Alex Grand

This work dissects the origin and growth of superhero comic books, their major influences, and the creators behind them. It demonstrates how Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and many more stand as time capsules of their eras, rising and falling with societal changes, and reflecting an amalgam of influences. The book covers in detail the iconic superhero comic book creators and their unique contributions in their quest for realism, including Julius Schwartz and the science-fiction origins of superheroes; the collaborative design of the Marvel Universe by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Steve Ditko; Jim Starlin's incorporation of the death of superheroes in comic books; John Byrne and the revitalization of superheroes in the modern age; and Alan Moore's deconstruction of superheroes.

Comic Book Historians, Alex Grand and Jim Thompson provide historical insight into the comic book legend Frank Thorne with essays and a one of a kind interview shortly before his death, discussing his works. Born in 1930, Thorne's career spans from the late 1940s where he utilized and expanded on inspirations like Alex Raymond, Hal Foster, and Neil O'Keefe. As a late 1940s graduate of the Art Career School in Manhattan, Thorne has worked at Dell, Gold Key, and DC Comics. He received an explosion of fan activity in the 1970s and 80s with his comic work centered around strong beautiful female characters like Red Sonja and other famous femme fatales like Ghita, Lann for Heavy Metal, Ribit for Comico, Danger Rangerette for National Lampoon, and Moonshine McJugs for Playboy. During his career, he had a working relationship with Hugh Hefner as well as frequent interactions with other prominent comic figures like Alex Toth, Gary Groth, Jim Steranko, and Neal Adams.

Celebrate illustrator-writer Howard Chaykin's life and works through a career spanning zine that encompasses his life, controversies, and biographical interview that starts with his birth in 1950 through his childhood reading comic books and watching films during the 1960s, his training under Gil Kane, Wally Wood, and Neal Adams in the late 1960s through the early 1970s, his early work at Marvel including drawing the first Star Wars comics, DC, Atlas/Seaboard, Byron Preiss, Heavy Metal, and on into American Flagg for First Comics, as well as his work on The Shadow: Blood and Judgment, Time (Squared), Blackhawk: Blood and Iron, Black Kiss, Cyberella with Don Cameron, his television career including the 1990s TV show The Flash, The Legend with Russ Heath, Hawkgirl with Walt Simonson, his more recent Marvel career in 2012, Black Kiss II, the controversy surrounding the Divided States of Hysteria, and finally his ode to comic history Hey Kids Comics

Celebrate illustrator-writer Neal Adam's life and works through a career spanning zine that encompasses his comics and advertising achievements. After graduating the School of Industrial Art in 1959, his skill and determination took him quickly into comic strips and advertising in the early 1960s up until his entry into the comic book industry, which began with Warren magazines and later DC Comics. His late 1960s superhero books allowed room in this fantastic genre to allow for illustrative realism which elevated the tastes and expectations of a hungry audience. In the 1970s he began a public relations campaign that struck a blow against corporate interests, allowing Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster to claim credit for creating Superman. His emotional and artistic impact from his Superman vs. Muhammad Ali comic book continues to be felt, and he left mainstream comic book penciling to focus on publishing independent comics. He continued his excellence in an advertising career in the 1980s and returned to mainstream superhero comics and the convention circuit in the 2000s to finally answer some fan favorite questions like who the Green Lantern and Green Arrow were based on, which actor was his favorite Superman, and so on.

In this collection of poems I display my struggle through life, love, and finding the pursuit of it all. I write over all types of issue I have dealt with these last few years. From breaking up and then falling in love again. Or depression that forces me to pause my life. In this collection of poems I also write about life advice and my struggle in finding my purpose on this planet. I hope that you enjoy this read and take some useful information from what I have to say.