Legendary creators are known as such in part because their works stand the test of time and are as entertaining today as they were when the ink was still drying on their artwork.
What They Say:
The creators of Captain America and the Boy Commandos produced some of the hardest-hitting crime comics of the 1950s. Often featuring real-world killers and thugs like Ma Barker, Al Capone, and Pretty Boy Floyd, and true-to-life events like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, these adventures were torn from post-Prohibition headlines. These are the best of the Simon and Kirby Crime comics, authorized by Joe Simon and the estate of Jack Kirby and fully restored and collected for the first time!
The Review:
Comics are often referred to as being for children and a subset of fans that never out grew them, usually with much derision. This wasn’t always the case however as long before the proliferation of the modern comic shops and their relatively recent merchandise containing stories created for an audience looking for more than just capes and spandex the medium was a different place.
In a number of ways it was what Japanese manga is today- a forum for writers to create stories that aim for a variety of audience and their tastes much like the traditional novel medium does. In this time when television was a very upper end luxury item, comics and other pulp magazines were an accessible means of entertainment. Much like pop culture today these publications spread out in a large span that covered all sorts of genera to appeal to their reader’s diverse tastes.
This collection of comics collects stories by two of the most legendary comic creators ever- Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. While post partnership Kirby was far more active in the medium in terms of creation and impact when the two were partnered they created some real magic together and some unforgettable characters (including Captain America). The collection of stories in this book are taken from a period of time in the writer’s working relationship where they focused more on adapting the crime stories of the day to tell a tale rather than just creating some reason for a costumed hero to come charging onto the scene.
And crime stories are what one will find throughout the book. While many of the tales claim to be true, much of this should be taken with a grain of salt as the foreword written by (rather well renowned author) Max Allan Collins points out. The stories were played with greatly (which is also apparent when the stories borrow liberally from the tales of famous gangsters). The lack of “truth” is largely an easily overlooked point though given the compelling nature of the tales as reality rarely shares its adventures in eight pages or so.
With the tales collected being from a bit under a decade from the duos collaboration there is an occasional reappearing character though for the most part the continuity comes from the lines the men drew and wrote and the narrative the stories impart. For the most part the stories work to present a compelling tale with believable characters in a rather short space as many of the stories are around eight to thirteen pages long which heavily relies on the writers ability to introduce characters and events succinctly and compellingly enough to connect with the readers. That along makes them memorable as many tales today struggle to get a whole narrative into twenty two pages using characters the audience already knows so much of the character set up can be skipped.
Skillfully crafted tales are the theme of this collection. Whether the story is about a died in the wool gangster, a young and vengeful women seeking revenge and perhaps some thrills or a police officer suddenly finding himself in a perilous ethical decision between his enormous gratitude and honor as a father and his duty and honor to society the tales carefully yet quickly mold personalities and situations for the reader to relate to. This connection is a large part of what makes or breaks the stories and it is an impressive feat that the two authors can bring the human element and a common feel to their characters in such a quick method.
Much of this connection is greatly assisted by the superb artwork the two men were capable of creating. While it would be easy to create an instant repulsion to the antagonists in the stories by making them disfigured or grotesque in some way (as the Dick Tracy strips did) the two men largely make characters that have a wide everyman look. Some of the criminals in the stories are the most handsome players in the tale and in some they may be a bit on the ugly side but the characters are largely in keeping with the overall designs of the story (though the “muscle” or goons can be a bit stereotypical in appearance).
When reading it is a bit easy to see how comics of the day could have raised the ire of so many that it reached the point of receiving a Senate hearing. Much like the video games that are often the bugbears for activists looking to protect children the tales contain a good deal of violence (though much off page) and unsavory characters. Where it differs however is the two men never present the criminal life as incredibly glamorous and, in keeping with the literary narrative of making sure evil gets its deserved reward, a dire fate awaits all who participate in the activities (one might wonder how this moral failed to grant relief to the genera’s detractors, though I guess Superheroes dispensing more comic violence was somehow more subtle).
That said, for better or worse these stories aren’t really much more violent than some of the programs currently airing on TV and one shouldn’t pass the collection up in fear of that being the case. Beyond just the really enjoyable nature of watching two masters quickly create characters and the brilliance of their art the volume also serves as a peek into the past, giving a modern audience a look at what thrilled audiences from the Greatest Generation and showing how similar in themes entertainment can be, even when separated by six decades or so. The peek into the past and the difficulty of operating against crime in an era where even land line telephones were not common adds appreciation to the work of the police of that day as well.
Release Notes:
Produced by Titan Books the release is particularly stunning as the company provides a release that is sure to satisfy even the most demanding collector. The book clocks in at around 320 pages and is hardcover bound giving a heft to the product that matches the weighty materials found within. The book’s cover features an enlarged image from one of the comic covers that Simon and Kirby produced (which is reproduced inside the volume) with two men on the front and two men on the back each in their individual prison cells thinking how they will be sprung tomorrow. It is a really high quality image and it works real well to set the tone for the book. On top of this the the sturdy binding used to keep the pages in between the covers is a very welcome factor as well.
The release also contains a slip cover whose front uses the image of a hardcover collection of stories as it shows off Simon and Kirby’s artwork with a criminal holding a smoking Tommy gun caught in a spotlight as he stands over his victim. The back cover continues this replicated book look as it shares the same motif along with the book’s copy and some endorsements of the duo’s work from some prominent reviewers as well as some images from the book’s contents.
What really sets the book apart though is the quality of the paper used for the pages. I have been reading comics and graphic novels for better than two decades and this is some of the best presentation I have ever seen. The pages are white, smooth and free of any pulp which really shows off the artwork. The artwork itself was incredibly restored to the point I doubt anyone has seen it look any better since maybe the original artists and their editors when it was submitted. It really is hard to praise the work done here enough as the colors are spectacular and the images stand out in a way I have rarely seen. Add in the inside covers using enlarged images from the works in a lovely blue and white color and an introduction by Max Allen Collins and I can’t think of the last book I received-comic, graphic or otherwise- that just gave me such a “wow” feeling.
About the only negative I can find is that the last 14 or so pages are comic cover reprints and for some reason the pages just lay different than the rest of the pages when the book is opened but that really feels like an exceptional level of nitpicking.
In Summary:
Crime is an absolute gem of a release in both material and packaging. Titan Books pulled out all the stops to create a release that feels like it gives a very prestigious air to the material contained which adds to the special feel one gets from the contained stories. One does not need to be a comic fan to appreciate the tales contained and one can gain a look at the past through the entertainment they enjoyed as well as finding intriguing characters in these yarns of those who have scoffed at societies rule. Of course, if one is a comic fan the roots of many of set ups and frames still used in panels can be seen here as two of the all time greats show off their skills. This release is a treat in about every way possible and would be a respected addition to just about any bookshelf that features literary masterpieces. Highest Recommendation.
Grade: A+
Readers Rating: [ratings]
