Richard Arndt

The First Comics Companion is the only book dedicated to the history of Chicago’s groundbreaking independent comics publisher, which took on the Big Two by storm between 1983–1991. From a modest promotional comic hawking theater subscriptions, First soon blossomed into an ambitious, aggressive imprint with achievements that included adapting the fabled sci-fi play Warp; reviving beloved ’70s Charlton hero E-Man; luring Mike Grell over from Pacific Comics to continue Starslayer and launch Jon Sable, Freelance; and releasing one of the ’80s greatest comic book series, American Flagg! by Howard Chaykin. Soon followed Elric, Grimjack, Nexus, Shatter, Dreadstar, Lone Wolf and Cub, super-hero Alter Ego, and a resurrection of Classics Illustrated. Featuring the recollections of founders Mike Gold, Joe Staton, and dozens more, this book continues Richard J. Arndt and Jon B. Cooke’s exhaustive “carpet-bombing” approach to documenting comics history in fascinating detail—first, last, and always, THE definitive account! Featuring new Chaykin cover art!

The American Comic Book Chronicles continues its ambitious series of FULL-COLOR HARDCOVERS, where TwoMorrows' top authors document every decade of comic book history from the 1940s to today! At long last, this 1945-49 volume covers the comic book industry during the aftermath of World War II, when scores of writers and artists returned from foreign battlefields to resume their careers. It was a period when readers began turning away from the escapist entertainment offered by super-heroes in favor of other genres, like the grittier, more brutal crime comics. It was a time when Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created Young Romance, inaugurating a golden age of romance comics. And it was during this five-year period that Timely and National Comics capitalized on the popularity of Westerns, that Bill Gaines plotted a new course for EC Comics in the wake of his father’s death, and that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first sued for the rights to Superman. These are just a few of the events chronicled in this exhaustive, full-color hardcover, further documenting the ACBC series' cohesive, linear overview of the entire landscape of comics history! Edited by Keith Dallas and John Wells.

OUR ARTISTS AT WAR is the first book ever published in the US that solely examines War Comics published in America. It covers the talented writers and artists who supplied the finest, most compelling stories in the War Comics genre, which has long been neglected in the annals of comics history. Through the critical analysis of authors RICHARD J. ARNDT and STEVEN FEARS, this overlooked treasure trove is explored in-depth, finally giving it the respect it deserves! Included are pivotal series from EC Comics (Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat), DC Comics (Enemy Ace and the Big Five war books: All American Men of War, G.I. Combat, Our Fighting Forces, Our Army at War, and Star-Spangled War Stories), Warren Publishing (Blazing Combat), Charlton (Willy Schultz and the Iron Corporal) and more! Featuring the work of HARVEY KURTZMAN, JOHN SEVERIN, JACK DAVIS, WALLACE WOOD, JOE KUBERT, SAM GLANZMAN, JACK KIRBY, WILL ELDER, GENE COLAN, RUSS HEATH, ALEX TOTH, MORT DRUCKER, and many others. Introduction by ROY THOMAS, Foreword by WILLI FRANZ. Cover by JOE KUBERT.

The Millar-Capullo smash-hit sell out REBORNis here. Where do you go when you die? Not heaven or hell; somewhere else.Somewhere you have to fight to survive. Somewhere the people from the past arewaiting for you—the good and thebad.Superstar creators MARK MILLAR and GREGCAPULLO join forces to create the sci-fi story of the year, collecting issues1-6.