New book coming out from TwoMorrows, on the history of Archie's superheroes.
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288 page Trade Paperback with COLOR - by Rik Offenberger and Paul Castiglia
THE MLJ COMPANION documents the complete history of Archie Comics' super-hero characters known as the "Mighty Crusaders"—The Shield, Black Hood, Steel Sterling, Hangman, Mr. Justice, The Fly, and many others. It features in-depth examinations of each era of the characters' extensive history: The Golden Age (beginning with the Shield, the first patriotic super-hero, who pre-dated Captain America by a full year), the Silver Age (spotlighting those offbeat, campy Mighty Comics issues, and The Fly and Jaguar), the Bronze Age (with the Red Circle line, and the !mpact imprint published by DC Comics), up to the Modern Age, with its Dark Circle imprint (featuring such fan-favorites series as "The Fox" by Mark Waid and Dean Haspiel). Plus: Learn what "MLJ" stands for! Uncover such rarities as the Mighty Crusaders board game, and the Shadow's short-lived career as a spandex-clad superhero! Discover the ill-fated Spectrum line of comics, that was abruptly halted due to its violent content! See where the super-heroes crossed over into Archie, Betty, and Veronica's world! And read interviews with Irv Novick, Dick Ayers, Rich Buckler, Bill DuBay, Steve Englehart, Jim Valentino, Jimmy Palmiotti, Kelly Jones, Michael Uslan, and others who chronicled the Mighty Crusaders' exploits from the 1940s to today! By Rik Offenberger and Paul Castiglia, with a cover by Irv Novick and Joe Rubinstein. INCLUDES 64 FULL-COLOR PAGES OF KEY MLJ STORIES!
ISBN-13: 978-1-60549-067-0
ISBN-10: 1-60549-067-9
You can order HERE (http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=95_94&products_id=1251), or through your LCS (due in stores August 2016).
I'm really excited about this book! I'm hoping to talk to the folks involved on the podcast when it comes out. Both of the writers have a long history with Archie, I'm sure that they're going to do a great job.
Quote from: playtape on April 03, 2016, 09:38:43 AM
I'm really excited about this book! I'm hoping to talk to the folks involved on the podcast when it comes out. Both of the writers have a long history with Archie, I'm sure that they're going to do a great job.
Me TOO!! Some of the material has probably appeared in past issues of ALTER EGO and BACK ISSUE, published by TwoMorrows (I know, because up until now, I've been using those previous issues to as reference guides to navigate the public domain scans of early MLJ comics on The Digital Comic Museum (http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/index.php?cid=4) website.)
But I know Rik Offenberger in particular was responsible for setting up The Mighty Crusaders Network (http://www.mightycrusaders.net/) website, which has the virtual online Who's Who of the MLJ/Mighty Comics/Archie superheroes universe. And of course Paul Castiglia has been working for ACP since at least the early 1990s, and knows everything there is to know about the company and its history.
So in the meantime, while you're waiting for August 2016 and the book to come out, might I suggest that you follow the two links I've provided above, Jonathan. Plenty of great reading about the Mighty Crusaders and Golden Age MLJ superheroes to be found on those links. I know they've both been a great help to me, and hey! Where else but at DCM can you actually READ all those Golden Age superheroes' adventures? (Oh, and Archie, Suzie, Ginger, and Wilbur... even Katy Keene and Super Duck.)
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I have the issue of 'Back Issue' in which there's a lengthy history of the MLJ heroes, I learned a lot.
I'll check out those links, thanks!
Quote from: playtape on April 03, 2016, 05:39:50 PM
I have the issue of 'Back Issue' in which there's a lengthy history of the MLJ heroes, I learned a lot.
I'll check out those links, thanks!
This is the one issue you need (if you haven't got already). Complete index of all Golden Age MLJ superheroes, by series (
PEP, ZIP, JACKPOT, BLUE RIBBON, etc.) AND by character name.
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http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=738 (http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=738)
Hey, free 25 page preview here... https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/alterego82preview?e=2241656/1623964 (https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/alterego82preview?e=2241656/1623964)
Also this issue...
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http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=878 (http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_55&products_id=878)
Free 17 page preview here... https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/alterego96preview?e=2241656/1626767 (https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/alterego96preview?e=2241656/1626767)
Quote from: Archiver123 on April 03, 2016, 10:07:38 AM
Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on April 03, 2016, 09:56:54 AM
Quote from: playtape on April 03, 2016, 09:38:43 AM
Rik Offenberger
I sure wish Rik would come back.
I'm friends with him on Facebook. I'll send him a message letting him know about this topic. Not surprised at all that he's involved with this book.