5 10 132 https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/b9a84fad7d02e386bb7817839e1026a9.tif 2e1c6b4068ffe71a32f3a0b885c66c12 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic Book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 8 3/8" x 10 7/8" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 8 Pg. 13 Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Editor: Kim Thompson Assistant Editor: J. Collier Contributing Writers: Dwight R. Decker, Gail Freeman, Rich Morrissey, Gene Reed, David Singer Consulting Editor: Dwight R. Decker Art Director: Peppy White Contributing Artists: Paul Abrams, Bill Anderson, Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Dennis Fujitake, Mark Heike, Gary Kwapisz, Kurt Lichte, Kevin Nowlan, Mike O'Neal, Charles Treadwell Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Redbeard, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1981-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/96">Issue #8 Cover</a><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/99">Issue #8 Table of Contents</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 8 3/8" x 10 7/8" Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource Page 13 of Amazing Heroes’ 8th issue showed off its Comics Report, the title of their brief page of comics-related news coverage. The top third of the page is occupied by an illustrated banner featuring a variety of comic characters from superhero books to newspapers, most of whom are engaging in friendly conversation. The front row of this menagerie includes Albert Alligator and Pogo Possum (from the newspaper strip Pogo), having a friendly chat with Mickey Mouse, while his own duck friend (very likely Donald Duck) is looking off to the right. Also in the front row is a surly Dick Tracy, mimicking his traditional pose with gun in hand, a ditzy woman with a large hairstyle and a surprised expression, and Hägar the Horrible, the cartoon Viking from his eponymous newspaper strip, staring happily at nothing in particular. In the row behind them, from right to left, are the head and creepily extended neck of a bespectacled hero, the grim visage and torso of Tor the savage, a distant Spider-Man with his web firing far above the page, a stoic and cheerful Superman, a distant flying hero enveloped in flames, and a very grumpy duo of Batman and the Hulk refusing to acknowledge the presence of a detailed, enormous, and hideous creature with a piggish face and an absurdly long snout resting his hands on their shoulders. Written on the left side is the caption, “Illustration by Gary Kwapisz,” and this group is huddled behind the large rectangle bearing the name, “Comics Report”. Below this heading are three columns of text, but only two headlines. The first, “Tarzan and Magnus Artist Russ Manning Dead at 52,” describes the life of Russ Manning, born in 1929, exploring a 15-plus year career as an artist for Dell, and dead from cancer on December 1, 1981. His most well-remembered work is as the co-creator of Magnus, Robot Fighter along with editor Chase Craig, and as the artist for the Tarzan comics after 1965, replacing Jesse Marsh. Below these two columns of writing are two panels from Manning’s run of Tarzan, showing the lithe jungle dweller leaping in the first panel and running in the next, thinking to himself, “Too long have I adventured in strange lands! It is time I returned to the best land of all—home!...The Yeld! It never changes, no matter how long I have been away!” In the top left of the first panel is the credit “By Edgar Rice Burroughs,” and the bottom right of the second panel reads the barely legible, “Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. –All rights reserved ©1967 by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.” The second article, written in the third and final column, is “Dr. Wertham Dead at 86,” a familiar name to veterans of the comics world. The article discusses his campaigning against the “often shockingly gruesome” comics of the era with his 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent, coupled with his stranger claims of homosexuality in Batman and comparison of Superman and Lee Harvey Oswald, which eventually led to the formation of the Comics Code Authority. Rather than demonizing him, though, the article ends with his statements rejecting the Comics Code and even the formation of viable relationships with members of the comics fandom. https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/e11e4796e9889ff7ecdfe122ef5d74b8.tif 167219ee523a9889eeb40dd1a179ce90 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic Book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 158 Pg. 13 Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Executive Editor: Kim "Lou" Thompson Managing Editor: Chris "John" McCubbin Art Director: Lynette "Mo" Alcorn-McCubbin Associate Editor: Charles "Sterling" Lieurance News Correspondent: Dave "Nico" Hogswid Production Assistant: Mark Thompson Typesetting: Linda Gorell & Arlene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger & Carol Kovinick-Hernandez Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/95">Issue #158 Cover</a><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/98">Issue #158 Table of Contents</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource Page 