There was a time, hard to imagine, when there weren’t any books about comic books. Two pioneers changed all that, with volumes that are still insightful and imaginative: Jules Feiffer with his The Great Comic Book Heroes and Jim Steranko with his two-volume (only, alas) History of the Comics (those covers!). Below is a very selective list of books that follow in those impressive footsteps. The many, many collected editions of various comic books are listed only if they were seminal to this book and/or have impressive introductory and historical information.
The Internet has become the logical repository of much comic book superhero lore. Two great resources are Don Markstein’s Toonopedia (www.Toonopedia.com) and Dial B for Blog (www.dialbforblog.com). I’m also indebted to Roy Thomas for Avengers #93 (my favorite comic ever), and for his ongoing publication out of TwoMorrows Publishing in North Carolina, Alter Ego.
—Laurence Maslon
Amash, Jim, et al. Carmine Infantino: Penciler, Publisher, Provocateur. Raleigh, NC: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2010.
Andrae, Thomas. Creators of the Superheroes. New Castle, PA: Hermes Press, 2011.
Beaty, Bart. Frederic Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2005.
Bell, Blake. Fire & Water: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics. Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2010.
Bendis, Brian, and Sara Pichelli. Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man Vol. 1. New York: Marvel Comics, 2012.
Benton, Mike. The Comic Book in America: An Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Pub., 1993.
Bradbury, Ray (Foreword). Comic-Con: 40 Years of Artists, Writers, Fans & Friends! San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2009.
Brown, Jeffrey. Black Superheroes, Milestone Comics and Their Fans. University Press of Mississippi, 2000.
Busiek, Kurt, and Alex Ross. Marvels. New York: Marvel Comics, 2009.
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2008.
Carlin, John. Masters of American Comics. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005.
Chabon, Michael. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. New York: Picador, 2000.
Claremont, Chris, et al. Essential Wolverine. New York: Marvel Comics, 2005.
Claremont, Chris, et al. The Uncanny X-Men. New York: Marvel Comics, 2009.
Conway, Gerry, et al. Essential Ms. Marvel. New York: Marvel Comics, 2007.
Coogan, Peter. Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre. Austin, TX: Monkey Brain Books, 2006.
Cooke, Darwyn. DC: The New Frontier: Volume One. New York: DC Comics, 2004.
Cooke, Darwyn. DC: The New Frontier: Volume Two. New York: DC Comics, 2004.
Couch, N.C. Christopher. Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics. New York: Abrams ComicArts 2010.
Cowsill, Alan. DC Comics: Year by Year A Visual Chronicle. New York: DK Publishing, 2010.
Daniels, Les. Batman: The Complete History. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1999.
Daniels, Les. Superman: The Golden Age. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1999.
Daniels, Les. DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World’s Favorite Comic Book Heroes. Boston: Bulfinch Press, 1995.
Daniels, Les. Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World’s Greatest Comics. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991.
Daniels, Les. Superman: The Complete History. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1998.
Daniels, Les. Wonder Woman: The Complete History. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2000.
De Haven, Tom. Our Hero Superman on Earth. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010.
Eisner, Will, et al. 9-11 Artists Respond Volume 1. New York: Dark Horse, 2001.
Evanier, Mark. Kirby: King of Comics. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2008.
Everett, Bill, et al, eds. Marvel 70th Anniversary Collection. New York: Marvel Comics, 2009.
Feiffer, Jules. The Great Comic Book Heroes. New York: Knopf, 1966.
Fingeroth, Danny. Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Society. New York: Continuum, 2004.
Fox, Gardner, et al. The Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told. New York: DC Comics, 1991.
Gaiman, Neil, et al. 9-11 Artists Respond, Volume 2. New York: DC Comics, 2001.
Gaiman, Neil. Marvel 1602. New York: Marvel Comics, 2010.
Galewitz, Herb, ed. Celebrated Cases of Dick Tracy. New York: Chelsea House, 1970.
Gibson, Walter Brown. The Shadow Scrapbook. San Diego: Harcourt, 1979.
Gilbert, James. A Cycle of Outrage: America’s Reaction to the Juvenile Delinquent in the 1950s. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.
Goulart, Ron. Comic Book Culture: an Illustrated History. Portland, OR: Collectors Press, 2000.
