Now here’s a thing. When I came across Mark Evanier’s 2002 book, ‘Comic Books And Other Necessities Of Life’, I was expecting when it arrived to be the usual large books they released. Instead, we have a standard enlarged paperback and an extended title, ‘A Collection Of POV Columns, Cartoons By Sergio Aragonės’. Essentially, these are 34 columns of his from the ‘Comic Buyers Guide 1995-2000’. A long way back perhaps but Evanier is a great raconteur on his life and comicbook history and as he covers a wide range of subjects, never boring to read. With Aragonės full page illustrations to match the articles, you have an irresistible combination.
Picking out favourites is harder. The problems he and Aragonės had with a bootleg terrible Groo garage model kit showed a general problem with seeing American comicbook shop owners clam up and the difficulty tracking down who did it and stop it is quite eye-opening, let alone so many of them out there. His history of comicbook collecting and how easy it was in the USA probably has no match in other countries. Outside of discovering comicmarts and early comicbook conventions in the UK, outside of London, was a lot tougher in the UK.
I doubt if there’s been any comicbook columnist or magazine that hasn’t explored the origins of the Comic Code Authority after the Senate hearings on comicbooks creating delinquency in the 1950s. Evanier spends three columns on the subject and doesn’t focus much on Wertham but other people involved. As we know, they were gunning for them anyway, which no one doubts. Now here’s a quandary, what these people read when young and none of them becoming delinquent. Generally, I doubt if delinquents could read much anyway, let alone in the numbers to be a problem. Evanier does a fair discussion on the subject.
There are also several articles about particular people. Artist Mike Sekowsky, editor/writer Archie Goodwin, artist Carl Barks, Aragonės of course, editor Chase Craig, artist John Buscema and Roz Kirby, with her influence on her husband.
Picking out the funniest piece is a lot harder although I think him filling in for Dave Stevens at a convention and had to use an air ticket in his name and not really knowing where he is going and being met by someone who doesn’t know where he is going had me chuckling. Then again, the potholes in one of the George Reeves’ ‘Superman’ TV series from series 3 which I haven’t seen shows bad plotting is ridiculous. The same with Superman’s trophy room in the Fortress of Solitude. It’s a shame he didn’t explore Batman’s in his Batcave. I’m still wondering on how and why he wanted that giant coin in there, let alone the transport problems.
As I said at the beginning, Evanier is a good raconteur. The amount of insight he also gives will make a connection as both a fan and professional. This is the first time I’ve come across this book. No doubt a blue full moon will appear when another one pops up on the auction sites but worth keeping an eye out for at the right price.
GF Willmetts
September 2026
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2002. 197 page enlarged paperback. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-89390515-3)
check out website: Not even a digital copy.
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