TwoMorrows and Mark Voger have another pop-culture history hardcover on tap…
If you dug Mark Voger’s Groovy and Britmania, two lushly illustrated and deeply informative oversize hardcover histories of pop-culture in the ’60s, then you will most certainly want to check out Zowie!, scheduled for this summer.
Dig the official description from TwoMorrows:
ZOWIE! The TV Superhero Craze in ’60s Pop Culture
192-page FULL-COLOR HARDCOVER – By Mark VOGER
Holy phenomenon! In the way-out year of 1966, the action comedy “Batman” starring Adam West premiered and triggered a tsunami of super swag, including toys, games, Halloween costumes, puppets, action figures, and lunch boxes. Meanwhile, still more costumed avengers sprang forth on TV (“The Green Hornet,” “Ultraman”), in movies (“The Wild World of Batwoman,” “Rat Pfink and Boo Boo”), and in animation (“Space Ghost,” “The Marvel Super Heroes”). Zowie! traces the history of the superhero genre from early films, through the 1960s TV superhero craze, and its pop culture influence ever since. This 192-page hardcover, in pop art colors that conjure the period, spotlights the coolest collectibles and kookiest knockoffs every ’60s kid begged their parents for, and features interviews with the TV stars (West, Burt Ward, Yvonne Craig, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Julie Newmar, Van Williams), the artists behind the comics (Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella), and others. Written and designed by Mark Voger (“Monster Mash,” “Holly Jolly”), Zowie! is one super read!
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A few thoughts:
— Zowie! lists for $43.95 and is due July 17. This feels like a summer book and I can’t wait for it. It will be available at comics shops and booksellers but you can already pre-order it directly from TwoMorrows. Click here.
— Mark’s put together quite the library here, between Groovy, Britmania, Monster Mash and Holly Jolly. It’s not really TwoMorrows’ cuppa, but the five books would make a helluva box set.
— TwoMorrows has another great addition to its 2024 line-up — a re-release of Comic Book Implosion, now in full color and with fresh bonus material. Click here for the details.
— Zowie! would also pair well with Michael Eury’s superb Hero-A-Go-Go! There’s definitely a Venn diagram of interests there.
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MORE
— We Are Feelin’ GROOVY. Click here.
— Introducing … HERO-A-GO-GO! Click here.
January 9, 2024
Is the Greatest American Hero chest emblem on the faux Robin something created for the book cover or did that toy actually exist in the real world?
January 9, 2024
Sold.
January 9, 2024
“on TV The Green Hornet… ” The Green Hornet is not a superhero.
January 9, 2024
OK
January 9, 2024
Lloyd, if the Green Hornet is not a superhero, then neither is Batman. Let’s not get pedantic here, it’s all fun.
January 9, 2024
Maybe he’s making reference to the fact the GH poses as a member of the underworld. But, yes, this is all for fun!
January 9, 2024
For the record, the “Captain Nice” TV show wasn’t that good, but the paperback (by William Johnson) was hilarious! I got the comic years after the show ended at a used store. The Zowie book looks cool!