Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 1, 2021

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN210276    BLACK HAMMER REBORN #3 CVR A YARSKY    $3.99
JUN210277    BLACK HAMMER REBORN #3 CVR B STEPHENSON    $3.99
MAR210293    EC ARCHIVES VAULT OF HORROR TP    $19.99
JUN210363    GROO MEETS TARZAN #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUL210369    LUCKY DEVIL #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUN210337    PARASOMNIA #3 (OF 4) CVR A MUTTI    $3.99
JUN210338    PARASOMNIA #3 (OF 4) CVR B REYNOLDS    $3.99
JUN210378    WITCHER WITCHS LAMENT #4 (OF 4) CVR A DEL REY    $3.99
JUN210379    WITCHER WITCHS LAMENT #4 (OF 4) CVR B FINNSTARK    $3.99
JUN210380    WITCHER WITCHS LAMENT #4 (OF 4) CVR C KOIDL    $3.99
JUL210354    WORST DUDES #4 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 9, 2019

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN190301    BALTIMORE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $34.99
JUN190284    BLACK HAMMER 45 WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER TP VOL 01    $17.99
AUG190251    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 (OF 5) CVR A WALSH    $3.99
AUG190252    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 (OF 5) CVR B ROBINSON    $3.99
AUG190253    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 (OF 5) CVR C FRANCAVILLA    $3.99
AUG190254    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 (OF 5) CVR D WALTA    $3.99
AUG190255    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 (OF 5) CVR E CROOK    $3.99
JUN190369    DISNEY ZOOTOPIA SCHOOL DAYS (YA) HC VOL 01    $7.99
JUN190327    EC ARCHIVES FRONTLINE COMBAT HC VOL 02    $49.99
JUN190324    PLANTS VS ZOMBIES A LITTLE PROBLEM HC    $9.99
JUN190332    RAIN HC VOL 01    $24.99
AUG190297    TRIAGE #2 (OF 5) CVR A SEVY    $3.99
AUG190298    TRIAGE #2 (OF 5) CVR B CORONNA    $3.99
JUL190408    TROUT HOLLOWEST KNOCK #4 (OF 4)    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 18, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUL192420    20TH CENTURY BOYS TP VOL 05 PERFECT ED URASAWA    $19.99
JUL191377    ADVENTURE FINDERS EDGE OF EMPIRE #2    $3.99
JUN192230    ANCIENT MAGUS BRIDE GN VOL 11    $12.99
JUL191555    ARCHIE 1955 #1 (OF 5) CVR A MOK    $3.99
JUL191556    ARCHIE 1955 #1 (OF 5) CVR B CORONADO    $3.99
JUL191557    ARCHIE 1955 #1 (OF 5) CVR C FRANCAVILLA    $3.99
JUL191558    ARCHIE 1955 #1 (OF 5) CVR D LOPRESTI    $3.99
JUL191559    ARCHIE 1955 #1 (OF 5) CVR E WOODS    $3.99
JUL191580    ARCHIE AND ME JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #21    $7.99
JUN191450    ARCHIE VS PREDATOR 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR A HACK    $3.99
JUN191451    ARCHIE VS PREDATOR 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR B CHAYKIN    $3.99
JUN191452    ARCHIE VS PREDATOR 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR C GALVAN    $3.99
JUN191453    ARCHIE VS PREDATOR 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR D ISAACS    $3.99
JUN191454    ARCHIE VS PREDATOR 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR E SMALLWOOD    $3.99
JUN191455    ARCHIE VS PREDATOR 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR F WALSH    $3.99
JUL192468    AS MISS BEELZEBUB LIKES GN VOL 07    $13.00
