Comic books in 'Comics Culture'

1st Edition - 1st printing. By Bart Beaty. For over seventy-five years, Archie and the gang at Riverdale High have been America's most iconic teenagers, delighting generations of readers with their never-ending exploits. Twelve-Cent Archie is not only the first scholarly study of the Archie comic, it is an innovative creative work in its own right. Fans of the comics will be thrilled to read in-depth examinations of their favorite characters and motifs, including individual chapters devoted to Jughead's hat and Archie's sweater-vest. But the book also has plenty to interest newcomers to Riverdale, as it recounts the behind-the-scenes history of the comics and analyzes how Archie helped shape our images of the American teenager. Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 232 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $26.95.

1st printing. By Andrew Hoberek. William Marston was an unusual man - a psychologist, a soft-porn pulp novelist, more than a bit of a carny, and the (self-declared) inventor of the lie detector. He was also the creator of Wonder Woman, the comic that he used to express two of his greatest passions: feminism and women in bondage. Comics expert Noah Berlatsky takes us on a wild ride through the Wonder Woman comics of the 1940s, vividly illustrating how Marston's many quirks and contradictions, along with the odd disproportionate composition created by illustrator Harry Peter, produced a comic that was radically ahead of its time in terms of its bold presentation of female power and sexuality. Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 232 pages, Text (with B&W Illustrations). Cover price $26.95.

Revised Edition - 1st printing. By Andrew Hoberek. Now with full color illustrations! Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmen has been widely hailed as a landmark in the development of the graphic novel. Demonstrating a keen eye for historical detail, Considering Watchmen gives readers a new appreciation of just how radical Moore and Gibbons's blend of gritty realism and formal experimentation was back in 1986. The book also considers Watchmen's place in the history of the comics industry, reading the graphic novel's playful critique of superhero marketing alongside Alan Moore's public statements about the rights to the franchise. Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 224 pages, Text (with full color Illustrations). Cover price $29.95.

1st (2014) Edition - 1st printing. By Andrew Hoberek. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmen has been widely hailed as a landmark in the development of the graphic novel. Considering Watchmen gives readers a new appreciation of just how radical Moore and Gibbons's blend of gritty realism and formal experimentation was back in 1986. The book also considers Watchmen's place in the history of the comics industry, as well as how it has had profound effects on literature as a whole. Andrew Hoberek examines how Moore and Gibbons engaged with the emerging discourses of neoconservatism and neoliberal capitalism, ideologies that have only become more prominent in subsequent years. Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 228 pages, Text (with B&W Illustrations).

1st printing. By Ian Gordon. After debuting in 1938, Superman soon became an American icon. But why has he maintained his iconic status for nearly 80 years? Superman: Persistence of an American Icon examines the many iterations of the character in comic books, comic strips, radio series, movie serials, feature films, television shows, animation, toys, and collectibles over the past eight decades. Demonstrating how Superman's iconic popularity cannot be attributed to any single creator or text, comics expert Ian Gordon embarks on a deeper consideration of cultural mythmaking as a collective and dynamic process. He also outlines the often contentious relationships between the various parties who have contributed to the Superman mythos. Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 200 pages, Text (with B&W Illustrations). Cover price $27.95.

Revised Edition - 1st printing. By Bart Beaty. Now with full color illustrations! For over seventy-five years, Archie and the gang at Riverdale High have been America's most iconic teenagers, delighting generations of readers with their never-ending exploits. Twelve-Cent Archie is not only the first scholarly study of the Archie comics, it is an innovative creative work in its own right. Fans of the comics will be thrilled to read in-depth examinations of their favorite characters and motifs, including individual chapters devoted to Jughead's hat and Archie's sweater-vest. But the book also has plenty to interest newcomers to Riverdale, as it recounts the behind-the-scenes history of the comics and analyzes how Archie helped shape our image of the American teenager. Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 232 pages, full color. Cover price $29.95.