Tuesday, July 1, 2025

LARRY JOHNSON'S 1960S COMICS: AN APPRECIATION (VOLUME ONE)

Writer/artist Larry (Horseman) Johnson's 1960s Comics: An Appreciation presents not only a rundown of the period, but a sincere reflection of some of its best, offbeat characters, a number of whom have (alas) long fallen to the wayside.  

In his not-just-DC/Marvel queue, Johnson essays what each title entails and who created and drew their virtuous leads. Johnson also lists precise, publication dates, accompanied by helpful, black-and-white, cover and panel reproductions.  

The central characters include Fatman the Flying Saucer, Herbie, Anthro, the Fly, Kona, Mark Merlin, Magicman, the Owl, Pirana, Space Ranger, Peter Cannon (Thunderbolt), Robby Reed (of Dial H for Hero), Mighty Samson and Charlton's Hercules. 

There's a chapter on Steve Ditko and Joe Gill's fond extension of Eugene Laurie's Gorgo and a look at the fanciful, Disney spinoff, Gold Key's Mickey Mouse, Super Secret Agent, where Goofy plays an investigative sidekick.   

Johnson caters, as well, to the decade's anthologies, such as Fantasy Masterpieces, Unknown Worlds and Gasp!. Then there's Go-Go, which not only incorporates illustrated, rock 'n' roll parodies, but photos of the era's top pop stars, including the Beatles, the Mammas and the Papas, The Loving Spoonful, The Beach Boys and even Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s David McCallum.

I've read other genre histories, those spotlighting characters like the Shadow, Superman and Spider-man, but most are little more than bland, skim-the-surface assessments by "know-it-alls" who only possess a bare-bones familiarity of their subjects. 

1960s Comics: An Appreciation is much more than those routine recapitulations. It's a volume that fans (the sincere, impassioned ones) will appreciate, and after its contents are consumed, celebrate. I thank Johnson for his attentive effort, for he's created a template that shows how an historical overview should be rendered. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSDF3T6Q?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

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