JUL192036    BABYLON BURNING GN MAKING MODERN MIDDLE EAST    $16.95
JUL192421    BEASTARS GN VOL 02    $12.99
JUL192221    BLADE RUNNER 2019 #3 CVR A GUICE (MR)    $3.99
JUL192222    BLADE RUNNER 2019 #3 CVR B MEAD (MR)    $3.99
JUL192223    BLADE RUNNER 2019 #3 CVR C GUINALDO (MR)    $3.99
JUL192224    BLADE RUNNER 2019 #3 CVR D B&W (MR)    $3.99
JUL192228    BLOODBORNE #15 CVR A HARDING (MR)    $3.99
JUL192229    BLOODBORNE #15 CVR B YOSHIOKA (MR)    $3.99
JUL192230    BLOODBORNE #15 CVR C GAME ART (MR)    $3.99
JUL191519    BLOODLUST & BONNETS GN    $19.99
JUL192469    BUNGO STRAY DOGS GN VOL 12    $13.00
JUL192148    BUTCHER QUEEN #1 (OF 4)    $3.95
JUL191966    CASSANDRA STEPS OUT GN    $8.99
JUL191970    CATWAD GN VOL 02 ITS ME TWO    $8.99
MAY191386    CAVEWOMAN TARGET ANKHA ONE SHOT CVR B  MASSEY NUDE  (MR    $PI
MAY191390    CAVEWOMAN TARGET ANKHA ONE SHOT CVR F CARLOS RAFAEL CVR (NET    $PI
MAY191391    CAVEWOMAN TARGET ANKHA ONE SHOT CVR G YEN SAN NUDE  (MR    $PI
JUL192428    CHILDREN OF WHALES GN VOL 12    $12.99
JUL192467    COMBATANTS WILL BE DISPATCHED GN VOL 01    $13.00
JUN191679    CREATION GN (MR)    $21.95
JUL191999    CROSSOVER GN    $12.99
JUL192000    CROSSOVER HC GN    $22.99
JUL192163    CRUCIFIED #4    $3.99
JUL192322    CULT CLASSIC RETURN TO WHISPER #4 & #5 DOUBLE FEATURE (MR)    $3.99
JUL198120    DARK AGE #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
JUN191640    DESTINY COMIC COLLECTION HC VOL 01    $19.99
MAY191639    DF HOUSE OF X #1 SGN QUESADA    $99.99
MAY191641    DF POWERS OF X #1 SGN QUESADA    $99.99
OCT181646    DF WOLVERINE #1 SGN CLAREMONT    $69.99
OCT181647    DF WOLVERINE #1 SILVER SIG SGN CLAREMONT    $99.99
JUL192430    DOROHEDORO GN VOL 23 (MR)    $12.99
APR191734    EC JOHNNY CRAIG WOMAN WHO LOVED LIFE HC    $29.99
JUN191952    ENKI BILAL MONSTER HC (RES) (MR)    $49.99
JUN191491    ETERNAL SOULFIRE #5 ASPENSTORE EXC 2015 CAR CVR    $14.99
JUL191595    FATHOM VOL 8 #5 CVR A CAMPETELLA    $3.99
JUL191596    FATHOM VOL 8 #5 CVR B TURNER    $3.99
JUL192164    FOREVER MAPS #1    $3.99
JUL192470    GOBLIN SLAYER GN VOL 06 (MR)    $13.00
JUL191464    GRUMBLE #10    $3.99
JUL191974    GUTS GN    $12.99
JUL191975    GUTS HC GN    $24.99
JUN192237    HAGANAI I DONT HAVE MANY FRIENDS GN VOL 17 (MR)    $12.99
JUN192236    HIGH RISE INVASION GN VOL 05 (MR)    $19.99
MAY192252    HOW TO BUILD DUNGEON BOOK OF DEMON KING GN VOL 05 (RES) (MR)    $12.99
JUL192049    INFINITY 8 #15 (MR)    $3.99
JUL192009    INVISIBLE EMPIRE UNMASKING OF KU KLUX KLAN GN    $24.99
JUL192295    KILLERS #3 (OF 5) CVR A MEYERS    $3.99
JUL192296    KILLERS #3 (OF 5) CVR B STROMAN    $3.99
JUL192297    KILLERS #3 (OF 5) CVR C CORBOZ    $3.99
JUL192298    KILLERS #3 (OF 5) CVR D HAMNER    $3.99
FEB191836    KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #266    $5.99
JUL192472    KONOSUBA EXPLOSION WONDERFUL WORLD GN VOL 02    $13.00
MAY191849    KRISS GIFT OF WRATH TP    $14.99
JUN191558    LADY MECHANIKA SANGRE #3 (OF 5) MAIN & MIX VAR CVRS    $3.99
JUL191522    LASER MOOSE & RABBIT BOY TIME TROUT GN    $9.99
MAR192290    LDK GN VOL 13    $10.99
JUL192413    LEVIUS HC 3IN1 COMPLETE ED    $34.99
JUL192474    LOVE AT FOURTEEN GN VOL 09    $15.00
