With the popularity of comic book properties at an all-time high, the time is right for a collection of essays and original interviews devoted to all things 'comic book.' As well as essays on contemporary issues and trends associated with comic books and comic book culture, this diverse collection also features original interviews with top comic industry professionals.
From visionary writers and artists, to award-winning editors and publishers, interviewees include: Joe Casey, Matt Fraction, Bob Layton, Eric Searleman, Steve Niles, Scott Allie, Chris Warner, Steve Englehart, Mike W. Barr, Norm Breyfogle, Victor Lucas, Tommy Tallarico, Garth Ennis, and Joe Quesada.
Addressing the role comic books play in reflecting the mood of popular culture, essay topics include: Educational Comics (EC) in the political and cultural landscape of the early 50s; stories about the creation of comics, the relationship between readers and producers, and between fans and the comics themselves; the origins and evolution of the Batman mythology; the emergence of a new, socially- and politically-aware superhero in Mark Millar's THE AUTHORITY; fan interaction in comic book letter pages; and last, but not least, picks for the greatest comic book stories ever told.
