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Author	Topic: Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books
BP25 Member	posted April 25, 2003 07:36 PM For those unfamiliar with this product, it is a pair of books featuring covers to thousands of golden age and silver age comics. The company that published these books also produced 2 volumes of Marvel comics covers. Two things. One is a question. Do you think if DC was to produce such a book featuring the covers of their books would it be successful? The second thing is that while thumbing through vol 2 of the book I came across (on pg 502) the covers for Mystery in Space #17 and #18. These covers are obviously the basis of JLA #19 (JLA banned from Earth) and #22 (part 2 of the first JSA/JLA crossover). IP: Logged
silveragesuperfan Member	posted April 25, 2003 07:56 PM I have long wished for the publication of a Photo Journal for the DC work. Gerber had completed most of the principal photagraphy for the book years before his recent death. It was not considered a viable publishing option at the time and so work ceased. I have spoken with a couple of publishers at conventions (including Vanguard) and CBG has spoken to Gemstone about it. So far it is still not considered to be worth the risk. This is very sad for the hobby, as these Photo Journals are as integral to it as the Overstreet guide (IMO and many others). I doubt DC would undertake this project themselves (too much background to go into) but have to wonder if they would allow someone else to do it if they had a say. IP: Logged
greene Member	posted April 26, 2003 01:23 AM That "Photo-Journal" is one of my most prized reference books. Hardly a month goes by in which I don't find myself looking something up, and then become thoroughly mesmerized for an hour in tangential visuals. My only gripe is that Gerber came so very close to completely documenting certain important titles (like "Captain Marvel," as well as some other Fawcetts), but then faltered towards the ends of their runs. But, how can I really complain about this amazing effort, when I've enjoyed it so much? Such a shame the planned DC one was never produced. How I'd love to see a long, complete row of covers to "Strange Adventures," "Western Comics," "House of Mystery," and the like. IP: Logged
Superman63 New Member	posted April 26, 2003 01:40 AM I also own these books and would love to see the dc books done. IP: Logged
whoswhoz Member	posted April 26, 2003 07:15 AM quote: Originally posted by Superman63: I also own these books and would love to see the dc books done. Apparently Gerber lost a fortune on the first two books, rush published the Marvel version, hoping to make money and lost even more. Gemstone has the rights to publish the DC volumes, but obviously doesn't believe it would be viable. Probably every time they count the remaining volumes of the first four books in their warehouse, this idea is reinforced. My main complaint is that the pictures are too damn small! IP: Logged
Amentep Member	posted April 26, 2003 09:14 AM Hmm, I've never even heard of these books...which is sad, because they sound like something I'd love to own... IP: Logged
Osgood Peabody Member	posted April 26, 2003 09:44 AM quote: Originally posted by greene: How I'd love to see a long, complete row of covers to "Strange Adventures," "Western Comics," "House of Mystery," and the like. There are some fairly comprehensive cover galleries now available on-line. My own preference is the DC index site, which now allows you to view by title (25 or 50 at a time) or chronologically, by displaying one month of DC's output at a time: http://www.dcindexes.com/covers/index.htm IP: Logged
Unknown Question Member	posted April 26, 2003 10:00 AM I do remember getting a few small hcs that each covered cover repros of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. IP: Logged
Unknown Question Member	posted April 26, 2003 10:07 AM Two Tub Man's GA & SA Cover Gallery used to be a great resource when it was still up. quote: Originally posted by Osgood Peabody: There are some fairly comprehensive cover galleries now available on-line. My own preference is the DC index site, which now allows you to view by title (25 or 50 at a time) or chronologically, by displaying one month of DC's output at a time: http://www.dcindexes.com/covers/index.htm IP: Logged
