WHAT EVER! #4: A SUPER-DUPER CARTOON/ANIMATION SPECIAL!!!

Main Enterprises' What Ever! #4 (Dec '20) is a treat and a half for animation aficionados, consisting of 60 pages of fetching facts and tasty tidbits on select, cartoon classics. 

Among the ingredients, one will find four, informative articles by Will Murray on Gertie the Dinosaur, Mighty Mouse, Crusader Rabbit and Tom Terrific. Buck Oviatt dissects Fleischer Studios' animated masterpiece, "Gulliver's Travels", based on Jonathan Swift's allegorical adventures; while Mike Maloney pays special tribute to one of the most popular, children series of the '60s, "The King Kong Show". Last but not least, yours truly ballyhoos Frank Frazetta/Ralph Bakshi's sword-and-sorcery epic, "Fire and Ice".

In addition to these edifying installments, Jim Main shares a heartfelt memorial for artist, Richard Williams, and insightful reviews follow on assorted, indie comics.

To add further panache to the issue, there's exquisite artwork by John Lambert, Kel Crum and Anthony C. Gray, along with many crisp, photo reproductions. To boot, Marc Haines' colorful, front-cover design is a magnetizing splash, and Bob Sodaro's interior layout makes everything gel with adroit flair and aesthetic ingenuity. 

On every level, What Ever! #4 is an essential volume for anyone with a passion for endearing characters, enduring animation and ideal, illustrated fancies. 

Hard copies of Issue #4 (including postage) are $10 each (for U.S. mailing only). Send checks to Jim Main: PO Box 93, New Milford, CT 06776. For a $2 PDF, contact Mr. Main at mainjim23@gmail.com for details. Without question, you'll be pleased with whichever purchase you make.  

MAIN ENTERPRISES PRESENTS FANDOM WORLD: THE CAPTAIN AMERICA ISSUE

The significance of Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, hit home recently when a coworker insisted that I remove a "First Avenger" mini poster from my cubicle. She claimed it was offensive to her and others who held a dim view of our country at this point in time (though she refused to elaborate beyond that). I held my ground and kept the image tacked. That's what Cap would have done. After all, in the home of the brave, freedom of expression is paramount. Besides, I didn't demand that she remove her "Castro, Viva la Revolucion" poster from her office space. (Two wrongs don't make a right.)

In any event, I now hold an even greater respect for those who appreciate and exalt Cap's valiant symbolism and go that extra mile to commemorate his iconic status: case in point, publisher Jim Main, whose latest Fandom World (Vol 2, #2, Fall '19) acts as a most satisfying salute. 

As with all Main Enterprises publications, this one is a labor of love, with 140 patriotic pages packed with contributions from artists and authors who admire and respect our hero's long, illustrious legacy. (Just take a gander at the above Earl Martin image, bursting of colorful courageousness, and Tom Doyle's touching Simon/Jack Kirby sketch, not to mention Tim Faurote's classy Fandom World cover. Wow!!!)

A gallery of Cap collectibles also fills this issue, along with historical essays by Robert J. Sodaro, Sam Gafford, Will Murray, Buck Oviatt, Mike Maloney and Stephan A. Friedt. The freedom-fighting ingredients even acknowledge Cap's primary pals, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, the Falcon, as well as our patriot's perennial opponent, the censorious Red Skull. 

If you love Cap and embrace all that he stands for, you must add this issue to your collection. To make the process easy, Mr. Main is offering a free PDF of it. You merely make your request to mainjim23@gmail.com. You're set.

Why not take advantage of this generous offer? No true, red-white-and-blue aficionado should be without this Marvel-ous Captain America Issue!!!