A Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics

This is one of those books I remember having from my first collection (that was stolen). This book was published in 1981; meaning I was 3 or 4 when it was released. I don't think that's when my parents bought it for me. I somehow remember seeing this book advertised on TV and wanting it really, really bad. I also remember opening the book from its shipping box on my parents' kitchen table and looking through it and being disappointed...

Over the years, as I read the book again and again, I came to appreciate it a little more each time. When I found this book recently once more at my favorite used book store, I finally understood this book's brilliance!

This book isn't comprehensive. While Superman, Batman and Captain Marvel are examined in this book, other important early superheroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman are noticeably not just absent, I don't think either are mentioned in any of the essays written by comic book historians J. Michael Barrier and Martin T. Williams. 

This book covers comics published up to 1955, right when the industry imposed the self regulated Comics Code Authority. A good stopping point if you were writing a multi-volume look at the history of comic books. EC Comics was the main target of the evils found in comic books from Dr. Wertham and state senators. As a result, no less than 5 stories from that legendary publisher are included in this book. Yet none of them are of the sci-fi or horror titles that ignited the comic book scare of the 1950s!

A number of legendary creators are examined. There are works from Walt Kelly and his critter creation, Pogo, John Stanley's version of Little Lulu and Tubby and Will Eisner's The Spirit. A seasonal story from Carl Barks starring Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge are also included. I would have finished this book a couple of weeks ago. But I wanted to enjoy Barks' 'A Letter to Santa' during the holiday season. Thus I waited. 

To my big surprise, the stories I was the most enamored with were the Scribbly stories, featuring the Ma Hunkel Red Tornado stories. Created by Sheldon Mayer (Golden Age Green Lantern), these stories were clever parodies of the age of mystery men, lively illustrated and just oh-so fun to read. To my knowledge, those stories have never been collected. Thus, other than the 4 stories comprised here, unless I max out my credit cards, I'm probably never going to get to read Ma's further adventures. 

I really enjoyed this collection. The artwork is so starkly different from what I grew up with and primitive compared to modern comics. The scripts are like works of art. They capture the dialect and tone of the times. For a kid born anywhere after 1977, these things are like trying to read Shakespeare. When I was young, everything just looked off and I couldn't really understand the stories. Now I am 45 and I felt like I was in the presence of greatness. and well into that presence I was. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars,

The Wrong Wrights (Secret Smithsonian Adventures #1) (Family Comic Friday)

Young Eric loves airplanes. So when he and three classmates win a trip to the Air and Space Musuem in Washington DC, he's in heaven. But all is not great as somebody has tampered with the timeline!

Where did all the planes go? Why are there hot air balloons in their place? It's up to Eric, his buddies and a friendly tour guide named Al and his computer Smitty to save history.

The kids are sent back in time to New York 1909. Eric and company are decked in holographic period clothing and wear a compact version of Smitty on their wrists. The Wright Brothers are about to debut their wonderful flying machine to a skeptical public. However, there's saboteurs afoot looking to wreck the Wright Brothers flyer and it's up to the time travelling students to protect the plane. But it's going to be a challenge as the baddies looking to ruin aviation forever are from the future as well.

The Wrong Wrights was awesome. I am an advocate for comics doing so much more than just entertaining. This 2016 graphic novel is the first is a series from Smithsonian Books called Secret Smithsonian Adventures. The book's authors Steve Hockensmith and Chris Kientz do a fantastic job. The kids and their enemies of time are really memorable characters. Plus they make history and science fun. The writers also know how to embellish the story enough to not lose the historical significance of the events in history the kids are trying to restore.

I also liked the art and colors by Lee Nielsen. Each character has a distinct look that allows you to know who is who is different outfits. The mysterious main baddie is super creepy looking. Plus the illustrations of the flying machines, especially the Wright Brothers flyer look amazing.

If the Wrong Wrights is any indication of the overall future quality of this series, then fans are in for a treat. (There’s at least 1 other book already published.) I think this has great potential and will be a favorite among readers, parents, and teachers.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 57

   
  As I've said before, I come across all kinds of interesting stuff doing the A Madman Turns 40 articles. For today's look at 1977, I travel to Stubenville, Ohio. In an article posted 40 years ago today in the Herald Star, kids were asked to predict what life would be like in the year 2000.
    I remember these sort of projects at school. They were always fun and they always revolved around kids expecting the world to be full of flying cars, robots, and things like that. So, let's see what the kids of the Stubenville area were thinking the year 2000 would be like.

This prediction was really wrong!

• 
  One little girl predicted another Great Depression. Well, she was only off by about 7 years with the Great Recession that plagued the Bush and Obama administrations. 
• Another young lady predicted more oil would be discovered. In the late 70s, everyone was afraid of running out of oil, but several key discoveries have been made since. Can you say 'Fracking?'
• The same child also predicted global peace. Well, last week, when the Colombian government and a group of rebels settled on a peace treaty it was the first time that the entire Western hemisphere was at peace in, well, ever. Sadly, things still aren't so good in the Eastern half of the world.
• One youngster predicted robot teachers. Well, telecommute teaching is a very real thing. So is the ability to get anything you need on a small personal computer (the iPhone.)
• The same kid predicted that you could get anything you wanted at the push of a button. If Amazon has their way, that future is almost now!
• Several children predicted women astronauts. These same kids thought we'd be living on the moon by the year 2000. So, they're batting 500...
• And of course several kids predicted flying cars, robots, jet-packs, and even more robots. Hey, they're kids. That's what we want when we are little- flying cars and robots!

Personality wish, I think this 1968 article was on the money.

    Well, that's my look at my favorite year for today. In 2005, the Smithsonian Magazine reviewed the Herald Star article. If you are interested, click on this link to read the full story. It's got some really neat stuff.

Every child's dream- a flying car.

      Until tomorrow...