The Comics Journal Library, Vol. 7: Harvey Kurtzman

The Comics Journal Library #7

by Greg Sadowski

The seventh volume in this distinguished series focuses entirely on one of comics' most esteemed and influential creators: artist, writer and editor Harvey Kurtzman, whose complete Comics Journal interviews are collected in this oversized, lavishly illustrated full-color edition.Every stage of Kurtzman's landmark career is represented, beginning with his entry into comics via superhero stories for Ace from 1943-46 (Mr. Risk, Lash Lightning), World War II-era Army cartoons, early humor work for Timely and Toby Press (Rusty, Pig Tales, Genius, and Hey Look ), his first collaborations with John Severin and Will Elder at Prize Comics Western, and, of course, his groundbreaking period at EC as editor of Two-Fisted Tales, Frontline Combat and MAD. Kurtzman's undeservedly lesser-known post-MAD career at Trump, Humbug, and Help is also given its due and examined in depth.Many of the premier cartoonists of the past half-century are represented, including Robert Crumb, Jack Davis, Elder, Russ Heath, Al Jaffee, Arnold Roth, Marie Severin, and Wallace Wood. Yet what makes this volume particularly noteworthy are the obscurities unearthed from Kurtzman's solo freelance career from Children's Digest, Pageant, U.S. Crime, Varsity and Why most of which haven't been seen since their original publication. All of which illustrate the most informative and compelling interviews with Kurtzman ever published.

Genres: Comics, Biography, Nonfiction

124 pages, Paperback

First published December 11, 2006

Reviews

[Mark Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book especially if you are a fan of Kurtzman, which I am. If you don't know who he is, pick up some reprints of the earliest "Mad" issues, when it was a comic book and before it was a magazine and if you don't laugh your ass off, you really don't have a sense of humor.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library copy.

[Mike Hunchback]

Mind-altering assembly of crucial interviews ... some of the deepest insights to his mind and character available.