posted March 29, 2003 03:55 PM               

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"I don't think that Greg Theakston is going to make a fortune off this book. I'm willing to mail Ditko a fiver or a ten if someone tells me he needs the money. I wouldn't mind that at all. He's enriched my life enough. But if these small publishers, like AC, ACG, John Lustig, Greg Theakston, etc. had to locate every artist, and pay them a fee, there would never be reprint volumes of classic, but public domain, work."

Very well said. If the big companies aren't doing anything, how are guys scrounging to stay in business supposed to?

Meanwhile, much as I've enjoyed some of Bill Black's AC collections, their "random anthology" formats tend to be what I see as a drawback. When I like a particular artist or series, I find myself wishing for a big whopping book collecting as many stories by that one person or character as possible-- which is why I keep hoping for a PHANTOM LADY Archive, and why I've enjoyed THE COMPLETE JACK KIRBY volumes so much-- and why I ordered THE STEVE DITKO READER when it was advertised.

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posted March 29, 2003 04:50 PM               

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I've wondered why Bill Black always has anthologies, and never features special "artists" issues. Maybe he thinks that having several different features makes it more likely that a reader will pick the books up, as opposed to trying to appeal to the fans of one particular artist, or feature. Or maybe he's trying to hoard his material, so that he doesn't run out of any one type of story. Yes, I'll order those upcoming volumes on Toth, Kirby, and Lou Fine.

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Allen Smith

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posted March 29, 2003 04:54 PM               

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The Toth, Kirby and Fine volumes will be coming from Pure Imagination, of course. Don't want to confuse anyone. From AC, there will be a second Golden Age Treasury, I'll order it, I enjoyed the first one a lot.

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Allen Smith

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