mschlat's review
3.0
This is in my collection of comics scholarship books, and I plan to keep it, even though it's much more a work of appreciation than a work of criticism. For the most part, the book features fans and authors with good writing skills remembering the comics of the 1930's, 40's, and 50's with a great deal of personal observation. (Mind you, for some of these topics, say Fiction House comics or the "boy gang" genre, the current reader will have little enough exposure that personal observations serve the exposition well.)
One major issue is that, having been written in the 1960's in the absence of the internet, well-stocked comic book stores, and copious reprints, the authors spend a great amount of time on synopsis: what happened to what characters in what issues. It was necessary at the time (how else could you know what was in those pamphlets?), but it makes for somewhat boring reading now.
If you want to dip into the anthology, I suggest the essays by Ted White (which summarizes well the advent of Superman and Batman) and Dick Lupoff (which is a wonderful appreciation of the original Captain Marvel and a good historical account of his popularity).
One major issue is that, having been written in the 1960's in the absence of the internet, well-stocked comic book stores, and copious reprints, the authors spend a great amount of time on synopsis: what happened to what characters in what issues. It was necessary at the time (how else could you know what was in those pamphlets?), but it makes for somewhat boring reading now.
If you want to dip into the anthology, I suggest the essays by Ted White (which summarizes well the advent of Superman and Batman) and Dick Lupoff (which is a wonderful appreciation of the original Captain Marvel and a good historical account of his popularity).
rickklaw's review
5.0
In the dark days before the Internet, genre fans often shared ideas and concepts through fanzines. Beginning with the first issue the Hugo-winning Xero (1960-1963), comics played a central role with the regular column "All in Color for a Dime," featuring an extraordinary cast of rotating writers. Lupoff (who co-edited Xero) and Thompson selected eleven pieces for inclusion in All in Color for a Dime. Highlights from the entertaining book include Ted White on M.C. Gaines, Lupoff covering Captain Marvel, Roy Thomas recounting the Fawcett stable of heroes, Ron Goulart revealing lesser-known, second tier heroes, and Harlan Ellison showcasing George Carlson.
Thanks at least partially to these writings, the popular conception of comic books within the science fiction community began to change from contempt to at least a grudging acknowledgment. Open enjoyment and acceptance of the medium would have to wait another 30 years until the arrival of Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, et al.
Thanks at least partially to these writings, the popular conception of comic books within the science fiction community began to change from contempt to at least a grudging acknowledgment. Open enjoyment and acceptance of the medium would have to wait another 30 years until the arrival of Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, et al.
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