Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jun 20, 2020 | 2 comments

Looking for a nice book to read in the shade while social distancing? We’ve got you covered…

TwoMorrows is for sure our favorite publisher of comics history books and mags, such as Back Issue, Alter Ego and RetroFan. But as you may know, the company has been fighting an uphill battle thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

Well, here’s your chance to help keep their lights on — seriously — and entertain yourself in the process: Dig this summer reading list of terrific books that we can recommend for those quiet afternoons in the hammock, your mask firmly in place:

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Hero-A-Go-Go! by Michael Eury. Dig the Silver Age? Dig retro TV and toys of the ’60s? This book — a personal favorite of mine — is for you. In fact, when it first came out a few years ago, we serialized it in 13 parts (click here) — and that only scratched the surface. The 272-pager goes for $36.95 and is worth every shiny penny. Love it. (Click here to order.)

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Groovy, by Mark Voger. Sort of a companion to Hero-A-Go-Go!, the author takes a look at the rest of ’60s pop culture, from the Beatles and Woodstock to The Banana Splits and The Brady Bunch. Perfect for those Sundays with MeTV in the background, this 192-page hardcover goes for $39.95. (Click here to order.) Oh, and we serialized this one too!

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Comic Book Implosion, by Keith Dallas and John Wells. Moving into the ’70s, this immensely informative and entertaining oral history of DC Comics in the late ’70s is a bona fide page-turner. This Eisner nominee is another one we’ve serialized and it gets my top recommendation. A superb undertaking. The 136-page paperback goes for $21.95. (Click here to order.)

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The Incredible Herb Trimpe, by Dewey Cassell and Aaron Sultan. I had the privilege of sitting down and sharing drinks with Herb Trimpe at his last convention appearance. He was charming, engaging and thoughtful and I was dumbstruck when he died just a few days later. This 160-page, $20 hardcover pays tribute to the definitive Hulk artist of the Bronze Age, with commentary by a Who’s Who of the Marvel Bullpen, including Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, John Romita, Sal Buscema, Joe Sinnott, Tom DeFalco, Doug Moench, Len Wein, Ron Frenz, Steve Englehart — and Trimpe himself. (Click here to order.)

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The MLJ Companion, by Rik Offenberger, Paul Castiglia and Jon B. Cooke. Looking for something a little offbeat? Plow through this incredibly detailed look at Archie Comics’ often-kitschy line of superhero comics through the decades. Anytime I’ve read these comics, I’ve felt like I was visiting an alternate universe (Earth-MLJ?) with its cast of unique yet familiar do-gooders. This 288-page softcover costs $34.95. (Click here to order.)

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Don Heck: A Work of Art, by John Coates. Given enough time, persnickety comics readers will often come around on artists who were sometimes maligned in their prime. Debates about Don Heck’s craft go back decades but with clear eyes and a full heart, you too will learn to appreciate the underappreciated artist. The 192-page hardcover is a mere $15. Such a deal. (Click here to order.)

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Alter Ego Centennial, edited by Roy Thomas. As the name suggests, this 160-page paperback celebrates 100 issues of Thomas’ modern Alter Ego, a loving salute to the Golden and Silver Ages. In addition to the various articles and columns, the book boasts rare art and artifacts by George Perez, Rich Buckler, Jerry Ordway, Gil Kane, Gene Colan, Dick Giordano, Ross Andru and many, many more. And grok the price: $11.97. (Click here to order.)

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MORE

— ALEX ROSS Salutes TwoMorrows Publisher JOHN MORROW. Click here.

— MARSHALL ROGERS Illustrated Biography In the Works. Click here.