Greenberger, Robert. Wonder Woman: Amazon, Hero, Icon. New York: Universe, 2010.
Hajdu, David. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008.
Hanks, Fletcher. I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets! Seattle: Fantagraphics, 2007.
Harmon, Jim. The Great Radio Heroes. Doubleday, 1969.
Harvey, Robert C. The Art of the Comic Book: An Aesthetic History. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1996.
Howe, Sean, ed. Give Our Regards to the Atomsmashers!: Writers on Comics. New York: Pantheon Books, 2004.
Howe, Sean. Marvel Comics: The Untold Story. New York: Harper, 2012.
Infantino, Carmine, and J. David Spurlock. The Amazing World of Carmine Infantino. Coral Gables, Florida: Vanguard Productions, 2001.
Inge, M. Thomas. Comics as Culture. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1990.
Jones, Gerard. Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters and the Birth of the Comic Book. New York: Basic Books, 2004.
Jones, Gerard and Will Jacobs. The Comic Book Heroes. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1997.
Jurgens, Dan, et al. The Death of Superman. New York: DC Comics, 1993.
Kane, Bob, with Tom Andrae. Batman & Me. Forestville, CA: Eclipse Books, 1989.
Kidd, Chip, and Geoff Spear. Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal. New York: Abrams ComicArts, 2010.
Kirby, Jack, et al. Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Vol 1. New York: Marvel Comics, 2011.
Kirby, Jack. Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus: Volume One. New York: DC Comics, 2007.
Lee, Stan, and Steve Ditko. The Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1. New York: Marvel Comics, 2002.
Lee, Stan, and Steve Ditko. The Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2. New York: Marvel Comics, 2003.
Lee, Stan, and George Mair. Excelsior!: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee. New York: Fireside, 2002.
Lee, Stan, and Jack Kirby. Captain America. New York: Marvel Comics, 2011.
Lee, Stan, and Jack Kirby. The Avengers. New York: Marvel Comics, 2009.
Lee, Stan, and Jack Kirby. The Fantastic Four. New York: Marvel Comics, 2010.
Lee, Stan, and John Romita. The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5. New York: Marvel Comics, 2012.
Lee, Stan, et al. Marvel Firsts: The 1960s. New York: Marvel Comics, 2011.
Lee, Stan, et al. The Amazing Spider-Man: Through the Decades. New York: Marvel Comics, 2011.
Lobel, Michael. Image Duplicator: Roy Lichtenstein and the Emergence of Pop Art. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.
Loeb, Jeph (writer), and Tim Sale (artist). Batman: The Long Halloween. New York: DC Comics, 1998.
Lupoff, Dick, and Don Thompson, ed. All in Color for a Dime. New Rochelle: Arlington House, 1970.
Mallory, Michael. X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe. New York: Universe, 2008.
Marston, William Moulton, and H.G. Peter. Wonder Woman: Archives Volume 1. New York: DC Comics, 1998.
McCarthy, David. Pop Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2007.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: Harper Perennial, 1993.
McFarlane, Todd, et al. Spawn: Book 6. Berkeley, CA: Image Comics, 1998.
McLaughlin, Jeff, ed. Stan Lee Conversations. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2007
Millar, Mark. Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event. New York: Marvel Comics, 2007.
Miller, Frank. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. New York: DC Comics, 1997.
Miller, Frank, and David Mazzucchelli. Batman: Year One. New York: DC Comics, 1997.
Miller, Frank, and Lynn Varley. Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. New York: DC Comics, 2001.
Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics, 1986.
Moore, Don, and Alex Raymond. Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo. London: Titan Books, 2012.
Morales, Kyle, and Robert Baker. Captain America: Truth. New York: Marvel Comics, 2003.
Morrison, Grant, and Dave McKean. Batman: Arkham Asylum. New York: DC Comics, 2005.
Morrison, Grant. Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human. New York: Spiegel & Grau, Random House, Inc., 2011
Nyberg, Amy Kiste. Seal of Approval: The History of the Comics Code. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1998.
O’Neil, Dennis (Introduction). Batman in the Seventies. New York: DC Comics, 1999.
O’Neil, Dennis, and Neal Adams. Green Lantern/Green Arrow. New York: DC Comics, 2012.
