I've had a copy of the Smithsonian book for over 30 years... It's really an excellent core collection containing key stories from all across the Golden Age of Comics up until 1955, presented beautifully.
Kurtzman's war stories are just pure, 100% comics. The words and pictures just balance perfectly. No matter how often I re-read them they still retain that magic of reading and feeling them for the first time.
I bought this book on the cheap after you guys mentioned that it contains both Batman and Superman's first appearances, lol. I didn't expect there to be so many other great stories in there, so thank you!
I have that SMITHSONIAN book and the newspaper comics one. Both are breathtaking collections. I agree with what Jim said about short stories. There is something to be said for the ability to be succinct, well-paced, and informative, be it in comics or prose stories. Thanks, Jim and Ed, for another stupendous video.
I've had this book since I was a kid. I still bust it out all the time. But I've never liked war comics very much. So this was really one of the most interesting and informative episodes (for me). Thank you for bringing lesser seen stuff like this into the light.
Kurtzman is a (THE?) master cartoonist Just reread Fantagraphics EC Artists Library vol 1: Corpse on the Imjin the day before you guys dropped this video. I don’t have any of the Cochran box sets or IDW Artists Editions so this series is a great way to check out the pinnacle of comic book art in glorious B&W with easily digestible essays too. Everyone should jump on this series to eventually get you a full EC run.
Vaughn Bode drew a direct tribute to "Corpse on the Imjin" called "River Meat." Kurtzman did the best war comics, I agree, but the Undergrounds could be a lot more brutal, depending on what you mean, such as Bode's Vietnam strip "War Lizard" and Shelton's "Smilin' Sgt. Death". I've seen some pretty intense work in the Atlas pre-code war books. Russ Heath did an incredibly bleak story called "Killed in Action" for Atlas, really emotionally wrenching. Atlas did get a lot of obvious inspiration from the Kurtzman books. as well as the occasional artist, like Bernard Krigstein, who drew for their war and other genre books.
If... is such a gut punch. Like in terms of literature, it's super clear it's borrowed from Ambrose Bierce's stuff, but that doesn't diminish the effects of watching some poor kid die in Korea for a war that would never end and for absolutely no reason. Also, I genuinely wonder if Kurtzman was a brush guy or if it was possible he used a Caligraphy nib for a pen because Kurtzman had one of the most unique inking styles in American comics. Even then, he was (by his own admission) very slow as an artist, but he was fast with his layouts because those were pencil sketches. One of the most interesting things ever was the Mad Reprint collection they did in the 80s or 90s where they get Kurtzmans own sort of Kayfabe look into his Mad comics work. I do recall him bring such a perfectionist where he complained that a panel in Superduper Man wasn't what he had asked Wally Wood for and that the foot, despite it being cartoony, made it look like characters ankle was broken. Shame Kurtzmans not around because I'm sure he'd approve of you guys going through the work.
Garth Ennis seems to have an interest in war comics. He has a series I think just called “War Stories,” I’ve only read the one issue I’ve found about the Spanish Civil War, but it is very much in the vein of the stories in this video. I was very impressed by it.
Thanks for bringing up the possibility for censorship of these comics. I maintain the juvenile delinquency crap was about getting the EC war books. I also refer to the book American Daredevil.
I have the Smithsonian book, and it does a great job in support of this episode. I'm unsure how extensive it is, though, because there is next to nothing about The Phantom!
I've had a copy of the Smithsonian book for over 30 years... It's really an excellent core collection containing key stories from all across the Golden Age of Comics up until 1955, presented beautifully.
Kurtzman's war stories are just pure, 100% comics. The words and pictures just balance perfectly. No matter how often I re-read them they still retain that magic of reading and feeling them for the first time.
Joe Kuberts firm was/ is called Tell-A-Graphics
I bought this book on the cheap after you guys mentioned that it contains both Batman and Superman's first appearances, lol. I didn't expect there to be so many other great stories in there, so thank you!
I have that SMITHSONIAN book and the newspaper comics one. Both are breathtaking collections. I agree with what Jim said about short stories. There is something to be said for the ability to be succinct, well-paced, and informative, be it in comics or prose stories. Thanks, Jim and Ed, for another stupendous video.
Yeah I had the Newspaper Comics one since I was tiny.
I've had this book since I was a kid. I still bust it out all the time. But I've never liked war comics very much. So this was really one of the most interesting and informative episodes (for me). Thank you for bringing lesser seen stuff like this into the light.
Kurtzman is a (THE?) master cartoonist Just reread Fantagraphics EC Artists Library vol 1: Corpse on the Imjin the day before you guys dropped this video. I don’t have any of the Cochran box sets or IDW Artists Editions so this series is a great way to check out the pinnacle of comic book art in glorious B&W with easily digestible essays too. Everyone should jump on this series to eventually get you a full EC run.
Vaughn Bode drew a direct tribute to "Corpse on the Imjin" called "River Meat." Kurtzman did the best war comics, I agree, but the Undergrounds could be a lot more brutal, depending on what you mean, such as Bode's Vietnam strip "War Lizard" and Shelton's "Smilin' Sgt. Death". I've seen some pretty intense work in the Atlas pre-code war books. Russ Heath did an incredibly bleak story called "Killed in Action" for Atlas, really emotionally wrenching. Atlas did get a lot of obvious inspiration from the Kurtzman books. as well as the occasional artist, like Bernard Krigstein, who drew for their war and other genre books.
Wow. I borrowed this from the library over and over at age 10 to 13. It taught me a lot about comics, to say the least.
Check out Charlie’s War from Eagle comics
Charley's War. Story by Pat Mills, art by Joe Colquhoun
If... is such a gut punch. Like in terms of literature, it's super clear it's borrowed from Ambrose Bierce's stuff, but that doesn't diminish the effects of watching some poor kid die in Korea for a war that would never end and for absolutely no reason. Also, I genuinely wonder if Kurtzman was a brush guy or if it was possible he used a Caligraphy nib for a pen because Kurtzman had one of the most unique inking styles in American comics. Even then, he was (by his own admission) very slow as an artist, but he was fast with his layouts because those were pencil sketches.
One of the most interesting things ever was the Mad Reprint collection they did in the 80s or 90s where they get Kurtzmans own sort of Kayfabe look into his Mad comics work. I do recall him bring such a perfectionist where he complained that a panel in Superduper Man wasn't what he had asked Wally Wood for and that the foot, despite it being cartoony, made it look like characters ankle was broken. Shame Kurtzmans not around because I'm sure he'd approve of you guys going through the work.
Garth Ennis seems to have an interest in war comics. He has a series I think just called “War Stories,” I’ve only read the one issue I’ve found about the Spanish Civil War, but it is very much in the vein of the stories in this video. I was very impressed by it.
Thanks I did not know about this series
Tell-A-Graphics is the group did PS Mag for Joe.
Awesome video! Will have to look out for this book or those Two Fisted Tales reprints. Jim, is the book you mentioned called Pulp Empire?
Thanks for bringing up the possibility for censorship of these comics. I maintain the juvenile delinquency crap was about getting the EC war books. I also refer to the book American Daredevil.
I have the Smithsonian book, and it does a great job in support of this episode. I'm unsure how extensive it is, though, because there is next to nothing about The Phantom!
I love brutal war comics.
Great video guys!
Do you know Juan Gimenez and Ricardo Barreiro's Ace of Pique? I'll comment as a request, thanks.
Cartoonist kayfabe please cover pingpong or any Matsumoto comic 🙏