Released last year by US publisher TwoMorrows Publishing, American TV Comic Books (1940s-1980s) by Peter Bosch takes you from the small screen to the printed page, offering a fascinating and detailed year-by-year history of over 300 television shows and their 2000 plus comic book adaptations across five decades.
Hollywood-based author and journalist Peter Bosch, a contributor to the media site The 13th Dimension, has spent years researching and documenting this amazing area of comics history, tracking down the well-known series (Star Trek, The Munsters) and the lesser-known shows (Captain Gallant, Pinky Lee) to present a much-praised look at this unique genre of comic books.
Included are hundreds of full-colour covers and images, plus profiles of the artists who drew TV comics: Gene Colan, Alex Toth, Dan Spiegle, Russ Manning, John Buscema, Russ Heath, Wallace “Wally” Wood, and many more giants of the comic book world.
Whether you loved watching The Lone Ranger, Rawhide, and Zorro from the 1950s; The Andy Griffith Show, The Monkees, Star Trek, and The Mod Squad in the 1960s; Adam-12, Battlestar Galactica, and The Bionic Woman in the 1970s; or Alf, Fraggle Rock, and V in the 1980s – there’s something here for fans of TV and comics alike.
Alongside fastidious but enjoyable coverage American TV-inspired comics, there’s coverage some comics based on “import” shows, too, such as Gerry Anderson’s Supercar, The Avengers and Doctor Who (with quick mentions and praise for many British comics in passing, such as Frank Bellamy’s work on “Thunderbirds”).
At currently for sale at just over £20 from AmazonUK, this sounds like a good buy.
Geoff Willmetts notes in his review of this reference work over on SF Crowsnest that perhaps an equivalent title is overdue for British TV tie-ins? One for downthetubes friends Andrew Pixley, Paul Scoones or Shaqui Le Vesconte to ponder…
This isn’t the only retro TV coverage TwoMorrows Publishing has treated fans too in recent years. You may also want to track down two issues of their Back Issue magazine published in 2021, #128 and #129, devoted to the topic. Details below!
• American TV Comic Books (1940s-1980s): From The Small Screen To The Printed Page by Peter Bosch is available through bookshops | ISBN 978-1605491073 | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it direct from TwoMorrows Publishing
Peter Bosch is a contributor to The 13th Dimension, who has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. Articles he’s written include “13 Groovy Television Comic Books of the 1960s”, “13 Groovy Television Comic Books of the 1970s” and “13 Fabulous Books on Comic History”,
• Comic Book Central Episode 442: Peter Bosch, author of American TV Comic Books
Listen to “#442: Peter Bosch, author of American TV Comic Books!” on Spreaker.
Back Issue #128 July 2021 – 84 FULL-COLOUR pages – available direct from TwoMorrows Publishing
This “Bronze Age TV Tie-ins” issue tunes in to television-inspired comic adaptations of the 1970s to the early 1990s, including The Bionic Woman, Dark Shadows, Emergency, H. R. Pufnstuf, Hee Haw, Lost in Space, Primus, Sledge Hammer, Superboy, V… even Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp! Featuring Ken Bald, Primus star Robert Brown, Cary Bates, David Campiti, Mark Evanier, John Francis Moore, Lost in Space’s Bill Mumy, Jim Salicrup, Alex Saviuk, Jack Sparling, Joe Staton, Marv Wolfman, and more. TV comic montage cover designed by Michael Kronenberg. Edited by Michael Eury
Back Issue #129 August 2021 – 84 FULL-COLOUR pages – available direct from TwoMorrows Publishing
“TV Toon Tie-ins” issue! The Bronze-tastic World of Hanna-Barbera Comics, Underdog, Mighty Mouse, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Pink Panther, Battle of the Planets, and wildlife protectors Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. Bonus: Scott Shaw! digs up Captain Carrot’s roots! Featuring the work of John Byrne, Ernie Colon, Jim Engel, Mark Evanier, Gary Fields, Michael Gallagher, Frank Johnson, Win Mortimer, Paul Norris, Marie Severin, Steve Skeates, Merrie Spaeth, Joe Staton, Tony Tallarico, Alex Toth, Bill Williams, and more. Repurposing a 1972 Charlton Hanna-Barbera Parade cover by Ray Dirgo and friends. Edited by Michael Eury
Thanks to author John Peel for the heads up
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, Books, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Star Trek, Television
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