Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

It all depends on what you like, Comedy , action , drama , fantasy , sci-fi , Etc, Etc....

I dont think you can go wrong with

Flash Gordon
Prince Valiant
Steve Canyon
The Phantom

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I've started reading the IDW reprints of Dick Tracy. I began with volume 7, 1941-1942, which was the first of the larger format. Also, I have a book of Dick Tracy from the 1930s, and it's not so great. So far, I'm up to volume 9.

https://shop.idwpublishing.com/media.../t/dt8_cvr.jpg

They are so totally awesome! Great stories, great art, great villains. Also, it's far more violent than anything that could possibly get printed in a newspaper today. Even a jaded guy like me sometimes has to go "Whoa!"

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

The IDW volumes are indeed excellent, much better than some of the poorly fomatted/inferior Tracy which has been available in the past. They do a great version of Lil Orphan Annie as well, which is a great action/drama strip I think many people pass up because they assume it is for girls. Great art and great adventures in that one.

Other excellent (OOP unfortunately) Tracys are The Thirties: Tommy Guns and Hard Times, and Dick Tracy Casebook, which is essentially what Checker Books has split into three volumes.

And so far as Prince Valiant, the new edition (37-38) from Fantagraphics is a beaut.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I've got a two-volume oversize collection of Little Nemo that included several strips thought to be lost, IIRC. I'll have to see who published it.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Something to look for on Free Comic Book Day

http://www.freecomicbookday.com/imag...omic_Large.jpg

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Captain Easy

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Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I thought this freebie was nicely done. It had two pages each of strips (a week's worth) of a number of upcoming books, including some really classic Blondie (she's a flapper!) and Archie.

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Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I've had Capt. Easy on order at Amazon since last August I think, and they still don't have a firm ship date on it yet. Very Frustrating!
Rip Kirby 2 was supposed to get released in March, but now is supposed to be delivered first week in June- I think the newest release date for it is this week.
Prince Valiant 2 isn't far away, and I just saw that Juliet Jones 3 and On Stage 7 are due in the next couple of weeks as well- all are immediate buys for me.

Didn't realize Blondie was coming. I'll be interested in that, although I'd like to see how well this era reads for me.
If Polly includes the color Sundays, that's another essential. IDW is putting out some kick-ass collections. We are in an absolute golden age for comic strip reprints. I've never seen anywhere near the quantity and quality we are getting at the moment. Good times!

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

From Fantagraphics, Jan '11

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Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Has anyone been collecting the Dennis the Menace box sets from Fantagraphics? Surprised that Amazon doesn't have the first 2 boxsets in stock at all. Borders.com is kind of the same way.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I picked up one Dennis but haven't read it. Heard good things...

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I stayed up way too late tonight reading L'il Abner strips. I forgot what a genius Al Capp was.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

This looks like the first of the Floyd Gottfredson releases Fantagraphics is doing. Have to think they'll do a bang-up job with these.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Just got Rip Kirby Vol. 3 in from Amazon. We're already past the half way point with this- only two more volumes left. This is going to be a really beautiful set of books when it's finished. Hard to believe there's already 8 years of Kirby dallies collected. It's been a long time coming.


Also last week Polly & Her Pals showed up. Very impressive over-sized volume of the color Sundays. It's about an inch shorter than DCs Wednesdays Comics, but an inch or two wider. Unlike the DC book, which left a lot of empty space at the top and bottom of the page, the formatting of this book is designed to maximize the image area. A very impressive book.

For anyone interested, who hasn't used his coupons on DVDs, Barnes and Noble.com has great prices on both of these- and even more impressive at 25% off.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I've finally started on The Complete Dream of a Rarebit Fiend. I skipped the couple hundred pages of scholarly discussion and went straight to the comics. This book was absolutely worth the high cover price. Everyone knows that Winsor McCay was a genius, but it's a joy to see another aspect of his genius.

An interivew with Ulrich Merkl, the guy who made the book, says that he needed to sell 800 of the 1000 copies just to break even. There aren't any left for sale on the internet for cover price, so he must have sold his entire print run. I'm glad he did. He must have risked a lot of money just to create something cool.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I'm glad you liked it as much as I did. Did you get Little Sammy Sneeze yet from McCay? You should get that too.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

No I haven't. I only have the few strips that are in Daydreams and Nightmares.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Would Calvin & Hobbes be considered a classic at this point? To me, it was the last great comic issued in a paper. Nothing has come close since.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

I'm going to have to think about getting this one. I have The Uncensored Mouse, a reprint of Gottfredson strips that were briefly in the public domain. They were very good.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Yes, I'd consider Calvin & Hobbes a classic.

The only comic strip currently in the papers that I admire is 9 Chickweed Lane. I like the author's sense of humor, I like the stories, and I think he can draw an amazing line. Since he does long arcs, you need to go back a couple of months and read up to the current issue. One story that lasted from August 2009 to September 2010. Luckily, they're all online.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Nice!

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Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Me want!!!

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Does anyone know what happened to that LONE RANGER strip book that was pictured earlier in this thread? I looked it up on Amazon and it's one of those SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE. Did it ever come out? Is it sold out?

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Those Archie dallies looked a lot bet than I expected. Lots of Good Girl centric art in those panels (by Bob Montana?). I may just end up picking that up at some point.

Also found a copy of Little Orphan Annie in a B&N here. Never had any interest in the strip before, but I started to read to read it while sipping some tea in the cafe, and damned if it wasn't half bad. Another series I may pick up a volume of to see how it reads in an extended fashion.

Those Flash Gordons are listed as Titan books. I think Fantagraphics or IDW had commented in a blog post that they would be putting out their versions of the strip. The cover looks great there but I will probably be tempted to wait for a US publishers collection.

Re: Classic/retro comic strips thread
 

Hmm, you are correct: The basic info looked very IDW to me but it does appear to be Titan. It's still a ways out so it will be interesting to see if we get any new info in the meantime.