13 of Amazing Heroes’ issue from February of 1989 features two news stories, one of which reports the details of an important legal case, while the other announces the reveal of deliberately silly comics concerning skateboards and a lizard woman. The heading of the articles, printed in the top right corner, reads “Newsline,” the title of Amazing Heroes’ journalistic section at the time. The bottom indicates the date of the issue, “February 1, 1989,” and the page number, “13.” The first article, with its three columns of basic serif text, is entitled, “Bad News from the Obscenity Front: Friendly Franks’ Closes, Comic Legends Proprietors Convicted on Two of Three Counts,” and it details the aftermath of obscenity charges on two comic book shops, Friendly Frank’s in Lansing, Michigan (according to the article), and Comic Legends in Calgary, Alberta. The article describes the story in somber tones, with the closing of Friendly Frank’s and the arrest of the manager, Michael Correa, seen as an injustice towards the comics community and the right to free expression. Attempts to reopen the store have been unsuccessful, and the two remaining stores continued trying to stay afloat. Interestingly, the article states, “Correa was found guilty of the charges in January of ’88 and is currently in the process of appealing the decision with the aid of The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.” This organization, founded explicitly for this legal battle, was backed and supported by major industry figures, such as Sergio Aragones, Will Eisner, and Frank Miller, and it continued to be a driving force against obscenity charges for the next several decades. Similarly, the article ends with a parallel story in Canada, with, “The two are currently being aided by the Comic Legends Defense Fund, which recently published the all-star benefit comic True North.” This organization, on the other hand, does not have as widely recognized of a reputation. The next article, which covers the bottom half of this page, is notably lighter, entitled, “Ribit, Shred Offer Broadsword and Skateboard, Urban Warriors.” While the piece is shorter, it is accompanied by three glorious black-and-white panels, captioned with “Frank Thorne’s Ribit!, vanguard of the new skatepunk comics,” which feature a long horizontal panel with a mysterious four-wheeled contraption resembling the head of an insect sweeping energetically to the left and dodging an explosion. The next two panels are more vertical but occupy the same width as the lengthier panel above, and they focus on the escape of a young bikini-and-leg-warmer-clad woman skating to freedom with the assistance of the strange vehicle, which reveals its ability to fly in the final panel. The article discusses the release of two skateboard-based comics in 1989: Frank Thorne’s Ribit!, published by Comico, and DFW Enterprises’ Shred the Skateboard Magazine in a light-hearted and hopeful tone, detailing their strange plots, eccentric casts, and crew of writers and illustrators, making sure the comics community is as ready for the ‘90s as they are. https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/40d18299478d0fc842d8219aa347c2d2.tif af3d76658857aafc63441ced1f305a84 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 118 Table of Contents Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Editor: Kim Thompson Art Director: Dale Crain, Doug Erb With Some Help From: Michael Adams News Correspondent: J. Collier Production Assistant: Teresa Moore Typesetting: L. M. Gorell & Ariene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987-06 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/97">Issue #118 Cover</a><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/103">Issue #118 Page 14</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource The table of contents for Amazing Heroes’ 118th issue is housed in a rectangular box slightly smaller than the overall page, bordered to the edge by a pattern that resembles a large cluster of sprinkles. Headed by a black bar containing basic information about the fanzine’s basic information, “No. 118, Amazing Heroes, June 1,” the word “Contents” is printed in large text, stylistically presiding over the remainder of the page. The list of contents is separated into three columns, although there are only two types of article in the magazine. The first heading is “Features,” which reveals four articles that share a similar theme: “A New Wind from the East,” subtitled “Our specialist on manga previews the three Eclipse titles and puts everything in perspective, by Fred Patten” (page 30), “School for Manga,” subtitled, “The creator of Lone Wolf and Cub teaches a new generation of cartoonists, by J. Collier” (page 42), “Samurai Superstrip,” subtitled, “The history of, and appeal behind, Lone Wolf and Cub, by Vern Grant” (page 46), and “First look,” subtitled “Kamui the Ninja Previewed” (page 52). Still in the first column, another heading reads “Depts.”, and begins with “Editorial” (page 7), then advances to the middle column with “Newsline” (page 11), “Coming Distractions” (page 17), “Doc’s Bookshelf” (page 63), “Comics in Review,” subtitled “Japanese imports, by Gerard Jones,” another advancement to the third and final column, “Amazing Readers” (page 77), and “Don Rosa’s Information