Recommended Reading

Here is a list of sources for, and interesting further reading related to, each chapter of this book.

First off, though, here are five good general resources:

 

News from Me (http://www.newsfromme.com/): Mark Evanier’s Web site, packed to the brim with helpful information.

Alter Ego: Roy Thomas’s monthly magazine about comic book history from TwoMorrows Publishing.

Back Issue: Michael Eury’s bimonthly magazine about more recent comic book history, also from TwoMorrows Publishing.

The Comic Book Makers: Joe Simon’s book about comic book history—partially his own memories of the business and partially objective history.

Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book: Gerard Jones’s thrilling work investigating the early history of comic books.

CHAPTER ONE: SUPERMAN

The Superman Homepage (http://www.supermanhomepage.com): An amazing resource, it provided most of the information for the Superman as a spy story.

The Speeding Bullet (http://www.thespeedingbullet.com): An archive of Superman comic strips.

Who’s Whose (http://www.supermanartists.comic.org): Bob Hughes’s amazing resource of which comic book artist drew which comic.

Superman Radio Show (http://www.redboots.net/sradio/radio_show.htm): A resource about the Superman radio program.

CHAPTER TWO: BATMAN

Dial B for Blog (http://dialbforblog.com): A great comic book Web site that is fun and informative and has some good information about the early history of Batman and Bob Kane.

Silver Age Comics (http://sacomics.blogspot.com): A site about comics from the silver age, including an excellent section on Batman’s early violent history.

CHAPTER THREE: DC COMICS MISCELLANEA

On National v. Fawcett (http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/law/back20001024.shtml): Here comic legal expert Bob Ingersoll takes an in-depth look at the case between National/DC Comics and Fawcett Comics over whether Captain Marvel infringed on Superman.

“The Transmigration of Flex Mentallo” (http://www.highway-62.com/blog/archives/2003/07/the_transmigration_of_flex_men.htm): A good look at the Flex Mentallo case on Matt Maxwell’s Highway 62 blog.

The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe (http://www.dcuguide.com/): Just what the title of the site says it is.

CHAPTER FOUR: THE FANTASTIC FOUR

“The Religion of the Thing” (http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Thing.html): An in-depth examination of the Thing’s Judaism and its revelation.

Kirby: King of Comics: Mark Evanier’s recent Jack Kirby biography, featuring a lot of excellent information about his work on The Fantastic Four.

CHAPTER FIVE: SPIDER-MAN

Ditko Looked Up (http://www.ditko.comics.org/): Blake Bell’s impressive Web site devoted to Steve Ditko.

“Randy Schueller’s Brush with Comic History” (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/05/16/randy-schuellers-brush-with-comic-history): Schueller tells the story about how Marvel bought his idea for Spider-Man getting a black costume.

Spiderfan.org (http://www.spiderfan.org/): Amazing Web reference page for Spider-Man fans.

CHAPTER SIX: THE INCREDIBLE HULK

Doug’s Incredible Hulk Comic Page (http://www.hulkcomicpage.com/): Good Web resource for information about the Hulk.

CHAPTER SEVEN: CAPTAIN AMERICA

Simon and Kirby (http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/): Harry Mendryk’s blog dedicated to the works of the duo of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, including Captain America.

Steve Englehart’s Web site (http://www.steveenglehart.com/): The writer talks about his past projects, including his Captain America run.

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE X-MEN

UncannyXMen.net (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/): The premier Web resource for X-Men information.

CHAPTER NINE: MARVEL COMICS MISCELLANEA

It’s BobRo the Answer Man! (http://www.comicsbulletin.com/bobro/archive.htm): Now defunct, but still a useful comic book resource featuring longtime comic book professional Bob Rozakis, who pointed out the Ernie Chan/Chau story in his column.

Marvel Database (http://en.marveldatabase.com/): In-depth resource for all things Marvel.

Blah Blah Blog (http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom%20Brevoort/): Excellent blog by longtime Marvel editor Tom Brevoort.

The Legion Omnicom (http://adventure247.blogspot.com/): Michael Grabois’s in-depth examination of the Legion of Superheroes provides a number of good sources for character backgrounds like Nightcrawler and Storm.

CHAPTER TEN: WALT DISNEY COMICS

A Guide to the Carl Barks Universe (http://www.seriesam.com/barks/): Daniël van Eijmeren’s expansive examination and cataloging of the work Carl Barks did for Disney’s comic book line.

Ius Mentis (http://www.iusmentis.com/patents/priorart/donaldduck/): Examination of the Karl Krøyer patent case.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: VARIOUS COMIC BOOK COMPANIES

Elvis and Gladys: Elaine Dundy’s acclaimed biography of Elvis Presley’s early life.

The Harveyville Fun Times! (http://thft.home.att.net/): Mark Arnold’s site devoted to Harvey Comics. Arnold also has a print collection of the best of the Harveyville Fun Times.

Byrne Robotics (http://www.byrnerobotics.com/): Official John Byrne Web site, with a forum that Byrne posts in and where he delivers a great deal of interesting comic knowledge.