1000 Comic Books You Must Read

Title: 1000 Comic Books You Must Read
Publisher: Krause Publications a subsidiary of F + W Media, Inc.
Hardcover, 271 pages
Publication date: 2009
Author: Tony Isabella
ISBN: 13:978-0-89689-921-6
Library of Congress #: 2008937677
Cost: $29.99
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

I found this hardcover book at my library in 741.5 ISA section. This book was rather amazing to me. It was wrote by Tony Isabella. The book starts with introduction about how Tony started to read comic books in his youth. He was born in 1951. The book starts off when Action Comics # 1 changed comic book history with publication of first Superman story. The book follows comic book history in decade by decade approach through 2008. The pages are glossy. He talks about comic books from multiple publishers. The book has 1000 comic book covers all in color. Tony gives brief description of each comic book. He tried to give Writer,artist, publisher and date of publication. This was more difficult in older 1950 and before issues when not common practice to list creative teams. The book divides each decade with page writing by Tony giving some insights into that era's books. The book is told in 8 chapters. I really appreciated effort that Tony Isabella put into "1000 Comic Books You Must Read".

He even wrote page article about his favorite comic of all time. Fantastic Four Annual # 1 from 1963. Tony was 12 when he read that comic book wrote by Stan Lee with art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. Tony also at one time created a DC character called Black Lightning, the company's first headline African-American hero. I also read that Tony Isabella has been a comics writer and columnist for more than 35 years at point of his publication of 1000 Comic Books You Must Read. He got his start working for Stan Lee at Marvel Comics as a writer and editor. He was contributing editor and lead reviewer for Comic Buyer's Guide where he reviewed more comic books than anyone else in the magazine's history.

What i really enjoyed is fact Tony made me aware of older issues like Patsy Walker, Hi- Yo Silver, Casper the Friendly Ghost along with series more familiar to me like Spiderman or The Incredible Hulk. There were many stories which I would like to read . I wondered if Tony had read some of issues online or had them in personal collection. I even noticed in more current stories some stories were wrote in comic book form to bring awareness to non fiction things like breast cancer, Or raising money from both DC and Marvel Comics for food relief to African famine . Heroes for Hope Starring The X-Men # 1 from December 1985. Also, Heroes Against Hunger from DC Comics published in 1986. Both were positive ways comic books could help real life difficult situations. The book accomplishes task of making me aware of multiple comic books from Action Comics # 1 from 1938 to Bruce the Little Blue Spruce published in December 2008 from Image/ Shadowline. The book ends with Tony Isabella discussing "Now and the Future FAQ". He tells why some books were chose and not chosen to be included in 1000 Comic Books You Must Read. It is a good start but his impressions. He also tells how to learn more about the comic books wrote about in his book. He was not sure if there would be a next book. I feel tremendous worthwhile read.

To read more about Tony Isabella

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Isabella



Allen Klingelhoets