Nostalgic look at old paperback anthologies of comics and humor mags
Derrick Bostrom writes about the vanishing joy of finding old paperback anthologies of comics and humor magazines at used bookstores and junk shops. He also links to a terrific set of cover scans from his collection.
I remember when I was twelve years old, finding a coverless copy of Kurtzman’s “Trump” Number 2 from 1957, for probably no more than a dime (ten comics for a dollar, no doubt). The following year, when I became a Kurtzman fanatic, I was astounded to realize what I had. The same goes for the odd paperbacks I’d pick up during a dull summer vacation day, or inherit from older friends and family. Years later, I’d realize that the poorly printed black and white paperback of sci-fi comic stories was actually reprints from EC’s “Weird Science!”Things I Can’t Throw Out: Mass Market Paperpack Reprints Of Classic Comics And Humor Magazines (Bostworld)
the latest
latest episodes
Dude! That girl has three hands! Too weird!
Wait, could that come in handy? (pun intended)
I've got that very same Humbug paperback smiling down at me from the shelf as I type. I found it in the dark, cobwebby corner of the old castle bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, while seeking shelter from a fierce storm, along with the paperback collection of Kurtzman's Help! and a pile of Jules Feiffer hardbacks. What a day!
Anyone who doesn't have a copy, take heart and head to Amazon, because Fantagraphics' lush-looking and slipcased collected Humbug is due for release very soon.
The fine print on the cover pictured insists it's "an original publication, not a reprint".
Bummer: Did you notice only one of the arms on her knee is hairy?
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Nice! I still have my copy of Kurtzman's "Fun and Games", bought during a trip to Boston in 1967. Also got a copy of the Catastrophe Calendar, from Paperback Booksmith, iirc.
MR