Comic Book History
3 primary works
Book 1
A fun, funny, and affectionate look at the strangest superheroes to ever appear in comics, some so hilariously odd that it's hard to believe they were ever published. Featuring vintage comic book art, with equally colourful commentary from a die-hard comic book blogger and cartoonist, The League of Regrettable Superheroes is a different window into the superhero phenomenon that's become so prevalent in movies, television and pop culture. For every Batman or Spiderman who hit the big time with a blockbuster movie, there are countless failures, also-rans, and D-listers. Some were shockingly ill-conceived, some were hilariously off-target, and some were justmind-numbingly weird. And now, finally, these long-forgotten heroes will get their day in the sun. The League of Regrettable Superheroes presents one hundred of the strangest superheroes to ever see print, complete with backstories, vintage art, and colourful commentary from author Jon Morris. Within these pages, you'll meet heroic characters like Captain Tootsie (Tootsie Roll spokeshero) Bee Man (like Batman, but with bees!)
, Squirrel Girl (a rare bright spot in comics' darkest hours), Prez (America's groovy teenage president/vampire fighter) and Skateman (roller-skated avenger in a pre-Rollerblade world). The League of Regrettable Superheroes celebrates the artistic train-wrecks that can only happen in the anything-goes world of comics, where a creative misfire can produce entertainingly bizarre results. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, the book includes characters that haven't seen the light of day in decades, pulling from defunct and long-forgotten comics publishers as well as DC and Marvel. Author Jon Morris, cartoonist and founder of the comic book blog Gone and Forgotten, provides insight and context, as well as curation, for this astonishing roster of not-ready-for-prime-time heroes.
, Squirrel Girl (a rare bright spot in comics' darkest hours), Prez (America's groovy teenage president/vampire fighter) and Skateman (roller-skated avenger in a pre-Rollerblade world). The League of Regrettable Superheroes celebrates the artistic train-wrecks that can only happen in the anything-goes world of comics, where a creative misfire can produce entertainingly bizarre results. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, the book includes characters that haven't seen the light of day in decades, pulling from defunct and long-forgotten comics publishers as well as DC and Marvel. Author Jon Morris, cartoonist and founder of the comic book blog Gone and Forgotten, provides insight and context, as well as curation, for this astonishing roster of not-ready-for-prime-time heroes.
Book 2
Every hero needs a villain. But not all villains are dangerous some are incompetent, comical, or just weird. In his follow-up to The League of Regrettable Superheroes, author Jon Morris presents over a hundred of the strangest, most stupefying supervillains to ever see print in comics. Meet D-list rogues like Brickbat (choice of weapon: poisonous bricks), Robbing Hood (steals from the poor to give to the rich), Swarm (a crook made of bees; Nazi bees), and many more. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains affectionately and hilariously profiles oddball criminals from the history of comics.
Book 4
Batman has Robin. Captain America has Bucky. And Yankee Doodle has Dandy. Being a superhero is hard work, which is why so many comics characters rely on a sidekick- someone to watch the hero's back, help the hero search for clues, or, if nothing else, give the hero someone to talk to. But not every superhero achieves the glory of Batman, and not all sidekicks are as capable as Boy Wonder. In The League of Regrettable Sidekicks, athor Jon Morris shines a hilarious spotlight on forgotten helpers like Thunderfoot (explosive-soled assistant to the Human Bomb), super-pets (like Frosting, polar bear pal of space hero Norge Benson), fan favourites (Rick Jones, sidekick to hald the Marvel Universe), and obscure partners of iconic heroes (Superman Junior's career barely got off the ground).