O’Neil, Denny, and Mike Sekowsky. Diana Prince: Wonder Woman. New York: DC Comics, 2008.
Overstreet, Robert M. (Foreword). America’s 1st Patriotic Comic Book Hero: The Shield. Mamaroneck, NY: Archie Comics, 2002.
Raphael, Jordan, and Tom Spurgeon. Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2003.
Reeve, Christopher (Introduction). Superman in the Seventies. New York: DC Comics, 2000.
Reidelbach, Maria. Completely MAD: A History of the Comic Book and Magazine. Boston: Little Brown & Co, 1991.
Ro, Ronin. Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution. New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2004.
Robbins, Trina. The Great Women Superheroes. Northampton, MA: Kitchen Sink Press, 1996.
Robinson, Jerry. Ambassador of Comics. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2010.
Robison, Frank, and Lawrence Davidson. Pulp Culture. Portland, OR: Collectors Press, 1998.
Rondeau, James, and Sheena Wagstaff. Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective. Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2012.
Ross, Alex. Mythology. New York: Pantheon Books, 2005.
Sadowski, Greg, ed. Comic Book Covers of the Golden Age 1933-1945. Seattle: Fantagraphics Books, 2011.
Sadowski, Greg, ed. Supermen! The First Wave of Comic Book Heroes 1936-1941. Seattle: Fantagraphics Books, 2009.
Sattler, Ian. DC Universe: Secret Origins. New York: DC Comics, 2012.
Savage, William W., Jr. Comic Books and America, 1945-1954. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1990.
Schumer, Arlen. The Silver Age of Comic Book Art. Portland, Oregon: Collectors Press, 2003.
Siegel, Jerry, et al. Superman in the Forties. New York: DC Comics, 2005.
Simon, Joe. Joe Simon: My Life in Comics. London: Titan Books, 2011.
Simon, Joe, and Jack Kirby. Captain America Volume 1. New York: Marvel Comics, 2005.
Simon, Joe, and Jack Kirby. Captain America Volume 2. New York: Marvel Comics, 2008.
Simon, Joe, with Jim Simon. The Comic Book Makers. Lebanon, NJ: Vanguard Productions, 2003
Simonson, Louise. DC Comic Covergirls. New York: Universe, 2007.
Spurlock, J. David, and Angel De La Calle. Steranko Arte Noir. Coral Gables, FL: Vanguard Productions, 2002.
Starlin, Jim, et al. Infinity Gauntlet. New York: Marvel Comics, 2011.
Steranko, Jim. The Steranko History of the Comics, Parts One and Two. Pennsylvania: Mediascene, 1970.
Straczynski, J. Michael. The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2: Revelations. New York: Marvel Comics, 2002.
Theakston, Greg. Jack Magic: The Life and Art of Jack Kirby. Pure Imagination, 2011.
Thomas, John Rhett. Marvel 70th Anniversary Collection. New York: Marvel Publishing, 2009.
Thomas, John Rhett. The Marvel Art of Joe Quesada. New York: Marvel Comics, 2010.
Thomas, Roy and Stan Lee. Stan Lee’s Amazing Marvel Universe. New York: Sterling, 2006.
Tye, Larry. Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero. New York: Random House, 2012.
Uslan, Michael (Introduction). Batman in the Fifties. New York: DC Comics, 2002.
Uslan, Michael. The Mighty Crusaders: Origins of a Superman-Team. Mamaroneck, NY: Archie Comics, 2003.
Waid, Mark (Introduction). Superman in the Fifties. New York: DC Comics, 2002.
Waid, Mark, et al. Daredevil Vol. 1. New York: Marvel Comics, 2012.
Walker, Brian. The Comics: A Complete Collection. New York: Abrams ComicArts, 2011.
West, Adam. Back to the Batcave. New York: Berkley Books, 1994.
Wolfman, Marv, and George Perez. Crisis on Infinite Earths. New York: DC Comics, 2000.
Wolfman, Marv, et al. Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Vol. 3. New York: Marvel Comics, 2012.
Wolfman, Marv, et al. The Tomb of Dracula. New York: Marvel Comics, 2010.
Wright, Bradford W. Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.