Center” (page 87). Beneath the second and third columns is an illustration from one of the Japanese comics featured, Kamui the Ninja, along with a nearby set of text that tangentially refers to its series, “Our Cover: Kamui the Ninja as painted by Sanpei Shirato. Thanks to Viz Communications for providing the artwork which is ©1986 Sanpei Shirato and Shogakukan.” The illustration displays the same character from the cover, a young, haggard man from Edō period Japan with a patterned robe and wild hair, now being struck with a rudimentary weapon held by an unknown assailant. He is staring down with a sense of confusion and anger as the device, which looks like a hoe manufactured from a stick fastened to a sharper material, is swung at his chest, producing a stylized “THOK” sound effect. Notably, the English sound effect indicates that this comic has been localized for English-speaking audiences, allowing for the easy review and distribution that this fanzine needs. The theme of this issue is focused heavily on manga, citing a few series published by Eclipse Comics, which, notably, was one of the first publishers to distribute to dedicated comic book shops. Their later deals with Viz Communications (now Viz Media) included the manga referenced in the table of contents, which are some of the first manga ever translated and distributed in the United States. However, the process was tedious, as the pages had to be painstakingly flipped, while sound effects had to be cut out and replaced by their English equivalents. https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/8f9e0aa6896f79d19de5ae7c66e9549f.tif fd8ae0fdd69b3e831eaf444556be9030 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic Book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 8 3/8" x 10 7/8" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 8 Table of Contents Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Editor: Kim Thompson Assistant Editor: J. Collier Contributing Writers: Dwight R. Decker, Gail Freeman, Rich Morrissey, Gene Reed, David Singer Consulting Editor: Dwight R. Decker Art Director: Peppy White Contributing Artists: Paul Abrams, Bill Anderson, Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Dennis Fujitake, Mark Heike, Gary Kwapisz, Kurt Lichte, Kevin Nowlan, Mike O'Neal, Charles Treadwell Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Redbeard, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1981-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/96">Issue #8 Cover</a><br /><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/admin/items/show/102">Issue #8 Pg 13</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 8 3/8" x 10 7/8", Color Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource The table of contents for Issue 8 of Amazing Heroes announces basic identification information in a large space at the top that reveals much of what was already on the cover, that being, the title and issue, “Amazing Heroes # 8”, aligned to the left, the release month “February 1981,” centered at the top, and artist credits, for “Cover: Dennis Fujitake,” and “Inside Back Cover: Paul Abrams.” Below this information is a small, thin banner denoted with a bold, horizontal line with the word “Articles” at its center. Laid out neatly are four square representative images from four matching articles, their titles, subtitles, and page numbers written below them. The first is “Silly cover #51 by Kurt Lichte,” subtitled, “More outrageous tomfoolery, satirical sardonicness, and impardonable impropriety!” (picking up a tradition of fun alliteration in the comics fandom community), to be found on page 22. The image features caricatures of the X-Men’s Cyclops and Storm, normally well-rendered, serious characters, represented as a googly-eyed loon with a goofy smile and a cross-eyed, small-headed nymph, respectively. The second is “I Remember Krypton by Dwight R. Decker,” subtitled, “A loving look at comics’ greatest fictional world: Krypton—birthplace of Superman!” (page 34.) The illustration is an excerpt of a Superman comic discussed in the article, showing two men in alien outfits feeing something but turning back towards the audience, also included is some humanoid automaton on the left. The third is “T.H.U.N.D.E.R.’s Back! By J. Collier,” subtitled, “An exclusive, in-depth look at the brand-new revival of the classic series—with pictures!” (page 40), and the illustration is a character from that series, an extremely muscular man in a powerful pose, ready to strike. Continuing this exploration is the final article, “T.H.U.N.D.E.R. History II by David Singer,” subtitled, “The conclusion of the history of the fabled group of superheroes from the Silver Age!” (page 46), with an appropriately Silver-Aged depiction of a trio of T.H.U.N.D.E.R.’s team, including the hero, Dynamo, backed by the supporting NoMan and Lightning, outrunning an explosion. Below these articles are the “Features,” printed with a similar format but excluding images. They include, “Star Wars by Goodwin and Williamson” (page 7), “Comics Report, The Latest in Comics News” (page 13), “Coming Distractions, Jan./Feb. Comics Checklist” (page 22), and “Star Hawks by Goodwin and Kane” (page 58). Given a space of equal size are further features, now organized in a traditional table of contents