BP25 Member	posted April 26, 2003 05:19 PM I remember reading about Gerber travelling around the US taking pictures of comics from big-time collectors, often replacing pictures of covers already taken when better examples of the covers appeared. I also remember that the plan was to produce sets of stickers with pics of covers not included in the original books, when they could be found. BTW the MIS covers I mentioned can also be seen at the site Osgood mentioned. The similarity to the JLA books make me wonder if the JLA covers came before their interior stories For Amentep and others, all 4 of these books are in print and should be available through Diamond for whatever the going rate is. Get your dealer to find out for you. IP: Logged
Corrosive Kid Member	posted April 26, 2003 06:25 PM quote: Originally posted by BP25: The similarity to the JLA books make me wonder if the JLA covers came before their interior stories. That's exactly how DC used to work in those days. IP: Logged
BillNolan Member	posted April 26, 2003 08:27 PM quote: Originally posted by BP25: I also remember that the plan was to produce sets of stickers with pics of covers not included in the original books, when they could be found. A number of those sticker sheets have appeared in one of the comic industry magazines. I'm pretty sure it was Comic Book Marketplace. - Bill IP: Logged
Steve Topper Member	posted April 26, 2003 10:05 PM The stickers were published in Comic Book Marketplace. There were (if I remember correctly) eight series spread out over around six issues, mostly the Annuals. The most recent set was in the Spider-Man special they did just after the release of the movie. Steve IP: Logged
James Friel Member	posted April 27, 2003 02:32 AM quote: Originally posted by BillNolan: A number of those sticker sheets have appeared in one of the comic industry magazines. I'm pretty sure it was Comic Book Marketplace. - Bill What!? You mean the stickers weren't sent out to retailers to give to previous purchasers of the books? Hell, I've never looked at an issue of Comic Book Marketplace in my life--how would I have known? IP: Logged
icouldbe New Member	posted April 27, 2003 08:25 AM I don't think there is any connection between the Photo Journal and the Comic Book Marketplace. CBM is a magazine which focuses on the 40's and 50's and includes the stickers on the assumption that its readers would most likely also own the Photo Journal Books. There is alot of good historical info in the CBM and it is always a good read. IP: Logged
BillNolan Member	posted April 27, 2003 10:35 AM I'm pretty sure they're both (now) owned by Gemstone Publishing. - Bill IP: Logged
silveragesuperfan Member	posted April 27, 2003 01:16 PM quote: Originally posted by BillNolan: I'm pretty sure they're both (now) owned by Gemstone Publishing. - Bill That is my understanding too. CBM, by the way, is focusing on all eras of comics (ok, maybe not 90s and up) as space allows at this point. It is an enjoyable read, although I did prefer it under the previous editorship. The cover galleries they used to provide were great. I did go to the DC index portion of the recommended website above. Glad to have been directed there, thanks. Spent lots of time already gazing at Strange Adventures covers! IP: Logged
KOBE27 Member	posted April 27, 2003 01:21 PM quote: Originally posted by silveragesuperfan: I did go to the DC index portion of the recommended website above. Glad to have been directed there, thanks. Spent lots of time already gazing at Strange Adventures covers! Ditto on the thanks. Spent lots of time gazing at those wonderful Kubert covers from Weird War Tales, a series that WILL NEVER get archived. IP: Logged
M. Kronenberg New Member	posted April 28, 2003 10:20 AM I'm the graphic designer for Comic Book Marketplace. The connection between the Gerber Photo Journals and CBM is that they're both owned and published by Gemstone. CBM is edited by Russ Cochran. If you haven't checked out CBM recently, please pick up the new issue coming out this week or next, it's our 100th issue. For this occasion, I've redesigned the magazine. Also in this issue is a great article by Will Murray detailing Batman's Pulp roots, I put plenty of cool art in this one, I think you'll all enjoy it. Coming in issue #102 is an in depth interview with Russ Heath and a look at Lev Gleason's lurid crime comics. Issue #104 looks at Batman from the 30s to the present, it will feature Will Murray�s interview with Lew Schwartz, my interview with Neal Adams, an interview with Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, plus plenty more. Issue #105 covers 1970s horror and fantasy, with articles and interviews with Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta, and Frank Brunner. IP: Logged

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