The Art of Comics and Graphic Novels: Comics & Cartoons

The result of more than twenty years of meticulous research, American Newspaper Comics is the first comprehensive, authoritative reference work to document this history. It covers over 7,000 different comic strips with dletailed information on important but previously overlooked artists and features. Includes a CD with samples of more than 2,000 cartoon features.

The final work in John Lent's ten volume series covering all regions of the world , together forming the largest printed bibliography of comic art available. Includes anthologies and reprints; criticism and reviews; exhibitions, festivals, and awards; scholarship and theory; and the business, artistic, cultural, legal, technical, and technological aspects of American comics. A broad range of publications are covered: academic, trade, popular, fan, etc., as well as ephemeral sources like fanzines, press articles, and fugitive materials (conference papers, unpublished documents, etc.).

Lists over 1,000 of the classic characters created by DC Comics. Popular super heroes and super villains are here, as well as lesser known favorites and weird and wonderful one-offs. The illustrations are by DC's artists and the authoritative text by DC chroniclers. Double-page features celebrate the vehicles and weaponry, clashes and romantic encounters of popular DC heroes and villains.

Contains more than 1000 of Marvel's greatest, with full details of their powers and their thrill-packed careers. Features art by Marvel's finest artists, while the authoritative text is supplied by a team of top Marvel comic book writers. In addition, double-page features illustrated with classic covers trace the fascinating story of Marvel Comics through the decades.

Although this is a subjective listing of the greatest comic book artists, it could not come from a more informed source than comic book historian Goulart. Goulart is also the author of numerous science fiction novels which explains his bias toward the science fiction and fantasy-oriented artists. The book gives a one-page biography of each artist and devotes one page to a sample of his work. For comic book aficionados this may not be quite enough to whet their appetites, but librarians should be able to use the work as a reference tool; Goulart also tells in what editions of what comic books a particular artist's work appeared. – Mike Donovan, Cornell Univ. Library Journal.

Jack Kirby created or co-created some of comic books' most popular super heroes. More significantly, he created much of the visual language for fantasy and adventure comics. There were comics before Kirby, but for the most part their page layout, graphics, and visual dynamic aped what was being done in syndicated newspaper strips. Almost everything that was different about comic books began in the 1940s on the drawing table of Jack Kirby. This is his story by one who knew him well - Mark Evanier. First issued in 2008, this is the revised and expanded edition issued for Kirby's centennial.

Covers fifteen pioneering cartoonists who brought this genre to the highest level of artistic expression and greatest impact on the development of the form. Organized chronologically, it explores the rise of comics and their artistic development throughout the 20th century.