Looking For a Good Book

This will be a shorter than usual review, and in fact I was torn whether to actually review this or not, because I did not get the opportunity to read the book.  Usually when requesting a book for review, the publisher will send the complete book, or deny the request. In this case, I was approved, but only sent a sample of about 40 pages, whereas the final volume is over 500 pages long.

I read a lot of comics in the late 1960s through the early 1980s. My favorites were generally based on the artwork rather than story or character, and I’ve always been a big fan of fine black and white artwork. I’ve felt that Marvel Comics did B&W better than anyone else in this era. Anyone who might questions this need look no further than this look back.

Looking through my few pages (at least one complete story) I see a couple different styles, but all of them exceptional. The stories I could make out were pretty typical of the ‘Savage Tales’ style … often one main character who gets reflective about something strange happening.

It’s really great that these comics are being reprinted. These may not have been bestsellers, but they showcase some incredible talent. What I managed to see in my sample shows that the creators in the 1980s took pride in their work. It didn’t always look like they were just trying to meet deadlines (though they probably were). Many of today’s comic creators should revisit these works.

Looking for a good book? Graphic novel readers of all ages should enjoy the quality of the art and the intriguing stories reprinted in Lost Marvels No. 3: Savage Tales of the 1980s.

I received a digital sample of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

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Lost Marvels No. 3: Savage Tales of the 1980s

authors: various

artists: various

publisher: Fantagraphics

ISBN: 9798875001390

hardcover, 528 pages