Books are listed chronologically by original publication date.
by Coulton Waugh.
University Press of Mississippi
1991 reprint of the 1947 text
ISBN:0-87805-498-7 (HC)
364 pp.
The first book of the early years of comic strip history. Waugh himself was a syndicate artist. The text is a bit rambling and generally accurate but also highly opinionated. Has very few comics samples and no color section.
by George Perry and Alan Aldridge
Penguin Books (SC)
1967 - Revised Edition 1971
ISBN: 0 14 002.802 1 (SC)
ISBN: 0 7139 0246 9 (HC)
272 pp.
One of the earliest books on comics history. Terrible text but has some weird snippets of comics. Features a lot of English comics that never made it over the pond. A few pages of color comics. The reproduction quality of the art is generally sub-par.
Edited by Dick Lupoff and Don Thompson
Ace Books
1970
255 pp.
by James Steranko
With a Forward on theInfluence of Comics by Federico Fellini
Supergraphics
1970
84 pp.
THE STERANKO HISTORY OF COMICS 2
by James Steranko
Supergraphics
1972
128 pp.
by Reinhold Reitberger and Wolfgang Fuchs
Little, Brown and Co.
1971
No ISBN # (SC)
264 pp.
An early book of comics history and one of the worst. It's riddled with bad and inaccurate information. The only thing going for this book are the excerpts of weird European comics. No color section. Has examples of American comics in German.
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF COMIC STRIP ART
by Jerry Robinson
G. P. Putnam's Sons
1974
SBN: 399-10937-4 (HC)
256 pp.
A good survey of American comic strips by decade. Features plenty of art and has a good 32 page color section. Covers racial caricatures and has a small section of foreign comics. Heavy on comics specimens and light on text. The text is generally accurate and his personal views are insightful. One of the first good books on comics history. Robinson is himself a cartoonist and illustrator. He worked for Bob Kane on Batman in it's first years when he was a teenager. He is credited with creating Robin and the Joker.
Edited by Maurice Horn
Avon Books
1976
ISBN: 0-380-01735-0 (SC)
784 pp.
Notorious for it's inaccuracies and personal opinions, yet no single volume has quite replaced it. Features a ton of artists you've never heard of because they've been relegated to the dustbin of history. It has a good color section chock full of weird foreign comics. It should be on your shelf. Just take the information with a grain of salt. I believe this was updated and republished by Dark Horse a decade ago.
Edited by Maurice Horn
Chelsea House Publishers
1980
ISBN: 0-87754-088-8 (HC)
676 pp.
by Ron Goulart
St. Martin's Press
1989
ISBN: 0-312-01768-5 (SC)
112 pp.
by Robert C. Harvey
University Press of Missisissippi
1994
ISBN:0-87805-674-2 (SC)
252 pp.
by Lee Lorenz
Alfred A. Knopf
1996
ISBN:0-679-76595-6 (SC)
200 pp.
Edited by Maurice Horn
Gramercy Books
1996
ISBN: 0-517-12447-5 (HC)
414 pp.
Maurice Horn strikes again. Yet another good reference text. Arranged by strip title. Very good reference for the individual histories of American strips. Features start/stop dates, ghosts etc. It has another fine color section. It's Maurice so watch out.
by Seth
Buenaventura Press
Published as a supplement to COMIC ART #8
2006
96 pp.
Cartoonist Seth talks about his collecting of cartoon books and selects forty to spotlight and discuss. The collection is diverse and esoteric. Plenty of books by cartoonists you've never heard of. Each book receives a spread which includes a cover image, publishing data, a look inside the book and a few words by Seth.
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