format, with the titles and explanations on the left and the page number on the right, preceded by a length of periods. Headed by a “Plus:”, these extra features are “The Collectors: Goofy Comics From The Pen Of Charles Treadwell” (page 39), “The THUNDER Agents: Special Origins Page” (page 45), “Comics Review: The Avengers by Gail Freeman” (page 57), and “Amazing Readers: Letters From All Over” (page 64). Taking up the remaining third of the page are a long list of credits and minutia, including the list of staff, copyright information, and contributor’s info. This issue of Amazing Heroes speaks to a mix of irreverence and fondness that characterizes comics fandom, with the X-Men, the best-selling comic of the decade, playfully mocked, while the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, a comic property from the 1960s sanitized by the Comics Code, is given two major articles that focus on its past and future as a series. https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/b57c091982e672ea5f26083a0f99894e.tif 60221a675c274bc85b4acb1e54408e2e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic Book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 158 Table of Contents Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comic Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Executive Editor: Kim "Lou" Thompson Managing Editor: Chris "John" McCubbin Art Director: Lynette "Mo" Alcorn-McCubbin Associate Editor: Charles "Sterling" Lieurance News Correspondent: Dave "Nico" Hogswid Production Assistant: Mark Thompson Typesetting: Linda Gorell & Arlene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger & Carol Kovinick-Hernandez Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/admin/items/show/102">Issue #158 Pg 13</a><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/95">Issue #158 Cover</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource The table of contents for Amazing Heroes’ 158th issue features a series of articles that are almost entirely devoted to the concept and history of 3-D, particularly in the world of comics. On the left side of the page is a massive black banner denoting the table of contents, simply reading “Contents,” and next to it is a column of the articles in the periodical. At the head of this thin column is a boldfaced “Special 3-D Issue!” denotation sandwiched between two horizontal lines. The first article is “A History of 3-D Comics,” subtitled, “From the boom of the ‘50s to the boom of today,” its author is highlighted as, “Feature article by Valentino,” and its page number, just below and housed in a box of black, is 24. The next is “Ray Zone’s Battle for a Three-Dimensional World,” subtitled, “An interview with the man who re-created 3-D comics,” and “Interview by Valentino,” on page 28. Third is “In 3-D: A Hero History of 3-D Man,” subtitled, “The stereoscopic story of the 1970s greatest ‘50s crimefighter,” and “Hero History by Dale Roberts” on page 51. Fourth is “An Index to 3-D Comics,” subtitled, “Every single gosh-darned one of ‘em!” and “Index by Valentino,” on page 60. Finally, there is the “Special 3-D Section,” subtitled, “Real 3-D pictures,” and “negatives provided by Ray Zone,” but instead of a page number being demonstrated, there is a pair of asterisks where the number would be found. Just below, there is a small but bold-faced explanation: “** various places throughout the magazine. Also represented are two pictures that, together, occupy half of the page’s consumed content. The picture on the top is a single panel of a simplistic comic taken up mainly by text. The image is the backside of a man’s head, decorated with long hair, an elegant moustache, and a strange, European-style hat. The text and surrounding imagery, which contains the Mona Lisa, a color palette, and some unfinished anatomical work, infer the man to be Leonardo da Vinci and the setting to be his studio. A narration box at the top reads, “On Earth, 200 years ago, the scientific artist Leonard da Vinci makes a profound discovery.” A thought bubble extending from da Vinci’s head reads, “Hmmm…with our two eyes we see two scenes at once, and thus perceive three dimensional depth.” This comic panel, taken from a source uncredited in this table, playfully recounts the beginning of representing three dimensions in a two-dimensional medium. Below this square panel is a long, rectangular photograph of a white man with a rounded face, a short mop of light hair, a proud smile, and casual wear for hot weather, standing beside a rotating stand containing a variety of 3-D comics, including “Electric Fear!”, “Krazy Kat,” “Red Mask,” “DNAgents,” and “Three-Dimensional Seduction of the Innocent!” This man is Ray Zone, considered a pioneer of converting 2-D images to 3-D. Many of the comics on display, such as “Krazy Kat,” were converted into 3-D well after their initial release to great success, a success that it expounded upon in most of this issue’s articles. https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/539b110e3deeec7da4e552595a64bcfd.tif 8b15588824e98a1befb0fbeb84383c68 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 118 Cover Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Editor: Kim Thompson Cover Artist: Sanpei Shirato Art Director: Dale Crain, Doug Erb With Some Help From: Michael Adams