. You would have had the best answer. Thanks for the info.
Ah, hell, I will still tip you a buck, though. Just figure that you lost some for not answering on time.