1000 COMIC BOOKS YOU MUST READ. Tony Isabella. Krause; 2009. NOTE: Given the number of comics now being turned into movies -- as well as the link between comics and films -- Great Old Movies will occasionally review books on comics magazines.
Comics professional Tony Isabella has compiled this list of important comic books from the golden age to present day. The book is a thick hardcover packed with color reproductions of classic comics covers as well as many new ones. Which chapter interests you the most depends upon which era and genre most intrigues you -- some may find the later chapters less interesting because they focus on newer comics and not classic ones, but these chapters serve to introduce the reader to many new series, as well as to illustrate the huge variety and many genres of the comic book market. [Comic books are more than super-heroes, yet costumed characters seem to bring out the best in comics and vice versa.] You won't find much critical meat in the book, but it's not that kind of volume. Isabella introduces each chapter with some historical notes, but the book primarily consists of covers and captions with credits and an explanation of why that particular comic was included. The title, of course, must be taken with a grain of salt, as most super-hero fans won't be interested in the many angst-filled biographical and counter-culture comics that have cropped up in recent years and vice versa, and readers of Maus may not necessarily go for Donald Duck and Archie -- but who knows?
Verdict: Fun and informative for the serious comic book fan. ***.
Comics professional Tony Isabella has compiled this list of important comic books from the golden age to present day. The book is a thick hardcover packed with color reproductions of classic comics covers as well as many new ones. Which chapter interests you the most depends upon which era and genre most intrigues you -- some may find the later chapters less interesting because they focus on newer comics and not classic ones, but these chapters serve to introduce the reader to many new series, as well as to illustrate the huge variety and many genres of the comic book market. [Comic books are more than super-heroes, yet costumed characters seem to bring out the best in comics and vice versa.] You won't find much critical meat in the book, but it's not that kind of volume. Isabella introduces each chapter with some historical notes, but the book primarily consists of covers and captions with credits and an explanation of why that particular comic was included. The title, of course, must be taken with a grain of salt, as most super-hero fans won't be interested in the many angst-filled biographical and counter-culture comics that have cropped up in recent years and vice versa, and readers of Maus may not necessarily go for Donald Duck and Archie -- but who knows?
Verdict: Fun and informative for the serious comic book fan. ***.
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