News Correspondent: J. Collier Production Assistant: Teresa Moore Typesetting: L. M. Gorell & Ariene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987-06 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Right Restrictions Apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. Color Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/admin/items/show/100">Issue #118 Table of Contents</a><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/103">Issue #118 Page 14</a> Description An account of the resource This cover of Amazing Heroes features a large red border encompassing a more detailed, painterly piece of artwork. The title of the periodical, “Amazing Heroes” is white with a black shadow, and the details of its release are written in white above, separated by solid circles: “No. 118,” “June 1,” and “$2.50 ($3.75 in Canada)”. The art in question features two characters drawn in a more distinctly Japanese aesthetic and wardrobe, both of whom are leaping towards and away from the viewer. Also inside this enclosed border of art are the black captions, “Special focus on the world of Japanese comic books!” and “Behind the Scenes of Lone Wolf and Cub, Area 88, Kamui the Ninja, and more!” There is no environment, aside from some orange painterly strokes resembling dim fire, wrapping around and highlighting the characters. Their outlines are not thick or well-defined, and the character artwork as a whole is much looser and roughly colored than their American counterparts. The character in the foreground is a young man with medium-length black hair, tied partially in the back, leaping towards the viewer but making eye contact somewhere in the lower-right. His outfit, which is orange in the light but purple in the dark, is ragged, leaving most of his arms and legs uncovered, aside from some bandages near the extremities. His anatomy is realistically thin and muscular without being exaggerated and highlighted, and his leaping pose is angled counterclockwise. His expression is serious and determined, and his left hand is gripping an era-appropriate Japanese sword, this time angled perpendicular to the character. The background character is leaping as well, appearing, like the foreground character, ready to initiate an attack on some unseen targets, although he is facing the opposite direction. His outfit, which featured a yellow robe fastened over loose, black under-clothing, is worn, but not to the same degree as the foreground character. His attacking is directed outwards, with his leg and arm extended fully and his sword extended further, while the foregrounded man is more focused, bending his limbs and overall constricting his body. His head is barely visible, receding behind his shoulders, but a mane of black hair can be seen peeking out from behind. The artist of this piece is Sanpei Shirato, a well-regarded manga artist and social critic whose career in the field began in 1957. One of his works featured in this edition are Kamui the Ninja (also known as Kamui-den, or The Legend of Kamui), a manga series set in Japan’s Edō period that ran from 1964 to 1971. The series featured heavy social commentary that espoused Shirato’s Marxist leanings, as well as the characters depicted on the front cover. https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/109b780216a60bee0f1c3a590d1927b2.tif f83cb78841c357aed8bbeeccb971c028 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 8 Cover Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Editor: Kim Thompson Assistant Editor: J. Collier Contributing Writers: Dwight R. Decker, Gail Freeman, Rich Morrissey, Gene Reed, David Singer Consulting Editor: Dwight R. Decker Art Director: Peppy White Contributing Artists: Paul Abrams, Bill Anderson, Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Dennis Fujitake, Mark Heike, Gary Kwapisz, Kurt Lichte, Kevin Nowlan, Mike O'Neal, Charles Treadwell Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Redbeard, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1981-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 8 3/8" x 10 7/8", Color Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/99">Issue 8 Table of Contents</a><br /><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/102">Issue 8 Page 13</a> Description An account of the resource The background to this cover is black, while the title, “Amazing Heroes” is printed in bright blue with a thin white outline. To the left of this title is the caption, “The X-Men Sweep the British Eagle Awards!” while the right reveals the price, issue, and the date of the publication’s release, “$1.50” and “No. 8, February,” and both ancillary messages are written in yellow. Matching that color and font is a two-part message, written on the bottom-left and bottom-right corners, respectively: “This issue, we celebrate the return of the mighty T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents…with a hero history and an exclusive preview of their new comic book series!” Just below the title is an important caption, as it is printed in red and fully capitalized: “Watch out world! They’re back!” The entities in question that have returned are a pantheon of colorful heroes, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. These heroes are five white (or white-coded) male characters emerging confidently