DC Comics Rarities: Archive - Volume 1

Rating:
Summary: A Book Of Wonders
Review: A book of magic and wonders.

Let's face it, most comic fans out there with some gray in their hair miss the good old days when DC would do those 100 page spectaculars. If you were like me the main features were great, but it was the back up stories that would really get me. From Phantom lady to Robot Man, you would get a glimpse into a time and a world of heros that were new and fresh to you.

The same is true for the book. Oh yes you get the "big guns" like Superman and Batman, and some of the mainstays, like Sandman (in his gas mask no less), but what of the really lesser know lights like the comedic "Red Tornado" and Mutt and Jeff (which really blew me away at some of the arts resemblence to what Robert Crumb would do later.


The book's huge size guarantees hours of reading, discovery and rereading. As for the art, some people said say the art of the golden age was crude. I like to think of it as raw and bursting with energy. And some of it will surprise you by it's grace and uniqueness.

As for the quality of the book, hey its a DC Archive so you know it is done up right.

As for the price, the sticker price is a bit steep, but Amazon with its free shipping and discount puts it into everyone's reach.

Liked DC's hit Starman, well look at the stuff that built the foundation of the DC Universe.

Coming soon will be the Seven Soldiers of Victory Golden Archives (January) and Comic Calvacade Archives (Bringing you never reprinted Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Flash stories with load of guest stars.

I thank DC for preserving the golden age today.

Rating:
Summary: Much more than fair to get these Fair comics reprinted!
Review: For the first time ever, in one huge collection, three of DC Comics' most hard to find early anthology titles are reprinted in their entirety! Rarities Archive Volume 1 is a whopping 348-page hardcover collecting New York World's Fair 1939, New York World's Fair 1940, and Big All-American Comic Book #1 from 1944. This volume, with an introduction by Roy Thomas, features appearances by virtually every early Golden Age DC hero: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Sandman, Hawkman, Scribbly, The Atom, Green Lantern, Mr. Terrific, Jonny Thunder and Wildcat!

Plus, loads of backups, funny animals, gag strips, text pieces and information about the Fair! The two World's Fair Comics were specially created to be distributed at the New York World's Fair of 1939 and 1940 and feature adventures of the DC heroes actually visiting the Fairs. Most of the strips included in this very special Archive have never been reprinted!

This is truly a testament to the diversity of the Golden Age of DC Comics that no serious comics collector should be without.

Rating:
Summary: the comic's that Time finally remembers
Review: Oddly enough all the banter about just what the Worlds Fair in 1939 and 1940 are even more interesting with a historical glance over one's shoulder. As stated by other reviewers these books are a fine hodgepodge of a time long lost and yet remembered. DC does a wonderful job with this edition. Even the comic's I didn't care for are of interest. I was never into funny animals. The hero's who were big then remain in this walk down the memory lane of World's Fair's and invasions of Europe and the Pacific. Check it out, worth every red cent!