JUL191516    MONSTER WORLD GOLDEN AGE #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUN192243    NAMELESS ASTERISM GN VOL 04 (RES)    $13.99
JUL192419    NO GUNS LIFE GN VOL 01    $12.99
JUL192008    OFF WORLD BLUES GN (MR)    $19.95
JUL192333    OFFICIAL MACGYVER HANDBOOK HC    $25.00
JUN191903    ONCE OUR LAND TP VOL 02    $17.99
JUN192246    OUR DREAMS AT DUSK SHIMANAMI TASOGARE GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
JUL192446    OVERLORD GN VOL 11    $13.00
MAY191348    PELLUCIDAR WINGS OF DEATH #1 CVR A MARTINEZ    $3.99
MAY191349    PELLUCIDAR WINGS OF DEATH #1 CVR B WOLFER WARRIOR    $3.99
MAY191350    PELLUCIDAR WINGS OF DEATH #1 CVR C LTD ED VAR    $9.99
JUL192292    PSI-LORDS #4 CVR A RAHZZAH    $3.99
JUL192293    PSI-LORDS #4 CVR B LOTAY    $3.99
JUL192294    PSI-LORDS #4 CVR C WALSH    $3.99
JUL191940    REVENGER CHILDREN OF DAMNED GN (MR)    $14.95
JUL192084    RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #1 CVR A ITO (MR)    $3.99
JUL192085    RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #1 CVR B ZUB (MR)    $3.99
JUL192087    RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #1 CVR D LOOK ZUB (MR)    $3.99
JUL192226    ROBOTECH #24 CVR B VEHICLE ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
JUL192330    SATANIKA VS MORELLAS DEMON #1    $4.95
JUL191460    SECOND COMING #3 (MR)    $3.99
JUN191967    SECRET LIFE OF PETS HC GIFT BOOK    $14.99
JUL192053    SHOWS END #2    $3.99
JUL192027    SISTER POWERS #1 CVR A    $4.99
JUL192028    SISTER POWERS #1 CVR B BLANK SKETCH    $9.99
JUL192029    SISTER POWERS #1 CVR C SPIN THE BOTTLE    $4.99
JUL192030    SISTER POWERS #1 CVR D MIRROR IMAGES    $4.99
JUL191967    STAGE DREAMS GN    $10.99
JUL192477    SWORD ART ONLINE GIRLS OPS GN VOL 06    $13.00
MAY191839    TEA DRAGON FESTIVAL HC    $21.99
JUL192329    TEST #4    $3.99
JUL191472    TWICE SHY GN    $14.99
JUL192358    VAN HELSING VS DRACULAS DAUGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR A MARIA    $3.99
JUL192359    VAN HELSING VS DRACULAS DAUGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR B GOH    $3.99
JUL192360    VAN HELSING VS DRACULAS DAUGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR C REI    $3.99
JUL192361    VAN HELSING VS DRACULAS DAUGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR D COCCOLO    $3.99
JUL192412    WAY OF THE HOUSEHUSBAND GN VOL 01    $12.99
JUL191429    YOU ARE OBSOLETE #1 CVR A CLARKE    $3.99
JUL191420    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #64 CVR A MACCAGNI (MR)    $4.99
JUL191421    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #64 CVR B MACCAGNI RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUL191422    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #64 CVR C MASTAJWOOD VAR (MR)    $4.99
JUL191423    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #64 CVR D MASTAJWOOD RISQUE LTD ED (MR)    $4.99
JUL191424    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #64 CVR E HARRIGAN LTD ED (MR)    $4.99
JUL191425    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #64 CVR F HARRIGAN RISQUE LTD ED (MR)    $4.99
JAN191525    ZORRO SACRILEGE #3 DEAD STORM  RISING MELO CVR    $3.99
JAN191524    ZORRO SACRILEGE #3 MARTINEZ MAIN CVR    $3.99
JAN191526    ZORRO SACRILEGE #3 VISIONS OF ZORRO B&W LTD ED CVR    $9.99

