In the years before the emergence of television as a mass medium, American popular culture was first created--in the pulpy, boldly illustrated pages of comic books. Hajdu's remarkable new book vividly opens up the lost world of comics and its creativity, irreverence, and suspicion of authority. (Graphic Novels)
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In the years before the emergence of television as a mass medium, American popular culture was first created--in the pulpy, boldly illustrated pages of comic books. Hajdu's remarkable new book vividly opens up the lost world of comics and its creativity, irreverence, and suspicion of authority. (Graphic Novels)
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Seller's Description:
Book is in good condition. Minimal signs of wear. It May have markings or highlights but kept to only a few pages. May not come with supplemental materials if applicable.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Good. The book is nice and 100% readable, but the book has visible wear which may include stains, scuffs, scratches, folded edges, sticker glue, torn on front page, highlighting, notes, and worn corners.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
David Hajdu took a fascinating topic, mistitled it and mistreated it. No question that the facts are there, he somehow figured out a way to make the story of comics in the 1950s boring. He actually focuses his research on the move to ban comic books based upon their content and the supposed effect they had on young people. That IS a heck of a story. Somehow, he has drained the life out of it. And he totally ignores the fact that most of the major players, whether publishers or writers, involved here were Jewish immigrants or their children. It's a roast beef sandwich with no mustard. Read "Men of Tomorrow," by Gerard Jones, instead.
Alissa
Jul 5, 2009
Fascinating and disturbing
Hajdu's book chronicles the heyday of the comic book industry in America and how it came to a sudden end thanks to a witch-hunt style persecution in the 1950s. I was in the dark about this dark chapter in American history, before reading the book and found the story to be intensely interesting and also extremely disturbing.
Hajdu's descriptions of both the comic books and the different players involved in this drama are so vivid that they bring this colorful tale to life. Beginning with the birth of the comic book industry, Hajdu chronicles its growth and then shows how such a successful industry was brought down by a few lunatics.
A short photo insert in the center of the book presents some pictures of key players and some of the comic books mentioned. If I had one complaint about the book it was that for a book about such a visual medium there were not enough pictures. Hajdu's descriptions were great, but the book could have used a second photo insert showing more of the specific comic books mentioned in the book.
