The Comic Book in America: An Illustrated History
by Mike Benton
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mike BentonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1989-11
ISBN: 0878336591
Number of pages: 207
Publisher: Taylor Pub
Book Reviews of The Comic Book in America: An Illustrated History
Book Review: Good Chronological History of Comic Books
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good chronological history of America comic books from 1896 to 1993 (the year it was published). It names pretty much every important comci book in the year it first appeared, and does not forget to mention the years that they ceased. Each year from 1932 onward is given its own entry with a title tht characterizes the year (ie: 1936: The Boom Begins, 1954: Seduction of the Innocent, 1984: The Collectors Take Over, etc). It is copiously illustrated with full-color reproduction of comic book covers, pages and panels of various sizes, many of them quite rare.
This all makes it very easy to track trends in comics, as well as find important moments in comic book history.
There are also chapters that lists and gives brief histories of every comic book company encyclopediacally. You can even find out when DC Comics was known as Detective Comics, National Periodical Publications, etc.
Finally, there is a chapter that gives insightful histories of the major comic book genres, such as Crime, Horror, Jungle, and Romance.
No scholar of comics should be without this book. It's clarity, organization, and succinctness make it an invaluable research tool, and the many, many illustrations make it fun to look at, too.
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