Chris Ryall - Comic Books 101: The History, Methods and Madness

Stan The Man Lee

Man, do I wish there had been a volume like Comic Books 101 when I was first getting started in comics. It sure would have made life easier for me. But, since Capricious Chris Ryall and the Professor Scott Tipton decided to get themselves born too late to write their book decades ago when I could have used it, I had to learn about comics the hard way. I hadda work for 'em!

But after you read this amusing, entertaining, interesting and just plain fun collection of practically everything there is to know about comics, you'll be able to sound like a real pro the next time you're at any of the ever-burgeoning comic cons that are springing up faster than you can say,Don't forget the hyphen in Spider-Man's name!

To me, one of the greatest things about this terrific tome is the fact that it's all-inclusive. It touches on the history of all comics in general (even though I'd naturally have preferred it to be exclusively devoted to Marvel and, ahem, yours truly!). But hey, I can't win 'em all!

And Chris and Scott cover just about anyone and everyone you'd really want to read about. Think I'm exaggerating? OK, how's this for just enough names to whet your appetite Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Bob Kane, Steve Ditko, and Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster? And they're only the tip of the iceberg, only a tiny sample of the comic-book greats you'll soon be reading about if I ever finish this inspired introduction.

I don't know how they do it, but Chris and Scott don't seem to leave anything out. Wouldja believe they even explore (so that you won't have to) the advent of comic books in the late 1930s and even before that, they glom onto newspaper strip collections that actually led to the creation of comic books. By the time you finish reading this exemplary edition, you'll probably be qualified to teach a comic-book course yourself at any of the nation's leading universities.

Or, to put it another way, it's essentially a one-stop primer for any comic-book newcomer who wonders why Spider-Man can't challenge Batman or why the Justice League and the Avengers don't battle it out once and for all.

But let's not forget all of Hollywood's great superhero movies. On the pages that follow, you're about to breathlessly behold the source material that led to the greatest superhero movies of our time, and you'll see how some of the most prominent filmmakers manage to give us the most spectacular superhero movies in the known galaxy!

But now, I have a matter of the gravest import to discuss with you. I've been agonizing about it for years and need someone to share this heavy burden with. It has to do with the words comic book. I say words, which is plural, because everyone spells it comic book, as if it really is two words. But verily, I say to thee, a comic book implies a funny or comical book. That's why I've been on a one-man crusade to have it called comic-book one word! That makes it a generic word, which has come to mean a book featuring stories composed of words and illustrations, rather than a funny book. This is the only subject Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton haven't yet covered, but admit it haven't I given them a great idea for a sequel?