from a crater in the wall, implied from its fractured borders to be made of stone. From left to right, their names and descriptions are: Menthor, whose head, masked above the nose with a dark blue cowl and a red circle insignia, and hand, gloved in red, are the only visible parts of him; NoMan, a more mysterious agent with a full blue cloak and a permanent scowl over his steely blue face, along with a right leg with yellow tights stuffed into a leather black boot; Dynamo, the principal character centered on the cover whose pose suggests that he has just begun running, a muscular man with short, coiffed brown hair, a chiseled and confident smile, and a traditional superhero outfit that tightly covers his body fastened with a metallic belt, entirely blue apart from a white stripe that runs through the center; Raven, a leaping man with distinct birdlike elements to his navy blue costume, including makeshift wings that extend from his arms to his torso, and two small decorative wings attached to his helmet and goggles; and finally, Lightning, a prone man preparing to charge, wearing a full yellow bodysuit fastened with a black belt and complete with a goggled helmet with a white lightning bolt logo running vertically across the top. They are all clambering over a portion of the wall that they knocked over to allow for their entrance, and a mysterious dark green hand appears to be leading a crawl from beneath this slab of stone. Also beneath the slab is the artist’s signature, written faintly in white text, “Fujitake ’81,” referencing Dennis Fujitake, a Hawaiian-based comic illustrator known primarily for contributions to fantasy comics. The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents (short for The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves) are a team of superheroes that debuted in 1965, published by Tower Comics. The team, evidenced from the title, was commissioned by the government, and, not unlike the Fantastic Four released four years earlier, had hero work as a full-time occupation rather than a secret side venture. These characters were traded among publishers for the next five decades, and their latest issue was released by IDW Publishing in 2012. Amazing Heroes Comic Book Dennis Fujitake fan publications T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents X-Men https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/d057e715e8f6f8c7290ac806896af0c8.tif fa8426095c743131dfbf223a04070f54 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Comic Book Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue # 158 Cover Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Cover Artist: Joe Kubert Executive Editor: Kim "Lou" Thompson Managing Editor: Chris "John" McCubbin Art Director: Lynette "Mo" Alcorn-McCubbin Associate Editor: Charles "Sterling" Lieurance News Correspondent: Dave "Nico" Hogswid Production Assistant: Mark Thompson Typesetting: Linda Gorell & Arlene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger & Carol Kovinick-Hernandez Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1989-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colin Corcoran Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 in. Color Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/admin/items/show/98">Issue #158 Table of Contents</a><br /><a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/101">Issue #158 Page 13</a> Description An account of the resource The title of the periodical is “An Amazing Heroes Special”, with the subtitle “AH in 3-D” written below it, with both titles capitalized, italicized, and printed in black. A label nearby reveals that this is issue “No. 158,” released on “Feb. 1, 1989,” and priced at $3.95 in the United States and $4.95 in Canada. The cover illustration features three young men wearing semiformal dress and 3-D glasses in the foreground, surrounded by an array of cartoon characters in a variety of styles and sources. Two of the three men are cheerily inspecting and criticizing the work of the man they are standing over, who is intensely drawing an image at his desk. The critic on the left is saying, “Y’got it wrong, Joe…Right, Lenny?” The critic on the right, ‘Lenny,’ agrees with a shake of his fist, “Right, Norm!” Meanwhile, the artist, ‘Joe,’ responds, irritated, “Lemme draw, willya?” The three men are the only entities on the cover not rendered in the 3-D treatment, and they speak with simplistic word balloons common in comics. The characters in the background, rendered in an anaglyphic 3-D style, with all of them split into red and blue and rendered mainly in purple, a melding of the two. The two critics are cartoon representations of Norman and Lenny Maurer, a pair of brothers and publishers that pioneered the process of 3-D conversion with Joe Kubert in 1953. Joe Kubert himself is the third man, the artist being picked apart by the men overseeing him. His signature is in the lower-left of the cover, just above the barcode, and it reads “With regard to Ray “3-D” Zone, Joe Kubert © ‘88” The results were a sales success and continued a trend of 3-D comics that persisted for the next few decades. Encircling them, clockwise from the top left, are Tor, a rough, long-haired barbarian from his namesake’s comic, along with his primate companion and a deadly reptile, the three stooges below him, a cartoon bear, a hard-boiled detective, a grizzled cowboy, an angry man with a top hat, an old man with a beard, a reptile, and another man with a pipe rendered in a more realistic style, and two other characters with hair and a hat that we can only see from behind. A whole crowd of characters in alternating red and blue stretches to the horizon, gradually losing detail and specific character traits until they become simplistic, identical cartoons. While this cover is modeled after traditional anaglyphic 3-D printing, viewing it with a pair of specialized glasses would not reveal a true 3-D image, since the art is simply an imitation that allows for its subjects to be more legible. 