Our next Summer Reading List comes from comics scholar John Adcock. Please send us your list.
John Adcock’s Summer Reading Survey
John Adcock is the custodian of two historical blogs, Yesterday’s Papers and Punch in Canada:
Norris 18th Annual collection 1968. I have three volumes, nos. 18, 19 and 22 for a total of 303 classic cartoons by Len Norris from the Vancouver Sun.
Worlds of Wonder the Life and Times of Otto Binder, by Bill Schelly, Hamster Press, 2003. Informative, in-depth, illustrated look at the life of Captain Marvel and Superman scribe Otto Binder.
Tarzan collections from Fantagraphics, 3 volumes featuring Hal Foster, one featuring Burne Hogarth. Excellent illustrated articles by Bill Blackbeard and Ray Bradbury.
St. Nicholas, Volume 14, Nov 1886 – April 1877. A bound volume I picked up second hand. Palmer Cox’ Brownies were the most compelling reason I bought this but it also contains much grand illustrative work by the likes of Frederick Remington and Reginald Birch as well as early work by cartoonists Frank Bellew and Francis, a regular contributor to Harper’s magazine during this same period.
Strange and Stranger, the World of Steve Ditko by Blake Bell, Fantagraphics. S’funny, almost all the stories excerpted here I bought fresh off the newsstands on first appearance. I had forgotten how much I loved the comics of the elusive artist. Another great book.
The Italian Boy, a Tale of Murder and Body Snatching in 1830’s London by Sara Wise, Metropolitan Books, 2004. Unlike many Victorian scholars Ms. Wise has a thorough understanding of the period she is writing about. A vivid and enthralling look at London’s very own body-snatchers.
Thug: the True Story of India’s Murderous Cult by Mike Dash. Mike Dash is the best historical writer going these days as well as being a noted Fortean researcher into the paranormal. He has written Borderlands, Batavia’s Graveyard, Satan’s Circus and Tulipomania, all highly recommended.
Positively Main Street: Bob Dylan’s Minnesota by Toby Thompson. This is a revised edition of the 1971 paperback which caused Bob Dylan to mutter that the author ‘had a lot to learn.’ A slight but fascinating exploration with new photos of Bob Zimmerman’s pretty north country muse Echo Hellstrom.
Alter Ego No. 66. Roy Thomas’ fanzine peers into The Peerless Power of Bob Powell whose work I remember so well from the publications of Magazine Enterprises in the fifties.
The Western Art of Frederick Remington by Matthew Baigell, Ballantine, 1976. This one has a long interesting introduction and reproductions of many of Remington’s best illustrations.