MAGAZINES
JUL191807    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1683    $PI
JUN191831    COMICS REVUE PRESENTS AUGUST 2019    $19.95
JUL191560    SABRINA SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #1    $9.99
JUL192245    STAR WARS INSIDER #192 NEWSSTAND ED    $7.99
JUL192246    STAR WARS INSIDER #192 PX ED    $7.99

BOOKS
JUL192174    ABC OF TYPOGRAPHY GN    $24.99
JUL192457    ACCEL WORLD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 19    $14.00
JUL192156    ALVARADOS PIN UP NUDES HC (MR)    $39.99
JUL191535    BACKSTAGERS ILLUS HC NOVEL VOL 03 FINAL BLACKOUT    $14.99
JUL192172    BELONGING SC GN    $20.00
MAY198260    BOARD GAMES IN 100 MOVES HC    $19.99
JUL192406    CATS OF THE LOUVRE MANGA HC    $29.99
JUL191682    DOCTOR WHO RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS HC    $16.99
JUN192218    HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 05    $14.99
JUN192161    LAST CRUSADE RISE NEW WORLD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01    $15.00
JUL192126    MY LITTLE PONY RETRO COLORING BOOK    $12.99
JUN192252    REINCARNATED AS A SWORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02    $13.99
JUN192253    SKELETON KNIGHT IN ANOTHER WORLD LIGHT NOVEL VOL 02    $13.99
MAR191807    STNG USS ENTERPRISE NCC 1701D ILLUS HANDBOOK    $29.95
JUL191366    TV NOIR DARK DRAMA ON THE SMALL SCREEN HC    $40.00

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 14, 2019

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR190293    ANTHEM HC STRONG ALONE STRONGER TOGETHER    $14.99
JUN190275    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 (OF 5) CVR A WALSH    $3.99
JUN190276    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 (OF 5) CVR B THOMPSON    $3.99
JUN190277    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 (OF 5) CVR C BERTRAM    $3.99
JUN190278    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 (OF 5) CVR D TEDESCO    $3.99
JUN190279    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 (OF 5) CVR E SCALERA    $3.99
APR190279    BORGIAS TP (MR)    $29.99
JUN190304    CRITICAL ROLE VOX MACHINA ORIGINS SERIES II #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
APR190323    DISNEY FROZEN TP REUNION ROAD    $10.99
APR190315    EC ARCHIVES CRIME SUSPENSTORIES HC VOL 04    $59.99
JUN190302    JOE GOLEM OCCULT DETECTIVE CONJURORS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN190466    LIGHTSTEP TP    $19.99
JUN190310    ORVILLE NEW BEGINNINGS #2    $3.99
JUN190305    SHE COULD FLY LOST PILOT #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
MAR190367    STAR BLAZERS TP VOL 01 SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199    $19.99
MAY190241    SWORD DAUGHTER #8 CVR A OLIVER    $4.99
MAY190242    SWORD DAUGHTER #8 CVR B CHATER VAR    $4.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 15, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN180304    DISNEY PIXAR INCREDIBLES 2 #2 CRISIS MIDLIFE & OTHER STORIES    $3.99
JUN180305    DISNEY PIXAR INCREDIBLES 2 #2 CRISIS MIDLIFE & STORIES JACKS    $3.99
APR180081    EC ARCHIVES WAR AGAINST CRIME HC VOL 01    $49.99
APR180090    EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 24    $49.99
JUN180334    ETHER COPPER GOLEMS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUN180335    ETHER COPPER GOLEMS #4 (OF 5) ALLRED CVR    $3.99
JAN180165    GAME OF THRONES FIGURE JON SNOW BATTLE OF BASTARDS    $29.99
JUN180350    HALO COLLATERAL DAMAGE #3 (OF 3)    $3.99
APR180067    HELLBOY COMPLETE SHORT STORIES TP VOL 02    $24.99
APR180035    MYSTICONS GN VOL 01    $10.99
FEB170100    RG VEDA OMNIBUS TP VOL 03    $24.99
JUN180316    TERMINATOR SECTOR WAR #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUN180317    TERMINATOR SECTOR WAR #1 (OF 4) DOMARADZKI CVR    $3.99
JUN180348    USAGI YOJIMBO #5 (OF 7) THE HIDDEN    $3.99
APR180091    VINEGAR TEETH TP    $14.99
JUN180366    WITCHFINDER GATES OF HEAVEN #4 (OF 5)    $3.99

I Reads You Review: "Foul Play!"