3-D Amazing Heroes Joe Kubert Lenny Maurer Norman Maurer Ray Zone The Three Stooges Tor https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/0b76764629ddc79dd3ead43404f2a9e8.tif 80aacf337c699f736631d6a6f1151205 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue #152 Page 21 Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Executive Editor: Kim "Reed" Thompson Managing Editor: Chris "Ben" McCubbin Art Director: Lynette "Sue" Alcorn-McCubbin Associate Editor: Bruce "Johnny" Walrad News Correspondents: Michael Johnson, Darren Cranston Production Assistant: Mark Thompson Typesetting: Linda Gorell, Arlene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger, Carol Kovinick-Hernandez Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-11 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Holly Simon Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restrictions Apply Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/92">Amazing Heroes Issue #152 Cover</a> <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/93">Amazing Heroes Issue #152 Table of Contents</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OMIT Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource The twenty-first page of this issue is entitled “From an English Country Garden.” This text is seen in the top left-hand half of the page, in black text over an uncolored background. Underneath this large titled, in slightly smaller letters, reads “The British Team of Dave McKean & Neil Gaiman Talk about Black Orchid and Other Upcoming Projects.” Below this is about half a page of blankness, and then, at the very bottom, it reads “November 1, 1988” in extremely small text. The right-hand column, at the very top, features the name “Neil Gaiman” in black text in a hard-to-read text box with diagonal stripes. Underneath this, it says “Interviewed by Peter Sanderson”, and then proceeds with a four-paragraph, italicized introduction to Gaiman and his prior writings and current projects. Underneath this, there is a simple “21”, indicating the page number. Surprisingly, the page features no decoration – there are no illustrations and no photographs, despite Gaiman working repeatedly with illustrator Dave McKean. Instead, the page is simply text heavy, with the only thing close to decoration being the border around Gaiman’s name. Later pages of the article do feature illustrations, making the choice to admit them on the title page a surprising one. This interview with Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, the creators of a late-1980s rendition of Black Orchid, offers insight to readers as to what it takes to join the comic industry, and just how making a comic can come together. Their non-traditional style and unique storytelling methods paved the way for the artsier Vertigo comics, and inklings of this can be found within this article. In addition to discussing Black Orchid, this interview examines other projects done by Gaiman and McKean, like the now-revered Sandman series. Both Gaiman and McKean discuss their transition into comic creation and their thoughts on current trends in the industry. One question asked was this: “Do you prefer writing superheroes as explicitly godlike beings in contrast with…otherwise normal human beings who possess unusual powers?”, to which Gaiman replies that he does not really see himself fitting in the field of comic books at all. This deferment – Gaiman, a comics and superhero creator choosing not to align himself with those art forms – shows the remnants of the recently-ended Bronze Age of comics, where adult comic book fans are moving away from traditional stories and into new, unique formats. Accordingly, the creators are trying to posit themselves as more high-brow, to fit into this new demographic. This is exemplified in McKean’s artwork for Black Orchid and other series as well; gone is the cartoon-y, exaggerated animation style that’s considered a mainstay in popular comics. Instead, the Black Orchid style is artsy, angsty, watercolor-esque, and thought-provoking. By presenting Black Orchid in this style, the authors are indirectly demonstrating that, despite being a comic book, they see this as a more elevated use of the medium, one that separates them from traditional superheroes or comic books. They are attempting to disassociate their comics from the more stigmatized, “childish” comics in order to preserve a more high-brow reputation. Alan Moore Amazing Heroes Black Orchid comic books comics Dave McKean Neil Gaiman Sandman https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/files/original/1505772bda5c87a7d92e51bd05b560e4.tif 324b7ba7b7b2cdb2f296c5c3bb2a71e8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Subject The topic of the resource Comics Periodical Description An account of the resource A digital project from Fall 2018 ENG 492H course. