Review: Comic Book Fever by George Khoury
I own a lot of books by George Khoury, in fact this isn’t even the first book by him that I’ve reviewed on this blog and I don’t read much, so that’s pretty special.
The reason I own so many, is that George and I seem to like a lot of the same things. His latest opus is no exception, in fact, I believethe average reader of this blog should know about this, so join me after the jump for further exploration of this neat book.
To summarize, Comic Book Fever is a “love letter” to the author’s personal golden age of comics, 1976-1986.”
Seeing as I learned to read in 1976 (to a Fantastic Four Treasury edition no less), this feels almost like it’s written for me. However, I’ve left the world of “bagging ad boarding” behind me decades ago, so let me explain the true appeal of Comic Book Fever.
The book is not a dry history of comics or endless discussions on the medium, it’s actually a celebration of the era and discusses all those little things and perks that made it a special time growing up, Here are just some of the topics discussed:
- Super Hero Slurpee Cups
- The KISS Comics
- Snyderman and Heroes World
- GRIT! (My God, I can’t tell you how many times I wondered what Grit was as a kid)
- GI Joe Super Adventure Team (with Bulletman)
- Alice Cooper Marvel Comics One Shot
- Treasury Editions
- Giveaway Comics (Captain America and Campbell Kids? Really?)
- Colorforms
- Masters of the Universe
- Star Wars Comics
- Hostess Ads
- Rom SpaceKnight
- Spidey Super Stories
- The Human Fly
a little something in regards to the ROM spaceknight coverage in Comic Book Fever…
http://romspaceknightart.blogspot.com/2016/08/rom-spaceknight-65-tribute-fan-art-and.html
The book sounds great! I had that Kool Aid comic. However, I am getting a "very special episode of Different Strokes" vibe from that cover.
Khoury himself [with artwork by the famed Alex Ross] is on this book cover, based on the look and VERY early 80's shirt in an old photo George had from a party or family gathering with him in the photo. Ross based that image on the photo!
Khoury also has a great IMAGE: THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE and a few MODERN MASTERS, the KIMOTA MIRACLEMAN COMPANION (which I loved reading several times) and the Moore history/biography he wrote as PORTRAIT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN.
Khoury has been, thankfully, a busy editor and writer… (More to come – a fictional book- we are waiting, Jorge!)
SB
(Correction, meant G. Khoury edited EXTRAORDINARY WORKS OF ALAN MOORE)
(the PORTRAIT book is works and history of Moore comics and stories — G. Spencer Millidge.)
-SB