Comic books in 'American Comic Book Chronicles'

1st printing. "The 1940s: 1940-1944!"

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues! Kurt Mitchell and editor Roy Thomas composed this volume about the "Golden Age" of the comic book industry, a five-year period that presented the earliest adventures of such iconic super-heroes as Batman, Captain Marvel, Superman, and Wonder Woman. It was a time when America's entry into World War II was presaged by the arrival of such patriotic do-gooders as Will Eisner's Uncle Sam, Harry Shorten and Irv Novick's The Shield, and Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Captain America. It was when teenage culture found expression in a fumbling red-haired high school student named Archie Andrews. But most of all, the first five years of the 1940s was the age of the "packagers" when studios headed by men like Harry A Chesler, Will Eisner, and Jerry Iger churned out material for a plethora of new comic book companies that published the entire gamut of genres, from funny animal stories to crime tales to jungle sagas to science-fiction adventures. These are just a few of the events chronicled in this exhaustive, full-color hardcover.

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 288 pages, full color.

Cover price $44.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $38.00

2nd and later printings (Includes Updated Material). "The 1950s: 1950-1959!"

By Bill Schelly.

New printing with text corrections, even better binding, and enhanced cover durability-so if you already own the first printing, you'll love this one even more!

Bill Schelly authors the volume on the 1950s era of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, with a year-by-year account of the most significant publications, notable creators, and impactful trends, including: the rise of the great EC "New Trend" titles (Tales of the Crypt, Weird Science), Harvey Kurtzman's Mad, and Carl Barks' classic work on Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge! The re-tooling of the Flash in Showcase #4 that kicked off the Silver Age of Comics, and the introduction of DC's Martian Manhunter, Adam Strange and the new Green Lantern! Plus the return of the Timely heroes Captain America, the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner, and the birth of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Fighting American and The Fly!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 240 pages, full color.

Cover price $46.95.

2nd and later printings. "The 1990s: 1990-1999!"

By Jason Sacks.

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues its ambitious series! Jason Sacks and Keith Dallas cover all the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of the Bill Clinton years! The 1990s was the decade when Marvel Comics sold 8.1 million copies of an issue of the X-Men, saw its superstar creators form their own company, cloned Spider-Man, and went bankrupt. It was when Superman died, Batman had his back broken, and the runaway success of Neil Gaiman's Sandman led to DC Comics' Vertigo line of adult comic books. It was the decade of gimmicky covers, skimpy costumes, and mega-crossovers. But most of all, the 1990s was the decade when companies like Image, Valiant, and Malibu published million-selling comic books before the industry experienced a shocking and rapid collapse!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 288 pages, full color.

Cover price $48.95.

1st printing. "The 1950s: 1950-1959!"

By Bill Schelly.

Bill Schelly authors this volume on the 1950s era of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, with a year-by-year account of the most significant publications, notable creators, and impactful trends. Schelly examines the rise of the EC "New Trend" titles (Tales of the Crypt, Weird Science), Harvey Kurtzman's Mad, and Carl Bark's work on Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge. Plus, the retooling of the Flash in Showcase #4 that kicked off the Silver Age, the introduction of the Martian Manhunter, Adam Strange, and the new Green Lantern! Also, the return of the Timely heroes Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner, and the birth of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Fighting American and The Fly!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 224 pages, full color.

Cover price $40.95.

Volume 1 - 1st printing. "The 1960s: 1960-1964!"

The American Comic Book Chronicles is an ambitious new series of full-color hardcovers, where TwoMorrows' top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s to today! John Wells covers all the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of comics in the JFK and Beatles era, including: DC Comics' rebirth of Green Lantern and Hawkman and the launch of Justice League of America. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's transformation of superhero comics with Marvel's Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Hulk, and other iconic characters!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 224 pages, full color.

Cover price $39.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. "The 1960s: 1965-1969!"

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues its ambitious series of full-color hardcovers, where TwoMorrows' top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s to today! John Wells covers the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of comics during the stormy cultural upheaval of 1965-1969!

You'll get a year-by-year account of the most significant publications, creators, and trends, including: The transformation of Marvel Comics into a pop phenomenon! Wally Wood's Tower Comics storms on the scene with the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents while Charlton's Action Heroes strike a blow of their own! Batmania sweeps the nation as the smash Adam West TV show pushes superhero comic sales into orbit! Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, and Denny O'Neil lead a wave of fresh young voices in the comic book industry! Taken together, American Comic Book Chronicles forms a cohesive, linear overview of the entire landscape of comics history, sure to be an invaluable resource for every comic book enthusiast!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 288 pages, full color.

Cover price $41.95.

1st printing. "The 1970s: 1970-1979!"

Jason Sacks and Keith Dallas coordinate this volume on the 1970s, covering all the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of the emerging Bronze Age! You'll get a year-by-year account of the most significat publications, notable creators, and trends, including: the dawn of relevance with Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams' Green Lantern, Jack Kirby's Fourth World saga, revisions to the Comics Code, Jeantte Kahn's arrival at DC, the coming of Jim Shooter, and the arrival of the Direct Market.

Hardcover, 288 pages, full color.

Cover price $41.95.

1st printing. "The 1980s: 1980-1989!"

Edited by Keith Dallas. Written by Keith Dallas, Jason Sacks, Jim Beard, Dave Dykema, and Paul Brian McCoy.

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues into the 1980s, covering all the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of comics during the Reagan era. You'll get a year-by-year account of the most significant publications, notable creators, and major trends including: the rise and fall of Jim Shooter at Marvel Comics; the ascendancy of Frank Miller as a superstar; DC Comics' reboot with Crisis on Infinite Earths and its British Renaissance; the emergence of Direct Market-exclusive publishers; and many other events that shaped comic book history!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 288 pages, full color.

Cover price $39.95.

1st printing. "The 1990s: 1990-1999!"

By Jason Sacks.

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues its ambitious series! Jason Sacks and Keith Dallas cover all the pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes details of the Bill Clinton years! The 1990s was the decade when Marvel Comics sold 8.1 million copies of an issue of the X-Men, saw its superstar creators form their own company, cloned Spider-Man, and went bankrupt. It was when Superman died, Batman had his back broken, and the runaway success of Neil Gaiman's Sandman led to DC Comics' Vertigo line of adult comic books. It was the decade of gimmicky covers, skimpy costumes, and mega-crossovers. But most of all, the 1990s was the decade when companies like Image, Valiant, and Malibu published million-selling comic books before the industry experienced a shocking and rapid collapse!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 288 pages, full color.

Cover price $44.95.