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Students from ENG 492H Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Library Special Collections Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Julian C. Chambliss Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Fall 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Some rights apply Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Files Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Digital files Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Students from ENG 492H Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazing Heroes Issue #152 Table of Contents Subject The topic of the resource Periodical Comics Strips Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Executive Editor: Kim "Reed" Thompson Managing Editor: Chris "Ben" McCubbin Art Director: Lynette "Sue" Alcorn-McCubbin Associate Editor: Bruce "Johnny" Walrad News Correspondents: Michael Johnson, Darren Cranston Production Assistant: Mark Thompson Typesetting: Linda Gorell, Arlene Easter Circulation: Rachel Enger, Carol Kovinick-Hernandez Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-11 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Holly Simon Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rights Restriction Apply Relation A related resource <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/92">Amazing Heroes Issue #152 Cover</a> <a href="http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/94">Amazing Heroes Issue #152 Page 21</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Periodical Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OMIT Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1981-1992 Description An account of the resource This issue of Amazing Heroes features a Table of Contents that spans two pages. It is done in black and white ink, with the first page featuring the word “Contents” in a verticle column – white text on a black background – going down the left-hand side of the page. To the right, there are three pictures with article titles and short descriptions. The top article is “Black Orchid in Bloom”, next to a rendition of said character. Underneath this is an animation of an airship, next to the headline “Invasion! Keep Watching the Skies!” Finally, there is a photo of a man in a wide-brimmed hat and a mask screaming “Ebony! Ebony!!” The accompanying title is “Ten Best Non-Powered Heroes”. The other articles in the issue, as seen in the left-hand column of page five, are “Perspective” by Gary D. Robinson (page six), “Newsline” (page seven), “Coming Distractions” (page 13), “Doc’s Bookshelf” by Dwight R. Decker (page 49), “Video Views” by Michael Eury (page 53), “Cover Gallery” by Don Rosa (page 56), “Small Talk” by Edd Vick (page 59), “Comics in Review” (page 63), “Amazing Readers” (page 73), and “Strom’s Index” by David Strom (page 82). The right-hand side lists staff, then contributor info, then an advertisers index, ad rates, and distribution information. This 1988 issue of Amazing Heroes focuses on weirder elements of comic book culture – the odd artsy-ness of Black Orchid, superheroes without powers, the DC crossover series Invasion!. One noticeable quality found among the Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean-related works is the ethereal “fairy”-ness of it all. Gaiman admittedly was influenced by fairy tales when writing Sandman and Black Orchid, and these influences can be found throughout both the article and the artwork within it. Interestingly, these comics – so impressed upon by fairy tales – were not at all intended for children, as one would think. Instead, Gaiman was seen as a visionary and a pioneer for introducing these elements – fantasy and horror – into his mature comic books. Part of the appeal of his work, especially at its inception, was its combination of grit and fear with creativity and unearthliness. Additionally, Gaiman tends to utilize archetypes to explore themes within his comics; for instance, he considers both the Sandman and Black Orchid to be (relative) archetypes. This allows him to push boundaries and explore their characterization even further, as their status as archetypes makes them easier to understand from the beginning. He makes it so that Sandman, for instance, is not bound by human perspectives or morality; instead, he can provide insight into less heroic actions. Black Orchid, meanwhile, is an opposite archetype; she is innocent and pure, like a child that’s on the cusp of growing up. She is even, at one point, made to explore the Arkham Asylum, as a way of contrasting her good-naturedness with the terror of the asylum. This can be seen in Dave McKean’s art as well; Black Orchid is not shown as tough or as a fighter, but instead always looks anguished and is surrounded by watercolors and other fantasy-esque imagery. Gaiman and McKean utilize fantasy and archetypes to present a revitalized version of comic books, one that appeals to mature audiences. Alan Moore Amazing Heroes Black Orchid comic books comics Dave McKean Neil Gaiman Sandman