Comic Book Comics tells the inspiring, infuriating, and utterly insane story of the American comic book industry in the same irreverent style of Action Philosophers and is (as far as we know) the first-ever comprehensive graphic history of the comics art form! Planned as a six-issue comic book series and currently in progress with 4 issues published to date. Comic Book Comics #5 is scheduled for May 2010.
Written and researched by Fred Van Lente, illustrated and designed by Ryan Dunlavey
Click to read a sample story:
- The Pulps from Comic Book Comics #1
- Our Artists at War from Comic Book Comics #2
- Crime: Oh Man Does it Pay! from Comic Book Comics #4
- The Texas Mafia from Comic Book Comics #4
Download the PDF preview with all four stories!
Be sure to read our notes on sources.
Series info
Comic Book Comics #1You only THINK you know comics history! The epic -- and insane! -- story of comic books, manga, and graphic novels, told as a comic, in the inimitable, irreverent, and award-winning Action Philosophers style, begins here! In this hilarious first issue: Before there could be comics, there had to be newspaper strips, animated cartoons, and pulp magazines. Thrill to publishing giants William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer duking it out over The Yellow Kid! Tremble at the war between Walt Disney and Max Fleischer for animation domination! Follow the bizarre trail of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's first superhero from sci-fi pulp to comic strip to the birth of a new medium! Plus: The early years of Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Winsor McCay and Joe Simon! - 40 page black and white comic book - $3.95 - Diamond Order Code: JAN083612
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Comic Book Comics #2The incredible saga of the comic book industry in the irreverent, award-winning Action Philosophers style continues! As comics enters its Golden Age and the United States slides closer and closer to war (no coincidence there), Joe Simon & Jack Kirby have to fend off the draft - and their own publisher! "Our Artists at War" tells how Will Eisner revolutionized the Pentagon's training program - using comics! "All You Need Is Love" details the true confessions of romance comics! "The House of Fear" details the birth of - Gasp! Choke! - William M. Gaines' E.C. Comics! - 40 page black and white comic book - $3.95 - Diamond Order Code: MAY083863
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Comic Book Comics #3The incredible true story of the comics industry continues! Enter, if you dare, the inner circle of COMIC BOOK HELL! Roasting forever in its foul depths are the most fiendish foes of funnybooks: DR. FREDRIC WERTHAM and his anti-comics crusade! The COMICS CODE AUTHORITY! Plagarizing POP ARTISTS! But from the ashes of a fallen medium, a new age shall rise -- a SILVER AGE of Comics, spearheaded by brilliant editor JULIE SCHWARTZ! Plus: Enter ... R. CRUMB! - 40 page black and white comic book - $3.95 - Diamond Order Code: AUG084049
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Comic Book Comics #4Our fantastic fourth issue! Featuring: Stan Lee! Steve Ditko! R. Crumb! Hergé! Together for the first time in one mighty magazine! (A special Evil Twin Not-Prize for everyone who gets that reference...) The incredible saga of the comic book industry continues, as Fred & Ryan tackle the rise of Marvel Comics, the underground comix revolution, and the story behind "Tintin"! - 40 page black and white comic book - $3.95 - Diamond Order Code: AUG090880
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Comic Book Comics #5Get ready for non-stop action, action, action -- LEGAL action, that is! The incredible, insane true story of the American comic book industry continues with the ALL-LAWSUIT ISSUE! DC vs. Fawcett! Disney vs. the Air Pirates! Jack Kirby vs. Marvel over his stolen artwork! Steve Gerber over Howard the Duck! Don De Carlo over Josie and the Pussycats! And that pales next to the all-out war over the rights to Miracleman! All this, plus the Creators' Bill of Rights, too! Don't like it? Well, sue us! (Wait. No. Please don't.) - 40 page black and white comic book - $3.95 - Diamond Order Code: APR100977
Comic Book Comics #6FINAL ISSUE! - September 2010