MESSAGES
IN A BOTTLE: COMIC BOOK STORIES BY B. KRIGSTEIN
(Fantagraphics,
2013;
Softcover)
Collects
selections from Prize Comics #34, Treasure Comics
#5, Justice Traps The Guilty #10, Wanted #21, 24,
The Westerner #22, 23, 26, Love Diary #2, Real Clue
Crime Stories Vol. 5 #6, Crime Detective Vol. 2 #4, All
True Crime #44, Dead-Eye Western Vol. 2 #4, Airboy Vol.
8 #4, Western Fighters
Vol. 4 #2, Marvel Tales #107, 159, Astonishing
#13, 47, War Action #12, Battle #23, Our Army At War
#14, Strange Tales #22, Bible Tales For Young Folk #2,
Daring Adventures #6, Weird Science-Fantasy #23, Vault
Of Horror #36, 38, Crime SuspenStories #25, Impact
#1, Tales From The Crypt #45, Shock SuspenStories #18,
Valor #2, Battleground #9, Mystery Tales #39,
Uncanny Tales #42, 56, Mystic #58, Navy Tales
#3, and World
Of Fantasy
#9 (cover dates September, 1943- December, 1957)
Writers:
Paul S. Newman, Ray Bradbury, Al Feldstein, Johnny Craig, Carl
Wessler, Jack Oleck, Stan Lee, and other unidentified writers
Artist:
Bernie Krigstein
Bernie
Krigstein did some groundbreaking work toward the latter part of his
comic book career, challenging panel layouts and the length of comic
book stories. Some of his later work had nineteen panels per page.
Nineteen! He became frustrated with the industry's lack of
reverence for it's own material as well as low page rates and went on
to other fields. More's the pity for comic fans. Not surprisingly his
best work was done for EC. This collection is not a complete overview
of his work but does provide a healthy glimpse into the depth and
breadth of his output. Recommended reading.
Junk
Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.
The
OCD zone-
Some
of the material has been recolored for this edition by Marie Severin
in watercolor from photostats. I would have preferred the original
color palette be used.
Linework
and Color restoration: A combination of scans of old comics
and of photostats, all done very well.
Paper
stock: Thick uncoated stock.
Binding:
Sewn binding.
Hardback
Cardstock cover notes:
That chalky feeling matte coating that all of the kids seem to love.
I'm always amazed how we seem to buy the same stuff.....I have this in my pile. I hope to actually read it before I croak.
ReplyDeleteDan, you and I are among my guesstimated "300" hardcore collected editions buyers. The poorest performing books on iCv2 sell 300 or so, and we are 2 of the 300. Any book that sells below 500 copies seems appealing to me. There is no cure for it, so just enjoy the addiction train as it circles the drain...
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