Wednesday Still Comic Book Day?

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We don’t cover a lot of traditional comic book stuff here but I’ve got a couple items in the queue and Wednesday is new comic book day for the local comic book shops. (or at least it was at one time, then it went to Tuesdays, and I think it is back to Wednesdays now.)

Anyway here’s an interesting offering about comix books.

If you have some spare cash Biblioctopus Rare Books is offering a collection of underground (not “alternative”) comix for a very affordable $10,000.00 – that’s about $90 a comic.

Mostly NorCal: Various, 1965-1979. First Edition. 111 vols, in varying condition, though most of them are “very fine” (on CGCs scale) or better. A Majority date from before 1974, which is considered the first wave of underground comix, before the print numbers increased dramatically. Many of them are single issue titles or number ones, and almost 30 of them are Print Mint file copies (the most prolific publisher on the first wave). Several are rare and significant among collectors. Near Fine.

There is a pdf list available with the titles and conditions. Impressive is the trio of 1966 Joel Beck comics, while the late 70s Bizarre Sex issues are stretching the definition of the underground comix era.

Hmm. I think I’ve got over a hundred comix books in boxes around here I’d be willing to part for half that amount, though the ones from the 60s and early 70s are not first printings.

Ron Whyte wrote a few Marvel Comics westerns in 1967 and 1968.

Now a trove of personal papers from Whyte (1941-1981) purport to show he was much more involved in the Marvel and Stan Lee mythos of the 1960s. A forthcoming graphic biography of Whyte by JL Mast and a recent article by Abraham Josephine Riesman and Zach Rabiroff report newly revealed information.

From Paul Gravett‘s Facebook here and here:

Who was ‘the conscious and clever brains’ of the Marvel Sixties phenomenon? Following the report about the remarkable archives of Marvel Silver Age scripts in Yale University‘s archives of writer, playwright and disability activist Ron Whyte (posted by Abraham Josephine Riesman and Zach Rabiroff on Flaming Hydra here: https://flaminghydra.com/a-swingin-surprise-or-two/ ), comes more news. Stephane Beaujean at Éditions Dupuis has messaged about a project by French comics creator (who draws for Marvel) and researcher JL Mast:

“Everything will soon be revealed—Dupuis is set to publish an in-depth biography of Ron Whyte next spring! Over 10,000 documents and more than 100 hours of exclusive interviews went into crafting these two books of a 250-page biography, spotlighting the mysterious “Ghost of Marvel” and his participation in the work of Stan Lee. So, stay tuned—Ron Whyte’s incredible story is about to unfold!”

Not long after the underground comix books and mainstream comic books noted above there came an in-between faction sometimes referred to as “ground-level” comics. Not the least of those was a European comic magazine that came to America as Heavy Metal by way of the National Lampoon publisher.

Now:

This year marks the 50th anniversary since Métal Hurlant was first published in France. Co-founded by Philippe Druillet, Jean-Pierre Dionnet, and the late Jean “Mœbius” Giraud, Métal Hurlant (“Screaming Metal” in English) electrified the European comics scene and ushered forth a generation of comics talent whose influence and artistry are felt throughout our popular culture to this day. Published from 1975 to 1987, the magazine catapulted Mœbius’ profile, garnered the admiration of artists as far afield as Katsuhiro Otomo and Geof Darrow, and has inspired such lauded directors as Ridley Scott, Hayao Miyazaki, Denis Villeneuve, and more.

This month, more than 38 years after the magazine’s initial closure and nearly 21 years after its brief revival as a limited anthology, Métal Hurlant returns to store shelves in an all-new, quarterly magazine for English audiences.

Toussaint Egan for AV Club reports on the return of the adult science fiction-oriented comic anthology.

Fast-forward to 2025. Humanoids had remained adamant in relaunching Métal Hurlant, but the decision about when and how to do so largely hinged on identifying and responding to the ways the comic book industry has shifted over the years and how modern audiences opt to engage with creators. “The comic book market in the U.S. has evolved over the past years into something complicated,” Giger says. “I know that publishers usually don’t say that, but that’s the case, and a bit like what we have observed in the tabletop game space, crowdfunding has become something that is important. It has become part of the distribution, and for us, it gives us something that we didn’t have before, which is a means to be in touch directly with the readers.” 

Released yesterday Metal Hurlant was over looked on our June 2025 Hey Kids! Comics! listing.

Finally an item some of us, I’m thinking of myself in particular, surely need:

To gasps of horror, and outbursts of outrage from comic collectors that anyone might even consider such evil, American cartoonist Michael Neno has re-released his Life-Changing Guide to Decluttering Your Comic Book Collection. Caution: content may be triggering…

Michael Neno’s Life-Changing Guide to Decluttering Your Comic Book Collection

It seems that for some, there comes a time in your life when you really do need to let go of all those comics you’ve had in long boxes for decades, before slugs, snails, wraps or the occasional mouse get to them first. Fortunately, Michael has come up with this nifty guide to make the whole process less painful! Even for those feeling pain at the very thought!

Surely a great addition to any collection – oh, wait…

“}]] We don’t cover a lot of traditional comic book stuff here but I’ve got a couple items in the queue and Wednesday is new comic book day for the local comic book shops. (or at least it was at one time, then it went to Tuesdays, and I think it is back to Wednesdays now.)  Read More