In 1946 feiffer looked up will eisners name in the phone book and applied for a job as cartoonist in his. Feiffer ends his fabulous 1965 essay on comic book history with an argument that comics are junk, but that junk is good, even necessary. Buy the great comic book heroes by jules feiffer online at alibris. Jules feiffer wrote about the art of the swipe in his introduction to the great comic book heroes, swipes, if noticed, were accepted as part of comic book folklore. Jules feiffer is an american cartoonist, author, playwright, screenwriter, and popular satirist early life. Jules ralph feiffer was born in new york city on january 26, 1929. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Today, instead of taking a look at the origins and history of the superheroes theyve created like. The great comic book heroes, by jules feiffer fonts in use. Feiffer, a longtime cartoonist for the village voice and other publications, is an appropriate commentator not only on account of his affinity for comics but also because he has deep insight into the psychology of human nature. Jules feiffer is currently considered a single author. His father, david, was a salesman who was usually unemployed because of the great depression. His mother, rhoda, was a fashion designer who sold her drawings to different clothing manufacturers.
Top rated lists for idea 100 items top 100 comic book heroes ign 21 items my dcs movies list. Perhaps because he will never see age 88 again, he has looked deeply inside himself, even as far as he did in the little classic the great comic book heroes, an essential recollection of his youth. Written in 1964 the book traces the early days of comic strips and is well illustrated with the first issues of prominent superheroes. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer eka resources. In the last interview shuster gave before his death, he explained that he had modeled the visual appearance of clark kent on himself and movie star harold lloyd, and that of superman on douglas fairbanks senior. The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures of the classic superheoes of the comic books, in glorious color jules feiffer on. Feiffer, jules, the great comic book heroes, united states. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 30s and early 40s, including plastic man, batman, superman, the spirit, and others. Spawn one of the biggest nonmarvel and dc superheroes of all time is coming to mortal kombat 11 later this month. The great comic book heroes was a distillation of the dawn of the superhero comics in the early. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer alibris. The book is slender and offers little text by feiffer, but reprints in color early stories of the original superheroes. In this case, were talking about the first family of invincible. For many who purchased the book or studied a library copy, the great comic book heroes is fondly remembered for providing a first exposure to a battery of artists and cartoonists from joe shuster to bob kane to will.
One that did make it onto the traditional bookstore shelves was jules feiffers the great comic book heroes. The ultimate guide to characters, graphic novels, writers, and artists in the comic book universe, new york. Cartoonist jules feiffer born january 26, 1929 put together this homage to the comic books of his youth in 1965. The great comic book heroes the golden age of comic books. Your little one is sure to write hisher own great story with one of these names from your favorite comic books. Across the street from us theres a big, big house where its better than here. The promotional aspects of the book are pitched at children, as it should be after all, the work is exactly what i wish i had as a kid, but the beauty of the organizing conceit is that many of the best cartoonists in the world were making childrens comics, so what the. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer goodreads. See more ideas about illustration, the phantom tollbooth and tango art. One such young fan, michael uslan who has since went on to become a comic book writer and famous movie producer he has produced every batman movie since tim burtons 1989 film. Its an enjoyable and nostalgic, if brief, ride, and worthwhile if the price is right. Browse a comprehensive az list of marvel comic characters. Jules feiffers the great comic book heroes is a loving appreciation of the golden age of hero comics. The great book heroes annotated and compiled by jules feiffer is a collectors delight.
The reference to jules feiffer above is from his 1965 book the great comic book heroes, the first book on the subject. As one of the big two comic book publishers, dc comics has around 80 years of history behind it. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Superman is jewish how comic book superheroes came to. This copy of the great comic book heroes is the 1965 big hardcover book by jules feiffer, published by the dial press. In the book, feiffer writes about the unique place of comics in the space between high and low art and the power that this space offers. Rather, i have heard swipe artists vigorously defended, one compared to another. The modern american comic book is an invention of the early 20th century. This category has the following 8 subcategories, out of 8 total. The 10 most prominent nondcmarvel superhero universes of. Chart the progression from the first comic books born during the great depression to the television debut of superman in the. The great comic book heroes1965 jules feiffer hardcover book w dust jacket hi, im karen. Dont get confused, as this is a very popular surname in the worlds of comic books. The xmen went from forgotten heroes in the 70s, to being topdog in the 90s.
The great comic book heroes, the origins and early. Drew friedmans two recent books heroes of the comics and more heroes of the comics, published by fantagraphics books, depicted the great early comic book creators who entered into the dawn of the business between 19351955, a milestone in the early history of comic books. The heroes were the same often with the same names. From the 30s to the 70s was a one of those big wow books about comics that was gifted to me. The newspaper strip back in the i 1940s was a glorious thing to behold.
Jules feiffer looks at some of the great heroes of the. For lists of characters in japanese comics, see category. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 1930s and early 1940s, including. Join host and narrator liev schreiber to explore the dawn of the comic book genre and trace the evolution of the characters and their ongoing cultural impact worldwide. He labels comics junk only to vigorously defend our need for them. Taken on their own terms, comics deliver exactly what. It was so massively thick that i couldnt imagine anyone would be able.
Selling all sorts of movie memorabilia, collectibles, action figures. Both art forms exploit action and express character through movement. As with its predecessors the political cartoon and newspaper comic strip, the comic book can provide an intriguing, entertaining, and sometimes critical mirror of society. Heroes rise and fall in popularity, where the fantastic four once ruled comic book sales in the 60s, they now face obscurity postcancellation. There were, at the time, striking similarities between radio and comic books. The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures of the classic superheoes of the comic books.
In 1965, bonanza books released the great comic book heroes, a 192page book of reprinted 1940s comic book stories compiled, introduced and annotated by jules feiffer. Slickness, thank god, was beyond his means feiffer,the great comic book heroes, 1965. The ghost script explores the inside story of hollywood. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 30s and early 40s, including plastic man. It was the great comic book heroes edited by jules feiffer. Great comic book heroes 1965 hc w dj by jules feiffer. The great comic book heroes jules feiffer offers a critical history of comic books. A graphic novel is the newly released final volume of a trilogy, and about as curious as anything from feiffers pen, ever. However, through jules feiffer 1965 history of comic book superheroes, new fans could read about these golden age heroes again. Discover a characters comic book appearances, and browse issues containing your favorite marvel characters. The first book of any kind i ever specifically asked for was the great comic book heroes by jules feiffer 1965 and i still covet my original copy. Though it doesnt hurt that the name can be taken in many ways. The origins and early adventures of the classic superheroes of the comic books jules feiffer on.
Segar, who did popeye, milton caniff, who did terry and the pirates. Fantagraphics is proud to publish jules feiffers long. The introduction itself is worth the price of admission for its interesting and revealing look at feiffers views of the great superheroes, told in the. Feiffer furthermore published the influential book the great comic book heroes 1965, one of the first essays on superhero comics.
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