FOUL PLAY! THE ART AND ARTISTS OF THE NOTORIOUS 1950S E.C. COMICS!
HARPER COLLINS/Harper Design

WRITER: Grant Geissman
COVER: Johnny Craig (Back cover by Graham Ingels)
ISBN: 978-0060746988; paperback (April 2005)
272pp, Color, $29.95 U.S.

Foul Play! The Art and Artists of the Notorious 1950s E.C. Comics is a 2005 non-fiction book.  Written by Grant Geissman, the book profiles the careers of the artists who drew for E.C. Comics in the early 1950s, focusing on the 14 artists most associated with the publisher.  This book also includes 14 E.C. stories drawn by these artists.

What was E.C. Comics?  Entertaining Comics was a comic book publisher that was first known as Educational Comics when it was founded in 1944 by Max Gaines.  Of course, Entertaining Comics is best known by its common name “E.C. Comics.”  Max Gaines died in a boating accident in 1947, and his son, William “Bill” Gaines, took over the company.  In 1949 and 1950, Bill Gaines began publishing a line of new titles that featured crime, horror, military, science fiction, and suspense comics.

Under the editorship of Al Feldstein and Harvey Kurtzman, this line featured the work of prominent and talented freelance illustrators like Jack Davis, Will Elder, Bernard Krigstein, and Wally Wood (to name a few).  Titles like Tales from the Crypt, Frontline Combat, Shock SuspenStories, Weird Science, and Weird Fantasy (to name a few) presented a fresh approach to comic book storytelling.  This line of comic books became a hit with readers.  Eventually, however, controversy and political backlash effectively ended E.C. Comics in 1954.

Originally published in April 2005, Foul Play! The Art and Artists of the Notorious 1950s E.C. Comics is a paperback book (8.5” x 11”) that profiles these artists who drew for E.C. Comics.  The book’s author, Grant Geissman, is an Emmy-nominated composer of music for television programs.  Geissman is also an expert on E.C. Comics and MAD Magazine (also originally published by Bill Gaines).

Foul Play! (which is out-of-print as of this writing) is practically a who’s who of mid-20th century popular illustration.  The book features such E.C. artists as Al Feldstein, Harvey Kurtzman, Johnny Craig, Jack Davis, (Ghastly) Graham Ingels, Jack Kamen, Wallace “Wally” Wood, Joe Orlando, Will Elder, John Severin, George Evans, Al Williamson, Reed Crandall, and Bernie Krigstein, among others. Geissman offers biographical details about the artists, describes how they came to work for Bill Gaines, and how their careers evolved after E.C. Comics.

Foul Play! also reprints 14 stories from various E.C. comics publications, each one showcasing the work of a particular artist.  Plus, the book includes, as a special bonus, a lost E.C. Comics story, entitled, “Wanted for Murder!”  Drawn by Al Williamson (with an uncredited assist from Angelo Torres), this was originally intended to be published in 1956 in Crime Illustrated, part of the E.C. Picto-Fiction magazine line.  The magazine was never published, and the story was forgotten and unseen until published in this book.

Over the years, I have had occasion to read reprint editions of various EC Comics.  I even have one of those Russ Cochran boxed sets (the four-volume Weird Science).  I had not heard of Foul Play! and discovered it on a wire book shelf in a comic book shop I was visiting.

I was actually at the shop to pick up some comic books that I was going to review for the Comic Book Bin.  But Foul Play! caught my attention the same way a nude photograph of Halle Berry or Charlize Theron probably would.  That was about nine years ago.  In that time, I have read this book a few times, read portions of it numerous times, and thumbed through it countless times (especially when I’m on the toilet).

Foul Play! The Art and Artists of the Notorious 1950s E.C. Comics is an evergreen book.  It is always going to be relevant because I think that comic book scholars and aficionados will never forget E.C. Comics.  They were a high-water mark in the history of comic books, especially American comic books; perhaps, they were the first high-water mark of American comic books.  Anyone who ever read them never forgot them, and for some, they were an inspiration.  Because some of the people this line of comics influenced went on to contribute to American culture (high, low, and pop), E.C. Comics may have ceased publication, but it never died.  So Foul Play! may be out of print, but it is still in play.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.